Kumkum Serial Song

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Sinikka Curz

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Aug 3, 2024, 5:50:57 PM8/3/24

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The song Madhuban Mein Radhika is immortal and made Mohammed Rafi and Naushad immortal too. Forgotten is the film Kohinoor (1960) starring Dilip Kumar and Meena Kumari in which this number features and Kumkum is the one who dances for it. Oh by the way, practically everyone involved in this song including Kumkum, was Muslim and yet the song was on Radha and Krishna. You can view it here and it will give you an idea of her dancing skills.

When I once played this to my friend VAK Ranga Rao he remarked that while this song was great, Kumkum was even better in the number Chalke Chanda Ka Paimana (sung by Asha Bhonsle) from the film Bhagam Bhag (1954). This was one of those crazy comedies apparently with Kishore Kumar and Kumkum in the lead, one of many that she paired with him in. I have not seen it but I must agree that this has Kumkum at her dancing best.

I have not seen Kaali Topi Laal Rumaal (1959) but I just love this group dance for the song Daga Daga Vai Vai Vai sung in the super-fresh voice of Lata Mangeshkar. The whole scene is fabulously animated and while everyone dances, as they did in many Kumkum songs, she outclasses them all. The beginning where she effortlessly catches the stick of the man in the Pathan dress is itself enough paisa vasool.

I am sure there are many more Kumkum songs but these are top of mind, which I feel are what ought to comprise a quick tribute. This is after all not a Kumkum biography. Most people strangely remember her for being the daughter-in-law in Mother India. Not a classic beauty but with abundant talent, she was one of the many gems that made the Hindi cinema of the 1950s and 1960s a many-splendored thing. I cannot say she will be missed as she remains alive through her films and their dance numbers.

She was trained in Kathak by the noted Pandit, Shambhu Maharaj. She showed her dancing talents in the film Kohinoor (1960) with Dilip Kumar. "Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re" and "Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil", sung by Asha Bhosle for Naushad were picturized on Kumkum. She was paired opposite Kishore Kumar in films like Ganga Ki Laharen, Shreeman Funtoosh, Haaye Mera Dil and Mr. X in Bombay. She was leading heroine in all-time favorite Hindi Sad song "mere mehboob kayamat hogi" from mr. x in Bombay. This was a science fiction movie of that time and Kumkum was a great star. The songs like "Khoobsurat Haseena" from Mr. X in Bombay, "Ijazat Ho Toh" from Haaye Mera Dil, "Sultana Sultana" from Shreeman Funtoosh and "Machalti Hui" from Ganga Ki Lahren, which were picturized on the pair Kishore-Kumkum remains popular since their release to this day.

Kumkum was one of the top stars in the first phase of Bhojpuri films which began with Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo (1962). In his book, Cinema Bhojpuri, Avijit Ghosh writes that she also acted in Laagi Nahi Chhute Ram (1963), Balma Bada Nadaan (1964), Naihar Chhutal Jaye (1964), Bhauji (1965) and Ganga (1965), which was also her home production. "Two heroines who ruled the first phase of Bhojpuri films were Kumkum and Naaz. Scripts were often written around their characters and to their credit, they often proved equal to the task," Ghosh writes in the same book.

I was in the middle of watching a film to write a tribute to Hollywood star Olivia de Havilland, who passed away on 25th July at the age of 104, when I heard that, closer home, there had been another death. Another actress, much loved. Kumkum, of the dancing eyes and the bright smile. Kumkum who could dance up a storm in Madhuban mein Radhika naache re and be the demure heroine opposite leading men all the way from Shammi Kapoor to Rajendra Kumar to Kishore Kumar.

