Latest news with #Pakeezah
Economic Times
10-07-2025
- General
- Economic Times
Mother Tongue-United: Why urban India may outgrow the language wars
Sweet all things. My father would have turned 100 this year. He never met my father-in-law, having died over a decade before I met my future wife and her family. If the two men had been introduced, in which language would they have conversed? The answer is piquant and complicated. It calls for a process of explanation as well as father knew, and my father-in-law knows, multiple languages. Both emerged from distant corners and linguistic traditions of the subcontinent. My father was born in Rawalpindi, and the first language he heard and spoke in was Punjabi. It was the verbal language used at home in the middle-class mohalla, amid a bustling wholesale market, where the family lived. When still a small child, my father was sent off to the madrasa attached to the local mosque. Here, the maulvi taught him Urdu, as he had taught my father's older brothers and sisters. Urdu became my father's primary textual language. He was to use it all his life in writing letters and notes to his brothers. English came after a few years, when he entered school. It was the language of education and work. But it was decidedly a second language. My father's engagement with English was formalistic. As a child, it struck me that he was more comfortable typing in English - on his rusty Olivetti typewriter - than while putting pen to father-in-law began life in a village in Dergaon, Upper Assam. His earliest language was Assamese, learnt in a local maktab school the headmaster of which was a Hindu Brahmin. English and Sanskrit arrived later, with 'proper' school. English evolved to become the language of higher education and men came to Hindi in Delhi, through different routes and in different decades. For my father, Hindi was gingerly approached through Urdu - familiarity with which also allowed him a smattering of Pashto, and even the odd Persian line. For my father-in-law, Hindi was explored through the common root words that came from Sanskrit and significantly, but not entirely, contributed to the vocabulary of father could have watched the film Pakeezah and understood every syllable and nuance. Doordarshan news left him confused. For my father- in-law, it's the opposite. Doordarshan news Hindi is about the only Hindi that makes sense; Pakeezah's screenplay is knew Hindi after a fashion. But their Hindis would have been mutually unintelligible. They could only have communicated in English - a second, even third language for both, and certainly not the language they instinctively counted, thought or dreamt in. For me, it was still different. English is my first and natural language. I use it to form my innermost thoughts and talk to myself. Educationists define 'mother tongue' as the language the child most uses and hears around him or her in formative years. This need not be the same as one's ancestral language. That is a popular fallacy, frequently exploited in political rhetoric. For a peculiar mix of reasons - growing up in a certain milieu in Calcutta, with school, neighbourhood, social and community influences - my 'mother tongue' is was the same for my sisters. We went to separate, but similar, educational institutions. To this day, my sisters and I talk to each other in English, but not necessarily to other members of the (extended) family. Response to this has been both puzzled and mirthful: 'You speak English even at home?'English is my 'mother tongue', but not my ancestral language - which is Punjabi, a language I barely know. I am fluent in Bengali, but that's another story and should not detain us here. While my 'mother tongue' and ancestral language are distinct, it is not so for my wife. Assamese is both her 'mother tongue' and her ancestral language. For our children, born and raised in Delhi, it is a third experience altogether. Given their formative environment, they self-identify with Hindi as their 'mother tongue'. Their ancestral languages are Assamese and this led to an energetic argument at home when the census official visited in 2011 and asked what she thought was an innocuous question: 'Which is your 'mother tongue'?' It has also triggered perfectly normal and everyday episodes that, seen from another perspective, could appear children, it was not uncommon for my son and daughter to speak to each other in Hindi and then translate what they had just discussed to English for their parents' benefit. This was not a slight or a dig, or a joke. It was just an understanding and consideration shown to two external individuals who happened to be their parents, and who the children realised were not as comfortable in Hindi as they (the children) does one make of a family of four that has, between its members, three different 'mother tongues'? As India rapidly urbanises, facilitates internal migration, and fosters an increasing number of inter-regional and inter-state marriages, examples of such families will only grow. Hopefully, this will make us Indians less uptight about language wars and 'mother tongue' obsessions. Plural families, after all, build a plural nation. The writer is partner and chair of India Practice, The Asia Group. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of Elevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea. Newton vs. industry: Inside new norms that want your car to be more fuel-efficient India's gas dream runs on old pipes. Can a European fix unclog the future? Engine fuel switches or something else? One month on, still no word on what crashed AI 171 Is gold always the best bet? Think again Can this cola maker get back bubble valuation pricked by Ambani? 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India.com
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Made in Rs 1.25 crore, lead actress of this film died after one month of its release, movie earned Rs…, lead actor was…
