Kuldip Kaur, (1927–3 February 1960), was an Indian actress who worked in
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
and
Punjabi films.
Known for her roles as negative characters, she was cited as
Indian cinema
The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...
's "most polished vamps" and actor
Pran's "opposite number".
She started her acting career with the first
Punjabi film produced in India following
Partition
Partition may refer to:
Computing Hardware
* Disk partitioning, the division of a hard disk drive
* Memory partition, a subdivision of a computer's memory, usually for use by a single job
Software
* Partition (database), the division of a ...
; ''Chaman'', also called ''The Garden'' in 1948.
Acclaimed as a "vamp" of "exceptional talent" and the "first female villain" in Indian cinema, she has been compared to artists like
Shashikala
Shashikala Saigal (née Jawalkar; 4 August 1932 – 4 April 2021), better known by her first name, was an Indian film and television actress, who played supporting roles in hundreds of Bollywood films beginning in the 1940s.
Early years
Shash ...
and
Bindu.
Active from 1948 to 1960, she acted in over 100 films, most of them in Hindi and some in Punjabi. She died in 1960 from
tetanus
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by ''Clostridium tetani'', and is characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. Each spasm usually ...
.
Personal life
Kuldip Kaur was born into a Guron Jat family in 1927 in
Lahore
Lahore ( ; pnb, ; ur, ) is the second most populous city in Pakistan after Karachi and 26th most populous city in the world, with a population of over 13 million. It is the capital of the province of Punjab where it is the largest city. ...
, Punjab,
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance on the Indian subcontinent. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one ...
. Her family were Ladhran royal family in
Attari
Attari, also spelled Atari, is a village of Amritsar district in the Punjab state of India, 3 km from the Indo-Pakistani border at Wagah. It is situated 25 km west of the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, and is the last Indian station on ...
,
Amritsar District
Amritsar district is one of the twenty three districts that make up the Indian state of Punjab. Located in the Majha region of Punjab, the city of Amritsar is the headquarters of this district.
As of 2011, it is the second most populous distr ...
, in Punjab.
She was married to Attariwala royal member Mohinder Singh Sidhu, a grandson of the military Commander of
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh (13 November 1780 – 27 June 1839), popularly known as Sher-e-Punjab or "Lion of Punjab", was the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, which ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. He s ...
's army, General Sham Singh Attariwala.
Married at the age of fourteen, she became a mother at the age of sixteen.
Kaur defied convention to join films while still in Lahore. She left Lahore in 1947 while
communal violence
Communal violence is a form of violence that is perpetrated across ethnic or communal lines, the violent parties feel solidarity for their respective groups, and victims are chosen based upon group membership. The term includes conflicts, riots ...
was raging. She was described as a brave lady by
Saadat Hasan Manto
Saadat Hasan Manto (; Punjabi, ur, , ; 11 May 1912 – 18 January 1955) was a Pakistani writer, playwright and author born in Ludhiana, who was active in British India and later, after the 1947 partition of India, in Pakistan.
Writing ma ...
in his chapter on Kuldip Kaur, titled "Kuldip Kaur: The Punjabi firecracker" in his book ''Stars from Another Sky: The Bombay Film World of the 1940s''. Kaur returned to Lahore in spite of the violence, to pick up Pran's car. His car had been left behind when Pran and she left for Bombay to escape the communal rioting in Lahore following partition of India. She drove the car back alone from Lahore to
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
, via
Delhi
Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
.
Career
The German cinematographer,
Josef Wirsching
Josef Wirsching (22 March 1903 – 11 June 1967) sometimes credited as Joseph Wirsching, was a German cinematographer, who became a pioneer in cinematography in India and who contributed to the heritage of Cinema of India and still photography ...
of
Bombay Talkies
Bombay Talkies was a movie studio founded in 1934. During its period of operation, Bombay Talkies produced 40 movies in Malad, a suburb of the Indian city of Bombay.
The studio was established in 1934 by Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani. After Ra ...
, took her screen test at the request of Savak Vacha, one of Bombay Talkies' then-proprietors, along with
Ashok Kumar
Kumudlal Ganguly (13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001), better known by his stage name Ashok Kumar and also by Dadamoni, was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema and who was a member of the cinematic Ganguly family.
