| Meena Kumari | |
| Image Upright: | 1 |
| Film: | 93 |
| Radio Show: | 1 |
| Documentary: | 1 |
| Music Videos: | 1 |
| Advertising: | 1 |
| Others: | 3 |
Meena Kumari (1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress, playback singer, poet and costume designer who predominantly worked in Indian cinema between 1939–72. Meena Kumari started her film career with Leatherface, a 1939 film with the name Baby Mahjabeen. For around six years, Baby Meena (as she was called in her later films), continued to appear as a child artist in a string of films before making her debut with Bachchon Ka Khel as Meena Kumari. However, it was the film Baiju Bawra (1952) which turned Kumari into an overnight star and Parineeta (1953) which further solidified her position as a bankable leading lady.For sometime, particularly till the late 1950s, Kumari continued to show off her versatility as an artist, featuring in films ranging from drama to fantasy and even comedy before adopting the genre which earned her the sobriquet— Queen of Tragedy.
From late 1950s to early 1960s, Meena Kumari started to appear in films which usually revolved around the trials and tribulations of women of India of that time. Some of her popular films include Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960), in which she actually played the part of "the other woman", Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam - an alcoholic wife desperate for her husband's attention, Aarti, Main Chup Rahungi (all 1962), Dil Ek Mandir (1963) and Kaajal (1965).
By late 1960s, Meena Kumari got addicted to alcohol, the effect of which was visible in her subsequent films. Some of her last successful films include Phool Aur Patthar (1966), Mere Apne (1971) and Pakeezah (1972) which went on to become her swan song. Soon after the release of Pakeezah, Meena Kumari breathed her last on 31 March 1972.
In addition to being an accomplished actress, Kumari was also a poet and a playback singer. She sang in some of her early films as a child artist and to her poems which came out in an album, I Write, I Recite (1971). Meena Kumari also designed the costumes in her final landmark film Pakeezah. In her career of 33 years she appeared in 93 films, an advertisement, a radio programme, and a documentary.
The following is the complete filmography of actress Meena Kumari.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | Leather Face | Baby Mahjabeen | |
| Adhuri Kahani | Baby Mahjabeen | ||
| 1940 | Pooja | Bina | |
| Ek Hi Bhool | Baby Meena | rechristened Mahjabeen as 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 Mahima | Satyabhama | |
| Magroor | Meenu Rai | ||
| Hamara Ghar | |||
| 1951 | Sanam | Rani | |
| Madhosh | Soni | ||
| Laxmi Narayan | 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 Meena 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 | ||
| Shatranj | 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 | It is one of the noted acting performances of Meena Kumari's career. | |
| 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 AwardsNominated 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 | ||
| 1971 | Mere Apne | Anandi Devi | |
| Dushmun | Malti | ||
| 1972 | 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. |
| Year | Title | Song | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | Bahen | Tore Kajra Lagaoon | |
| 1946 | Duniya Ek Sarai | Cheen Li Hamari Hansi | |
| Ma Dekh Ri Ma Badli | |||
| Sawan Beet Gayo Mayi Ri | |||
| 1948 | Piya Ghar Aaja | Ankiyan Taras Rahi | |
| Nain Base Ho Raja Dil Mein | |||
| Desh Paraye Jaanewale | |||
| Nain Dor Se Bandh Liyo | |||
| Mili Aj Piya Se Ankhiyaan | |||
| Bichchade Balam[1] | Haseeno Ko Dil Mein | ||
| Aata Hai Dil Pyaar | |||
| Ek Aag Lagi Dil Mein | |||
| Mere Piya Na Aaye | |||
| Bol Re Bol Mere Pyare Papihe | |||
| Haaye Piya Mujhe Lalchaye Jiya | |||
| 1959 | Shararat | Khol De Khole De Khidki | |
| 1966 | Pinjre Ke Panchhi | Aisa Hoga | |
| 1972 | Pakeezah | Leke Angrai | The song was released in 1977 in album Pakeezah Rang Barang |
| Year | Work | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Dream House | Meena Kumari along with Ashok Kumar appeared in international Dunlopillo UK Advertisement. | |
| 1967 | After The Eclipse | Documentary produced by S.Sukhdev featured Meena Kumari's voice. | |
| Jaimala by Meena Kumari | Meena 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.[2] | |
| 1979 | Meena Kumari Ki Amar Kahani | Film dedicated to the late actress 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. | |
| 2018 | Ajeeb Daastaan Hai Yeh | A play depicting her life was staged at Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur.[3] |