Bollywood has seen a number of turbulent productions, but few compare to Pakeezah, a film that stretched across 14 years, survived a marriage and a breakup, and became a posthumous triumph for its legendary heroine. Yes, you read it right! Wondering who are we talking about? She is Meena Kumari. Kamal Amrohi's directorial, starring his then-wife Meena Kumari, the film began production in 1958. Originally shot in black-and-white, the film's progress was derailed by changing technology, personal heartbreak, and health crises. Why did Pakeezah's production stall? The transition from black-and-white to colour was just the beginning. By 1964, Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari's marriage ended in divorce, bringing filming to a screeching halt. For four years, the project lay dormant. In 1968, Amrohi revived the film. Meena Kumari, by then struggling with alcoholism and severe illness, nonetheless made a brave return to complete the film, determined to honour the vision she had once believed in. When was the film finally completed? The shooting of the film was wrapped in 1971, and post-production followed swiftly. The film, according to several media reports, Pakeezah, finally saw the light of day in 1972, a full 14 years after its inception. However, just two months after its release, Meena Kumari passed away, a tragic twist that changed the film's fate. Here's how Meena Kumari's death impacted the film According to the reports, initially, Pakeezah saw lukewarm reception. But after Meena Kumari's death, audiences rushed to witness her swansong. The film's poetic dialogues, haunting melodies, and Meena's ethereal presence resonated like never before. The emotional weight of her passing, coupled with the film's lyrical beauty, elevated it from an average release to a cultural phenomenon. Reportedly, with a production cost of Rs 1.25 crore, massive for its time, Pakeezah went on to earn Rs 6 crore at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of its era. More importantly, it earned the rare title of a cult classic, remembered for its music, art direction, and the sheer resilience behind its making. Today, Pakeezah stands as more than just a film, it's a testament to cinematic obsession, personal sacrifice, and the undying aura of Meena Kumari, the 'Tragedy Queen' of Hindi cinema.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From Umrao Jaan to Pakeezah, how an archive frames Bollywood's unseen history
From Umrao Jaan to Pakeezah, how an archive frames Bollywood's unseen history Shruti Sonal TNN Jul 5, 2025, 19:35 IST IST For eighty years, Kamat Foto Flash has been chronicling Hindi cinema's most iconic movies through stills When Muzaffar Ali 's ' Umrao Jaan ' released in 1981, its poetic storytelling, the enigmatic Rekha , Asha Bhonsle's unforgettable songs, and the stunning set and costume design made it an instant classic. Over 40 years later, Ali, Rekha, and Bhonsle reunited in Mumbai to celebrate the release of the film's beautifully restored 4K version in theatres. Alongside the remastered film, Ali also launched a limited-edition coffee table book with photography stills that captured behind-the-scenes of the film's making. 'My background in advertising and painting has made me aware of the power that images hold. I thought a book would help in keeping the film's stills zinda (alive) for a long time, along with the different layers of truth that go behind a single scene in the film,' Ali says.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Moved by viral video, Pawan Kalyan helps veteran actress Pakeezah
Vijayawada: Veteran actress Vasuki, popularly known by her screen name Pakeezah, received financial assistance of 2 lakh from deputy chief minister and chief , after reports emerged of her struggling with severe financial hardship. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The support came in response to viral videos showing the actress visiting the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada, which revealed her current condition. Moved by her plight, netizens widely shared her story, sparking an online campaign urging both the govt and the public to step in and help. Pakeezah, once a celebrated figure in Telugu and Tamil cinema, acted in over 300 films during her career. She rose to prominence in the 1990s with memorable roles in blockbusters like Pedda Rayudu, Assembly Rowdy, Mama Garu, and others. Despite her past fame, she recently faced dire financial struggles, losing film opportunities and struggling to make ends meet. The 2 lakh assistance was handed over at the Jana Sena Central Office in Mangalagiri by Legislative Council govt whip Hariprasad and P Gannavaram MLA Giddi Satyanarayana, on behalf of Pawan Kalyan. An emotional Pakeezah expressed heartfelt gratitude. "If he were here, I would touch his feet in thanks. I informed his office only yesterday, and by today, I received help. I will forever remain indebted to his family," she said.
India Today
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
No shame in being sensual: Huma Qureshi on why special songs deserve a new lens
Bollywood's special songs featuring women, popularly called item numbers, have long been a subject of debate, but Huma Qureshi feels a refreshing shift is underway. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, she reflected on how the portrayal of women in these numbers is no longer just about the male gaze, but about an exclusive chat with India Today, the actor opened up about the changing lens through which special songs are now being viewed. 'Earlier, it was more about the male gaze. It was about the objectification of women in a certain way. And today it's more about celebrating the female form. "And I think therein lies the difference,' she further added, 'There is no shame in a woman being glamorous or beautiful or sensual and expressing that. "But I think that lensing is very important,' she added. Talking about her own choices when it comes to music videos and dance numbers, the 'Monica, O My Darling' actor shared that intent and aesthetics matter deeply to her. 'The choice of people I work with - they're all amazing and really good at what they do. And I think the idea was not to have a song that would go viral. Yes, we want to make a popular song. Yes, we want to make a hit song and a massy song, but it's also classy," she asked Huma to name an iconic song that she would like to re-create, she said, "I would like to recreate 'Chalte Chalte' from 'Pakeezah'. I don't think I'll ever be able to do as good a job as that one, but I would love to do it."Huma was recently seen in the sizzling track 'Dil Thaam Ke' from 'Maalik', which stars Rajkummar Rao.- EndsMust Watch
