BIOGRAPHY OF MUNAWAR SULTANA

 

BIOGRAPHY OF MUNAWAR SULTANA

Munawar Sultana had a short but glorious film career from 1945-50 where she excelled as the ideal self-sacrificing, suffering Indian woman. It is to her credit that even in these highly melodramatic pictures, she was almost always able to give a quite sense of inner strength and dignity to most of the characters she played. Her fine performances in film like Kaneez (1949), Sartaj (1950) and Babul (1950) bear this out.

Born on 8th November, 1924 in a Punjabi family in Lahore, Sultana was the daughter of a radio announcer. Her initial aim in life was not to become an actress but to study medicine and become a doctor. She began her acting career in a small way in a song sequence (Peene Ke Din Aaye Piye Jaa) shown as part of a stage performance of Umar Khayam in Dalsukh Pancholi’s Khazanchi (1941). In the play within a film, Sultana plays a young girl supplying men liquor in a liquor den who extolls the hero to drink more.

Sultana first made a major mark in producer-director-actor Mazhar Khan’s Pehli Nazar (1945), where she played one of the lead roles along with Motilal and Veena. It was Mazhar Khan, who brought Sultana to Bombay from Lahore signing her  for Rs 4,000 a month – a huge amount in those days and that too for a rank newcomer. Though Sultana always considered this, her maiden role as a heroine, her best performance ever, the film is remembered by critics and historians today mainly for the big breakthrough song of singer Mukesh, Dil Jalta Hai To Jalne Do, filmed on Motilal. Still, it did set Sultana on her way as a leading lady in the world of Hindi filmdom. Khan would direct her in two more films, Sona (1948) and Dil Ki Diniya (1949). Both also co-starred in Naiya (1947), directed by Aslam Noori.

An early musical hit for Sultana was AR Kardar’s Dard (1947), co-starring singing star, Suraiya. While Suraiya naturally had her share of some wonderful Naushad compositions like Beech Bhanwar Mein and Hum The Tumhare Tum The Humare, the most popular song of the film, Afsana Likh Rahi Hoon, sung by Uma Devi (Tun Tun), was picturized on Sultana. It also remains the most popular song filmed on her till date. The same year, she also convincingly played the lead role in Mehboob’s Muslim social, Elan. In this film, Sultana plays a young woman who sacrifices her love for the hero, Surendra, and marries his nasty cousin, Himalaywala, instead. The lovers meet again years later where he is a lawyer having to defend her as she is accused of killing her vagabond husband.  While Sultana is more than adequate in her role of a typical virtuous wife and daughter, it is Himalaywala who steals the film as her good for nothing husband.

Munawar Sultana hit her peak as an an actress (and star) with Kaneez, co-starring Shyam, and more so, Babul, a love triangle where both she and Nargis fall in love with hero Dilip Kumar. In the former film, hero Shyam is caught between his wife, Sultana, and sexy vamp, Kudip Kaur, who all but destroys his marriage. This forces Sultana to live like a servant in her own house even as she tries to win her errant husband back. While she is fine enough in what is for her a typical performance in Kaneez, one of four films she did with Shyam (Majboor (1948), Dada (1949) and Raat Ki Rani (1949) being the others), it is in Babul that Sultana gives arguably the finest performance of her career. In this love triangle, she plays the haughty daughter of a rich zamindar who softens as she loves Dilip Kumar and who is loved by him in return. However, in the film’s tragic ending, she is made to (yet again) sacrifice her love as she gets married elsewhere. While Naushad’s musical score in Babul was extremely popular especially the wedding song Chhod Babul Ka Ghar, the standout composition of the film  is the lovely duet, Milte Hi Ankhen Dil Hua Deewana Kisi Ka, filmed on Sultana and Dilip Kumar as he teaches her singing. Ironically, for someone who made quite a name for herself in highly charged domestic dramas, Sultana always wished she had done films that were more simple and more realistic in nature.

