Props to Bollywood and the Indian film industry! Leaps and bounds ahead of its Western counterpart, which only recently began making films about dancing girls, often derogatory/sensationalized and still underrepresented. Unlike Hollywood, the courtesan, nautch girl, tawaif, sex worker in Hindi films has never been invisibile. No, this does not mean that she is unanimously treated with the humanity, agency, and respect she deserves (often the films leave her love unrequited, her lover dead or with another woman, or her honor ruined). But she is capable of love; she can protect herself and impart wisdom; she is a real and tangible part of society; she is visible. Today's post features some awesome musical numbers featuring girls who sell some form of sex from Hindi films through the years...
Mangal Pandey/The Rising - Main Vari Vari
Devdas (remake) - Maar Dala
Umrao Jaan (original) - In Aankhon Ki Masti
Pakeezah - Chalte Chalte
Mughal E Azam - Pyar Kiya to Darna Kya
Umrao Jaan (remake) - Salaam
Pakeezah - Inhi Logon Ne
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ReplyDeleteThis brief post and its related links are a clear example of the genius of this blog. Mad kudos.
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