Vanmala passed away

[surjit singh]

Hi RMIMers:

Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

[Deepak Sabnis]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Vanmala played the role of Shyamchi Aai in the Marathi Movie.

Deepak

[shri37]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

For deails about ms.Vanmala.read :----
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200705301231.htm

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1100004

http://www.sparrowonline.org/photoproj_vanmala.htm

[surhall]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

very sad news

dhall

[Afzal A. Khan]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Sad news indeed. Filmgoers will always remember her role of
Rukhsaana in "Sikandar".

Here is a subsequent piece of news that I came across somewhere :

Her sister Ms. Sumatidevi Dhanwatay (who resides in Nagpur) has
suggested that the Central Government should institute a national
award in the name of Vanmala. It would be a great tribute to the
great actress who entered filmdom in an era when it was considered
strictly as a taboo for respectable families. Ms. Dhanwatay
has not been keeping well and, it seems, Vanmala had spoken to her
just four days before her death, wishing her a quick recovery and
adding that she would be praying for her. Sumatidevi revealed that
Vanmala had become a school teacher, after her grduation and
teacher's training. At that time, she came in contact with well -
known director V. Shantaram for whom she wrote a film script. And
it was Shantaram who persuaded her to join the film industry as an
actress. Their father was a minister in the court of Mahraja of
Gwalior.



Afzal

[Surjit Singh]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Following is from the book, "filmii titaliiyaaN" by Bijalii Jaampurii,
published by Raj Publishing House, Hyderabad (Deccan) in March 1945. The
book has photos and two-page articles on about 100 actresses popular in
the early forties. The book is in Urdu. I do not have time to
translate, somebody please do. [They don't use short vowels much, please
pardon any mis-spellings]:

******************************************************************************
Vanmala B. A. B. T.

Yuunaanii Khudd-o-Khaal, bezavii cheharaa aur bhuurii bhuurii aanKhon
vaalii hasiinaa Vanmala kaa aslii naam Sushila Bai hai. Us ne May 23,
1915 ko Ujjain me.n janam liyaa. Us ke vaalid Mr. B. P. Pawar riyaasat
Gwalior me.n vazir sanaat hain. taaliimii haisiyat se yah hindustaani
actress me.n eka numaayaaN darjaa rakhatii hai. Aisii taaliim yaaftaa
mamasalaat (?) kii taadaad ungliyon par ginii jaa sakatii hai. 1938 me.n
B. T. kaa imtihaan kaamayaab karane ke baad Poona ke Girls' High School
me.n amlii training ke liye daaKhil huyii. Yahaan vah taqriiban eka saal
tak rahii. Yahiin us kii mulaaqaata ek mashahuur drama-naviis Principal
Atre se ho gayii. Vanmala tehaziib jadiid ke aaGosh kii paravaradaa eka
up-to-date society girl kii haisiiyat se raqs o mausiiqii me.n mahaarata
rakhatii thii. Principal Atre se mataasara ho kar February 15, 1940 ko
unhiin kii vasaatata se Navyug Chitrapat Company me.n shariik huyii.
Phir Mr. Atre kii shirkata me.n Atre Pictures kii buniyaada rakhii aura
Charnon Ki Dasi naamii tasviir me.n namuudaar huyii. Is film ne public
me.n kaafii maqbuuliyat haasil kii. Is ke baad Minerva Movitone ke
shaahakaar Sikandar me.n sikandar-e-aazam kii mehabuubaa kaa kiradaara
adaa karatii huyii nazar aayii. Phir VasantSena, RajaRani, aura
Kadambari me.n kaamayaaba tamashiila nigaarii pesh kii. Ye ba.Dii
nafaasat pasand aura mustaqil mizaaj hasiinaa hai. Shadii ke naam se
kaano.n para haath dharatii hai. Vanmala eka hasiin maashuuqaa,
baavaqaar aur pur azmat mehbuubaa kaa kiradaar ba.dii Khuubii se adaa
kara sakatii hai. Shaayad ye is kii aalaa taaliima kaa asar hai.

Vanmala aalaa taaliima ke saathh 2 nihaayata Khush mizaaj, Khush iKhlaaq
aur tehaziiba yaaftaa actress hai. Husn-o-jamaala aur izzat-o-daulat
paane ke baad bhii us kaa daaman kabr-o-niKhavat se paak hai. Saadagii
aur inksaarii tabiiyat me.n shaamil hai. Musavvarii aur karoshiyaa,
mutaaliyaa aur sheh savaarii se ba.Dii dilachaspii letii hai.

