Celebrated as the first female comedian in Indian cinema, TUN TUN was not only a legendary actress but also an accomplished singer. She is known for iconic songs like “Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon,” “Dil Ko Laga Ke Humne,” “Aaj Machi Hai Dhoom Jhoom Khushi Mein Jhoom,” and many more.
Uma Devi was born on July 11, 1923, in the small village of Alipur near Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. Her early life was plagued by significant tragedies and extraordinary hardships. A land dispute between her relatives claimed the lives of her parents and older brother, leaving her in extreme poverty during her childhood and teen years. At the time, she lived with her relatives and worked as domestic help. Later, she moved to Delhi, where she met an Excise Duty Inspector, Akhtar Abbas Kazi, who helped him secure a job and also inspired her to continue singing. During the partition, Mr. Kazi moved to Pakistan, and Uma, at the age of 23, decided to go to Bombay.
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She arrived in Bombay without any support or a place to live, but only with her courage as her companion. She goes to legendary musician Naushad Saab’s house and knocks. When Naushad asked her the reason to come, she boldly said, I have come to be a singer; I can sing, and if you did not give me a chance, I would throw herself in the ocean. Naushad was taken aback by her confidence and hired her after an audition.
Uma Devi made her debut as a singer in Rafiq Rizvi’s Haqdar (1946), where she sang the song “Ek Rang Mein Sab Rang Jaate Hain” under the music direction of Naushad’s assistant Mohammad Shafi. Her breakthrough came with A.R. Kardar’s social drama “Dard,” where she sang the classic “Afsana likh Rahi Hoon,” which made her a star singer. She also sang songs like “Yeh Kaun Chala Meri Aankhon Mein Samakar,” “Aaj Machi Hai Dhoom Jhoom Khushi Mein Jhoom,” and “Betab Hai Dil Dard Mohabbat Ke Asar Se” which was a duet with superstar Suraiya.
Besides the success, Uma Devi also got lucky on the personal front when her well-wisher, Akhtar Abbas Kazi, decided to leave Pakistan for the sake of being with her and moved to Bombay to get married to her. The couple had four children and shared a life together until Kazi’s passing in 1992.
Uma Devi’s career as a singer went well with films like Natak (1947), Anjuman (1947), Anokhi Ada (1948), Chandralekha (1948), Heer Ranjha (1948), Kajal (1948), Pugree (1948), Satyanarayan (1948), Bhakta Pundlik (1949), Bhikhari (1949), Chandni Raat (1949), Dhoomketu (1949), Dillagi (1949), Ek Teri Nishani (1949), Hamari Kismat (1949), Gharana (1949), Jio Raja (1949), Pyar Ki Raat (1949), Rooplekha (1949), Aakhri Paigham (1949), Saudamini (1950), Saudamini (1951), Goonj (1952), Usha Kiran (1952), Raj Mahal (1953), Rangeen Raten (1956), Taksaal (1956), Naya Zamana (1957), and many more.
Some of her most famous songs include “Dil Ko Laga Ke Humne,” “Kaahe Jiya Dole” (Anokhi Ada), “Meri Pyari Patang Chali Baadal Ke Sang (Dillagi),” “Dilwale Jal Jal Kar Hi Mar Jaana (Natak),” “Ek Rang Mein Sab Rang Jaate Hain (Haqdar),” “Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharni (Naya Zamana),” “Chandni Raat Hai Haay Kya Baat Ha (Chandni Raat),” “Manbhavan Sawan Aaya (Chandralekha),” and many more.
However, her singing career was relatively short-lived. As the industry evolved, new voices emerged; her raw and untrained voice was no match for singers like Lata, Asha, Geeta, and Shamshad Begum. As her popularity as a singer declined, she again went to her mentor, Naushad Saab, who advised her to try acting and helped her get roles. Although she made her acting debut with Sudhir Phadke’s “Jai Bhim” in 1949, her proper debut came with Dilip Kumar’s starrer film Babul (1950).
Dilip Kumar, who was close with both Naushad Saab and Uma Devi, renamed her “Tun Tun” to suit her bubbly personality. After the success of Babul, she went on to do many films like “Dholak (1951),” “Deedar (1951),” “Baaz (1953),” “Gul Bahar (1954),” “Aar-Paar (1954),” “Uran Khatola (1955),” “Mr. & Mrs. ’55 (1955),” “Hatimtai Ki Beti (1955),” “Shree 420 (1955),” “Raj Hath (1956),” “Pocketmaar (1956),” “Jagte Raho (1956),” “C.I.D. (1956),” “Mirza Sahiban (1957),” “Pyaasa (1957),” “Solva Saal (1958),” “Phir Subah Hogi (1958),” “Lajwanti (1958),” and many more.
Tun Tun appeared alongside some of the most prominent actors of the time. She also worked with top comedy actors such as Bhagwan Dada, Agha, Sunder, Mukri, Dhumal, Johnny Walker, and Keshto Mukherjee. Her comic timing and the ability to make people laugh through physical comedy were hugely admired. In the 1960s and 1970s, she was a permanent part of every Hindi film, often used as comic relief, and offered caricaturish roles. Almost all her gags were based on her weight and eating habits, which were maybe funny for the time but introspective and very problamatic.
Some famous films of Tun Tun in that era include Qaidi No. 911 (1959), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), Kohinoor (1960), Ek Phool Char Kaante (1960), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), Bombai Ka Babu (1960), Shama (1961), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1961), Gunga Jumna (1961), Professor (1961), Son of India (1961), China Town (1962), Dilli Ka Thug (1962), Half Ticket (1962), Godaan (1963), Bluff Master (1963), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Rajkumar (1964), Kaajal (1965), Phool Aur Patthar (1965), Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), Kanyadaan (1968), Do Raaste (1969), Geet (1970), Sharafat (1970), Samadhi (1972), Lalkar (1972), Kuchhe Dhaage (1973), Hera Pheri (1976), Nagin (1976), Heeralal Pannalal(1976), Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Namak Halaal (1982), Disco Dancer (1982), Coolie (1983), and many more.
In her career spanning five decades, Tun Tun acted in about 198 films, her last film being “Talaashi” in 1995, after which she retired from films.
She died on November 23, 2003, in Andheri, Mumbai, after a prolonged illness at the age of 80. She was survived by her four children and four grandchildren.
