This BLOG is about the Past of Hindi Films Specially Black and White Cinema We will refresh your memories by bringing out forgotten or unseen songs and clippings of film scenes We will try to give you as much information as we gather from our research.
This Blog was started as a one-man’s passion for film history but has now become an addiction for many music lovers who are equally passionate about Hindi films
Meena Kumari and Dev Anand worked together in 4 films and all of them were successful. the first film they worked together was 1951 film Sanam. In that film, she was not the heroine but the heroine sister. The heroine was Suraiya. After that, she came as Dev's heroine in Tamasha in 1952. In fact, this was the first film signed by Meena Kumari with Dev Anand but Sanam released earlier. Tamasha was directed by Phani Mazumdar, starring Meena Kumari, Dev Anand and Ashok Kumar in lead roles. One of the big hits of the year from Bombay Talkies produced by Ashok Kumar and Sarak Vacha, BaadBaan was the next film of Meena Kumari with Dev Anand with the earlier star cast, film directed by Phani Majumdar and produced by the Bombay Talkies Workers' Industrial Cooperative Society Limited. The film stars Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Usha Kiran in lead roles. The music score was composed by Timir Baran and S.K. Pal. Kinare Kinare was a 1963 film directed by Chetan Anand, who also plays a pivotal role. The film featured Dev Anand and Meena Kumari in the lead roles. A great music by Jaidev.
Meena Kumari(1st Aug 1933-31st March 1972)is best known as “The Tragedy Queen”, for her frequent portrayal of sorrowful and tragic roles in films and her real-life story. It was said then that audience smile when Madhubala smiled on screen and they cry when Meena Kumari cried on screen. She became an Icon of Typical Indian Middle-Class Woman of Bollywood. During a career spanning 33 years starting as a child artist, she acted in more than ninety films such as Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Pakeezah, Mere Apne, Aarti, Baiju Bawra, Parineeta, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai, Foot Path, Dil Ek Mandir and Kaajal. She won 4 Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and nominated for these awards 12 times which was eventually broken after 35 years by Madhuri Dixit in 2008. Though Baiju Bawra in 1952 brought her fame and gave her first Filmfare Award, I consider Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam 1962 was her best film as an actress. Her performance as Chhoti Bahu, which is regarded as one of the best performances of Hindi cinema. Interestingly, Meena Kumari had initially refused to work in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam when Guru Dutt first approached her in 1958. Dutt then offered the role to other actresses, but as fate would have it, he wasn’t able to put the right cast together. Then, around 1960-61, he went to her home and offered the role again. In fact, when Guru Dutt went to her home she was not there her elder sister Khursheed was at home, Guru Dutt handed over the script to her and asked her to persuade Meena Kumari to consider this film. When Meena Kumari returned, she was shocked to find the script of Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. She started reading it immediately and called Dutt at 2 a.m. to tell him that she would play the role of Chhoti Bahu. She requested Guru Dutt that she wants the film to be shot in a linear way, as the story progresses so that she could map the changes in her character. This was the first time both of them had shot a film in this way, from start to finish. In an interview, the director of the film Abrar Alvi said that She was so immersed in her role…that at some point the despair and depression of Chhoti Bahu must have affected her peace of mind” It was 1964 she got the divorce from Kamal Amrohi in these four years she was living separately. She got addicted to alcohol. Heavy drinking badly damaged her liver, and in 1968 she went to London and Switzerland for treatment. Due to heavy drinking, she had increasingly lost her good looks and began mostly playing character roles in movies. Along with Vinod Khanna and Shatrughan Sinha, she played the lead role in writer-lyricist Gulzar’s directorial debut Mere Apne (1971). Three weeks after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari became seriously ill. On 28 March 1972, she was admitted to St Elizabeth's Nursing Home. She went into a coma two days later and died shortly afterwards on 31 March 1972. She was 38 years old. The cause of her death was determined to be liver cirrhosis.
Veteran journalist Vinod Mehta wrote the biography of Meena Kumari in 1972.In this book he wrote about the exploitation of Meena Kumari whoever came close to her.She was first exploited by her family.Shestarted out as Baby Meena, a child artist and a breadwinner of the family. As a child she wasn't interested in a film career, and would rather attend school. In spite of this, her parents started peddling four-year-old Mahjabeen(Real Name of Meena Kumari) to film studios for work opportunities so she was deprived of her childhood..
