Kumari Naaz Explained

Kumari Naaz
Birthname:Salma Baig
Othername:Baby Naaz, Kumari Naaz
Birth Date:20 August 1944
Birth Place:Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
Occupation:Actress
Notable Works:Boot Polish (1954)
Spouse:Subbiraj

Salma Baig (20 August 1944 - 19 October 1995) popularly known as Kumari Naaz or Baby Naaz was an Indian actress in Hindi language films.[1]

Career

She started her career as a child actor in films. Her best remembered role as a child artiste was in R. K. FilmsBoot Polish (1954) and Bimal Roy's Devdas.[2] She earned rave reviews for her earnest natural performance from The New York Times and a special distinction (along with co-actor Rattan Kumar) from Cannes Film Festival in 1955, where the film was shown in competition.[3] [4]

In 1958, a Hindi film adaptation called Do Phool (Two Flowers) was released based on the Swiss literary novel/ icon Heidi. The role of Heidi – called Poornima in the film – was played by Baby Naaz who was one of the most famous child stars at the time along with Master Romi.[5]

She matured into a character actress and bagged good roles in films like Bahu Begum, Kati Patang and Sachaa Jhutha (where she played Rajesh Khanna's physically challenged sister).[6]

Awards and honours

1955 Cannes Film Festival[7]

Later career

She later transitioned into a second career as a dubbing artiste. Before Sridevi started using her own voice, Kumari Naaz dubbed for her in the early Hindi hits of the 1980s.[15]

Personal life

She married actor Subbiraj (cousin of veteran actor Raj Kapoor) in 1965 and continued working. The two had acted together in Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960) and Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1963).[16] She was later diagnosed with terminal illness of the liver and died in 1995.[17]

Filmography

Her films include:[18]