He ...
and S. Mukherji. On his recommendation she was cast in supporting roles.
One of Kuldip Kaur's first films was the Punjabi language ''Chaman'' in 1948, which turned out to be a big success at the box office, co-starring
Karan Dewan
Karan Dewan (born Dewan Karan Chopra; 6 November 1917 - 2 August 1979) was an Indian cinema actor in Hindi films. He worked in over seventy films from 1941 to 1979. He started as a journalist while still in college, editing a film-based magazin ...
with
Meena Shorey
Meena Shorey (13 November 1921 – 3 September 1989) was a Pakistani film actress who worked first in Indian cinema and later Pakistani cinema. She appeared in Hindi/Urdu and Punjabi language, Punjabi films. Credited in films by her mononym ...
.
Kuldip Kaur also acted in two Hindi films that year; ''
Ziddi ''Ziddi'' may refer to:
* ''Ziddi'' (1948 film), a Hindi film
* ''Ziddi'' (1964 film), a film by Pramod Chakravorty
* ''Ziddi'' (1973 film), a Pakistani film in Punjabi language
* ''Ziddi'' (1997 film), an Indian action film starring Sunny Deol and ...
'' directed by
Shaheed Latif
Shaheed Lateef (11 June 1913 – 16 April 1967) was Hindi film director, writer, and producer. He was the maker of films like ''Ziddi'' (1948) which launched Dev Anand's career and '' Arzoo'' (1950) starring Dilip Kumar and Kamini Kaushal.
Early ...
and starring
Dev Anand
Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand (26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011), better known as Dev Anand, was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in Hindi cinema, through a career that spanned over six decades. He was ...
,
Kamini Kaushal
Kamini Kaushal (born as Uma Kashyap, 24 February 1927) is an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films and television. She is noted for her roles in films such as ''Neecha Nagar'' (1946), which won the 1946 Palme d'Or (Golden Palm) at Cannes Fil ...
and Pran, and ''Grahasti'' both of which were "box office hits". In ''Grahasti'' she performed the role of a "modern, sophisticated woman intolerant of her husband".
In 1949, Kuldip Kaur acted a musical success, ''
Ek Thi Ladki
''Ek Thi Larki'' (Hindi: एक थी लड़की, There Was A Girl) is a 1949 Hindi action comedy film by director Roop K. Shorey. It had the famous Punjabi song "Laara Lappa Laara Lappa Layi Rakhda" by Lata Mangeshkar, G. M. Durrani and Mo ...
'', with music by
Vinod Vinod ( hi, विनोद , mr, विनोद , gu, વિનોદ) is a male given name used in India and Nepal, meaning "delight", "enjoyment", or "pleasure".
People
*Vinod Agarwal, Indian-American businessman and scientist
* Vinod Agg ...
. Her next film was ''Kaneez,'' in 1949, an average film commercially. In 1950, she was in two successful Hindi films; ''
Samadhi
''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...
'' and ''
Aadhi Raat
''Aadhi Raat'' is Bollywood Hindi film of 1950, directed by S. K. Ojha and starring Ashok Kumar, Nargis, Jeevan, Cuckoo, Kuldip Kaur, Neelam and Tiwari. The music was composed by Husnlal Bhagatram, while Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Meena Kap ...
'' and two Punjabi films; ''Madari'' and ''Chhai''. In ''Samadhi'', the popular song "Gore Gore Banke Chhore" was picturised on her and
Nalini Jaywant
Nalini Jaywant (18 February 1926 – 22 December 2010) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s.
Background and personal life
Jaywant was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1926. She was first cousin of actre ...
.
In 1951, she acted in several films such as ''Rajput'', ''Nai Zindagi'', ''Ek Nazar'', ''Afsana'' and ''Mukhda'', where she played the lead role. ''Afsana'' was directed by
B. R. Chopra and starred Ashok Kumar and
Veena
The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...
. Kaur was stated to have played her role of a vamp "to perfection".
She also then appeared in films such as ''
Baiju Bawra
Baiju Bawra (Lit. "Baiju the Insane", born as Baijnath Mishra) was a dhrupad musician from medieval India. Nearly all the information on Baiju Bawra comes from legends, and lacks historical authenticity. According to the most popular legends, he ...