One of the major blows in Meena Kumari's life was the death of her mother.She was only 14 then.In the film Industry also she struggled initially,though she was getting work but paid poorly.It was only after Baiju Bawra 1952 she got recognition. On May 21, 1951 Meena Kumari was involved in a motor car accident while returning from Mahabaleshwar to Bombay.She was admitted to Sasoon Hospital in Poona, injured around the left hand. Kumari went through bouts of depression.This accident left Meena Kumari with a banded left pinky which remained banded throughout her life, and she used to cover her left hand with a dupatta or saree during shoots. During this time Kamal Amrohi used to visit her in the hospital.For four months this hospital affair continued and love blossomed.
She married at the age of 18 Kamal Amrohi that time he was 34.It was his third marriage.After their marriage, Kamal Amrohi allowed Meena Kumari to continue her acting career, but on the conditions that she should not remit anyone in her makeup room but her makeup artist and return home in her own car by 6:30 every evening. Meena Kumari agreed to all terms, but with passing time she kept breaking them. Meena Kumari was a patient of chronicinsomnia and was on sleeping pills for a long time.As an alternative to sleeping pills she started drinking.She was interested in Urdu poetry,this brought her close to another poet Gulzar.Once she was slapped on the set of Pinjre ke Panchhi,by Kamal Amrohi's assistant, Baqar when she allowed Gulzar enter her makeup room.After this incident in 1964 they divorced. Dharmendra was the next person in her life.He signed Purnima as her Hero,he was a fan of Meena kumari,it was his dream to act opposite Meenaji.When he was introduced to her, she was warm and friendly and welcomed him with kind encouragement.Coincidentally, at this particular moment of her life, Meena Kumari required a stable and devoted man: big and strong, someone on whom she could literally rest her head, and someone who was not too famous.
Dharmendra was almost a daily visitor at Janki Kutir. Together they would open a bottle and spend a few hours. These were the good times.Meena Kumari insisted her Producers to take Dharmendra as his Hero,both of them worked in 7 films.Dharmendra established himself as a hero because of Meena Kumari.However, a much younger and already married Dharmendra had nothing to offer in terms of the love and security Meena was searching for.They were intimate for three years. Meena Kumari had a strong love for children,she wanted her own child here too she was deprived by her husband Kamal Amrohi. Songs Of Meena Kumari
Legend Meena Kumari(Born on 1st August 1932),I look at various dimensions of Meena Kumari.She shot to fame with Vijay Bhatt’s Baiju Bawra (1952). She was born as Mahjabeen Bano to Ali Baksh and Iqbal Begum.Starting her carrier as a child artist she became the superstar in the 1950s and 60s.Unlike today's stars, she had many dimensions - she read poetry, had literary friends,a great voice sang for films, aspired to the higher life and was an alcoholic.she had a volatile love life . She married Kamal Amrohi 15 years older to her who was already married having children,their marriage was not happy marriage.She threw herself in love with a series of men, most famously with a young and upcoming Dharmendra.She was a modern and emancipated woman.she never got true love. She has been a part of several cult movies like Baiju Bawra, Sahab, Biwi Aur gulam, Pakeezah, Parineeta, Yahudi, Aarti, Kaajal and Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi. Best remembered for her role as alcoholic Chhoti Bahu, in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Meena Kumari was also a talented Urdu poetess under the pseudonym Naaz. According to Naushad Ali, Kumari's poetry clearly reflected her angst. Haunting, crystalline, and precisely observed, Kumari's poetry reveals a side of her personality that was rarely on display in her films. It proved that she was a much more sensitive and self-aware woman than her fans tend to realize.Shortly after Meena Kumari’s death in 1972, at the age of only 39, the lyricist and poet Gulzar arranged for Hind Pocket Books to publish the matinee idol’s poetry. Meena Kumari is the most written Actress of Bollywood,lots of Biography and books are written are on her.Naushad Ali’s short biography, Actress Meena Kumari: From The Cradle To The Grave, summarizes her life—her beginnings as a child actor, her debut in the stunt movie called (of all things) Leatherface), her rise to fame as an adult actor with Baiju Bawra, her unrequited love for a leading man, her marriage with, and divorce from, a leading director, her slide into isolation and alcoholism.Meena Kumari The Poet: A Life Beyond Cinema by Noorul Hasan a former professor of English with interests from Thomas Hardy to Firaq Gorakhpuri, has brought together several of Meena Kumari’s verses, published in English translation for the first time. Vetaran Journalist Late Vinod Mehta wrote a book on Meena Kumari-"Meena kumari the Classic Biography" .She sang many great songs and earned her recognition in singing too. Merely at the age of 8 yrs, she sang a beautiful song with Beena Kumari "Tora Kajra Lagoon Mori Rani" from the film Bahen which released in 1941.She sang 3 songs in the movie Duniya Ek Sarai(1947)...Music was composed by Hansraj Behl.Then She sang around 7 songs in Piya Ghar Aaja(1947).Meena Kumari also sang few words for a song in Pinjre Ki Panchi(1966) with Manna Dey. Music by Salil Choudhary and lyrics by Gulzar.
