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Shamim Ara

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Shamim Ara
شمیم آرا
Born
Putli Bai

(1938-03-22)22 March 1938
Aligarh, United Provinces, British India
Died5 August 2016(2016-08-05) (aged 78)
London, England
Other namesThe Tragic Beauty[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Film producer
  • Film director in Pakistan
Years active1956 – 2010
Spouses
  • Sardar Rind
  • Abdul Majid Karim
  • Fareed Ahmed
Dabeer-ul-Hasan
​
(before 2016)​
ChildrenSalman Majid Carim (son)

Shamim Ara (22 March 1938 – 5 August 2016)[2] was a Pakistani film actress, director, and producer.[3] She was known as The Tragic Beauty because of the tragic heroine roles she often portrayed in films.[1] She was one of the most popular actresses of her time and was one of the most successful actresses of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.[1] She is regarded as one of the most influential actresses of all time in Pakistani cinema.[3][4]

Early life

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She was born Putli Bai in Aligarh, British India in 1938 but later adopted the film name Shamim Ara.[4][5] Her acting career spans from the late 1950s till the early 1970s.[5]

Career

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In 1956, Putli Bai's family was visiting some relatives in Lahore, Pakistan, when, after a chance meeting with the well-known film director, Najam Naqvi, she was signed for his next movie.[4][5] He was searching for a new face for his film Kanwari Bewah (1956) and was impressed by her cute face, sweet voice, approachable personality, and innocent yet inviting smile. It was Najam Naqvi who introduced her under the stage name Shamim Ara, because her previous name was similar to the infamous dacoit Putli Bai. Though the film did not attract many viewers, a noticeable new female star had appeared on the horizon of the Pakistan film industry.[4][5]

She had her first prominent role in 1958 in Anwar Kamal Pasha's Anarkali as a Surayya alongside Noor Jehan ,who played the titular Anarkali.[6][5] For the next two years, Ara went on to star in a few films, but none of them were a major success at the box office, including Waah Re Zamanay, Raaz, and Alam Ara. However, in 1960, a substantial role in S. M. Yusuf's Saheli as an amnesiac bride proved to be a breakthrough for her career.[4][7][8] The filming of the song Mujh Se Pehli Si Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang (a poem written by renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and sung by Madam Noor Jehan) with Rasheed Attre's music in the film Qaidi (1962), had everyone talking about her. Women had begun mimicking her speech, her make-up, and her hairstyle.[5] She had become a household name. Her fame and impeccable acting skills landed her the title character in the film Naila (1965), the first color film produced in then-West Pakistan. Her portrayal of the tragic Naila won her further critical acclaim. She went on to star in many hit films, including Devdas, Doraha,and Hamraz. However, Qaidi (1962), Chingari (1964), Farangi (1964), Naila (1965), Aag Ka Darya (1966), Lakhon Mein Aik (1967), Saiqa (1968), and Salgira (1968) were landmarks in her career, securing her a position as the top actress of the 1960s in Lollywood.[5]

Her acting career came to a halt when she retired as a leading lady in the early 1970s.[4] But that did not stop her from being a part of the Pakistani film industry, as she pioneered to produce and direct films on her own. However, none of those films reached the level of success Shamim Ara had at the height of her acting career.

Jaidaad (1959) and Tees Maar Khan (1989) were the only two Punjabi movies in which she performed.[9]

As a film producer

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In 1968, she produced her first film Saiqa (1968 film) which was based on the novel by Razia Butt. The film attracted a large number of viewers especially females.[5][7]

As a film director

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In 1976, for the first time, she directed the film Jeo Aur Jeenay Do (1976). Later, she also directed the Diamond Jubilee film Munda Bigra Jaye (1995). Other films she directed include Playboy (1978), Miss Hong Kong (1979), Miss Singapore (1985), Miss Colombo (1984), Lady Smuggler (1987), Lady Commando (1989), Aakhri Mujra (1994), Baita (1994), Haathi Mere Saathi, Munda Bigra Jaye (1995), Hum To Chaley Susral (1996), Miss Istanbul (1996), Hum Kisi Say Kum Nahin (1997), Love 95 (1996), and Pal Do Pal (1999).[5][7] Her directorial ventures were not as successful as her acting projects, primarily due to not dwelling on the real issues and adapting the formula style of filmmaking.[10]

Personal life

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Shamim Ara was married four times. Her first husband (and perhaps patron) was Sardar Rind, a landlord of Balochistan, who died in a car accident. She then married Abdul Majid Carim, the scion of the family that runs Agfa Color Film Company. They had a son, Salman Majid Carim (who was to be her only child), but the marriage ended in divorce. Her third marriage was to Fareed Ahmed, a film director and the son of the film director W.Z. Ahmed. That marriage, too, ended in divorce after only 3 days.[4] Shamim Ara later married Pakistani film director and writer Dabeer-ul-Hassan.[11] They lived in Lahore until 2005, when she and Salman Majeed Carim (her son by a previous marriage) moved to London, while her husband remained in Pakistan.[3]