Kumkum (it was her screen name; she was born Zebunissa, the daughter of the Nawab of Hussainabad in Bihar) was a trained dancer, having learnt Kathak from Pandit Shambhu Maharaj. Guru Dutt is supposed to be the one to have given Kumkum a break, bringing her onscreen to lip-sync to Kabhi aar kabhi paar laaga teer-e-nazar. She went on to act in several films for Guru Dutt, including CID, Pyaasa, and Mr & Mrs 55. Kumkum racked up more than a hundred films, from item number appearances to films where she was the leading lady (Son of India, Mr X in Bombay, Ek Sapera Ek Lootera, etc).

All the songs of Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo, which is incredible, considering it was a Bhojpuri movie, but the songs were so famous .. so as to merit being played on regular radio programmes !

Veteran actress Kumkum, who was introduced to Hindi films by legendary actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt in the 50s, died in Mumbai on Tuesday, reported news agency PTI. Kumkum was 86 and died at her residence in Mumbai's Bandra after battling age related ailments, the PTI report cited her sister-in-law Shenaz as saying. "Her last rites took place at Mazgaon cemetery," she added. Kumkum, who was a popular actor in the 50s and 60s, starred in over 100 films during a career spanning over two decades. Kumkum, who hailed from Bihar's Hussainabad, was born as Zaibunnissa and was discovered by Guru Dutt, who gave her a break in his 1954 film Aar Paar as a dancer in the song Kabhi Aar, Kabhi Paar. She also played a small role in Guru Dutt's 1957 movie Pyaasa.

Veteran Actress Kumkum passed away on July 28, 2020, at the age of 86 years. The actress has worked in more than 100 movies in her entire career. She is best known for her roles in Mother India, Mr X in Bombay, Kohinoor, etc. She was famous for appearing alongside Kishore Kumar on the silver screen. Kumkum: Birth and Family Kumkum was born as Zaibunnissa on April 22, 1934, in Hussainabad, Sheikhpura district, Bihar. She was the daughter of Nawab Manzoor Hassan Khan, a landlord in Hussainabad, Patna. Before her birth, her father accepted Islam. Her sister Radhika was also an actress and was famous for movies like Raat Ke Rahi, Kala Samundar, etc. Actor Govinda's mother, Nirmala Devi is the half-sister of Kumkum (both of them had the same father).

Rishi Kapoor Biography: Early Life, Illness, Death, Family, Film Career, Famous Dialogues and Awards Kumkum: Personal Life Kumkum married Sajjad Akbar Khan who hailed from Lucknow, India and worked in Saudi Arabia. Kumkum shifted to Saudi Arabia after her marriage and returned to India after 23 years in 1995. The couple had two children-- Andaleeb Akbar Khan (daughter) and Hadi Ali Abrar (son). Kumkum: Bollywood and Bhojpuri Career In 1954, Kumkum was first seen in the song 'Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar Laaga Teere Nazar' for the movie 'Aar Paar'. Guru Dutt was to picturise the song on his friend Jagdeep, father of Javed Jaffery, but later chose a female for the song. She was seen in the famous song from C.I.D. in the year 1956, 'Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan'. The same year she was also starred alongside Shammi Kapoor in 'Mem Saheb' in a side role. In the year 1957, she was seen in the movie 'Pyaasa' in a small role.

Famous Kathak dancer Pandit Shambhu Maharaj trained her in Kathak-- Indian classical dance form. Kumkum showed her dancing skills in the songs such as 'Madhuban Mein Radhika Nache Re', 'Haye Jaadugar Qaatil, Haazir Hai Mera Dil' and many more. She starred opposite to Kishore Kumar in several movies like Ganga Ki Lahren, Shreeman Funtoosh, Haaye Mera Dil and Mr X in Bombay.

Kumkum was also the favourite choice of the writer-director Ramanand Sagar, who cast her in 'Ankhen', a super hit film of 1968. In 1972, she was starred alongside Dharmendra in the movie 'Lalkar' by Ramanand Sagar. She starred opposite Pran Krishan Sikand in the comedy movie 'Ek Kuwara Ek Kuwari', a 1973 blockbuster.