Strangely after Babul, Sultana’s career went into inexplicable decline. None of her films, thereafter, made much of a mark though she continued to work into the 1950s. She finally quit the film industry, getting married to businessman and furniture retailer, Sharaf Ali Bhagat, in 1954 and settling down in Bombay, now Mumbai. Incidentally, he produced two of Sultana’s films – Meri Kahani (1948) and Pyar Ki Manzil (1950). Her last released film was Jallad (1956) co-starring Dilip Kumar’s younger brother, Nasir Khan. After her husband’s untimely death in 1966, Sultana successfully brought up their seven children – 4 sons and 3 daughters – single-handedly.

Suffering from Alzheimer’s disease in the later years of her life, Munawar Sultana passed away in Mumbai on September 15th, 2007.

Jallad (1956)
Deewar (1955)
Watan (1954)
Toofan (1954)
Ehsan (1954)
Apni Izzat (1952)
Tarang (1952)
Babul (1950)
Sartaj (1950)
Pyar Ki Manzil (1950)
Sabak (1950)
Kaneez (1949)
Dada (1949)
Uddhar (1949)
Sawan Bhadon (1949)
Dil Ki Duniya (1949)
Raat Ki Rani (1949)
Nisbat (1949)
Sona (1948)
Meri Kahani (1948)
Majboor (1948)
Parai Aag (1948)
Andhon Ki Duniya (1947)
Elan (1947)
Naiya (1947)
Dard (1947)
Pehli Nazar (1945)
Khazanchi (1941)

MUNAWAR SULTANA HINDI ACTRESS 1924 NOVEMBER 8- 2007 SEPTEMBER 15

MUNAWAR SULTANA HINDI ACTRESS 1924 NOVEMBER 8- 2007 SEPTEMBER 15

Munawar Sultana (NOV 8,1924–SEP,15,2007) (her name in all her films opening credits), also written as Munnawar Sultana,[1] or Munawar Sultana[2] was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi/Hindustani films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of the late 1940s to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Ragini.[3] Her specialty was playing the role of a selfless woman, enduring the rough treatment meted by her husband and family, but who eventually "brought her erring husband back home".[4]

She came into prominence with Mazhar Khan's Pehli Nazar (1945), her first film in a leading role. A discovery of actor-producer-director Mazhar Khan, she became inundated with film offers, becoming one of the busiest actresses by 1949, along with other leading ladies such as Suraiya and Nargis.[5] Some of her successful films were Pehli Nazar, Dard (1947), Elaan (1947) Kaneez (1947), and Babul (1950).

Early life

Munawar Sultana was born on 8 November 1924, in Lahore, British India, into a strict Punjabi Muslim family.[4] According to an interview with son Sarfaraz and daughter Shaheen, conducted by Shishir Krishna Sharma, Munawwar's father was a radio announcer. Munawwar wanted to become a doctor, but was side-tracked by an offer in films. This was a small role in the film, Dalsukh Pancholi's Khazanchi (1941), where she played a barmaid, and had a song, "Peene Ke Din Aaye" picturised on her.[6] She went by the screen name Asha for this period.[4] According to Patel, Munawwar came to Bombay from Lahore, courtesy of the actor-director Mazhar Khan in 1945. She became popular with her film Pehli Nazar, a role she stated was one of her favourites.[7]

Career
In 1945, she was visited in Lahore by producer-actor-director Mazhar Khan, who contracted her on a monthly fee of Rs. 4000 plus an apartment, and brought her to Bombay. Munawwar's first film with Mazhar was Pehli Nazar, where she was cast opposite actor Motilal. In the popular song "Dil Jalta Hai Toh Jalne Do" (Let the Aflame Heart Burn) playbacked by singer Mukesh for Motilal, Khan focused on Munawwar's close-ups during the picturisation.

