Thursday, February 17, 2005

The name itself invokes so much enigma, that it's just overwhelming! Venus of the east, the most beautiful woman to adorn the Hindi film screen, Madhubala represents the era of beauty, romance and sometimes tragedy associated with Hindi films.

Born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehelvi in a poor Pathan Muslim family in 1933, she made her debut as a child artiste in the early 40's, she never looked back and though huge success eluded her for a while, it was Mahal which released in 1949 that made her a star forever.

Madhubala was 17 when she became a star and her aura in the film Mahal has spell binding capability. 'Ayega Aanewal' she sung on screen, and froze one of the most glorifying moments of Hindi film history, a moment portraying timelessness of beauty in the purest form.

Her beauty had child like quality, fragile yet confident. Her luminous eyes, her royal gait and that bewitching smile makes her the best poster picture one can imagine. For years I have noticed most beauty parlours adorning her on their walls as if endorsing their beauty business by the symbol of beauty itself. Madhubala was actress par excellence too, only she was not credited initially when her films flopped in the 50's (Tarana, Sangdil and Amar) could not meet box office success and she was labelled a jinx. Later, she however bounced back with a row of hit and memorable films culminating finally into the biggest film of Hindi cinema Mughal-E-Azam which truly made her a legend for her talent and not just beauty.

It's often when a woman is too beautiful, her beauty distracts from her performances. Whenever I watch a Madhubala film I'm spellbound by her beauty so much that it's hard to notice her great performance. In Guru Dutt's Mr.& Mrs.55 there is this scene when some street kids find her near Guru Dutt's apartment (she is a rich woman dressed well), and mistake her to be a "fairy", they do not want to come near fearing that the "fairy" may disappear. This particular scene truly describes her persona. She was so very beautiful that she seemed surreal and one would be so stunned to see her that going near her other aspects was difficult. Such was the effect.

She is well remembered for her role in Howrah Bridge where she played a seductress and the song 'Aayiye Meharbaan' is perhaps amongst her most enchanting one's.

Madubala had brilliant comic timing and could easily match pace with Kishore Kumar too. Her role in Mr & Mrs 55 also showcased her comic talent, so did Half Ticket and Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi.


Madubala was sadly diagnosed to have a heart condition at the peak of her career and she sadly could not continue to work. Also she went through heartbreak when her romantic relationship with Dilip Kumar could not culminate in a marriage. Dilip Ji and Madhubala will always remain a dream pair on Indian Screen, their chemistry was just too perfect, they just lighted up in each other's presence and it's so evident on screen. The feather sequence in Mughal-E-Azam will remain one of the most romantic moments of Hindi film history and 'Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya' one of the best known dance sequence. She brought Anarkali alive in the most beautiful manner and immortalised her forever in our minds and hearts.

She was known to be a through professional, punctual, with no starry airs she was known to have a child like demeanour and loved playing pranks and spreading smiles around her. Despite her heart condition she quietly let herself be chained with heavy iron ones for a sequence in Mughal-E-Azam, feeding in to her perfectionist Director without complaining, though she was in great pain.

It is said she really wanted to have a happy family and made an attempt at it by marrying Kishore Kumar who converted to Islam to marry her, but the cruel hands of fate were already grabbing her. She did undergo a Cardio Thorasic surgery, but it was to no avail. The Venus was ready to immortalise herself in her death too which came far too prematurely at the age of 36 in 1969. The world lost her to enigma, to the mystery of fate and it's cruel hands grabbing the most beautiful woman in the prime of her youth.

Madhubala will always be a joy.............just see a picture of her's and all it does is to make you smile (and this is a unanimous reaction)........now how beautiful is that?

Madhubala - Gallery

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