IWMBuzz
  • Television
  • Digital
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Tech
  • Gaming
  • Web Stories
Movies | News

Musing Over The Magic Of Madhubala

Know more about legendary Madhubala and be even more mesmerized

Author: Subhash K Jha
14 Feb,2023 10:58:51
Google News Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
Musing Over The Magic Of Madhubala

It is no coincidence that the Venus Of India,Madhubala was born on the day devoted to love ,Valentine’s Day.

Madhubala, the exquisite beauty of the Indian film industry would have been 90 -years-old today had death not taken her away prematurely at the age of 36. Hailed as Marilyn Monroe of Bollywood, her infectious smile could launch a thousand ships and epitomised all the grace and feminine beauty that make those flickering images on screen come alive as a collective emblem of the life force.

It was Kamal Amrohi’s Mahal that gave Madhubala the image of an ethereal unattainable yet warm and gregarious beauty who could be diva and devil at the same time.But her most memorable role is that of Anarkali in Mughal-E-Azam and Lataji’s timeless paean to love Pyar Kiya Toh Darna Kya still remains one of the most iconic songs through the years.It won’t be wrong to say that Madhubala’s life was as tragic as her character’s. Like Prince Salim, Dilip Kumar was madly in love with her and wanted to marry her. But her father refused to bless the alliance. In his autobiography the late actor revealed that their relationship fell through because her father refused to part with the sole breadwinner of his family.

The gorgeous actress was born as Mumtaz Begum on February 14, 1933, in Delhi to a poor Pashtun family and she along with her family moved to Bombay. She was noticed by actress Devika Rani, co-founder of Bombay Talkies Studio who renamed her Madhubala. She started her career in 1942 at the age of nine in Basant. Her first hit as a leading lady was Kidar Sharma’s Neel Kamal (1947).

But her looks were so overpowering that most people refused to perceive her as a brilliant actress with impeccable poignant and comic timing. If she could do the timeless romance so accurately in Mughal-e-Azam, she was also the perfect comedienne in her films with Kishore Kumar like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Half Ticket (1962) and Jhumroo (1961).

Some of these comedies were shot at a time when Madhubala knew she was dying. She had been detected with a hole in the heart. The doctors gave her just a few years of life. She dragged on living with no one but her husband Kishore Kumar to tend to her in her final days.

The actress passed away in 1969, at the young age of 36, but remained embedded in public memory as the timeless beauty who enthralled audiences in Mahal, Howrah Bridge and of course Mughal-e-Azam where she had to wear heavy iron chains in spite of doctors warning her against such strain due to the heart condition.

Madhubala’s last released film was Jwala with Sunil Dutt in 1970. By then she was already gone. The legend, of course, lives on as do stories of impish personality and incessant giggles from those who had the privilege of knowing her personally.

Late director Yash Chopra had the opportunity to direct Madhubala for his brother BR Chopra’s film in Naya Daur before Vyjayanthimala replaced her. He never forgot that brief interlude with her. “She was there for a while…and then she was gone!” he had said, putting his finger on Madhubala’s brief romance with fame and life. It was the same movie for which she was signed alongside Dilip Kumar, who had fallen in love with her. When Madhubala refused to shoot outdoors due to her failing health, she was dragged to court where Dilip Kumar made a public declaration of his love for the beauteous damsel. “I will love her until she dies,” thereby pre-empting her inevitable end.

About The Author
Subhash K Jha

Subhash K. Jha is a veteran Indian film critic, journalist based in Patna, Bihar. He is currently film critic with leading daily The Times of India, Firstpost, Deccan chronicle and DNA News, besides TV channels Zee News and News18 India.

Madhubala

Wait for Comment Box Appear while
Related Post
Madhubala, Kishore Kumar , Lata Mangeshkar Bio-Pics, Would They Ever Be Made?
Madhubala, Kishore Kumar , Lata Mangeshkar Bio-Pics, Would They Ever Be Made?
Kangana Ranaut, Kareena Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit To Shehnaaz Gill: Netizens Want These Divas To Play The Lead Roles In Madhubala's Biopic
Kangana Ranaut, Kareena Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit To Shehnaaz Gill: Netizens Want These Divas To Play The Lead Roles In Madhubala's Biopic
Exclusive: Drashti Dhami and Gulshan Devaiah in Goldie Behl’s Duranga on ZEE5
Exclusive: Drashti Dhami and Gulshan Devaiah in Goldie Behl’s Duranga on ZEE5
Exclusive: Maninee De and Gaurav Sareen roped in for a short film
Exclusive: Maninee De and Gaurav Sareen roped in for a short film
#HappyValentinesDay: Madhubala, The Personification Of Love & Beauty
#HappyValentinesDay: Madhubala, The Personification Of Love & Beauty
Every Screen Diva From Madhubala To Jaya Bhaduri Owe A Large Part Of  Their Stardom To Lataji
Every Screen Diva From Madhubala To Jaya Bhaduri Owe A Large Part Of Their Stardom To Lataji
Latest Stories
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is all about princess vibes in designer Mishru white outfit, see photodump
Samantha Ruth Prabhu is all about princess vibes in designer Mishru white outfit, see photodump
Watch: Malaika Arora proves age is just number, stuns with viral yoga video
Watch: Malaika Arora proves age is just number, stuns with viral yoga video
Bigg Boss 16's Sumbul Touqeer wants you to confess your love for her, here's why
Bigg Boss 16's Sumbul Touqeer wants you to confess your love for her, here's why
How Cute: Karan Kundrra shares award-winning speech, girlfriend Tejasswi Prakash records memorable occasion
How Cute: Karan Kundrra shares award-winning speech, girlfriend Tejasswi Prakash records memorable occasion
What's cooking at Rubina Dilaik and Rashami Desai's life?
What's cooking at Rubina Dilaik and Rashami Desai's life?
Reem Sameer Shaikh is ultimate stunner in shimmery deep-neck blouse and lehenga, Monalisa loves it
Reem Sameer Shaikh is ultimate stunner in shimmery deep-neck blouse and lehenga, Monalisa loves it
Read Latest News
IWMBuzz Logo

For the latest Bollywood, Hollywood, Tollywood Movie and Celebrity News, Trailers, Reviews and Interviews, follow the IWMBuzz website

COMPANY

  • About us
  • Recognition
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Condition

Policy

  • Editorial Policy
  • Image Usage Policy
  • Privacy Policy

CONNECT

  • Contact Us
Follow on FBFollow on TWFollow on InstaFollow on YT

Copyright 2023 IWM PUBLISHING AND COMMUNICATION PVT. LTD. All rights reserved