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Meena Kumari, known for her tragic roles in Bollywood films like Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam and Pakeezah, passed away today in 1972.
Died on 31st March 1972
They called her the Tragedy Queen - the most popular actress of Bollywood till the 1970s, Meena Kumari’s career and life were a success story. She won numerous awards and did 92 films in a career spanning from the 1930s till her death. Born in 1933, she would be born to a poor family - and hence would have to work at an early age.
Leatherface would be her child debut onto Bollywood - at barely 6 years old in 1939. She became an essential breadwinner of her family, and she had not even stopped being a child yet!
More productions followed, but then from 1946 onwards, she began to be cast in adult roles - singing songs as well as acting. From Duniya Ek Sarai to mythological films like Laxmi Narayan and fantasy ones like Alladin Aur Jadui Chirag, she was experimenting and getting her feet in an industry still very new to her.
It was in 1952 that with Baiju Bawra her career truly sprang up - almost drowning in a scene on the river. The next year, Parineeta would win her the best actress awards as it was considered the best adaptation of its namesake novel. More films like Do Bigha Zameen, Foot Path, Chandni Chowk, Azad, Ek hee Rasta - all became cult classics due to her strong roles and acting.
From 1957 onwards, she became the Tragedy Queen - in Sharada, Sahara, Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan, Chand, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai - all were romantic dramas, set in numerous contemporary issues and historical events as well as several films representing her as a tragic daughter.
In the 1960s, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam would see her acting elevated to new heights - as an alcoholic character, she had to keep Eau de Cologne applied under the nose to stimulate alcoholic effects. Other films like Pakeezah - which are still a classic also followed.
But her health had rapidly declined due to an alcoholism problem - and she would die of Cirrhosis of the liver on the 31st of March, 1972, when she was just 38 years old. The tragedy Queen’s real-life alcoholism was rooted in her separation from her husband and other issues, as she took to Urdu poetry writing and the drink to cope.
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