Meena Kumari worked with Khayyam Saheb for an album “I WRITE, I RECITE” in the year 1970. There were total 8 Ghazals in this album.When she recited these ghazals, She was not well.. But, She rendered all the ghazals beautifully with her divine voice.
Today on 45th death Anniversary we remember Meena Kumari.She is regarded as one of the greatest actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi cinema,Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972)-The Tragedy Queen of Bollywood. Meena Kumari was born with the birth name Mahjabeen into the family of Ali Bux and Iqbal Begum on 1 August 1932/33.Little mehjabeen embarked on her acting career at the age of six, she was immersed in work over next four years, as child artist mostly in Vijay Bhatt productions Leatherface (1939), Pooja (1940), Nai Roshni (1941), Bahen (1941), Kasauti (1941) and Garib (1942).Vijay Bhattbecame her mentor and, on the sets ofEk Hi Bhool(1940), rechristened Mahjabeen asBaby Meena She became heroine at the age of 14,Bachhon Ka Khel(1946) was his first film as heroine.Same year her another film Duniya Ek Sarai (1946), Piya Ghar Aaja (1947) and Bichchade Balam (1948) performing with credit and winning recognition from all in the industry. On 14 February 1952 Meena Kumari age 19 and Kamal Amrohi age 34 secretly married in a simple 'Nikah' Cermoney, in the presence of a Qadi and Kumari's younger sister Mahaleka(madhu). The marriage was kept secret from family and media.Though Kamal Amrohi was already married and had three childrens.
Meena Kumari became addicted to alcohol. Her life and prosperous career were marred by heavy drinking, troubled relationships, an ensuing deteriorating health, and her death from liver cirrhosis in 1972. She got burried at Shia Cemetry Mazgaon Mumbai.Her real name is carved in Urdu on the marble, her assumed name in English and Hindi is written in black paint.
Some of the Hit Songs of Meena Kumari
Mohe Bhool Gaye from Baiju Bawra
Kitna Haseen Mausam from Azad
do sitaron ka milan hai aaj ki raat from kohinoor
Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh
jyoti kalash chhalke
Na Jao Saiyan from Saheb Biwi Aur Gulam
Ruk Ja Raat from Dil Ek Mandir
Hum Intezaar Karenge Tera Qayamat Tak from Bahu Begum
Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972)-The Tragedy Queen of Bollywood Meena Kumari is regarded as one of the greatest actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi cinema. During a career spanning 30 years from her childhood to her death, Meena Kumari's grandmother, Hem Sundari Thakur (Tagore) was the daughter of the Rabindranath Tagore's younger brother.She was married into the Tagore family but She became widow at an early age, after she lost her husband named Rev Bill, she was compelled to give up all her rights to the family name or property by her in-laws. Meena Kumari was born with the birth name Mahjabeen into the family of Ali Bux and Iqbal Begum on 1 August 1932/33.Little mehjabeen embarked on her acting career at the age of six, she was immersed in work over next four years, as child artist mostly in Vijay Bhatt productions Leatherface (1939), Pooja (1940), Nai Roshni (1941), Bahen (1941), Kasauti (1941) and Garib (1942).Vijay Bhattbecame her mentor and, on the sets ofEk Hi Bhool(1940), rechristened Mahjabeen asBaby Meena.
More films followed for baby meenaPratiggya(1943),Lal Haveli(1944).She became heroine at the age of 14,Bachhon Ka Khel(1946) was his first film as heroine.Same year her another film Duniya Ek Sarai (1946), Piya Ghar Aaja (1947) and Bichchade Balam (1948) performing with credit and winning recognition from all in the industry.
The phase continued with several hits on the box office, including some mythologicals and fantasies Veer Ghatotkach, (1949)Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950), Magroor, (1950) Hamara Ghar, (1950) Anmol Ratan, (1950) Sanam, (1951) Madhosh, (1951) Lakshmi Narayan,(1951) Hanuman Patal Vijay, (1951) Tamasha (1952) and Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952). On 14 February 1952 Meena Kumari age 19 and Kamal Amrohi age 34 secretly married in a simple 'Nikah' Cermoney, in the presence of a Qadi and Kumari's younger sister Mahaleka(madhu). The marriage was kept secret from family and media.Though Kamal Amrohi was already married and had three childrens.
