Legacy Meena_Kumari

—khwaja ahmad abbas on meena kumari (meena kumari classic biography)

meena kumari herself once said people picked strands of hair make taweez (talisman) out of it. 1 of remarkable facts acting resided in fact never used products glycerin in order shed tears, shed genuine ones while acting. indian film critic bhawana somaaya says: there time when top heros not willing work meena kumari, because played powerful roles . vinod mehta shares: meena kumari become powerful make or break stars, kumari adopted attitude of guardian, artistic mentor towards newcomers worked opposite rajendra kumar in chirag kahan roshni kahan , sunil dutt in ek hi raasta. meena kumari helped dharmendra enormously in initial stages of career, , established dharmendra s acting career in indian cinema. legendary kathak master pandit lachhu maharaj’s praise meena kumari’s dance when remarked on unique way in take turn. way in turn, angles of shoulders, come naturally , cannot taught. ashok kumar said: meena natural actress. choosy, once accepted role, put heart , it’s not surprising she’s still remembered sensitive portrayals. when saying dialogue d add line not in script , worried how meena react, she’d surprise me right response. amitabh bachchan said meenaji soft spoken gentle lady, appreciative of work done new comers, extremely kind me @ trial , ever since encouraging whenever got chance meet her. meena kumari s greatness lay in immense talent , humaneness . javed akhtar shares: young indian women used emulate kumari s dignified sober fashion styles, way kumari wore saree, hair style, bindi style, , first time indian actress achieved such status , fame. meena kumari undoubtedly, became first female style icon of indian cinema.

a postal stamp issued in honour of meena kumari on 13 february 2011 india post.

meena kumari s awaited film pakeezah released on 4 february 1972, , day before pakeezah released on 3 february 1972, boat pakeezah sailing near shores of mumbai. tajdar amrohi shares: when shooting of pakeezah started again in 1969, first song shot mausam hai ashiqaana . song, meena kumari set new fashion trend of girls wearing lunghi. indian film critic bhawana somaaya says: pakeezah poetry on celluloid, can not imagine else in movie except meena kumari.

pakeezah inaugural film telecast doordarshan, india s state-owned television station when began broadcasting amritsar in punjab in 70s. specially beamed towards lahore nearby, in pakistan. thousands flocked @ lahore, far karachi, hundreds of miles away, see pakeezah. flood - crowds stampeded streets of lahore television screens placed @ strategic points on virtually every street corner.

neville tuli, chairman, osian s group said in statement: meena kumari true icon womanhood , cinema, absorbing all, breaking all, in search herself . on 24 february 2016 meena kumari s original publicity material , memorabilia, including paintings , portraits of films, displayed @ womanhood festival @ osianama liberty mumbai india..

there no dichotomy between actor , role played. says rekha banerjee, wife of late film director , screenplay-writer, shanu banerjee. recalls sets of bahu begum, meena kumari sobbing inconsolably, long after director had called cut , did immerse herself in role.

historian critic philip bounds , researcher daisy hasan write regarding meena kumari s legacy of poetry: poetry medium through kumari distanced herself public image , criticized industry had brought public attention in first place. in sense, poems tell bollywood herself.

javed akhtar narrates: kamal sahab gave me job , helped me. salary rs.50 , in 60s, not rent house amount of money. used sleep in corner of studio. started living in costume room of studio. didn t have enough money go out have meal. in evenings potter around in drawers. there many cupboards filled costumes of pakeezah; sherwanis, dresses, shoes. 1 day opened drawer , found amid clutter, 3 filmfare trophies. dusted them , realized meena kumari s filmfare trophies. had never held trophy , filmfare trophy akin oscar in india. there big mirrors in room. in evenings come , lock myself in costume room , hold trophies in front of mirror, acting how accept if receive it. first trophy held in hand of meena kumari! eighteen-year-old boy had no home, no money, no food, these trophies encouraged me achieve dreams, , this, thankful meena-ji.

another anecdote narrated akhtar comes sets of pinjre ke panchhi had scene of meena kumari s character committing suicide coming in front of train & balraj sahni s character saves doing @ last minute. javed akhtar narrates: scene shot near khandala railway station & decided shot in 1 take. shot in front of deccan mail express didn t had halt @ khandala. risking life best take huge challenge before , kumari along sahni executed scene great finesse. although sahni saved speeding train, left in state of shock of despair. such meena kumari s dedication art didn t feared life , gave perfect shot.

—tragedy queen meena kumari interview afsar jamshed

satyajit ray said: saw meena kumari s sahib bibi aur ghulam, undoubtedly actress of highest calibre.

music director naushad says meena, throughout short life exploited people own ends, , frustrated took drinking , writing poetry fight feeling of betrayal. due contrast between stardom , troubled private life, kumari closely linked broader discussions modern phenomena such mass media, fame, , consumer culture. every year, on meena kumari s birthday, numerous articles printed , television programmes aired commemorate her, , modern magazines continue publish stories on personal life , career.