31 January - Suraiya Jamal Sheikh death anniversary

Suraiya Jamal Sheikh (15 June 1929 – 31 January 2004), popularly known by the mononym Suraiya, was a popular actress and playback singer in India's Hindi language films. She was active from 1936 to 1963.

In a career spanning from 1936 to 1963, Suraiya acted in 67 films and sang 338 songs. She was one of the greatest actresses of the Hindi Cinema and a leading lady in Hindi language films in the 1940s and 1950s.She was also a renowned playback singer, who mostly sang for herself, starting from a song in Nai Duniya (1942) when she was only 12 years old.

She was known for her North Indian Muslim feudal style acting or adakari in many of her films Suraiya made her first appearance as a child artist with the film Madame Fashion (1936), directed by Jaddan Bai. She made her acting debut with the film Taj Mahal in which she played the role of Mumtaz Mahal. In her heydays, she was known as Malika-e-Husn (queen of beauty), Malika-e-Tarannum (queen of melody) and Malika-e-Adakari (queen of acting). Suraiya was the highest-paid actress in the 1940s and 1950s and won several awards for her performances in Indian films.

24 June - Omkarnath Thakur birth anniversary

Omkarnath Thakur was a renowned Indian classical vocalist and music composer. He was born on 24 June 1897, in Bara Banki, Uttar Pradesh, India, and passed away on 29 December 1967.

Thakur was a prominent figure in the world of Hindustani classical music, particularly in the genre of khayal singing. He received training in music from several gharanas (schools) of classical music, including the Gwalior gharana and the Agra gharana. Thakur was known for his powerful voice, intricate raga improvisations, and emotive renditions.

In addition to his prowess as a vocalist, Omkarnath Thakur was also a prolific composer. He composed numerous bandishes (musical compositions) in various ragas, which are still performed by classical musicians today. Thakur's compositions are known for their melodic richness and rhythmic complexity.

Thakur's contributions to Hindustani classical music earned him widespread acclaim and recognition during his lifetime. He received several awards and honors for his musical achievements, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, one of India's highest honors in the field of performing arts.

Omkarnath Thakur's legacy continues to influence generations of musicians, and his compositions remain an integral part of the Hindustani classical music repertoire. He is remembered as one of the stalwarts of Indian classical music, whose artistry and creativity enriched the musical landscape of India.