TRAGEDY QUEEN OF INDIAN CINEMA!

Meena Kumari in 'Chitralekha' (1964).

Now 47 years over..Tragedy Queen of Indian Cinema...Meena Kumari left this world!

Meena Kumari in costume drama film!

Born Mahjabeen Bano..she appeared on screen at the age of 7 in 'Farzand-E-Watan' (1939)..then young Meena Kumari mostly acted in mythological & fantasy films..And Vijay Bhatt's 'Baiju Bawara' (1952) gave her real fame!..She was the first actress to win Filmfare Best Actress award for it!

Meena Kumari in 'Baiju Bawara' (1952).

Then her characters in woman centric films like..Bimal Roy's 'Parineeta' (1953) & 'Sharada' (1957) proved her acting talent. And her role of suffering woman in Guru Dutt's 'Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam' (1960) was outstanding! Still remember her dialogue with natural expressions.."In char deewari mein mera dam ghutata hai!"

Meena Kumari in 'Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam' (1960).

Even she did revolutionary kind of roles..like she portrayed in Kidar Sharma's 'Chitralekha' (1964). Still remember the way she sung for Jogi (Ashok Kumar).. "Sansaar se bhage firate ho..Bhagwan ko tum kya paoge!" In that Sahir's song one superb line she said in excellent expressions "Apaman racheta ka hoga..rachana ko agar thukaraoge!"

Meena Kumari in & as 'Pakeezah' (1972).

'Pakeezah' (1972) made by her husband Kamal Amrohi..was Meena Kumari's last film! With her contemporaries Nargis, Madhubala. She is regarded as one of the most influential actress of Indian Cinema!

Meena Kumari was good shayara (poetess) too..who rightly wrote..
"Chhod jayenge yeh.. 
Jahaan tanahaa!"

Homage to her!!

- Manoj Kulkarni