I really enjoyed her performance in Miss Mary. She was cute, charming, charismatic, and very funny! Although she played a simple role, I could delightfully sense and appreciate her slightest mannerisms. With her magic she turned an ordinary role into a very memorable one. I regret that such an outstanding, multi-faceted actress dedicated most of her career to weepy tragedies as I don't enjoy that genre. Are there other Meena Kumari movies where we get to see her lighter side? "Lighter" means a movie like Miss Mary or even one where she isn't weeping for half of the time. Even Halaku counts as light for me whereas Phool Aur Patthar does not. Kohinoor is definitely on my list. Suggestions are very much appreciated.

mere apne
dhall

Thank you Sir for your suggestion. I do appreciate it. However, I looked at the IMDB summary...



Doesn't sound like a light, happy movie

Apparently it got a very high rating so I just may have to try it. Thanks again!

manishji,
here is a list of some of her ''light'' movies-
1]-alladin and wonderful lamp[1952],
2]-tamasha[1952],
3]-ilzam[1954],
4]-azaad[1955],
5]-bandish[1955],
6]-memsaab[1956],
7]-naya andaz[1956],
8]-miss mary[1957],
9]-shararat[1959].
10]-kohinoor[1960].

some other films which cannot be called weepy tragedies-
1]-vaar ghatotkach[1949],
2]-sri ganesh mahima[1950],
3]-magroor[1950],
4]-madhosh[1951],
5]-sanam[1951],
6]-parineeta[1953],
7]-naulakha haar[1953],
8]-jagir[1959],
9]-akeli mat jaiyo[1963],
10]-chitralekha[1964],
12]-mere apne[1971]



regards,
mahesh

An EXCELLENT list! Thank you very very much! Tomorrow I will email that entire list of light movies minus Miss Mary to my usual DVD store - NehaFlix. I'll ask them to acquire all the DVDs and give me a discount for a large order. As I watch each movie - I will post a review here. I can't wait!

But, the problem is that she looks 'Heavy' (both literally and figuratively!) even in 'Light' movies!!!!

Just kidding. I like/respect her for what she was! Was a great presence on the screen always.

I appreciate your honest opinion. I agree with what you say - but ONLY AFTER 1960. I have yet to get my hands on Kohinoor but I have seen the clip for "Tan Rang Lo". In that clip, she was by far the most beautiful actress I have ever seen in any film. 1960 and prior she was in top form (literally and figuratively). I'm sure you've seen the clip for "O Raat Ke Musafir" in Miss Mary - she is funny EVEN while she "cries" in beginning! No need to mention, she looked really, really, ridiculously good in that movie too. After 1960, we can't deny the truth, she took up drinking. Alcohol will destroy anyone - even a legend like Meena Kumari. It changed her appearance to the point that she intrinsically looked somber (perhaps this carried over even in light roles). It's really sad. I realize that the answer may not be pleasant but...do we know WHY she took up drinking? I have only seen a few of her films - some of my opinions may change after I eagerly watch Mahesh ji's dozen movie list and learn more about her.

Has Dharmendra got anything to do with that!! I wonder.

She drank? So wots all this nakhra about:

No,no, though Meena and Dharmendra were romantically involved it was the latter who got the mileage out of this relationship. Meena Kumari was the ladder. It's to be noted that in one of his interviews, Dharmendra while speaking about his heroines chose to remain mum on Meena Kumari until the interview mentioned her name. But Dharmendra's gestures were only one of awe and respect for the great actress.

It's to be remembered that she was married to Kamal Amrohi who who was already a married man and fifteen years her senior. Their romance is pictured in a movie called DAERA (1953). But their marriage did not work - one reason being that Kamal did not want any child from Meena Kumari for certain reason. After a separation and later divorce in 1964, Meena Kumari became depressed. It was here that she hit the bottle. Her days of youth were over. She also began writing poetry.

Additionally, according to one of his biographers Kamal Amrohi, it seems, was a a womaniser. Nida Fazli has written details on this and about the director's personal life highlighting Amrohi's relationship with his wife, Meena Kumari, his 'lack of concern for everyone and self-centred attitude (a civil suit of defamation has been filed by Kamal's daughter).

I don't know much about this but I would guess yes. It is widely stated that Meena Kumari relied on the kindness of younger men like Dharmendra. This doesn't make sense. She was no longer at her best in the mid 60s but she was still a superstar with a spate of hits. Younger men like Dharmendra were far from established and could provide nothing for her except good looks. She on the other hand could provide star power with her presence and movie roles with her influence, which she did. If anything, it was HER that the younger men relied on. This doesn't free Meena Kumari from her responsibilities. I don't think Dharmendra went out of his way to cause mischief but he probably put little effort to avoid it. In Dharmendra's defense, I hear that Meena Kumari's sister stated that Dharmendra wanted to marry Meena Kumari. That suggests he had good intentions. It could also be that he wanted the alliance to further his career. Nevertheless, Phool Aur Patthar was a hit, earned and carried by Dharmendra. Although I put little weight into her biography by a skeptical source, the few excerpts I read give me the impression that she was drinking even while with Dharmendra (before he left her). It gives the impression that her drinking behavior was the reason that Dharmendra left her. As one example, supposedly when Dharmendra was away, Meena Kumari in drunken state was about to marry a young stranger and K Asif had to advise her against it. It's possible that the author exaggerated things to make a couple of bucks. If there's any truth to that, then maybe Dharmendra was indeed innocent of all this.

We don't know for sure if Dharmendra is to blame. Meena Kumari's marriage was on rocks even before the Dharmendra affair. Perhaps the former pre-empted the latter. It's not clear to me if Meena Kumari started drinking because (1) She was distraught with the break up of her marriage caused by Kamal Amrohi's womanizing and whimsical ways (2) She was distraught with the break up of her marriage and Dharmendra wasn't helping the situation (3) Dharmendra left her. As discussed before, it seems she took on drinking before this happened. This could only worsen the situation but not be the seed for it. This is still a mystery. I guess that all three - Kamal Amrohi, Meena Kumari, and Dharmendra (in that order) were responsible for her drinking. If Meena Kumari ever wrote, "God will punish those who broke my home" - I wonder who she was referring to? I would have to verify that she wrote it exactly like that (in plural form). Not all translations are accurate.

If you guys do not think I am being mischievous, I would say this.

Dharmendra had all the makings of an Adonis. Actually, it is easy to name/count the Heroines, who did not have a 'crush' for him.

Mala Sinha openly said in an interview that "all of us, girls, had that something for him". Why, even a few months back, Jaya Bachhan and Hema were speaking to each other and the anchor in a TV channel. And Jaya had no qualms of admitting that when she first saw Dharmendra, she was head over heels for him. And Hema gave a proud "Don't I Know?" look!!!

Though a bit out of way..i would like to narrate how Savitri went almost the same way of Meena Kumari. The resemblances in their lives are so eerie..
Savitri, for those uninitiated, is THE one and only Numero Uno of telugu films.
She acted in the telugu original of Miss Mary ...titled Missamma.
Oh..boy! Was she beautiful !! am posting a pic of her here for your own judgment.
She married Gemini Ganeshan, an actor from tamil filmdom, a known womaniser. She was second wife to him. All the earnings of her went his way. She hit the bottle and ended up like Meena kumari. the only difference is that she left Two kids ..who are nicely settled now.

Here is the poster of Missamma...

She looked heavy after 1960, even she played heavy roles after 1960. have a look at the list.

She thought heavy too, remember her shayeries?