Padma Bhushan awardee Begum Parveen Sultana is among the most senior artistes in the country today and a true legend. She stands out for her uniquely melodious voice and counts millions among her fans and followers. A classical singer from Patiala Gharana, Parveen Sultana was born and brought up in the small town of Nowgaon in Assam. She gave her first stage performance at the age of 12 in 1962 and soon after became a popular face of Hindustani classical music – she still remains one of the most sought after stage performers in the country. Apart from Hindustani classical, she has also lent her voice to Bollywood films like Pakeezah and Razia Sultan. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1999 and most recently the Padma Bhushan in 2014.