Year Film Character/Role
1989Apna Desh Paraye Log
1989Pyase NainDr. Bharti
1986Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai
1986SheeshaPramila (as Naaz)
1984PhulwariShobha
1984BoxerMrs. Khatau (as Naaz)
1982Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai
1982Lallu's Wife
1982Shriman Shrimati (as Naaz)
1980Bambai Ka MaharajaMary
1978Kaala Aadmi (as Naaz)
1978Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (as Naaz)
1978PhandebaazPrincess Ratna
1978Bhola BhalaSarla (as Naaz)
1977Chakkar Pe ChakkarMrs. Babu (as Naaz)
1977Niyaz Aur NamaazSayeeda
1977KarmKammo
1976Aap BeatiSheela Jumani
1976BairaagVimla (as Naaz)
1976Do KhiladiDancer during Qawwali
1975Do JhootVandana's Sister (as Naaz)
1975SanyasiSavitri (uncredited)
1975SewakNeeru
1974Do Aankhen
1974Paise Ki GudiyaNeela Gupta
1974Woh Main Nahin
1974Amba (as Naaz)
1974FriendKalyani Sharma (as Naaz)
1973SamjhautaChampa (as Naaz)
1973Raja RaniPatron's Wife (as Naaz)
1972Shaadi Ke BaadSavitri B. Singh
1972ShorShankar's Sister (as Naaz)
1972WafaaMeera (as Naaz)
1971Kamla G. Din (as Naaz)
1971Rajkumari Rupa
1971Gauri (as Naaz)
1971Haathi Mere SaathiParo (as Naaz)
1970HimmatBanthu (as Naaz)
1970Kati PatangPoonam (uncredited)
1970Sachcha JhuthaBelu (as Naaz)
1970Rootha Na KaroNaina
1969Aya Sawan Jhoom KeSangeeta Y. Singh
1969Jahan Pyar Miley
1969Raja SaabHameshbahar
1968JuariPrincess Sabita
1968Nadir Shah
1967Bahu BegumSuraiya (as Naaz)
1967Chhaila BabuMeena
1965Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe (as Naaz)
1964Baghi
1964Chandi Ki Deewar
1964Char DerveshPrincess Hamida
1964Hercules
1964Kaise KahoonAnita Laxmichand
1964MajboorSeema
1963BidesiyaParvati
1963Dekha Pyaar Tumhara
1963Mere Arman Mere SapneShanti
1963Mujhe Jeene DoChauthi Begum (as Naaz)
1963Pyar Ka BandhanSona (as Naaz)
1962Man-MaujiLaxmi
1962Gangu
1961Ganga JumnaYoung Dhanno (as Naaz)
1961Zindagi Aur KhwabRasila
1960Dil Apna Aur Preet ParaiMunni
1960Mera Ghar Mere BachcheMeena
1960Lambe Haath
1960Maa BaapPratima (as Naaz)
1959Four Faces of India (as Baby Naaz)
1959Heera MotiRoopnandan's Daughter (as Baby Naaz)
1959KanganSecretary
1959Pramila Sinha (as Baby Naaz)
1959ArdhanginiDancer / Singer
1959Bhai Bahen Soni K. Rai (as Baby Naaz)
1958Do PhoolPoornima (as Baby Naaz)
1958Ghar Grihasti
1958Ghar SansarAsha
1958Renu (as Baby Naaz)
1958YahudiYoung Lydia (as Baby Naaz)
1958Miss 58
1957MusafirMunni (as Baby Naaz)
1957PayalPadma (as Baby Naaz)
1956Diwali Ki Raat (as Naaz)
1956Ek SholaUsha (as Baby Naaz)
1956Rajdhani
1956Ek Hi RastaGirl in Raja's birthday (singing "Bade Bhaiya Laya Hai") (as Baby Naaz)
1955KundanYoung Radha / Young Uma (as Baby Naaz)
1955Lagan (as Baby Naaz)
1955Mast Qalandar
1955Patit Pawan
1955Raftar (as Baby Naaz)
1955Young Parvati (as Baby Naaz)
1955Hatimtai Ki Beti (as Naaz)
1954Chandni Chowk (as Baby Naaz)
1954Subah Ka TaraHeera
1954Boot PolishBelu (as Baby Naaz)
1954Shama Parwana (as Naaz)
1953Gunah (as Baby Naaz)
1950Rupaiya (as Baby Naaz)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Naaz . Cineplot.com . 14 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Revisiting Boot Polish: A beautiful celebration of sibling love . Rediff . 14 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Naaz (Baby) – Profile . Cineplot.com . 14 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Rakhi special: Bollywood's endearing bhai-bahen portrayals . Rediff.com . 14 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Swiss literary icon Heidi ready for her Hindi debut . SWI swissinfo.ch . 20 October 2017 . SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR . 15 July 2020.
  6. Web site: Bright as a star... . Rediff.com . 14 July 2020.
  7. Web site: Festival de Cannes: Boot Polish . 31 January 2009 . festival-cannes.com.
  8. News: Seventy years of India at Cannes . The Hindu . 2 May 2017 . 15 July 2020 . Sridharan . Soujanya .
  9. Web site: Four Indian films to feature at Cannes 2018; A look at India's journey at the French Riviera festival . Moneycontrol . e-Eighteen.com Ltd . 15 July 2020.
  10. Web site: 'Children of the Silver Screen' captures the price child stars pay for glory . INDIATODAY.IN . 31 August 1990 . Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today . 15 July 2020.
  11. Web site: The History of India at Cannes . NDTV . 15 July 2020.
  12. Web site: Kumary Naaz . FESTIVAL DE CANNES . 15 July 2020.
  13. Web site: Kumary NAAZ.
  14. Web site: Pablito CALVO.
  15. Web site: Tragedy: The Untold Story of Baby Naaz . Acee The Third Eye.
  16. Web site: Remembering Baby Naaz, Sridevi's voice in her early Hindi films . Scroll.in . 26 February 2018 . 14 July 2020.
  17. Web site: Mohamed . Khalid . Tragedy: The Untold Story of Baby Naaz . The Daily Eye . 21 June 2023.
  18. Web site: Naaz . https://web.archive.org/web/20171003235832/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba2a83df7 . dead . 3 October 2017 . British Film Institute . 15 July 2020.