It’s been more than 50 years since Meena Kumari breathed her last and left the cruel world for a better place. A life plagued with many difficulties, pains, and heartbreaks comes to an end. Generations have passed, but the love of her fans is still the same; they love her, adore her, can feel her pain, and hate everyone they think is responsible for her sorrows.
टुकड़े टुकड़े दिन बीता
Meena Kumari
धज्जी धज्जी रात मिली
जिस का जितना आँचल था
उतनी ही सौग़ात मिली
Early Life
On Meena Ji’s birth anniversary Let’s take a look at Meena Apa’s life. Her journey began under challenging circumstances. Born on August 1st, 1933, her father, Ali Bux, was a musician and actor, and her mother, Iqbal Begum, was a singer. Financial hardships led Meena Apa’s father to consider leaving her at an orphanage, but he soon relented and brought her home. Meena’s grandmother, Hemsundari, was married to Jadu Nandan Tagore (1840-1862). Jadu Nandan Tagore was a cousin of “Rabindranath Tagore”. According to some accounts, Hemsundari Tagore was herself a cousin of Gurudev.
After the death of her first husband, Hem Sundari became a nurse in Meerut and married a Christian journalist, Munshi Pyare Lal Shakir Meerut (1880–1956), and had a daughter, Prabhavati Devi, a gifted singer who married Ali Bux and adopted the name “Iqbal Begum”.
Meena Kumari – The Superstar
Her career started as a child artist when director Vijay Bhatt cast Mahjabeen in the film “Leatherface (1939)”, followed by Adhuri Kahani (1939), Pooja (1940), and Ek Hi Bhool (1940). Her first film as “Baby Meena” was “Ek Hi Bhool (1940).” She also acted in films like “Nai Roshni (1941)”, “Bahen (1941)”, “Kasauti (1941)”, “Vijay (1942)”, “Garib (1942)”, “Pratiggya (1943)”, and “Lal Haveli (1944)”.
Her first adult role was in Raja Nene’s film “Bachchon Ka Khel (1946),” with Aga Jan, Shanta Patel, and Baby Shakuntala. She followed it with Kidar Sharma’s “Duniya Ek Sarai (1946),” with Jagirdar, and Begum.
Her early career saw her doing mostly mythological and fantasy films like “Veer Ghatotkach (1949)”, “Shri Ganesh Mahima (1950)”, “Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag (1952)” and many more. She also done smaller films like “Piya Ghar Aaja (1948),” “Bichchade Balam (1948),” “Magroor (1950)”, “Hamara Ghar (1950)”, “Sanam (1951)”, “Madhosh (1951)”, and “Tamasha (1952)”.
However, it was the 1952 classic “Baiju Bawra” that catapulted her to stardom, earning her the inaugural Filmfare Best Actress Award. The following year, she solidified her status with “Parineeta (1953)”, directed by Bimal Roy, and won the 2nd consecutive Filmfare Best Actress Award. She followed by hits like Chandni Chowk (1954), Azaad (1955), Bandish (1955), Adl-e-Jehangir (1955), Mem Sahib (1956), Ek Hi Raasta (1956), Bandhan (1956), Sharada (1957), Sahara (1958), Yahudi (1958), Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959) & Char Dil Char Rahen (1959), Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) and Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961).
Meena Kumari – The Tragedy Queen
For “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam”, in 1962, she earned another Filmfare Best Actress Award. Remarkably, during the 10th Filmfare Awards held in 1963, Kumari made history by receiving all three nominations in the Best Actress category (“Aarti”, “Main Chup Rahungi ” were the other two), ultimately winning for “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam”. This feat remains unparalleled, highlighting her dominance in the field during that era. Meena Kumari’s portrayal of Chhoti Bahu is often cited as one of the finest acting performances in cinema worldwide. Meena Ji personified the role, bringing a rare balance of drama and believability to the role. When we saw her, we instantly connected with her vulnerability, insecurities, and helplessness. She took viewers on a journey through a decayed and unhappy life and made us part of the narrative; it was Meena Kumari’s power.
The Queen of Screen
She gets nominations for the Filmfare Best Actress Award for Dil Ek Mandir (1963), Phool Aur Patthar (1966), and Pakeezah (1972).
She also delivered some really powerful performances in films like Sanjh Aur Savera (1964), Chitralekha (1964), Ghazal (1964), Kaajal (1965), Majhli Didi (1967), Bahu Begum (1967), and Noorjehan (1967). In 1966, she won her last Best Actress award for “Kaajal”, further cementing her legacy as one of the finest actresses of her time.
Her struggle with alcohol led to a decline in her health in the late 1960s resulting in severe liver cirrhosis, which significantly impacted her work. Baharon Ki Manzil & Abhilasha (1968), Jawab (1970), and Mere Apne & Dushmun (1971) were her successful films of her last phase. On November 22, 1972, Saawan Kumar Tak’s “Gomti Ke Kinare” released, as a tribute to her. It was the last screen appearance of Meena Ji.
The most memorable film of her career, “Pakeezah” (1972),” released shortly before her death. In the film she brings to life the character of Sahibjaan with a depth of emotion that is nothing short of extraordinary. Her eyes, often described as the windows to her soul, convey a myriad of emotions—love, longing, heartbreak, and ultimately, a poignant acceptance of her destiny. Her portrayal is a testament to her unparalleled artistry and a fitting culmination to a legendary career.
Raah dekha karega sadiyon tak
Meena Kumari ( epitaph on her grave)
Chhod jayenge ye jahan tanha
Personal Struggles
Despite her successful career, Meena Apa’s personal life marked by struggles and heartache. She married filmmaker Kamal Amrohi in 1952, and their relationship was both passionate and tumultuous. The marriage faced numerous challenges, including differences in background and Amrohi’s existing marriage. Reports suggest that the marriage marred by control issues and ego clashes which leads to their separation in 1964. She and Amrohi reconciled to an extent after Nargis and Sunil Dutt convinced them to complete “Pakeezah”.
Meena Apa’s relationships were often the subject of media speculation, with rumoured relationships. These relationships, however, never confirmed and remain part of the enigma surrounding her life.
Shortly after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Apa became seriously ill. She was suffring from liver cirrhosis, a condition exacerbated by her addiction to alcohol. Meena admitted to St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home, where she died on March 31, 1972. She was buried at Rehmatabad Cemetery, Mazagaon, Bombay. As per his wish, upon his death on 11 February 1993 in Bombay, Kamal Amrohi was buried next to her.
Additionally, Meena Kumari’s compassionate nature led her to envision starting a trust for visually impaired individuals. She left all her property for a school of visually impaired girls. This dream later fulfilled by her friend Nargis Dutt, filmmaker Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and Kamal Amrohi with the establishment of the Meena Kumari Charitable Trust.
Meena Kumari on IMDB
