Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai - 99 / 365 of reading one short story every day

#TreezShort

99 / 365 of reading one short story every day.

Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai: Urdu Memoirs of Cinema Legend

by Yasir Abbasi

This book caught my eye in one of the random suggestions of Amazon. The cover was so beautiful that I had to explore and judge the book by its cover, pun intended! A series of personal essays by filmstars and legends of 50s to the 80s, cinematographer and film enthusiast Yasir Abbasi has collected a string of beautiful memories of one to another. There are 30-odd articles composed from old Urdu film magazines that make up Yeh Un Dinon Ki Baat Hai.

Meena — Maut Mubarak ho!

In Urdu film magazine Shama, in June 1972, actor Nargis writes on the early and tragic death of Meena Kumari. The personal essay reflects on the close bond shared by the two extremely charming and popular leading actors of Hindi cinema. Mehejabin, known as Meena Kumari, was single handedly called as tragic queen because of her pathos filled and abyss leading performances. Baiju Bawra, Kohinoor, Pakeezah amongst many more, have been in the minds of a generation of Indian film fans mostly because of her powerful screen presence.

 
However this essay is not much about her films of box office collections, but about the quaint bond and friendship shared by the ladies. There is a brief reference to Meena's slide into alcoholism, a broken marriage and her eventual death. But that is eternal as is Kumari's movies, her poetry and her legacy which has been maintained by her fans for generations. What would have turned out to be a done-to-death weeping ode to an actress is actually refreshing because actresses' friendships and kindness is seldom talked about.