Is kii taazaa tariin tasaaviir Parbat Pe Apna Dera, Dil Ki Bat, Suno
Sunata Hun hain.

[b***@aol.com]

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Review of Sikander + scene by scene synopsis:
Loading Image...&imgrefurl=http://www.pothos.org/alexander.asp%3FparaID%3D72%26keyword_id%3D19%26title%3DSikander%2520(1941)&h=272&w=190&sz=8&hl=en&start=9&tbnid=gILs5QjO9XGS2M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=79&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dvanmala%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den
Bhagwant

[Afzal A. Khan]

Post by Surjit Singh

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Following is from the book, "filmii titaliiyaaN" by Bijalii Jaampurii,
published by Raj Publishing House, Hyderabad (Deccan) in March 1945. The
book has photos and two-page articles on about 100 actresses popular in
the early forties. The book is in Urdu. I do not have time to
translate, somebody please do. [They don't use short vowels much, please
******************************************************************************
Vanmala B. A. B. T.
Yuunaanii Khudd-o-Khaal, bezavii cheharaa aur bhuurii bhuurii aanKhon
vaalii hasiinaa Vanmala kaa aslii naam Sushila Bai hai. Us ne May 23,
1915 ko Ujjain me.n janam liyaa. Us ke vaalid Mr. B. P. Pawar riyaasat
Gwalior me.n vazir sanaat hain. taaliimii haisiyat se yah hindustaani
actress me.n eka numaayaaN darjaa rakhatii hai. Aisii taaliim yaaftaa
mamasalaat (?) kii taadaad ungliyon par ginii jaa sakatii hai. 1938 me.n
B. T. kaa imtihaan kaamayaab karane ke baad Poona ke Girls' High School
me.n amlii training ke liye daaKhil huyii. Yahaan vah taqriiban eka saal
tak rahii. Yahiin us kii mulaaqaata ek mashahuur drama-naviis Principal
Atre se ho gayii. Vanmala tehaziib jadiid ke aaGosh kii paravaradaa eka
up-to-date society girl kii haisiiyat se raqs o mausiiqii me.n mahaarata
rakhatii thii. Principal Atre se mataasara ho kar February 15, 1940 ko
unhiin kii vasaatata se Navyug Chitrapat Company me.n shariik huyii.
Phir Mr. Atre kii shirkata me.n Atre Pictures kii buniyaada rakhii aura
Charnon Ki Dasi naamii tasviir me.n namuudaar huyii. Is film ne public
me.n kaafii maqbuuliyat haasil kii. Is ke baad Minerva Movitone ke
shaahakaar Sikandar me.n sikandar-e-aazam kii mehabuubaa kaa kiradaara
adaa karatii huyii nazar aayii. Phir VasantSena, RajaRani, aura
Kadambari me.n kaamayaaba tamashiila nigaarii pesh kii. Ye ba.Dii
nafaasat pasand aura mustaqil mizaaj hasiinaa hai. Shadii ke naam se
kaano.n para haath dharatii hai. Vanmala eka hasiin maashuuqaa,
baavaqaar aur pur azmat mehbuubaa kaa kiradaar ba.dii Khuubii se adaa
kara sakatii hai. Shaayad ye is kii aalaa taaliima kaa asar hai.
Vanmala aalaa taaliima ke saathh 2 nihaayata Khush mizaaj, Khush iKhlaaq
aur tehaziiba yaaftaa actress hai. Husn-o-jamaala aur izzat-o-daulat
paane ke baad bhii us kaa daaman kabr-o-niKhavat se paak hai. Saadagii
aur inksaarii tabiiyat me.n shaamil hai. Musavvarii aur karoshiyaa,
mutaaliyaa aur sheh savaarii se ba.Dii dilachaspii letii hai.
Is kii taazaa tariin tasaaviir Parbat Pe Apna Dera, Dil Ki Bat, Suno
Sunata Hun hain.

