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and Suchitra Sen in its remake Mamta centre of the tawaif culture in the city, with
(1966), Waheeda Rehman in Mujhe Jeene its own financial ecosystem of musicians,
Do (1963), Sharmila Tagore in Amar Prem vendors and procurers. The opulence and
(1972) were in the profession and on the grandeur that Bhansali had depicted in
outskirts of respectable society, but were Heeramandi, is exaggerated, but some of
not common sex workers. the women did live well if their patrons
Tawaifs were educated at a time when were generous, even if they did not get the
most women were forbidden to learn, respectability or social acceptance accorded
they were taught classical music and to the wife.
dance by ustaads, and also etiquette and
refinement. Many of them were poets
and writers, but as it always happened,
the artistic achievements of women were
either appropriated by men, or neglected
altogether. Sons of nawabs were sent Image courtesy: koimoi
to them to learn tehseeb and also the
appreciation of the finer aspects of high
society and aristocratic culture. The women
may have, in many cases, been forced into Two other period films that portrayed the
sex work, but at a time when women were glory of the Lucknow tawaif were Kamal
confined to the home, the arts and religion Amrohi’s Pakeesah (1972) a Musaffar
were the only means to negotiate some Ali’s Umrao Jaan (1981)-- also remade as
measure of independence. a forgettable copy by JP Dutta in 2006—
The most famous tawaif in popular cinema the former in which a tawaif (played by
is Anarkali, who made two appearances Meena Kumari) seeks entry into the upper
in movies—played by Bina Rai in the echelons of aristocracy when a nawab
eponymous 1953 Nandlal Jawantlal film, falls in love with her, and Umrao Jaan
and by Madhubala in K.Asif’s timeless epic (played by Rekha and in the later version
Mughal-e-Asam in 1960. The famed beauty, by Aishwarya Rai), was based on Mirsa
named Anarkali by Emperor Akbar, caused Hadi Ruswa’s novel about a courtesan-
a crisis in the Mughal Empire; Prince Salim poet, who may have been inspired by a
led an armed rebellion against his father real character. Her story was probably the
when he was commanded to give up the most authentic—as a child she was sold
courtesan and marry a princess befitting to a kotha and trained in the arts. Later,
his royal status. when she falls in love with a nawab, she
In the Mughal era, the most accomplished is not considered a suitable match for
tawaifs performed at the court, and by him. Rejected by her family, abandoned
association with the aristocracy acquired by the men she depended on, she pours
a certain measure of power and influence. her heartbreak into her poetry, and is left
When the seat of the Mughal Empire was in bereft after the Mutiny of 1857, returning
Lahore, they settled into the areas around to a looted and deserted kotha. The scene
the palace and the grain market Heera symbolised the turning of a page in history.
Singh Ki Mandi became Heera Mandi, the The classical golden period of the tawaif
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #60 | JUNE 2024 41
