A few days after talking about Ragini’s membership in the “died young club,” I realized that we have an important death annviersary coming up – always a good excuse for posting rare clips by one’s favorite stars. Below are all charming clips from Meena Kumari’s earliest days in movies as an “adult” (or at least when she stopped being called “baby”), back when she did mythologicals. The third clip below is especially nice, some of the sweetest singing by Geeta Roy/Dutt picturized on the cutest young Meena. (Of course, both singer and actress would later be part of a special subset of aforementioned club. Advice to all: if you must drink, please do so in moderation…)
Dances on the Footpath 
Thank you sooooo much for these songs. I had never heard them before. Such beautiful songs…something very innocent about them. And Meena Kumari looks so young n pretty…seeing her in these videos reminded me of this line from Tum kamseen ho from Ayee Milan ki Bela :
Madhosh ada yeh alhadpan, bachpan toh abhi rootha hi nahin
Pehli hi pehchaan mein : The way she nods/shakes/moves her head throughout and flutters her eyelashes – It was so sweet!
Mere nainon mein preet : she really looked very cute n young in this.
You’re very welcome! And yes, that line does make for a perfect description…
Wow, I always wondered how Meena Kumari looke din her earlier films!
It is interesting to see Meena Kumari act in the 40s way and rotatig her head and body to the music as was the custom in the late 40s. This trait is gone in Baiju Bawra!
Makes an interesting watch!
Thanks for the upload!
You’re welcome, Harvey. That’s an interesting point about the “rotating” 40s style. By the way, there is one even older movie with Meena Kumari that I’ve posted from before; it’s the 1944 Noor Jehan starrer Lal Haveli. You can see Baby Meena at the beginning of this clip; I guess she’s about 12 in this:
thanks for the clip richard, I wouldn’t ahve recognised her on my own!
Thanks for the clip! I wouldn’t have recognized her either!