Kajjanbai
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Jehanara Kajjan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1915 |
| Died | 1915 (aged -31–-30) Bombay, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | singer/actress |
| Years active | 1930–1945 |
Jehanara Kajjan, also known as Kajjanbai (1915–1945), or "Miss Kajjan",[1] was a singer and actress in India during the 1920s and 1930s, often referred to as the "Nightingale of Bengal".[2]
Starting her career from stage, she moved to films, joining J. J. Madan's Madan Theatres. Two of her early Talkies becoming instant hits, Shirin Farhad (1931) and Laila Majnu (1931) both Madan Theatre productions.[3] Her co-star in the two films was Master Nissar and the duo became popular singing sensations, with Kajjan being known as "the lark of India".[4]
Early life and career
Her mother was a "tawaif" with important connections.[5] Jehanara was educated at home, where she learned English and Urdu; she wrote poetry, some of which was published. She received a classical music training from Ustad Hussain Khan.[1] She began appearing on stage in the years when women were first allowed to perform in the Indian theatre.[5]
Aside from acting, she and Ghulam Mohammed also taught Noor Jehan when the latter was young, making her do riyaz up to 12 hours each day.[6] Kajjan stopped singing in 1930,[citation needed] however, she continued to star in movies such as Shirin Farhad and Layla Majnun opposite Nissar, becoming a symbol of on-screen romance in the cinema of India.[2]
Notable films
Death
Kajjan died in 1945 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.[7]
Films[1]
- Shirin Farhad (1931)
- Laila Majnu (1931)
- Zalim Saudagar (1941)
- Prarthana (1943)
- Prithvi Vallabh (1943)
References
- ^ a b c Plan Neville (24 December 2015). "A gem called Jahanara Kajjan". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ a b Orsini 2006: 272
- ^ Manoj Srivastava (6 December 2017). Wide Angle: History of Indian Cinema. Notion Press. pp. 20–. ISBN 978-1-946280-48-0. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ Rani Burra; India. Directorate of Film Festivals (1981). Looking back, 1896-1960. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- ^ a b Uwe Skoda; Birgit Lettmann (30 October 2017). India and Its Visual Cultures: Community, Class and Gender in a Symbolic Landscape. SAGE Publishing India. pp. 67–. ISBN 978-93-86446-69-5.
- ^ PTV World News
- ^ Neville, Pran (24 December 2015). "A gem called Jahanara Kajjan". The Hindu. The Hindu. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
Sources
- Orsini, Francesca (2006). Love in South Asia: A Cultural History. United Kingdom: Cambridge University.
- "Noor Jahan (The legend of Pakistani Music)". Pakistan Television Corporation World News. Archived from the original on 11 August 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2007.
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External links
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