Page 42 - Seniorstoday June 2024 Issue
P. 42
faded out during the British era—and By the time, the tawaif came to be seen as
yes, many did participate in and support the item girl of mainstream cinema, she fell
the freedom movement, like Heera into the stereotype of the vamp who had a
(played by Rani Mukerji) of Mangal change of heart in the end and sacrificed
Pandey (2005) and the young women herself for the hero, the good as gold victim
of Bhansali’s serial. Heeramandi lost its who needed rescuing by the leading man.
lustre, and the accomplished singers and Most, the leading actresses of the time –
dancers were replaced by gauche women Hema Malini in Sharafat (1970), Mumtaz
swinging their hips to movie tunes. Many in Khilona (1970), Rekha in Muqaddar
early theatre and film actresses were Ka Sikander (1978), Rati Agnihotri in
from Heeramandi or Lucknow or other Tawaif (1985), Tabu in Jeet (1996), and
tawaif gharanas. There were also film most recently Madhuri Dixit in Dedh
producers, studio owners, recording and Ishqiya (2014) and Kalank (2019), played
radio artistes-- some of them making a some form of the tawaif, even after the
smooth landing into modern times, while character had become outdated. The tawaif
the ones who could not or did not adapt was still an attractive part for an actress
were lost to time. Ruth Vanita in her book, to play, because of the dancing, enhanced
Dancing with the Nation: Courtesans in emotions, the feminine airs and graces and
Bombay Cinema (2017), wrote, “Jaddan of course, the ultra-glam costumes.
Bai, mother of Nargis and grandmother of The Heeramandi of Bhansali’s
Sanjay Dutt, was a daughter of courtesan imagination, is now derelict. The feudal
Daleepbai of Allahabad. Jaddan was a lifestyle of leisure and pleasure-seeking in
pioneer in Bombay cinema, working as an kothas is over. Which is why it has been
actor, singer, music composer, director, years since a traditional mujra was seen
and producer of films. Fatima Begum, in Hindi cinema and the series was able to
actress in silent films and the first woman evoke such strong nostalgia among Indian
director was from a tawaif family, and had viewers and outrage among Pakistani, who
a long-term relationship with a Nawab. see their language, culture and heritage
Bibbo, actor, singer, and music director stomped over by a Bollywood moghul.
in the 1930s and 1940s, was the daughter But then Hindi cinema has always been
of courtesan Hafeesan Bai of Delhi.” stronger on drama than history.
Gauharbai was a powerful producer in her
time, setting up and running the legendary Anarkali
Ranjit Studio with Chandulal Shah.
Rekha in Muqaddar Ka Sikander
42