Here is a rendition in English :

Greek features, an oval face and hazel eyes --- these
distinguish the beautiful Vanmala whose real name is Sushila
Bai. She was born at Ujjain on the 23rd May 1915. Her father
Mr. B.P. Pawar is the the Minister of Industries in Gwalior.
She occupies a unique place amongst Indian actresses in that
she is very highly educated. The number of such educated
stars can be counted on one's fingers. After passing the B.T.
Examination, she joined the Poona Girls' High School for
practical training, and spent about an year there. It was also
there that she met the well-known playright Principal Atre.
Being influenced by modern cultural ethos, she is well-versed
in Music and Dance. At the instance of Mr. Atre, and under his
aegis, she joined the Navyug Chitrapat Company on the 15th Feb.
1915. Thereafter, in partnership with Mr. Atre, she establish-
ed Atre Pictures, and appeared in its film "Charnon Ki Daasi".
This movie became quite popular with with filmgoers. She was
next seen in the Minerva Movietone classic "Sikandar", where
she enacted the role of the beloved of Alexander the Great.
She then displayed her histrionics in films like "Vasantsena",
"Rajraani" and "Kadambari". She is a very elegant and strong-
minded lady. (But) she does not want to get married at all.
Her acting forte would include roles like a romantic heoine
or a diginified beloved with stately grace. This is directly
attributable to her educational status.

Apart from being highly educated, Vanmala is a very cultured &
pleasant-mannered lady with a jovial temperament. Even though
she is blessed with such beauty and possessing so much fame and
wealth, she does not have an iota of pride. Simplicity and
humility characterize her personality. She takes keen interest
in such pursuits as painting, crochet, reading and horse-riding
etc.

Her latest movies include "Parbat Pe Apna Dera", "Dil Ki Baat"
and "Suno, Sunaata HooN".



Afzal



Note : If Prof. Singh can e-mail me write-ups on other stars
from the above Urdu book, I can post their translations in
English.

[Surjit Singh]

Post by Afzal A. Khan

Post by Surjit Singh

Post by surjit singh
Just heard from Harish Raghuwanshi that Vanmala passed away on the
29th. More later

Following is from the book, "filmii titaliiyaaN" by Bijalii Jaampurii,
published by Raj Publishing House, Hyderabad (Deccan) in March 1945.
The book has photos and two-page articles on about 100 actresses
popular in the early forties. The book is in Urdu. I do not have time
to translate, somebody please do. [They don't use short vowels much,
******************************************************************************
Vanmala B. A. B. T.
Yuunaanii Khudd-o-Khaal, bezavii cheharaa aur bhuurii bhuurii aanKhon
vaalii hasiinaa Vanmala kaa aslii naam Sushila Bai hai. Us ne May 23,
1915 ko Ujjain me.n janam liyaa. Us ke vaalid Mr. B. P. Pawar riyaasat
Gwalior me.n vazir sanaat hain. taaliimii haisiyat se yah hindustaani
actress me.n eka numaayaaN darjaa rakhatii hai. Aisii taaliim yaaftaa
mamasalaat (?) kii taadaad ungliyon par ginii jaa sakatii hai. 1938
me.n B. T. kaa imtihaan kaamayaab karane ke baad Poona ke Girls' High
School me.n amlii training ke liye daaKhil huyii. Yahaan vah taqriiban
eka saal tak rahii. Yahiin us kii mulaaqaata ek mashahuur drama-naviis
Principal Atre se ho gayii. Vanmala tehaziib jadiid ke aaGosh kii
paravaradaa eka up-to-date society girl kii haisiiyat se raqs o
mausiiqii me.n mahaarata rakhatii thii. Principal Atre se mataasara ho
kar February 15, 1940 ko unhiin kii vasaatata se Navyug Chitrapat
Company me.n shariik huyii. Phir Mr. Atre kii shirkata me.n Atre
Pictures kii buniyaada rakhii aura Charnon Ki Dasi naamii tasviir me.n
namuudaar huyii. Is film ne public me.n kaafii maqbuuliyat haasil kii.
Is ke baad Minerva Movitone ke shaahakaar Sikandar me.n
sikandar-e-aazam kii mehabuubaa kaa kiradaara adaa karatii huyii nazar
aayii. Phir VasantSena, RajaRani, aura Kadambari me.n kaamayaaba
tamashiila nigaarii pesh kii. Ye ba.Dii nafaasat pasand aura mustaqil
mizaaj hasiinaa hai. Shadii ke naam se kaano.n para haath dharatii
hai. Vanmala eka hasiin maashuuqaa, baavaqaar aur pur azmat mehbuubaa
kaa kiradaar ba.dii Khuubii se adaa kara sakatii hai. Shaayad ye is
kii aalaa taaliima kaa asar hai.
Vanmala aalaa taaliima ke saathh 2 nihaayata Khush mizaaj, Khush
iKhlaaq aur tehaziiba yaaftaa actress hai. Husn-o-jamaala aur
izzat-o-daulat paane ke baad bhii us kaa daaman kabr-o-niKhavat se
paak hai. Saadagii aur inksaarii tabiiyat me.n shaamil hai. Musavvarii
aur karoshiyaa, mutaaliyaa aur sheh savaarii se ba.Dii dilachaspii
letii hai.
Is kii taazaa tariin tasaaviir Parbat Pe Apna Dera, Dil Ki Bat, Suno
Sunata Hun hain.

