Meena Kumari, Maut Mubarak ho!

It was in the song "Chalte Chalte" that I first discovered the legendary Meena Kumari. Though I had heard about her from my mom, it was her movie "Pakeezah," that I watched with my mother during the lockdown of 2020, that truly fascinated me. Meena Kumari, the tragedy icon of India, was not just a talented actress but also a gifted poet. Being a poetess, she expressed her emotions and inner turmoil through her verses. Her poetry reflected her craving for love and her constant struggle to find happiness.

Meena Kumari's journey into Bollywood began at an early age when she was just six years old. She was born Mahjabeen Bano and started acting to support her family. Her remarkable talent soon caught the eye of film producers, and she made her debut as a heroine in the film "Bachchon Ka Khel" in 1946. Despite facing numerous hardships in her personal life, she hailed as an actress and earned the title of "Tragedy Queen" due to her powerful performances in emotionally challenged roles.

Among her best movies, "Pakeezah" remains an immortal masterpiece. This film became her masterpiece and a reflection of her own life. Meena Kumari played the roles of Nargis and also her daughter Sahibjaan, the central characters of the film, showcasing her exceptional acting skills. What's more fascinating is that she not only acted but also designed the costumes for the film, creating iconic outfits that are etched in the hearts of the audience forever. Truly an all-in-one star.

"Pakeezah" was a project that faced multiple hardships, leading to its extended making of over fourteen years. Initially intended to be in black and white, the film's timeline led to a change in color. Troubles in Meena Kumari's personal life, especially her relationship with her husband Kamal Amrohi, further delayed the film's completion. It was the intervention of Sunil Dutt and Nargis that eventually motivated Meena Kumari to finish the film, despite her declining health.

During the filming of the last song, "Teer-e-Nazar," Meena Kumari's health deteriorated drastically due to liver cirrhosis. She was so weak that after every shot, a unit hand had to rush to her with a chair. In one critical moment, she collapsed on the sets, and Padma Khanna, trained personally by Meena Kumari for the scene, was brought in as her body double to continue many of the shots. What’s worse is that Meena Kumari never got to witness the success of "Pakeezah" as she breathed her last on March 31, 1972, just a few weeks before its release.

Meena Kumari in Pakeezah, Source: Eastern Eye

Her love life was covered with pain and suffering. Meena Kumari's husband, Kamal Amrohi, was possessive and controlling, which took a toll on her mental and physical health. She was subjected to Halala, a practice where a woman has to marry someone else before remarrying her previous husband, which only added to her emotional turmoil.

Amidst her struggles, Meena Kumari found a friend in Nargis Dutt, another legendary actress of her time. Nargis was deeply concerned about Meena's well-being and once visited her when she was bedridden. Upon seeing her friend's agony, Nargis heartbreakingly said, "Meena Kumari, Maut Mubarak ho!" which translates to "Congratulations on death." In an article published in an Urdu magazine, Nargis revealed that she said this because she wanted Meena to be relieved from her suffering.

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Daman