Meena Kumari filmography

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Meena Kumari filmography
Meena Kumari in Miss Mary
Film93
Radio show1
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Meena Kumari (1 August 1933 — 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress, playback singer, poet and costume designer who predominantly worked in Indian cinema between 1939—72. Meena Kumari started her film career with Leatherface, a 1939 film with the name Baby Mahjabeen. For around six years, Baby Meena (as she was called in her later films), continued to appear as a child artist in a string of films before making her debut with Bachchon Ka Khel as Meena Kumari. However, it was the film Baiju Bawra (1952) which turned Kumari into an overnight star and Parineeta (1953) which further solidified her position as a bankable leading lady. For sometime, particularly till the late 1950s, Kumari continued to show off her versatility as an artist, featuring in films ranging from drama to fantasy and even comedy before adopting the genre which earned her the sobriquet— Queen of Tragedy.[peacock prose]

From late 1950s to early 1960s, Meena Kumari started to appear in films which usually revolved around the trials and tribulations of women of India of that time. Some of her popular films include Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), in which she actually played the part of "the other woman", Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam - an alcoholic wife desperate for her husband's attention, Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi (all 1962), Dil Ek Mandir (1963) and Kaajal (1965).

By late 1960s, Meena Kumari got addicted to alcohol, the effect of which was visible in her subsequent films. Some of her last successful films include Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Mere Apne (1971) and Pakeezah (1972) which went on to become her swan song. Soon after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari breathed her last on 31 March 1972.

In addition to being an accomplished actress, Kumari was also a poet and a playback singer. She sang in some of her early films as a child artist and to her poems which came out in an album, I Write, I Recite (1971). Meena Kumari also designed the costumes in her final landmark film Pakeezah. In her career of 33 years she appeared in 93 films, an advertisement, a radio programme, and a documentary.

Filmography[edit]

The following is the complete filmography of actress Meena Kumari.

As actor[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1939 Leather Face Baby Mahjabeen
Adhuri Kahani Baby Mahjabeen
1940 Pooja Bina
Ek Hi Bhool Baby Meena rechristened Mahjabeen as Baby Meena
1941 Nai Roshni Munni
Kasauti Baby Meena
Bahen Bina
1942 Garib Baby Meena
Vijay Baby Meena
1943 Pratiggya Baby Meena
1944 Lal Haveli Mukta
1946 Duniya Ek Sarai Tara
Bachchon Ka Khel Anuradha At 13, Baby Meena made her debut as Meena Kumari
1948 Piya Ghar Aaja
Bichchade Balam
1949 Veer Ghatotkach Surekha
1950 Shri Ganesh Mahima Satyabhama
Magroor Meenu Rai
Hamara Ghar
1951 Sanam Rani
Madhosh Soni
Laxmi Narayan Goddess Laxmi
Hanuman Patal Vijay Makari
1952 Tamasha Kiran
Baiju Bawra Gauri Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award
Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag Princess Badar
1953 Naulakha Haar Bijma
Parineeta Lalita Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award
Footpath Mala This movie featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.
Do Bigha Zamin Thakurain The first Indian film to win the International Prize at Cannes in 1954.

The film also marks Meena Kumari's maiden guest appearance.

Daana Paani
Daaera Sheetal
1954 Ilzaam Kamli
Chandni Chowk Zareena Begum
Baadbaan
1955 Rukhsana Rukhsana
Adl-e-Jehangir Zareena
Bandish Usha Sen
Azaad Shobha Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award
1956 Mem Sahib Meena
Ek Hi Raasta Malti
Shatranj Sandhya
Naya Andaz Mala
Halaku Nilofer Nadir
Bandhan Bani This film was awarded with a Certificate of Merit in National Film Awards.
1957 Sharada Sharada Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards
Miss Mary Laxmi / Mary
1958 Sahara Leela Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress
Yahudi Hannah
Savera Shanti
Farishta Shobha
1959 Chand Vimla
Ardhangini Chhaya
Shararat Shabnam
Satta Bazaar Jamuna
Madhu Madhu
Jagir Jyoti
Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan Ratna Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award
Char Dil Char Rahen Chavli
1960 Kohinoor Princess Chandramukhi
Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Karuna It is one of the noted acting performances of Meena Kumari's career.
Bahana
1961 Zindagi aur Khwab Shanti
Pyaar Ka Saagar Radha / Rani B Gupta
Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan Geeta The film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year at the Indian Box Office.
1962 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam Chhoti Bahu / Sati Lakshmi Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award/ Nominated in 13th Berlin International Film Festival & Meena Kumari was selected as a delegate.