'' (1952) in which her acting was critically acclaimed as the dacoit queen, Roopmati. Some of the other films she acted in 1952 to 54 were ''Anjaam'' (1952), ''
Baaz'' (1953), ''
Anarkali
Anarkali () was a legendary woman said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan Nadira Begum or Sharf-un-Nisa, though scho ...
'' (1953) where her acting was praised, ''Aabshar'' (1953), ''Gul Bahar'' and ''Dak Babu'' in (1954). 1955 was a busy year for her, acting in films such as ''Teer Andaz'' (1955) and ''Miss Coca Cola'' (1955). With few releases in 1956, she returned with ''Ek Saal'' (1957), acting opposite
Madhubala
Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress and producer who worked in Hindi-language films. She ranked as one of the highest-paid entertainers in India in the post-independence era, ...
and Ashok Kumar. In 1958, Kuldip Kaur had roles in two films; ''
Sahara
, photo = Sahara real color.jpg
, photo_caption = The Sahara taken by Apollo 17 astronauts, 1972
, map =
, map_image =
, location =
, country =
, country1 =
, ...
'' and ''Panchayat''. In 1959, she worked in three films ''Pyaar Ka Rishta'', ''Mohar'' and ''Jagir''. ''Mohar'' had music composed by
Madan Mohan
Madan Mohan is a form of the Hindu god, Krishna.
Krishna is celebrated as ''Madan Mohan'', who mesmerizes everyone. His consort, Radha is glorified as Madan Mohan's ''Mohini'', who can even mesmerise Madan Mohan (her Kahn). Radha is known as th ...
and became another musical success for her.
''Maa Baap'', ''Bade Ghar Ki Bahu'', ''Sunheri Raatein'' and the Punjabi film ''Yamla Jatt'' in 1960 were the last films she acted in. Her last film was Honeymoon (1960), also one in which she played the vamp.
Some of the important films Kuldip Kaur acted in were ''
Ek Thi Ladki
''Ek Thi Larki'' (Hindi: एक थी लड़की, There Was A Girl) is a 1949 Hindi action comedy film by director Roop K. Shorey. It had the famous Punjabi song "Laara Lappa Laara Lappa Layi Rakhda" by Lata Mangeshkar, G. M. Durrani and Mo ...
'', ''
Samadhi
''Samadhi'' (Pali and sa, समाधि), in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools, is a state of meditative consciousness. In Buddhism, it is the last of the eight elements of the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Ashtanga Yoga ...
'' (1950), ''
Aadhi Raat
''Aadhi Raat'' is Bollywood Hindi film of 1950, directed by S. K. Ojha and starring Ashok Kumar, Nargis, Jeevan, Cuckoo, Kuldip Kaur, Neelam and Tiwari. The music was composed by Husnlal Bhagatram, while Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Meena Kap ...
'' (1950), ''Chhoti Bhabhi'' (1950), ''
Anarkali
Anarkali () was a legendary woman said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan Nadira Begum or Sharf-un-Nisa, though scho ...
'' (1953), ''Afsana'' (1951) and ''
Baiju Bawra
Baiju Bawra (Lit. "Baiju the Insane", born as Baijnath Mishra) was a dhrupad musician from medieval India. Nearly all the information on Baiju Bawra comes from legends, and lacks historical authenticity. According to the most popular legends, he ...
''.
Death
Kaur died on 3 February 1960, in Bombay, Maharashtra, of tetanus, following thorn pricks from a
Ber tree (jujube) on a visit to
Shirdi
Shirdi (; also known as Sainagar) is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Rahata taluka of Ahmednagar District. It is accessible via the Ahmednagar–Malegaon State Highway No.10, approximately from Ahmednagar and ...
,
Ahmednagar District
Ahmednagar district (Marathi pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, ɦ(ə)məd̪nəɡəɾ is the largest districts of Maharashtra, district of Maharashtra state in western India. The historical Ahmednagar city is the headquarters of the district. ...
, which she did not consider serious enough to require treatment.
Filmography
Kuldip Kaur was active between 1948-1960.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuldip Kaur
1927 births
1960 deaths
20th-century Indian actresses
Actresses from Punjab, India
Actresses in Hindi cinema
Deaths from tetanus
People from Lahore
Indian film actresses
Indian Sikhs