1952 was a milestone in the life of meena Kumari,she not only married that year but also she got stardom with the release of Baiju Bawra. Meena Kumari won the first ever Filmfare Best Actress Award for Baiju Bawra on 21 March 1954 at the Metro Theatre in Bombay.The film celebrated diamond jubilee. The film was a musical, set up in Mughal India of 16th Century, with classical Hindustani melodies set by Naushad Ali. 1953: Parineeta based upon the 1914 Bengali novel by Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay directed by Bimal Roy, starting Ashok Kumar got Kumari the second Filmfare Best Actress Award. Film Do Bigha Zamin directed by Bimal Roy it was celebrated as the first Indian film to win the International Prize at Cannes in 1954. 1954: Baadbaan directed by Phani Majumdar, it had a stellar star cast of Meena Kumari,Dev Anand, Ashok Kumar and Usha Kiran, it was the first ever film in India to have been produced by a workers’ cooperative. Film Chandni Chowk directed by B. R. Chopra in 1954 classic Muslim social drama film, it was Chopra's second directorial venture also a big success at the box-office.
Kitna Haseen Mausam from Azad
Aplam Chaplam from Azad
1955: Azaad directed by Sriramulu Naidu S.M, Kumari pranced gaily with Robin Hood Dilip Kumar, it was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release and one of the biggest hit film in the decade. Hit songs from the movie include 'Aplam Chaplam' sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Mangeshkar, and 'Na Bole Na Bole' sung by Lata Mangeshkar. In 1956 her 3 films did silver jubilee,B R Chopra's Ek Hi Raasta,Bandhan with Pradip Kumar and Memsaab with Shammi Kapoor.Another film with kishore Kumar as Hero "Naya Andaj" was a musical hit with famous songs like "Meri neendon mein tum" sung by Kishore Kumar
. 1957: Film Sharadadirected byL.V. Prasadwas Meena Kumari first venture withRaj Kapoorfor Meena Kumari it was a difficult role to essay and had been refused by all leading actesses of the day. The finesse which Meena vested in her role earned her the Best actress atBengal Film Journalists' Association Award.The Film gained great critical success.The film was the ninthhighest grossingfilm at the Indian Box Office in 1957 and noted as one of the best performances of Meena Kumari.Miss Marya comedy film directed byL.V. PrasadStar Meena Kumari and Gemini Ganesan. The film was one of the biggest hits of that year.
1958: Saharadirected by Lekhraj Bhakri, Meena Kumari received aFilmfareBest Actress nomination for her performance. FilmYahudidirected byBimal Roy. It starred Meena Kumari,Dilip Kumar,Sohrab Modi,Nazir Hussain,Nigar Sultanawas a box office hit with famous song "Yeh Mera Diwanapan Hai" sung byMukesh. FilmFarishtastarting Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari as lead protagonist. The film was above average. Film Saveradirected bySatyen Bosewith Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar in lead roles.
1960 saw Film Kohinoor directed by S U Sunny. The film stars Meena Kumari, Dilip Kumar, Leela Chitnis and Kumkum. This film is also notable for some rare comical and funny scenes by Meena Kumari, who is otherwise known as tragedy queen. Its tone was light and it lacked the intense characterisations of their earlier films.The film was one of the biggest Hindi film hit in the decade.
do sitaron ka milan hai aaj ki raat from kohinoor
Another film Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Hindi romantic drama written and directed by Kishore Sahu.The film stars Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar and Nadira as leads,It is one of the noted acting performances of lead actress Meena Kumari's career.The music of this movie became so popular specially the song "Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh" sung by Lata Mangeshkargave Shankar Jaikishan Filmfare Award inspite of the great music of Naushad in Mughal e Azam.