The film was India's entry to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Main Chup Rahungi Gayetri Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress
Aarti Aarti Gupta Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Nominated Filmfare Best Actress

1963 Kinare Kinare Neelu
Dil Ek Mandir Seeta Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Nominated-Filmfare Best Actress

Akeli Mat Jaiyo Seema
1964 Benazir Benazir
Main Bhi Ladki Hoon Rajni
Sanjh Aur Savera Gauri
Ghazal Naaz Ara Begum
Chitralekha Chitralekha Meena Kumari's first colour feature film.
1965 Purnima Purnima
Kaajal Madhavi Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award
Bheegi Raat Neelima
1966 Phool Aur Patthar Shanti Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award
Pinjre Ke Panchhi Heena Sharma
1967 Noorjehan Mehr-un-Nisa / Noorjehan
Majhli Didi Hemangini The film was India's entry to the 41st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.
Chandan Ka Palna Shobha Rai
Bahu Begum Zeenat Jahan Begum
1968 Baharon Ki Manzil Nanda Roy / Radha Shukla
Abhilasha Meena Singh
1970 Saat Phere
Jawab Vidya
1971 Mere Apne Anandi Devi
Dushmun Malti
1972 Pakeezah Nargis / Sahibjaan Won special Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award and posthumously received her twelfth and last Filmfare nomination.
Gomti Ke Kinare Ganga Released posthumously.
Credited as Meenaji in her last film.

As playback singer[edit]

Year Title Song Notes
1941 Bahen Tore Kajra Lagaoon
1946 Duniya Ek Sarai Cheen Li Hamari Hansi
Ma Dekh Ri Ma Badli
Sawan Beet Gayo Mayi Ri
1948 Piya Ghar Aaja Ankiyan Taras Rahi
Nain Base Ho Raja Dil Mein
Desh Paraye Jaanewale
Nain Dor Se Bandh Liyo
Mili Aj Piya Se Ankhiyaan
Bichchade Balam[1] Haseeno Ko Dil Mein
Aata Hai Dil Pyaar
Ek Aag Lagi Dil Mein
Mere Piya Na Aaye
Bol Re Bol Mere Pyare Papihe
Haaye Piya Mujhe Lalchaye Jiya
1959 Shararat Khol De Khole De Khidki
1966 Pinjre Ke Panchhi Aisa Hoga
1972 Pakeezah Leke Angrai The song was released in 1977 in album Pakeezah Rang Barang

As Costume Designer[edit]

Year Title
1972 Pakeezah

Miscellaneous[edit]

Year Work Notes
1953 Dream House Meena Kumari along with Ashok Kumar appeared in international Dunlopillo UK Advertisement.
1967 After The Eclipse Documentary produced by S.Sukhdev featured Meena Kumari's voice.
Jaimala by Meena Kumari Meena Kumari presented a special radio programme which was broadcast by Radio Ceylon
1971 I Write, I Recite Consists of her poems under the label of LP Vinyl Record for which Khayyam gave music.[2]
1979 Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani Film dedicated to the late actress was directed by Sohrab Modi and its music was composed by Khayyam.
1980 Shaira Documentary on Kumari was directed by S.Sukh Dev along with Gulzar and produced by Kanta Sukhdev.
2018 Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh A play depicting her life was staged at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "MEENA KUMARI–THE SINGING MAESTRO". nikhileiyer. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Meena Kumari I Write I Recite 2392 003 LP Vinyl Record Singer Meena Kumari Music Khayyam Lyrics Meena Kumari". Onlinevinylshop.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  3. ^ "When Meena Kumari comes alive on Jaipur stage". Times of India. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2018.

External links[edit]