Illness and death

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During a visit to Pakistan, she suffered a brain hemorrhage on 19 October 2010[7] and was taken back to London for treatment. She remained in and out of hospital for six years and was cared for by her only son, Salman Majid Carim, who has not inherited anything from his father and is self- made working in the IT industry and also property development. Shamim Ara died on 5 August 2016 in a hospital in London after a very long illness.[2][3][5][7]

Her only son led the funeral arrangements, and she was buried in the UK.[7]

On receiving the news of her death, film actress Resham stated that she only worked with Shamim Ara in a few films but that she left a lasting impression of a soft-spoken and humble person.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref(s).
1956 Kanwari Bewah [3][5][7]
Miss 56 [4]
1958 Anarkali Surayya [4]
Wah Re Zamaney
1959 Alam Ara Alam Ara
Apna Paraya
Faislah
Savera
Jaidaad
Mazloom
Raaz Ghazala [4]
1960 Bhabi [7]
Do Ustad
Izzat
Raat Ke Rahi
Roopmati Baaz Bahadur Roopmati
Saheli Jamila [4]
1961 Insan Badalta Hai Jamila [5]
Zamana Kya Kahega
Zamin Ka Chaand
1962 Aanchal [5]
Mehboob
Mera Kya Qasoor
Qaidi [4]
Inqalab
1963 Dulhan Najma
Ek Tera Sahara [9]
Ghazala
Kala Pani
Saazish
Seema Seema
Tange Wala
1964 Baap Ka Baap
Chingari
Farangi Gul [4][9]
Haveli [9]
Maihkhanah [9]
Paigham
Pyaar Ki Sazaa
Shabab
Shikari
Tanha
1965 Devdas Parvati [3]
Dil Ke Tukre Musarrat
Fashion
Naila Naila [5][4]
1966 Aag Ka Darya
Jalwa
Majboor Tasneem
Mere Mehboob
Pardah Zahida
Qabeelah
1967 Doraha Naheed [3]
Hamraz Shehzadi/ Gul Bano dual role
Lakhon Mein Aik Shakuntla [5][7]
1968 Saiqa Saiqa Also producer [9]
Dil Mera Dharkan Teri Najma
Mera Ghar Meri Jannat Najma
1969 Salgira Shabana/ Salma
Aanch
Dil-e-Betaab Bano [5][7]
1970 Aansoo Ban Gaey Moti Raji
Bewafa Amber
Eik Zalim Eik Hasina
1971 Parai Aag
Wehshi
Khak Aur Khoon
1972 Angarey Ayesha
Suhag Also producer
1973 Khwaab Aur Zindagi Najma
Farz (1973 film)
1974 Bhool — Producer
1976 Zaib-un-Nisa Zaib-un-Nisa
1978 Playboy — Producer and director [9]
1981 Mere Apne Aashi Also director and producer
1984 Miss Colombo — As producer and director
1985 Miss Singapore — As producer and director
1993 Haathi Mere Saathi[9] — Director
1994 Aakhri Mujra — Producer and Director [9]
1999 Pal Do Pal — Director [12]

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
1960 Nigar Award Best Support Actress Won Saheli [12][5]
1964 Nigar Award Best Actress Won Farangi [12]
1965 Nigar Award Best Actress Won Naila [12]
1967 Nigar Award Best Actress Won Lakhon Mein Aik [13]
1968 Nigar Award Best Actress Won Saiqa [5][12]
1993 Nigar Award Best Director Won Haathi Mere Saathi [12]
1994 Nigar Award Best Director Won Aakhri Mujra [12]
1999 Nigar Award The Ilyas Rashidi Gold medal Won — [12]
2005 4th Lux Style Awards Chairperson's Lifetime Award Won —

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Shamim Ara: A Trailblazer in Pakistani Cinema". Youlin Magazine. 29 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Humaima Malick tweets tribute to Shamim Ara". The Times of India. Times News Network. 7 August 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Khan, Sher (11 June 2014). "Wishing for Shamim Ara's speedy recovery". The Express Tribune (newspaper). Pakistan: Lakson Group. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Profile of Shamim Ara". Cineplot.com website. 27 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Karan Bali (2016). "Profile of Shamim Ara". Upperstall.com website. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. ^ Aijaz Gul (21 August 2018). "Tribute to Shamim Ara with 'Chingari'". The News International. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Salman, Peerzada (6 August 2016). "Yesteryear's heartthrob Shamim Ara dies in UK". Dawn (newspaper). Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. ^ Aijaz Gul (1 March 2016). "'Saheli' screened". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Filmography of Shamim Ara". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  10. ^ Gönül Dönmez-Colin (2004). Women, Islam and cinema. London: Reaktion Books. p. 40. ISBN 1-86189-220-9.
  11. ^ Alavi, Omair (14 August 2016). "10 things you need to know about Shamim Ara". Images (Dawn Group of Newspapers). Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "Pakistan's "Oscars": The Nigar Awards". The Hot Spot Online Film Reviews website. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  13. ^ "#ThrowbackThursday: When Nadeem, Shamim Ara won the Nigar Awards". The Express Tribune. 23 November 2022.
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