The way late tragedy queen Meena Kumari breathed life into her on-screen characters is the stuff legends are made of. But few people know that acting was not her only gift. A special concert called 'Kalam-e-Meena, Bayan-e-Soma' by noted classical singer Soma Ghosh is set to rediscover the magic of the late actress' poetry on Saturday.
"I was listening to a recording of her poetry in her voice. There is such a profound understanding of human emotions and feelings in her work. As a woman she was able to fathom the depths of an emotion and describe it in words which were at once lyrical, simple and yet full of grace," Ghosh told dna.
Many who have documented the late actress' life have pointed out how her works were inspired by some of the most intimate moments of her life. When she fell head over heels in love with the sensitive poet in filmmaker Kamal Amrohi, so much so that she not only ignored the vast age difference of 15 years between them, but also overlooked his earlier marriages, agreeing to become his third wife. Ghosh recollected how she brought this facet to one of her couplets, "Dil sa jab sathi paaya / Bechaini bhi woh saath mein le aaya" (When I found someone like my heart / He also brought sorrow with him).
In fact, as friction between the couple spiralled post-marriage, Amrohi once allegedly slapped Meena Kumari and furiously uttered, "Talaq! Talaq! Talaq!" Though he later repented, Kumari decided to walk out of his life, but lamented later. "Talaaq to de rahe ho nazar-e-kehar ke saath/Jawani bhi meri lauta do mehar ke saath" (You're divorcing me with rage in your eyes / Return to me, also, my youth along with the alimony!)
Ghosh spoke of her favourite Meena Kumari role. "The way she made her loneliness hauntingly vivid as Chhoti Bahu, the wife of an uncaring zamindar and takes to alcohol in Guru Dutt's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1963) still strikes a chord with women. I don't think anyone can pour their emotions so convincingly to evocatively portray a suffering woman. I hope I'm able to bring that touch to her poetry with my voice," she said.
She ends the conversation with another Meena Kumari sher, "Udaisyon ne meri aatma ko ghera hai/ rupehali chandni hai aur ghhup andhera hai/ kaheen kaheen koi taara, khaeen kaheen jugnu/ Jo meri raat thhi, vo aapka savera hai."
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 "Soma Ghosh")
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