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| 2011, Legendary Heroines of India Miniature Sheet Rs 30.00 MNH |
Legendary Heroines of India Mini Sheet 2011 MNH
Text: Legendary Heroines of India 2011
Condition: MNH
| Country / Post | India |
|---|---|
| Date of Issue | 13 February 2011 |
| Primary theme | Theater & Cinema (Films & film stars) |
| Subject | Legendary Heroines of India |
| Width | 39.0 mm |
| Height | 28.5 mm |
| Denomination | 5.00 INR |
| Number in set | 6 |
| Layout/Format | sheet |
| Perforations | 13.5 by 13.5 |
| Stamp issuing authority | Ministry of Communications Department of Posts |
| Printer | India Security Press, Nasik |
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Lengendary Heroines of India Mini Sheet 2011 MNH
1. DEVIKA RANI
Born in Waltair (now Visakhapatnam), Devika Rani came from a distinguished background: she was the great-grandniece of the Nobel LaureateRabindranath Tagore and her father, Col. M. N. Chaudhuri, was the first Indian Surgeon-General of Madras. Her mother's name was Leela.
She completed her early schooling in the early 1920s. She then studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the Royal Academy of Music in London, UK, where she won scholarships. She also studied architecture, textile and decor design, and apprenticed under Elizabeth Arden. Here, through her Brahmo connections, she met with scriptwriter Niranjan Pal who would eventually write many of her most successful screen roles.
Devika Rani married Indian producer and actor Himanshu Rai in 1929. Together they starred in Karma (1933). They soon founded the Bombay Talkiesfilm studio, along with retainers Niranjan Pal and Franz Osten, whose films challenged the caste system. In addition to Devika Rani, other notable actors to work for Bombay Talkies at one point or another included Ashok Kumar and Madhubala.
In 1936, Devika Rani eloped with her lover actor Najam-ul-Hassan. Himanshu Rai somehow managed to bring her back but her paramour did not return. And the studio head Himanshu Rai called upon his laboratory assistant Ashok Kumar to take the leading man's part and thus began a six-decade-long acting career for that actor. Ashok Kumar later starred with the actress in Achhut Kanya (1936). This, her most notable film, is the story of a relationship between an untouchable girl (played by herself) and a Brahmin boy (played by Ashok Kumar).
Devika Rani is also accredited for having acted in the longest kissing scene in the movie world with her husband Himanshu Rai in Karma (1933). It was 4 minutes long and very controversial in the then culturally orthodox India.[1]
2. KANAN DEVIKanan Devi (Bengali: কানন দেবী) (22 April 1916 – 17 July 1992) was an Indian actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali Cinema.[1] Her singing style, usually in rapid tempo, was used instrumentally in some of the biggest hits of New Theaters, Kolkata.
Biography
Kanan Devi was born as Kanan Dassi in Howrah, West Bengal on 22 April 1916. In her autobiography, entitled "Sabaray Ami Nami", Kanan Devi has observed that she was born illegitimately. After the death of her adoptive father, Ratan Chandra Das, young Kanan and her mother were simply left to fend for themselves. Kanan Devi's life is a true story of rags to riches.
A well wisher(Durga Prasad Ghosh) introduced Kanan Bala when she was only ten to Madan Theatres/Jyoti Studios where she was cast in a small role in Joydev (1926). Kanan did at least five films with the Madan Theatres productions, (1926-1932) Rishir Prem, Jorebarat, Bishnumaya and Prahlad, playing even male leads in the last two. She then worked with Radha Films from 1933-1936, then New Theaters from 1937-1942, MP Productions 1943-1948 and finally her own label Shrimati Pictures 1949-1959. From silent film roles as a child artist Kanan made the successful transition into the talkie films and was noticed with Jor Baraat, Khooni Kaun and Maa (1934).
Her films with Jyotish Banerjee included Joydev, Rishir Prem, Jorebarat, Vishnumaya, Kantahaar and Manomoyee Girls School. Her films with Prafulla Ghosh were Sree Gourange, Char Darvesh, Maa and Hari Bhakti.
New Theatres's P.C. Barua wanted her to play the lead in his Devdas (1935), but, due to contractual reasons with Radha, she could not act in the film, a factor she regretted all her life. The films of New Theatres owned by Biren Sircar established her as a superhit singer and her films ran to packed audiences. She had to travel under constant protection given her huge fan following. During her years with New Theatres, Calcutta from 1937, she played the lead in Barua's Mukti (1937), which was perhaps her finest performance, making her the studio's top star. Apart from Mukti, she did Vidyapati, Saathi, Street Singer, Sapera, Jawani ki Reet, Parajay, Abhinetri, Lagan, Parichay and Jawab.
