Superstar of 40’s cinema, Swaran Lata was a celebrated actress known for her beauty and emotional acting. Some of her memorable movies include Ishara (1943), Rattan (1944), Laila Majnu (1945), Sham Savera (1946), Wamiq Azra (1946), Ghar Baar (1948), Sachai (1949), Pheray (1949), Heer (1955), and many more.
Early Life
Swaran Lata was born on 20 December 1924 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, which is now in Pakistan, into a Sikh family. She completed her Senior Cambridge diploma in Delhi and later enrolled at the Academy of Music and Arts in Lucknow.
After losing her parents at a young age, Swaran Lata spent much of her adolescence under the strict care of her elder brother. The turning point in her life came when she was a student at a college in Lucknow. During a journey from Delhi to Lucknow, she caught the attention of some traveling film directors. The director approached her for acting opportunities. After her refusal, one of the directors took the proposal to her elder brother, who surprisingly agreed. This unexpected agreement marked the beginning of Swaran’s journey into the world of cinema.
Cinematic Journey
Swaran Lata started her career with Rafiq Rizvi’s 1942 film Awaaz, followed by films like Inkar (1943), Bari Baat (1944), Us Paar (1944), and many more.
She acted with Motilal in Pratigya (1943), Tasveer (1943), and Raunaq (1944); with Prithviraj Kapoor in Ishara (1943) and Maharathi Karna (1944) opposite Motilal and Ishara (1943); with Karan Dewan in Ghar Ki Shobha (1944); and with Nazir Ahmed in Swarna Bhoomi (1944).
Swaran Lata The Star
Swaran Lata becomes an overnight sensation with A.R. Kardar’s “Rattan (1944),” which has music by Naushad and lyrics given by D.N. Madhok. Songs like “Akkhiyan Mila Ke Jiya Bharma Ke, Chale Nahin Jana” by Zohrabai Ambalawali, “Milke Bichhad Gayii Akkhiyan” by Amirbai Karnataki, and the duet “O janewale Balamwa” by Amirbai Karnataki and Shyam Kumar are still popular.
Swarna Lata played the lead, Dilip Kumar, in his second film, Pratima (1945), made at Bombay Talkies. The same year, she acted with Nazir in Preet and Laila Majnu. The two fell in love and got married. After her marriage, she continued to act in films like Insaaf (1946), Maa Baap Ki Laaj (1946), and Sham Savera (1946).
She also acted in her husband Nazir’s films Wamiq Azra (1948) and Abidah (1947). After their last film, Ghar Baar (1948), in India, Nazir and Swarnalata migrated to Pakistan.
Swaran Lata After Partition
In Pakistan, they continue to make films like Sachai (1949) and Pheray (1949), where they act together. “Pheray” proved to be Pakistan’s first-ever silver jubilee film.Some of her other successful films were Anokhi Dastan (1950), Bheegi Palken (1952), & Shehri Babu (1953).
Heer (1955) with Inayat Hussain Bhatti was undoubtedly Swarnalata’s best-known and most popular film in Pakistan. She had another big box office hit with Nauker (1955), a remake of the Indian film Aulad (1954).
She was known for her commanding screen presence and moving dialogue delivery. Swaran Lata get the title of “Tragedy Queen of Pakistan” for her emotional, tragic roles.
Post Heer, Swarnalata went on to act in Sauteli Maa (1956), Sabira (1956), Noor-e-Islam (1957), Shama (1959), and Billoji (1962), which did not have any major impact at the box office.
Later Life and Death
Later in her career, Swarnalata transitioned to supporting roles in a few films like Sawaal (1966) & Duniya Na Mane (1971), after which she retired gracefully from the silver screen.
Swaran Lata died at the age of 83 in Lahore, Pakistan, on 8 February 2008. Her grandson Nauman Ijaz is one of the leading actors in Pakistan. Her granddaughter, Fariha Rashed, is a Pakistani entrepreneur and CEO of Ink Magazine and Pitch Media Inc.
On her birth anniversary, we remember Swarnlata’s journey from a young girl in Rawalpindi to a celebrated actress.
Swaran Lata on IMDB
