Kumari Naaz

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Kumari Naaz
Born
Salma Baig

(1944-08-20)20 August 1944
Died19 October 1995(1995-10-19) (aged 51)
Other namesBaby Naaz, Kumari Naaz
Occupation Actress
Notable work Boot Polish (1954)
Spouse Subbiraj

Salma Baig (20 August 1944 - 19 October 1995) popularly known as Kumari Naaz or Baby Naaz was an Indian actress in Hindi language films. [1]

Contents

Career

She started her career as a child actor in films. Her best remembered role as a child artiste was in R. K. FilmsBoot Polish (1954) and Bimal Roy's Devdas. [2] She earned rave reviews for her earnest natural performance from The New York Times and a special distinction (along with co-actor Rattan Kumar) from Cannes Film Festival in 1955, where the film was shown in competition. [3] [4]

In 1958, a Hindi film adaptation called Do Phool (Two Flowers) was released based on the Swiss literary novel/ icon Heidi. The role of Heidi – called Poornima in the film – was played by Baby Naaz who was one of the most famous child stars at the time along with Master Romi. [5]

She matured into a character actress and bagged good roles in films like Bahu Begum, Kati Patang and Sachaa Jhutha (where she played Rajesh Khanna's physically challenged sister). [6]

Awards and honours

1955 Cannes Film Festival [7]

Later career

She later transitioned into a second career as a dubbing artiste. Before Sridevi started using her own voice, Kumari Naaz dubbed for her in the early Hindi hits of the 1980s. [15]

Personal life

She married actor Subbiraj (cousin of veteran actor Raj Kapoor) in 1965 and continued working; the two had acted together in Mera Ghar Mere Bachche (1960) and Dekha Pyar Tumhara (1963). [16] She converted to Hinduism after marriage, renaming herself "Anuradha". [17] The couple had two children: Girish and Gauri. [16] [17]

Naaz was later diagnosed with terminal illness of liver and died in 1995. [17]

Filmography

Her films include: [18]