1940s
Following Pehli Nazar, she was kept busy through 1947 to 1949 working in several films. Baburao Patel wrote in the cine-mag Filmindia 1949, about her being one of the most over-worked actresses along with Suraiya and Nargis.[5]

In 1947, Munawar acted in four films Dard, Elaan, Andhon Ki Duniya and Naiyya. Dard was directed by Abdul Rashid Kardar under Kardar Productions. In spite of no big stars being in the film, it turned out to be a surprise "musical hit" at the box office.[8] The hero of the film was Kardar's brother Nusrat (Kardar),[9] while Suraiya played the second lead, with Munawwar Sultana as the main heroine.[10] Munawwar lip-synced three songs voiced for her by Uma Devi, a Naushad discovery. The song "Afsana Likh Rahin Hoon" became a big success.[11] Elaan garnered positive reviews for Munawwar. A Muslim social, the film was praised for its "progressive attitude" towards the need of education. It was directed by Mehboob Khan and had Surendra as the male lead. [12]

1948 saw Munawar in four more films. Parai Aag was produced by Great India Pictures and directed by Najam Naqvi. The film starred Munawar with Madhubala and Ulhas. Sona (Gold) was another Mazhar Khan-directed film for his Mazhar Arts Production. Majboor was a Bombay Talkies production, under the direction of Nazir Ajmeri. It had Shyam opposite Munawwar with music by Ghulam Haider. Bombay Talkies had gone through several changes following Himanshu Rai's death, and Devika Rani's partnership with S. Mukherjee had produced several box office hits. With first, Mukherjee, and then Devika Rani leaving as head of production of Bombay Talkies, Ashok Kumar and S. Vacha returned to Bombay Talkies and took over control. Their first film was Majboor. The story was an "inter-communal" love story, with a Muslim boy falling for a Hindu girl.[13] Munawwar formed a "hit-pairing" with Shyam in this film, while Lata Mangeshkar came into prominence under the music direction of Ghulam Haider.[14] Meri Kahani was directed by cameraman Keki Mistry and produced by Sharaf for Super Team Federal Productions (Bombay). The film co-starred Munawwar and Madhubala with Surendra. A comedy of errors, it has the hero in a double role leading to mistaken identities.[15]

1949 was Munawar's busiest year with seven releases. Dil Ki Duniya was directed by Mazhar Khan for his Noble Arts Production. It co-starred Geeta Bali and Mazhar with Munawar. The film was praised for its "versatility" and "well-balanced production values", along with good performances by Munawwar, Mazhar and Geeta Bali. The film was claimed to have done "well" at the box office.[16] Her standout film that year was Kaneez, directed by Krishna Kumar for Caravan Pictures. A Muslim social, it had Munawwar with Shyam, and Kuldeep Kaur. She played a suffering woman married to a wayward husband, who eventually returns to her. It was described as one of her best roles.[2]

1950s
Out of her four films released in 1950, Munawar's most notable film was Babul (Father's House). She acted opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis in this love triangle. Directed by S. U. Sunny, the music was composed by Naushad.[17] The film became a major success at the box office. She acted in a few more films till 1956, with Jallad being her last appearance.[citation needed]

Personal life
From 1950, Munawar's career slowed down, and she acted in fewer films. She met her husband Sharif Ali Bhagat, a businessman, on the sets of a movie for which he provided furniture. He produced two films with Munawar in the lead, Meri Kahani (1948) and Pyar Ki Manzil (1950).[4] Following the sudden death of her husband in 1966, Munawar managed her family of four sons and three daughters.[6]

Death
In the last eight years of her life, Munawar suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She died on 15 September 2007, at her home in Ambedkar Road. Pali Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.[6][18]

.