She came in contact with the music maestro Raii Chand Boral who not only coached and familiarized her in the Hindi accent but experimented with many classical Western and Indian forms in his music. She received her initial musical training under Ustad Alla Rakha. She was employed as a singer at the Megaphone Gramaphone Company, receiving further training under Bhishmadev Chatterjee. She later learnt Rabindra Sangeet under Anadi Dastidar. Her name was soon changed to Kanan Devi. It was her association with K. C. Dey uncle and teacher to Manna Dey, that people enjoyed the most. Kanan Devi remained the top star of New Theatres until she resigned her contract in 1941 and began to freelance in Bengali and Hindi films.
Kanan Devi has worked with the biggest names in Bengali and Indian cinema from K.L. Saigal, Pankaj Mullick, Pramathesh Barua, Pahari Sanyal, Chabi Biswas and Ashok Kumar.
M.P. Productions's Jawaab, was perhaps her biggest hit. Her song Duniya Yeh Duniya, Hai Toofan Mail was well received. She repeated the same feast in Hospital (1943), Banphool (1945), andRajlakshmi (1946). Kanan Devi's last Hindi film was Chandrashekhar (1948) with Ashok Kumar.
Kanan Devi turned producer with Shrimati Pictures in 1949 and later launched the Sabyasachi Collective with the film Ananya (1949). Her own productions were mainly based on the stories ofSharat Chandra Chattopadhyay.
Kanan Devi married her first husband, Shri Ashok Maitra, around March 1941, son of the staunch Brahmo Samaj reformer Heramba Chandra Maitra. It was a short-lived marriage despite the couple's best intentions and was severely condemned by the then conservative society. Even the poet Rabindra Nath Tagore who sent a token gift to the married couple received scathing criticism for congratulating the couple. Despite the pain of the divorce, Kanan expressed her immense gratitude towards her first husband for giving her social recognition for the first time in her life. She maintained excellent relations with Rani Mahanalobis, sister to Ashok Maitra and her husband the famous social scientist P.C. Mahanalobis.
Later, Kanan Devi married Haridas Bhattacharya around 1949, Haridas Bhattacharya, then ADC to the Governor of Bengal, eventually left the service to become a competent director of Kanan Devi's films. While she raised her son, Siddharta Bhattacharya in Calcutta, she also formed and worked as the president of Mahila Shilpi Mahal, an organization to help aging female artists and for the upliftment of Bengali cinema.
Kanan Devi, as the first lady of the Bengali screen, received many honours for her contribution to Indian cinema. An honourary degree from Vishwabharati, the Padma Shree in 1968 and theDadasaheb Phalke Award in 1976.
She died on 17 July 1992 in Belle View Clinic, Calcutta when she was around seventy-six years of age.
3. MEENA KUMARI
Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972), born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema. During a career spanning 30 years from her childhood to her death, she starred in more than ninety films, many of which have achieved classic and cult status today.
Meena Kumari (1 August 1932 – 31 March 1972), born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema. During a career spanning 30 years from her childhood to her death, she starred in more than ninety films, many of which have achieved classic and cult status today.
Kumari gained a reputation for playing grief-stricken and tragic roles, and her performances have been praised and reminisced throughout the years. Like one of her best-known roles, Chhoti Bahu, in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Kumari became addicted to alcohol. Her life and prosperous career were marred by heavy drinking, troubled relationships, an ensuing deteriorating health, and her death from liver cirrhosis in 1972.
Kumari is often cited by media and literary sources as "The Tragedy Queen", both for her frequent portrayal of sorrowful and dramatic roles in her films and her real-life story
4. NUTAN
Nutan Behl (née Samarth) (4 June 1936 – 23 February 1991), better known as Nutan (Marathi: नूतन), was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades. Regarded as one of the finest female actors in the history of Hindi cinema,[1][2] Nutan was noted for playing unconventional parts, and her performances often received praise and accolades.[3]
Nutan started her career at the age of 14 in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, directed by her mother Shobhna Samarth. She subsequently starred in such films as Nagina and Humlog (both 1951). Her role in Seema (1955) garnered her wider recognition and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She continued playing leading roles through the 1960s until the late 1970s and went on win the award on four other occasions for her roles in Sujata(1959), Bandini (1963), Milan (1967) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). Some of her other films of this period include Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Anari(1959), Chhalia (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963), Saraswatichandra (1968), Anuraag (1972) and Saudagar (1973).