YearFilmCharacter/Role
1989 Apna Desh Paraye Log
1989Pyase NainDr. Bharti
1986Bhai Ka Dushman Bhai
1986 Sheesha Pramila (as Naaz)
1984 Phulwari Shobha
1984 Boxer Mrs. Khatau (as Naaz)
1982Bhai Aakhir Bhai Hota Hai
1982 Swami Dada Lallu's Wife
1982 Shriman Shrimati (as Naaz)
1980Bambai Ka MaharajaMary
1978 Kaala Aadmi (as Naaz)
1978 Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (as Naaz)
1978 Phandebaaz Princess Ratna
1978 Bhola Bhala Sarla (as Naaz)
1977 Chakkar Pe Chakkar Mrs. Babu (as Naaz)
1977Niyaz Aur NamaazSayeeda
1977 Karm Kammo
1976 Aap Beati Sheela Jumani
1976BairaagVimla (as Naaz)
1976Do KhiladiDancer during Qawwali
1975Do JhootVandana's Sister (as Naaz)
1975SanyasiSavitri (uncredited)
1975 Sewak Neeru
1974 Do Aankhen
1974Paise Ki GudiyaNeela Gupta
1974 Woh Main Nahin
1974 Phir Kab Milogi Amba (as Naaz)
1974FriendKalyani Sharma (as Naaz)
1973 Samjhauta Champa (as Naaz)
1973 Raja Rani Patron's Wife (as Naaz)
1972 Shaadi Ke Baad Savitri B. Singh
1972 Shor Shankar's Sister (as Naaz)
1972WafaaMeera (as Naaz)
1971 Dushmun Kamla G. Din (as Naaz)
1971 Jwala Rajkumari Rupa
1971 Preetam Gauri (as Naaz)
1971 Haathi Mere Saathi Paro (as Naaz)
1970 Himmat Banthu (as Naaz)
1970 Kati Patang Poonam (uncredited)
1970 Sachcha Jhutha Belu (as Naaz)
1970 Rootha Na Karo Naina
1969 Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke Sangeeta Y. Singh
1969 Jahan Pyar Miley
1969 Raja Saab Hameshbahar
1968JuariPrincess Sabita
1968Nadir Shah
1967 Bahu Begum Suraiya (as Naaz)
1967 Chhaila Babu Meena
1965Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe (as Naaz)
1964Baghi
1964Chandi Ki Deewar
1964 Char Dervesh Princess Hamida
1964Hercules
1964 Kaise Kahoon Anita Laxmichand
1964 Majboor Seema
1963 Bidesiya Parvati
1963Dekha Pyaar Tumhara
1963Mere Arman Mere SapneShanti
1963 Mujhe Jeene Do Chauthi Begum (as Naaz)
1963Pyar Ka BandhanSona (as Naaz)
1962 Man-Mauji Laxmi
1962Gangu
1961 Ganga Jumna Young Dhanno (as Naaz)
1961Zindagi Aur KhwabRasila
1960 Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai Munni
1960 Mera Ghar Mere Bachche Meena
1960Lambe Haath
1960Maa BaapPratima (as Naaz)
1959Four Faces of India (as Baby Naaz)
1959Heera MotiRoopnandan's Daughter (as Baby Naaz)
1959KanganSecretary
1959 Kaagaz Ke Phool Pramila Sinha (as Baby Naaz)
1959 Ardhangini Dancer / Singer
1959Bhai BahenSoni K. Rai (as Baby Naaz)
1958 Do Phool Poornima (as Baby Naaz)
1958Ghar Grihasti
1958 Ghar Sansar Asha
1958 Lajwanti Renu (as Baby Naaz)
1958 Yahudi Young Lydia (as Baby Naaz)
1958Miss 58
1957 Musafir Munni (as Baby Naaz)
1957PayalPadma (as Baby Naaz)
1956Diwali Ki Raat (as Naaz)
1956 Ek Shola Usha (as Baby Naaz)
1956 Rajdhani
1956 Ek Hi Rasta Girl in Raja's birthday (singing "Bade Bhaiya Laya Hai") (as Baby Naaz)
1955 Kundan Young Radha / Young Uma (as Baby Naaz)
1955Lagan (as Baby Naaz)
1955 Mast Qalandar
1955Patit Pawan
1955Raftar (as Baby Naaz)
1955 Devdas Young Parvati (as Baby Naaz)
1955Hatimtai Ki Beti (as Naaz)
1954 Chandni Chowk (as Baby Naaz)
1954 Subah Ka Tara Heera
1954 Boot Polish Belu (as Baby Naaz)
1954Shama Parwana (as Naaz)
1953Gunah (as Baby Naaz)
1950Rupaiya (as Baby Naaz)

References

  1. "Naaz". Cineplot.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. "Revisiting Boot Polish: A beautiful celebration of sibling love". Rediff. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  3. "Naaz (Baby) – Profile". Cineplot.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  4. "Rakhi special: Bollywood's endearing bhai-bahen portrayals". Rediff.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  5. "Swiss literary icon Heidi ready for her Hindi debut". SWI swissinfo.ch. SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  6. "Bright as a star..." Rediff.com. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  7. "Festival de Cannes: Boot Polish". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  8. Sridharan, Soujanya (2 May 2017). "Seventy years of India at Cannes". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  9. "Four Indian films to feature at Cannes 2018; A look at India's journey at the French Riviera festival". Moneycontrol. e-Eighteen.com Ltd. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. "'Children of the Silver Screen' captures the price child stars pay for glory". INDIATODAY.IN. Living Media India Limited. For reprint rights: Syndications Today. 31 August 1990. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  11. "The History of India at Cannes". NDTV. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  12. "Kumary Naaz". FESTIVAL DE CANNES. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  13. "Kumary NAAZ".
  14. "Pablito CALVO".
  15. "Tragedy: The Untold Story of Baby Naaz". Acee The Third Eye.
  16. 1 2 "Remembering Baby Naaz, Sridevi's voice in her early Hindi films". Scroll.in. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  17. 1 2 3 Mohamed, Khalid. "Tragedy: The Untold Story of Baby Naaz". The Daily Eye. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  18. "Naaz". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2020.