Happy birthday, Sitara Devi. She would have been celebrating her birthday today if she did not leave us less than three weeks after her birthday last year. At this time last year, I posted seven of her film scenes. Unfortunately, it is impossible to find an additional seven comparable clips on YouTube, especially if one tries to look for scenes from other films. The available selection is rare but wonderful. She is just stunning in the dances from Roti and Aabroo, but I actually find her dancing to be even more impressive in two scenes filmed more than a dozen years later, the snake dance in Anjali and the drag dance at the beginning of Mother India. I wish I could find more dances from her like those; I could watch them again and again.
I have come to the conclusion that there was really no one like her. Given that her birthday and death anniversary both occur in November, I think November should be declared the Month of Sitara Devi. In fact, for purposes of this blog, that is what it shall be. And I hope that I will find other things to post during this time also.