Ajeeb Dastan Hai Yeh
1961 was again good year for Meena Kumari ,her film Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan a family drama directed by Sadashiv J. Row Kavi with Meena Kumari and Balraj Sahni in the lead roles.It is one of the noted acting performances by Meena Kumari.The film was one of the highest-grossing film of the year at the Indian Box Office with the famous song "Jyoti Kalash Chhalke" by Lata Mangeshkar. Film Zindagi Aur Khwab directed S. Bannerjee Starting Meena Kumari and Rajendra Kumar.The film was a hit on Indian box office. Pyaar Ka Saagar directed by Devendra Goel with Meena Kumari and Rajendra Kumar.The film did above the average.
jyoti kalash chhalke
The year 1962 proved to be a watershed. Meena Kumari created history in Filmfare, and remains unique to this day, by being the sole leading lady to have been nominated at all slots for the FilmfareBest Actress award in 1963. The nominations were for her roles in Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Aarti and Main Chup Rahungi. Kumari won her third best actress Filmfare for Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, which was conferred with three more awards, but her performances in the other two movies had equally impacted the audiences.
song from Saheb Biwi Aur Gulam
1963: Dil Ek Mandirdirected byC. V. Sridhar. The film stars Meena Kumari,Rajendra Kumar,Raaj KumarandMehmood. The film's music is byShankar Jaikishan. The film was a big hit on box office and so was the film music with famous songs" Ruk Jaa Raat Teher Ja Re Chanda "and" Hum Tere Pyar Mein sara Alam Kho Betai "sung byLata Mangeshkar. Akeli Mat Jaiyo directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal a romantic comedy with Meena Kumari andRajendra Kumarin leads. Kinare Kinare directed byChetan Anandwith Meena Kmari,Dev Anand, Chetan Anand.
1965: Kaajaldirected by Ram Maheshwari. The film stars Meena Kumari,Dharmendra,Raaj Kumar,Padmini,Helen,MehmoodandMumtaz. The film was declared as "Hit" on the Box office and was enlisted in Top 20 film of 1965Meena Kumari won her fourth and last Filmfare forKaajal. Bheegi Raat directed byKalidaswith Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar and Pradeep Kumar. The film was one the biggest hits of the year with famous songs "Dil Jo Na Ke Saka" sung byLata MangeshkarandMohd Rafi.FilmPurnimadirected by Narendra Suri starring Meena Kumari andDharmendrain lead roles.Film Jadui Angoothi directed by A.M. Khan With Meena Kumari,Chitra, Manher Desai, Kesari, Uma Khosla.
Dil Jo Na Ke Saka from Bhigi Raat
1966:Phool Aur Patthardirected byO. P. Ralhanstarring Meena Kumari andDharmendrain lead roles.This was the movie which went on to become a golden jubilee hit catapulting Dharmendra to stardom. The movie was highest grossing for the year 1966.Meena Kumari performance in the film ensured her a nomination in the Best Actress category in the Filmfare awards for that year.Film Pinjre Ke Panchhi directed by Salil Choudhury with Meena Kumari,Balraj SahniandMehmoodin main roles.
Meena kumari fell ill in 1968,She was taken to London and Switzerland on June 1968 for treatment. After that she did few films and did character roles.Mere Apne the first directorial venture of Gulzar was one of them,Dushman directed by Dulal Guha The film stars Meena Kumari Rehman and Rajesh Khanna with Mumtaz in lead roles.The film became a "super-hit" at the box office. In 1955 Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi were in South India and here Kamal Amrohi began outlining the plot of his next film with his wife Meena Kumari and decided that he would call it Pakeezah..He hoped to create a film which would be worthy of the love he felt for her as a women. Kamal declared that every line he wrote he had Meena in mind. The film went on the studio floors in 1964, but the shooting came to a standstill after their separation(never formally divorced ) in March 1964, when it was more than halfway complete. On 16 March 1969, five years and twelve days after Kumari left her husband, Gravelly ill, Meena Kumari reported for work again on Pakeezah. Kamal Amrohi organized a great reception. He gave his wife a peda(sweet) as a peace offering, and made a documentary film on her arrival at the studio. Gravelly ill Meena Kumari was determined to complete the film and, was well aware of the limited time left for her to live, went out of her way to complete it at the earliest. Despite her rapidly deteriorating health, she gave the finishing touches to her performance.
Pakeezah released on 4 February 1972, with a grand premiere at Maratha Mandir theatre in central Mumbai. Meena Kumari arrived to attend the last premiere of her life.Three weeks after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari became seriously ill, on 28 March 1972 she was admitted to St Elizabeth's Nursing Home.Meena Kumari died on Friday 31 March 1972 of liver cirrhosis at age 39. Meena Kumari was also a talented poet under the pseudonym Naaz. Her poetry reveals a side of her personality that was rarely on display in her films. It proved that she was a much more sensitive and self-aware woman than her fans tend to realise. Meena Kumari had no formal education, but she was quite well versed in Urdu and Hindi. She was an ardent reader. She also used to write poems in Urdu, many of which even got published. Her love for poetry also brought her closer to Gulzar.
