Mai Bhagi (Sindhi:مائي ڀاڳي) (c. 1920 – 7 July 1986) was a Sindhi folk singer and musician.
Early life and career
Born Bhag Bhari in Mithi in Thar, Sindh in 1920.[1] Mai Bhagi grew up in a village in the Thar Desert. Her father was Wanhyun Fakir and her mother was Khadija Maganhar. Both her parents were known singers in their region at that time.[2]
Mai Bhagi's birth name was Bhag Bhari (which means 'a lucky person'). She was married to folk singer Hothi Fakir at the age of 16 in Islamkot Tharparkar. Then she shifted to Mithi Tharparkar in 1950 permanently.[3] Record producer Sheikh Ghulam Hussain, husband of Pakistani folk singer Abida Parveen, offered her the opportunity to record at the Radio Pakistan studios, and later her records were played on the radio. She started singing on Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad her folk song 'Kharee neem kay neeche' (underneath a neem tree) from 1960.[2][1] Bhagi was paid only 20 rupees for this first radio broadcast. According to a major newspaper of Pakistan, "But it wasn't until she sang it on the state-owned PTV in 1974 that the song became a national mainstream hit and turned Bhagi into a Sindhi/Thari folk star".[2][3][1]
Her other folk songs 'Saman Sai Maan Ta Goli Ghulam Tohinji Dar Ji' became very popular among the Pakistani people and secured her stardom, her folk song 'Murli Wari Man Mohiyo also became popular in the rural areas of Sindh. The government of Pakistan provided financial support for her to tour overseas, and she continued her career in music until her death on 7 July 1986.[1][2]
You can read complete documentary of Mai Bhagi on popular Sindhi music website 'Media Music Mania'.[4] Further Complete detailed Biography and selected best songs of Mai Bhagi listen on.[5]