MUNAWAR SULTANA HINDI ACTRESS 1924 NOVEMBER 8-2007 SEPTEMBER 15

MUNAWAR SULTANA HINDI ACTRESS 1924 NOVEMBER 8-2007 SEPTEMBER 15

Munawar Sultana (1924–2007) (her name in all her films opening credits), also written as Munawwar Sultana,[1] was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi/Hindustani films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of the late 1940s to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Ragini.[2] Her specialty was playing a selfless woman, enduring the rough treatment meted by her husband and family, but who eventually "brought her erring husband back home".[3]

She came into prominence with Mazhar Khan's Pehli Nazar (1945), her first film in a leading role. A discovery of actor-producer-director Mazhar Khan, she became inundated with film offers, becoming one of the busiest actresses by 1949, along with other leading ladies such as Suraiya and Nargis.[4] Some of her successful films were Pehli Nazar, Dard (1947), Elaan (1947) Kaneez (1947), and Babul (1950).

Early life

Munawar Sultana was born on 8 November 1924, in Lahore, British India, into a strict Punjabi Muslim family.[3] According to an interview with son Sarfaraz and daughter Shaheen, conducted by Shishir Krishna Sharma, Munawwar's father was a radio announcer. Munawwar wanted to become a doctor, but was side-tracked by an offer in films. This was a small role in the film, Dalsukh Pancholi's Khazanchi (1941), where she played a barmaid, and had a song, "Peene Ke Din Aaye" picturised on her.[5] She went by the screen name Asha for this period.[3] According to Patel, Munawwar came to Bombay from Lahore, courtesy of the actor-director Mazhar Khan in 1945. She became popular with her film Pehli Nazar, a role she stated was one of her favourites.[6]

Career

In 1945, she was visited in Lahore by producer-actor-director Mazhar Khan, who contracted her on a monthly fee of Rs. 4000 plus an apartment, and brought her to Bombay. Munawwar's first film with Mazhar was Pehli Nazar, where she was cast opposite actor Motilal. In the popular song "Dil Jalta Hai Toh Jalne Do" (Let the Aflame Heart Burn) playbacked by singer Mukesh for Motilal, Khan focused on Munawwar's close-ups during the picturisation.

1940s
Following Pehli Nazar, she was kept busy through 1947 to 1949 working in several films. Baburao Patel wrote in the cine-mag Filmindia 1949, about her being one of the most over-worked actresses along with Suraiya and Nargis.[4]

In 1947, Munawar acted in four films Dard, Elaan, Andhon Ki Duniya and Naiyya. Dard was directed by Abdul Rashid Kardar under Kardar Productions. In spite of no big stars being in the film, it turned out to be a surprise "musical hit" at the box office.[7] The hero of the film was Kardar's brother Nusrat (Kardar),[8] while Suraiya played the second lead, with Munawwar Sultana as the main heroine.[9] Munawwar lip-synced three songs voiced for her by Uma Devi, a Naushad discovery. The song "Afsana Likh Rahin Hoon" became a big success.[10] Elaan garnered positive reviews for Munawwar. A Muslim social, the film was praised for its "progressive attitude" towards the need of education. It was directed by Mehboob Khan and had Surendra as the male lead.[11]

1948 saw Munawar in four more films. Parai Aag was produced by Great India Pictures and directed by Najam Naqvi. The film starred Munawar with Madhubala and Ulhas. Sona (Gold) was another Mazhar Khan-directed film for his Mazhar Arts Production. Majboor was a Bombay Talkies production, under the direction of Nazir Ajmeri. It had Shyam opposite Munawwar with music by Ghulam Haider. Bombay Talkies had gone through several changes following Himanshu Rai's death, and Devika Rani's partnership with S. Mukherjee had produced several box office hits. With first, Mukherjee, and then Devika Rani leaving as head of production of Bombay Talkies, Ashok Kumar and S. Vacha returned to Bombay Talkies and took over control. Their first film was Majboor. The story was an "inter-communal" love story, with a Muslim boy falling for a Hindu girl.[12] Munawwar formed a "hit-pairing" with Shyam in this film, while Lata Mangeshkar came into prominence under the music direction of Ghulam Haider.[13] Meri Kahani was directed by cameraman Keki Mistry and produced by Sharaf for Super Team Federal Productions (Bombay). The film co-starred Munawwar and Madhubala with Surendra. A comedy of errors, it has the hero in a double role leading to mistaken identities.[14]

