Written by: Muhammad Awais
Posted on: May 24, 2021 | 
| 中文
Shamim Ara and Santosh Kumar
Pakistani cinema history has had its share of leading ladies who lit up the screen with their presence, and displayed delicate depth in their acting. Among these actors, Shamim Ara stands out as the magnetic star who once ruled Lollywood with her range and undeniable beauty. In the course of her career, she was a trailblazer who was not only beautiful but also capable of helming a film on her own as one of Pakistan’s first female film directors.
Shamim Ara as a Young Actress
Shamim Ara was born Putli Bai in Aligarh, British India in 1938 to a professional dancer mother, and her family moved to Karachi shortly after Partition. However, it was not until 1956 that Shamim formally debuted in the world of acting. In Karachi, she met film director Najam Naqvi who was on the lookout for a new screen starlet for his film, Kanwari Bewah (1956). He was taken aback by Shamim’s attractive features, dazzling smile and approachable personality. Naqvi introduced her to the film world as ‘Shamim Ara’, and while the film was not very successful, people began to take notice of the young starlet.
Success was slow, and for the first two years of her career, Shamim’s films did not do relatively well at the box office. She had a brief role as Madame Noor Jehan’s younger sister in the film Anarkali (1958). The first hit film that advanced her career was the film Saheli (Friend) in 1960, alongside her real-life friend Nayar Sultana and actor Darpan. However, it was the fateful opportunity of lip-synching Mujh Se Pehli Si Muhabbat Meray Mehboob Na Maang, written by renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and sung by the towering Noor Jehan for the film Qaidi (Prisoner) in 1962, that propelled Shamim to mainstream stardom.
Shamim Ara (Left) Starring Opposite Madame Noor Jehan in 'Anarkali'
From then on, she had not only developed a considerable fan base among audience members but also became the go-to screen starlet rivaling Sabiha Khanum. Many women began to emulate her speech, outfits and the way she did her hair and makeup. She rose through the ranks as the enticing yet tragic heroine with hits like Firangi (1964), Aag ka Dariya (1966), Salgirah (1969) and more. For a considerable time, she was the face of many of Noor Jehan’s iconic songs like Chalo Achcha Hua Tum Bhool Gaye (It’s Good That You Forgot) and Meri Zindagi Hai Naghma (My Life is a Song).
Shamim Ara and Muhammad Ali in the 'Ae Musawir Teri Tasveer' sequence in the 1969 film 'Aanch'
The actor also left her mark on other members of Lollywood. Shamim shared the screen with two generations of film heartthrobs, from the likes of Santosh Kumar and Sudhir to Nadeem and Waheed Murad. She was particularly good friends with ‘chocolate hero’ Waheed Murad, with whom she starred in many films and referred to him as her “sincerest friend”. During her career she won countless Nigar awards, not just as an actress but also as a director. She had always held a soft spot for Ilyaas Rashidi, the creator of the awards, who helped propel her career to great heights.
Shamim Ara and Waheed Murad in Jan-e-Aarzoo
After years of being one of the most sought-after actors of Lollywood in the 1960s, Shamim Ara retired from the life of a leading lady. As newer actors took up her mantle, she went on to be one of the first successful female producers and directors in the history of Pakistani cinema. Especially during the 1990s, her work was known to bring local audience members to theatres, and she convinced the likes of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali to produce a soundtrack for her film Pal Do Pal (Moments), released after his death in 1997.
Although she first produced the film Saiqa (1968), it was in 1976 that she took up the director’s mantle with Jeo aur Jeenay Do (Live and Let Live). Shamim developed a special niche as a director in the 1980’s and 1990’s, with films of female empowerment like Miss Hong Kong, Lady Commando and Miss Istanbul, with Babra Sharif as her lead. While not all of her films were well received by critics, her work was still important for paving the way for others like Reema Khan and Noor Bukhari who also turned to production and direction.
Shamim Ara as the Tragic Beauty
After four failed marriages, she lived with her son in the UK during the final years of her life, and died in 2016 after brain hemorrhage and coma. During her decades-long career, she starred in countless films, shot in multiple languages (including Punjabi and Bengali) and was remembered fondly as a maternal figure in the film industry. Those who worked with her still regard her as a beautiful, delicate and a charming woman who not only proved her mettle on the screen, but also behind the camera.
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