Meena Kumari (1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress, playback singer, poet, and costume designer who worked in Indian cinema from 1939 to 1972. She began her career as a child artist in the 1939 film Leatherface, credited as Baby Mahjabeen. Over the next six years, she appeared in several films under the screen name Baby Meena before making her debut as Meena Kumari in Bachchon Ka Khel.

Kumari achieved her breakthrough with Baiju Bawra (1952), which established her as a prominent actress, followed by Parineeta (1953), which further consolidated her status in the industry. During the 1950s, she acted in a variety of genres including drama, fantasy, and comedy. She later became most closely associated with tragic roles, which earned her the epithet “Tragedy Queen.”

From the late 1950s to the early 1960s, Meena Kumari appeared in films that often depicted the social and emotional struggles faced by Indian women of the period. Notable among these were Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), in which she portrayed the “other woman,” Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), where she played an alcoholic wife yearning for her husband's attention, and Aarti and Main Chup Rahungi (both 1962). She further consolidated her position with acclaimed performances in Dil Ek Mandir (1963) and Kaajal (1965).

By the late 1960s, Kumari developed a dependence on alcohol, which began to affect her health and was increasingly evident in her screen appearances. Nevertheless, she continued to deliver notable performances in films such as Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Mere Apne (1971), and Pakeezah (1972). The latter, considered her magnum opus, was released only weeks before her death on 31 March 1972, and is widely regarded as her swan song.

In addition to acting, Kumari was also active as a poet, playback singer, and costume designer. She lent her voice to songs in her early films as a child artist, and in 1971 released an album of her poetry titled I Write, I Recite. She also designed the costumes for Pakeezah. Over the course of a 33-year career, she appeared in 93 films, in addition to appearing in an advertisement, a radio programme, and a documentary.

Films As an actor Year Title Role Notes 1939 Leather Face Baby Mahjabeen Adhuri Kahani Baby Mahjabeen 1940 Pooja Bina Ek Hi Bhool Baby Meena 1941 Nai Roshni Munni Kasauti Baby Meena Bahen Bina 1942 Garib Baby Meena Vijay Baby Meena 1943 Pratiggya Baby Meena 1944 Lal Haveli Mukta 1946 Duniya Ek Sarai Tara Bachchon Ka Khel Anuradha At 13, Baby Meena made her debut as Meena Kumari 1948 Piya Ghar Aaja Bichchade Balam 1949 Veer Ghatotkach Surekha 1950 Shri Ganesh MahimaSatyabhama Magroor Meenu Rai Hamara Ghar 1951 Sanam Rani Madhosh Soni Laxmi Narayan The Hindu goddess Laxmi Hanuman Patal Vijay Makari 1952 Tamasha Kiran Baiju Bawra Gauri Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award Aladdin Aur Jadui Chirag Princess Badar 1953 Naulakha Haar Bijma Parineeta Lalita Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award Footpath Mala This movie featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed. Do Bigha Zamin Thakurain The first Indian film to win the International Prize at Cannes in 1954. The film also marks Kumari's maiden guest appearance. Daana Paani Daaera Sheetal 1954 Ilzaam Kamli Chandni Chowk Zareena Begum Baadbaan 1955 Rukhsana Rukhsana Adl-e-Jehangir Zareena Bandish Usha Sen Azaad Shobha Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award 1956 Mem Sahib Meena Ek Hi Raasta Malti Satranj Sandhya Naya Andaz Mala Halaku Nilofer Nadir Bandhan Bani This film was awarded with a Certificate of Merit in National Film Awards. 1957 Sharada Sharada Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Miss Mary Laxmi / Mary 1958 Sahara Leela Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Yahudi Hannah Savera Shanti Farishta Shobha 1959 Chand Vimla Ardhangini Chhaya Shararat Shabnam Satta Bazaar Jamuna Madhu Madhu Jagir Jyoti Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan Ratna Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award Char Dil Char Rahen Chavli 1960 Kohinoor Princess Chandramukhi Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Karuna Bahana 1961 Zindagi aur Khwab Shanti Pyaar Ka Saagar Radha / Rani B Gupta Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan Geeta The film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year at the Indian Box Office. 1962 Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam Chhoti Bahu / Sati Lakshmi Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award/ Nominated in 13th Berlin International Film Festival & Meena Kumari was selected as a delegate. The film was India's entry to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Main Chup Rahungi Gayetri Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Aarti Aarti Gupta Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Nominated Filmfare Best Actress 1963 Kinare Kinare Neelu Dil Ek Mandir Seeta Won – Best Actress Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards Nominated-Filmfare Best Actress Akeli Mat Jaiyo Seema 1964 Benazir Benazir Main Bhi Ladki Hoon Rajni Sanjh Aur Savera Gauri Ghazal Naaz Ara Begum Chitralekha Chitralekha Meena Kumari's first colour feature film. 1965 Purnima Purnima Kaajal Madhavi Won – Filmfare Best Actress Award Bheegi Raat Neelima 1966 Phool Aur Patthar Shanti Nominated – Filmfare Best Actress Award Pinjre Ke Panchhi Heena Sharma 1967 Noorjehan Mehr-un-Nisa / Noorjehan Majhli Didi Hemangini The film was India's entry to the 41st Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. Chandan Ka Palna Shobha Rai Bahu Begum Zeenat Jahan Begum 1968 Baharon Ki Manzil Nanda Roy / Radha Shukla Abhilasha Meena Singh 1970 Saat Phere Jawab Vidya 1971Mere Apne Anandi Devi 1972 Dushmun Malti Pakeezah Nargis / Sahibjaan Won special Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award and posthumously received her twelfth and last Filmfare nomination. Gomti Ke Kinare Ganga Released posthumously.Credited as Meenaji in her last film.