1949 was Munawar's busiest year with seven releases. Dil Ki Duniya was directed by Mazhar Khan for his Noble Arts Production. It co-starred Geeta Bali and Mazhar with Munawar. The film was praised for its "versatility" and "well-balanced production values", along with good performances by Munawwar, Mazhar and Geeta Bali. The film was claimed to have done "well" at the box office.[15] Her standout film that year was Kaneez, directed by Krishna Kumar for Caravan Pictures. A Muslim social, it had Munawwar with Shyam, and Kuldeep Kaur. She played a suffering woman married to a wayward husband, who eventually returns to her. It was described as one of her best roles.[16]

1950s
Out of her four films released in 1950, Munawar's most notable film was Babul (Father's House). She acted opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis in this love triangle. Directed by S. U. Sunny, the music was composed by Naushad.[17] The film became a major success at the box office. She acted in a few more films till 1956, with Jallad being her last appearance.[citation needed]

Personal life
From 1950, Munawar's career slowed down, and she acted in fewer films. She met her husband Sharif Ali Bhagat, a businessman, on the sets of a movie for which he provided furniture. He produced two films with Munawar in the lead, Meri Kahani (1948) and Pyar Ki Manzil (1950).[3] Following the sudden death of her husband in 1966, Munawar managed her family of four sons and three daughters.[5]

Death
In the last eight years of her life, Munawar suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She died on 15 September 2007, at her home in Ambedkar Road. Pali Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.[5][18]

MUNAWAR SULTANA ,HINDI FILM ACTRESS BORN November 8,1924–15 September 2007

MUNAWAR SULTANA ,HINDI FILM ACTRESS 

BORN November 8,1924–15 September 2007

Munawar Sultana 
(November 8,1924–15 September 2007) (her name in all her films opening credits), also written as Munnawar Sultana,[1] or Munawar Sultana[2] was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi/Hindustani films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of the late 1940s to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Ragini.[3] Her specialty was playing the role of a selfless woman, enduring the rough treatment meted by her husband and family, but who eventually "brought her erring husband back home".[4]

She came into prominence with Mazhar Khan's Pehli Nazar (1945), her first film in a leading role. A discovery of actor-producer-director Mazhar Khan, she became inundated with film offers, becoming one of the busiest actresses by 1949, along with other leading ladies such as Suraiya and Nargis.[5] Some of her successful films were Pehli Nazar, Dard (1947), Elaan (1947) Kaneez (1947), and Babul (1950).
Born Munawar Sultana
8 November 1924
Lahore, British India
Died 15 September 2007 (aged 82)
Mumbai
Nationality Indian
Occupation Actress
Years active 1945-56
Spouse(s) Sharaf Ali

Children 4 sons, 3 daughters

Early life

Munawar Sultana was born on 8 November 1924, in Lahore, British India, into a strict Punjabi Muslim family.[4] According to an interview with son Sarfaraz and daughter Shaheen, conducted by Shishir Krishna Sharma, Munawwar's father was a radio announcer. Munawwar wanted to become a doctor, but was side-tracked by an offer in films. This was a small role in the film, Dalsukh Pancholi's Khazanchi (1941), where she played a barmaid, and had a song, "Peene Ke Din Aaye" picturised on her.[6] She went by the screen name Asha for this period.[4] According to Patel, Munawwar came to Bombay from Lahore, courtesy of the actor-director Mazhar Khan in 1945. She became popular with her film Pehli Nazar, a role she stated was one of her favourites.[7]

Career

In 1945, she was visited in Lahore by producer-actor-director Mazhar Khan, who contracted her on a monthly fee of Rs. 4000 plus an apartment, and brought her to Bombay. Munawwar's first film with Mazhar was Pehli Nazar, where she was cast opposite actor Motilal. In the popular song "Dil Jalta Hai Toh Jalne Do" (Let the Aflame Heart Burn) playbacked by singer Mukesh for Motilal, Khan focused on Munawwar's close-ups during the picturisation.