In the 1980s, Nutan started playing character roles and continued working until shortly before her death. She portrayed mostly motherly roles in such films as Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung (1985) and Naam (1986). Her performance in Meri Jung earned her a sixth and last Filmfare Award, this time in the Best Supporting Actress category. Nutan holds the record of five wins of the Best Actress Award at Filmfare, which was held only by her for over 30 years until it was matched by her niece Kajol in 2011; she is overall the most-awarded actress in the female acting categories at Filmfare, with six awards alongside Jaya Bachchan.[4]
Nutan was married to Rajnish Behl from 1959 till her death of cancer in 1991. Their son, Mohnish Behl is a character actor in Hindi films and television.
5. SAVITHRI
Kommareddy Savitri or Savitri Ganesh (Telugu: సావిత్రి కొమ్మారెడ్డి; Tamil:சாவித்திரி கணேசன், 6 December 1935 – 26 December 1981), was a versatile Indian film actress, director and producer. She had appeared in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi language films.
Savitri was born to Nissankara Guruviah and Subhadhramma in Chirravur (near Tenali) in Guntur, Madras Presidency, now part of Andhra Pradesh. She learned music and Indian classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri. She performed stage shows during her childhood. She has acted in 318 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi languages, with ten to fifteen movies released per year.
She gave some public performances as a child artiste in Vijayawada. Later, she worked in a theater company run by Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao. She also started her own company, the Navabharata Natya Mandali. Her best stage role was in Atma Vanchana written by Bucchi Babu.
Kommareddy Savitri or Savitri Ganesh (Telugu: సావిత్రి కొమ్మారెడ్డి; Tamil:சாவித்திரி கணேசன், 6 December 1935 – 26 December 1981), was a versatile Indian film actress, director and producer. She had appeared in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi language films.
Savitri was born to Nissankara Guruviah and Subhadhramma in Chirravur (near Tenali) in Guntur, Madras Presidency, now part of Andhra Pradesh. She learned music and Indian classical dance under Sista Purnayya Sasthri. She performed stage shows during her childhood. She has acted in 318 films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi languages, with ten to fifteen movies released per year.
She gave some public performances as a child artiste in Vijayawada. Later, she worked in a theater company run by Nandamuri Taraka Ramarao. She also started her own company, the Navabharata Natya Mandali. Her best stage role was in Atma Vanchana written by Bucchi Babu.
6. LEELA NAIDU
Leela Naidu (Telugu: లీలా నాయుడు) (1940 – 28 July 2009) was an Indian actress who starred in a small number of Hindi and English films, includingYeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (1963), based on the real-life Nanavati case, and The Householder, Merchant Ivory Productions' first film. She was Femina Miss India in 1954, and was featured in the Vogue along with Maharani Gayatri Devi in the list of 'World's Ten Most Beautiful Women', a list she was continuously listed from the 1950s to the 1960s in prominent fashion magazines worldwide. She is remembered for her stunning classical beauty and subtle acting style.
Leela Naidu (Telugu: లీలా నాయుడు) (1940 – 28 July 2009) was an Indian actress who starred in a small number of Hindi and English films, includingYeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke (1963), based on the real-life Nanavati case, and The Householder, Merchant Ivory Productions' first film. She was Femina Miss India in 1954, and was featured in the Vogue along with Maharani Gayatri Devi in the list of 'World's Ten Most Beautiful Women', a list she was continuously listed from the 1950s to the 1960s in prominent fashion magazines worldwide. She is remembered for her stunning classical beauty and subtle acting style.
Leela Naidu was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India to Dr. Pattipati Ramaiah Naidu, a well known nuclear physicist from Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, who worked under the supervision of Nobel Laureate Marie Curie for his doctoral thesis in Paris and ran one of her labs. He set up medical radiation equipment devised at the Curie Institute in the United States and India. He had to leave laboratory research after getting cancer from working with radioactive materials. He was Scientific Advisor to UNESCO for Southeast Asia, and later, an advisor to the Tata group. Her mother, journalist and Indologist Dr. Marthe Mange Naidu, was of Swiss-French origin, and earned her Ph.D. from the Sorbonne.[1][2][dubious ]. She was the only surviving child out of eight pregnancies as Marthe had seven miscarriages. In her 2009 semi-biography of anecdotes co-authored with Jerry Pinto, it was related that her grandfather on her mother's side owned a factory where he fired a young Benito Mussolini for beating up a coworker, and her grandmother had a strange interlude with a Russian prince who was their next door neighbour who later turned out to be one of Rasputin's assassins.
On her father's side, her aunt was Indian independence fighter Sarojini Naidu and she was thus well acquainted growing up with and knowing prominent Indians like Gandhi, Nehru, and Indira Gandhi to name a few.
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