As a playback singer Year Title SongCo-singer (if any)LyricistMusic Director Notes 1941 Bahen "Tore Kajra Lagaoon Mori Rani..."Beena KumariDr. Safdar "Aah" SitapuriAnil Krishna Biswas 1946 Dunia Ek Sarai "Chheen Li Hamri Hansi De Gaye Rona Humko..."Zohrabai AmbalewaliKidar Nath SharmaHansraj Behl "Maa Dekh Ri Maa Badli Huyi Jawan..." "Saawan Beet Gayo Maayi Ri..."1948Piya Ghar Aja "Desh Paraye Jaanewale Bhool Na Jaana..."Ishwar Chandra KapoorBulo C. Rani "Ankiyan Taras Rahi Un Bin..."Indra Chandra "Mili Aj Piya Se Ankhiyaan..." "Nain Dor Se Bandh Liyo Chitchor..."Karan Dewan Nain Base Ho Raja Dil Mein Bichhade Balam "Haseeno Ko Dil Mein Basaana Bura Hai..."A. R. Ojha & Mohammed Farooqui "Aata Hai Dil Pyaar Kyun..." "Ek Aag Lagi Dil Mein..." "Mere Piya Na Aaye Tarsaaye Re..." "Bol Re Mere Pyaare Papeehe Bol Re..." "Haaye Piya Mujhe Lalchaye Jiya..." 1966 Pinjre Ke Panchhi "Kubda Chadhe Ghodi Aisa Hoga Kabhi..."Manna DeyGulzarSalil Chowdhury 1972 Pakeezah "Leke Angrai..."Suman KalyanpurKaif BhopaliGhulam Mohammed The song was released in 1977 in album Pakeezah Rang Barang. Meena Kumari recited the introductory couplet of this song. The song in actual is sung by Suman Kalyanpur.

As Costume Designer Year Title 1972 Pakeezah

Miscellaneous

Year Work Notes 1953 Dream House Kumari was in an international Dunlopillo UK Advertisement.1967 After The Eclipse Documentary produced by S.Sukhdev featured Kumari's voice. Jaimala by Meena Kumari Kumari presented a special radio programme which was broadcast by Radio Ceylon 1971 I Write, I Recite Consists of her poems under the label of LP Vinyl Record for which Khayyam gave music. 1979 Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani Film dedicated to Kumari was directed by Sohrab Modi and its music was composed by Khayyam. 1980 Shaira Documentary on Kumari was directed by S.Sukh Dev along with Gulzar and produced by Kanta Sukhdev. 2018Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh A play depicting her life was staged at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur.

References

External links

Meena Kumari at Manas: Culture of India Collection of verses by Meena Kumari