1940s

Following Pehli Nazar, she was kept busy through 1947 to 1949 working in several films. Baburao Patel wrote in the cine-mag Filmindia 1949, about her being one of the most over-worked actresses along with Suraiya and Nargis.[5]

In 1947, Munawar acted in four films Dard, Elaan, Andhon Ki Duniya and Naiyya. Dard was directed by Abdul Rashid Kardar under Kardar Productions. In spite of no big stars being in the film, it turned out to be a surprise "musical hit" at the box office.[8] The hero of the film was Kardar's brother Nusrat (Kardar),[9] while Suraiya played the second lead, with Munawwar Sultana as the main heroine.[10] Munawwar lip-synced three songs voiced for her by Uma Devi, a Naushad discovery. The song "Afsana Likh Rahin Hoon" became a big success.[11] Elaan garnered positive reviews for Munawwar. A Muslim social, the film was praised for its "progressive attitude" towards the need of education. It was directed by Mehboob Khan and had Surendra as the male lead. [12]

1948 saw Munawar in four more films. Parai Aag was produced by Great India Pictures and directed by Najam Naqvi. The film starred Munawar with Madhubala and Ulhas. Sona (Gold) was another Mazhar Khan-directed film for his Mazhar Arts Production. Majboor was a Bombay Talkies production, under the direction of Nazir Ajmeri. It had Shyam opposite Munawwar with music by Ghulam Haider. Bombay Talkies had gone through several changes following Himanshu Rai's death, and Devika Rani's partnership with S. Mukherjee had produced several box office hits. With first, Mukherjee, and then Devika Rani leaving as head of production of Bombay Talkies, Ashok Kumar and S. Vacha returned to Bombay Talkies and took over control. Their first film was Majboor. The story was an "inter-communal" love story, with a Muslim boy falling for a Hindu girl.[13] Munawwar formed a "hit-pairing" with Shyam in this film, while Lata Mangeshkar came into prominence under the music direction of Ghulam Haider.[14] Meri Kahani was directed by cameraman Keki Mistry and produced by Sharaf for Super Team Federal Productions (Bombay). The film co-starred Munawwar and Madhubala with Surendra. A comedy of errors, it has the hero in a double role leading to mistaken identities.[15]

1949 was Munawar's busiest year with seven releases. Dil Ki Duniya was directed by Mazhar Khan for his Noble Arts Production. It co-starred Geeta Bali and Mazhar with Munawar. The film was praised for its "versatility" and "well-balanced production values", along with good performances by Munawwar, Mazhar and Geeta Bali. The film was claimed to have done "well" at the box office.[16] Her standout film that year was Kaneez, directed by Krishna Kumar for Caravan Pictures. A Muslim social, it had Munawwar with Shyam, and Kuldeep Kaur. She played a suffering woman married to a wayward husband, who eventually returns to her. It was described as one of her best roles.[2]

1950s

Out of her four films released in 1950, Munawar's most notable film was Babul (Father's House). She acted opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis in this love triangle. Directed by S. U. Sunny, the music was composed by Naushad.[17] The film became a major success at the box office. She acted in a few more films till 1956, with Jallad being her last appearance.

Personal life
From 1950, Munawar's career slowed down, and she acted in fewer films. She met her husband Sharif Ali Bhagat, a businessman, on the sets of a movie for which he provided furniture. He produced two films with Munawar in the lead, Meri Kahani (1948) and Pyar Ki Manzil (1950).[4] Following the sudden death of her husband in 1966, Munawar managed her family of four sons and three daughters.[6]

Death
In the last eight years of her life, Munawar suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She died on 15 September 2007, at her home in Ambedkar Road. Pali Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.[6][18]