Greek features, an oval face and hazel eyes --- these
distinguish the beautiful Vanmala whose real name is Sushila
Bai. She was born at Ujjain on the 23rd May 1915. Her father
Mr. B.P. Pawar is the the Minister of Industries in Gwalior.
She occupies a unique place amongst Indian actresses in that
she is very highly educated. The number of such educated
stars can be counted on one's fingers. After passing the B.T.
Examination, she joined the Poona Girls' High School for
practical training, and spent about an year there. It was also
there that she met the well-known playright Principal Atre.
Being influenced by modern cultural ethos, she is well-versed
in Music and Dance. At the instance of Mr. Atre, and under his
aegis, she joined the Navyug Chitrapat Company on the 15th Feb.
1915. Thereafter, in partnership with Mr. Atre, she establish-
ed Atre Pictures, and appeared in its film "Charnon Ki Daasi".
This movie became quite popular with with filmgoers. She was
next seen in the Minerva Movietone classic "Sikandar", where
she enacted the role of the beloved of Alexander the Great.
She then displayed her histrionics in films like "Vasantsena",
"Rajraani" and "Kadambari". She is a very elegant and strong-
minded lady. (But) she does not want to get married at all.
Her acting forte would include roles like a romantic heoine
or a diginified beloved with stately grace. This is directly
attributable to her educational status.
Apart from being highly educated, Vanmala is a very cultured &
pleasant-mannered lady with a jovial temperament. Even though
she is blessed with such beauty and possessing so much fame and
wealth, she does not have an iota of pride. Simplicity and
humility characterize her personality. She takes keen interest
in such pursuits as painting, crochet, reading and horse-riding
etc.
Her latest movies include "Parbat Pe Apna Dera", "Dil Ki Baat"
and "Suno, Sunaata HooN".
Afzal

Thanks, Afzal Bhai. That was great!

Post by Afzal A. Khan
Note : If Prof. Singh can e-mail me write-ups on other stars
from the above Urdu book, I can post their translations in
English.

Frankly, my experience with having people translate a whole book from
another language to English has not been great so far :) But it looks
like you have some free time on your hands. On the third hand, it may be
too much for you alone to do the whole 224-page book. It will be great
if another Urdu and English knowing person volunteers also. In any case,
please email me your postal address so that I can mail you a copy of the
book.

[Afzal A. Khan]

Post by Afzal A. Khan

Post by Surjit Singh
Following is from the book, "filmii titaliiyaaN" by Bijalii Jaampurii,
published by Raj Publishing House, Hyderabad (Deccan) in March 1945.
The book has photos and two-page articles on about 100 actresses
popular in the early forties. The book is in Urdu. I do not have time
to translate, somebody please do.

{ The text from the Urdu book and most of the English rendition
have been deleted }

Post by Afzal A. Khan
(But) she does not want to get married at all.
Afzal

To set the record straight : I believe Vanmala married a
Maharashtrian political leader from the Congress Party,
P. K. Sawant. However, it didn't last long. Sawant held
the portfolio of Agriculture in the erstwhile (composite)
Bombay State and was also its Caretaker Chief Minister for
a brief while.




Afzal

[dn.usenet]

Post by Afzal A. Khan
To set the record straight : I believe Vanmala married a
Maharashtrian political leader from the Congress Party,
P. K. Sawant. However, it didn't last long.

Vanmala had a long association with the playwright P K
Atre as well. I am not sure whether they were formally
married, but I think they were.

A story, perhaps apocryphal, goes that Atre was lambasting
Congress leaders for their slack morals while he campaigned
for Mumbai, Marathwada, Vidarbha to become part of
'Sanyukta' Maharashtra in 1950s. A boy -- the story could
be true and the boy may have been 'a parrot' doing
Atre's bidding -- stood up and asked : 'what about your
own affair with Vanmala'? Atre answered : It took place
when I myself was a Congress-wallah.


I should add here that songs in Charanon Ki Daasi which
were allegedly sung by Vanmala per HFGK were probably
only filmed on her and sung by Saraswati Rane. The songs
in the film's Marathi counterpart ('Paayaachii Daasii') were
certainly sung by Saraswati-bai, as she (SR, not V) herself
related later to an author of a book on Marathi films.


- dn