PAKEEZAH
Back in 1932, in Mumbai, a phenomenon called Meena Kumari was to be born who would be the cause for so many legends of Pakeezah, Saheb Biwi Gulam and Baiju Bawra. She would be called tragedy queen although I find her more of a queen of innocence and not tragedy. I have not seen such an innocence and and ready to die to see it in real if that could help.I was surprised to see Pakeezah on this site and, being a die hard fan of Meena Kumari, must write something. Whenever I see Meena Kumari anywhere, I cant help but write about the magnificent, gorgeous, pleasant and beautiful Meena Kumari. More than beautiful, she is an example in some important qualities which are integrity, commitment and daring. She was more of an inner beauty than just outer beauty. She was more of a personality than an actress. And her complete personality is visible in her films. She is not simply tragedy uqeen but much more than that. She is a presentation of the struggle that a big hearted person like her faced in real life.Yes not more not less. Pakeezah is Meena Kumari in essence and Meena Kumari in so many incarnations. The film could have been named Meena Kumari as well. Even Mahzabeen as that was Meena Kumari s real name. The film is a presentation of her real struggle in life though it was not made this way and not even seen this way. Still the movie follows her life, her breaking face with time and her changing mood which changed from a smiling Meena Kumari in 1954 when Pakeezah was conceived with her then husband Kamal Amrohi to the very sad Meena Kumari who gave in to drinking in the late sixties. --mouthshut.com