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Chand Usmani

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Chand Usmani
Chand Usmani in the film Jeevan Jyoti (1953)
Born(1933-01-03)3 January 1933
Agra, United Provinces, British India
(now in Uttar Pradesh, India)
Died26 November 1989(1989-11-26) (aged 56)
Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
OccupationActress
Years active1953–1987
AwardsFilmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Pehchaan (1971)

Chand Usmani (3 January 1933 - 26 November 1989) was an Indian actress in Hindi films from the 1950s to the late 1980s. She won the 1971 Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. She is best remembered for playing self-sacrificing wives and mothers.[1]

Biography

Chandbibi Khanam Usmani was born on 3 January 1933 in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, into a Pashtun family.[2] She married Mukul Dutt (director of Aan Milo Sajna),[2] with whom she had a son, Roshan. She ran a halfway house at her home in Mahim for runaway girls who had come to Mumbai seeking a career in films.[3] She died in Mumbai on 26 November 1989.[4]

Career

Chand Usmani came to notice by participating in a talent contest called 'Kardar-Kolynos-Teresa Contest' in 1949, winning second place.[5] In 1953, she debuted as the heroine in Jeewan Jyoti opposite Shammi Kapoor (his debut too).[2] She also starred in Barati, Baap Re Baap and Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, and had major roles in several other films, including Rangeen Raten, Naya Daur, Prem Patra and Pehchan.
She received much critical acclaim: a review of Rangeen Raten (1956) said that she "gives a brilliant performance; hers is also the best developed character, and as a result she becomes the life and soul of the film."[6] In Baap Re Baap, a key scene is noted for "the joy exhibited by Usmani on screen".[7] The Film Heritage Foundation of India describes her as the "effervescent Chand Usmani, with her heart-warming smile".[5] She won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1971, for her portrayal of the character Champa, a prostitute, in the 1970 film Pehchan.[8] Writing nearly 40 years later, The Hindu's film reviewer considered that "Chand Usmani does justice to Champa’s role displaying restraint, poise and grace in a role which provided ample opportunity to easily go over the top."[9] Despite having a long career, she said in an interview with Tabassum that she regretted not having an agent/manager, which led to her not getting diverse roles and not having more success.[2] In many of her roles, she played a self-sacrificing wife, mother, girlfriend or sister, as summed up by Mahasweta Devi in her 1986 short story 'The Wet-Nurse':

"Jashoda was a true example of Indian womanhood. She was typical of a chaste and loving wife and devoted mother, ideals which defy intelligence and rational explanation, which involve sacrifice and dedication stretching the limits of imagination, and which have been kept alive in the popular Indian psyche through the ages, beginning with Sati-Savitri-Sita right down to Nirupa Roy and Chand Usmani in our times."[10][11]

Filmography

Title Year Role Notes
Dilruba Tangewali 1987
Raja Aur Rana 1984 Vijay & Shakti's mother
Arth 1982 School Administrator
Saajan Ki Saheli 1981 Chanda
Chambal Ki Raani 1979
Apna Khoon 1978
Ab Kya Hoga 1977
Hatyara 1977 Shanta D. Singh
Dharam Veer 1977 Mrs. Roopmati Singh
Parvarish 1977
Jai Mahalaxmi Maa 1977
Khel Khel Mein 1975 Mrs. Anand
Kadambari 1975
Ujala hi Ujala 1974 Anuradha's Mother
Hulchul 1971 Shekhar's Wife
Seema 1971
Khilona 1970 Laxmi Singh
Pehchan 1970 Champa
Do Bhai 1969 Ranjana Singh / Ranjana A. Verma
Baazi 1968
Ghar Ka Chirag 1967
Aman 1967
Mohabbat Zindagi Hai 1966 Lajjo
Daadi Maa 1966
Haqeeqat 1964 Ram Singh's girlfriend
Jeewan Jyoti 1953 Kishori
Barati 1954
Baap Re Baap 1955 Kokila
Amanat 1955 Meena
Rangeen Raten 1956 Blind girl
Naya Daur 1957 Manju
Duniya Rang Rangili 1957 Radha
Abhimaan 1957
Sanskar 1958
Naya Paisa 1958
Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan 1959 Samyukta
Do Behnen 1959 Rekha
Aangan 1959
Ramu Dada 1961
Zamana Badal Gaya 1961
Zindagi Aur Hum 1962
Banke Sanwaria 1962
Prem Patra 1962 Sumitra
Laakho Vanzaro 1963
His Highness 1964
Shehnai 1964
Shagoon 1964 Mrs. Rai
Haqeeqat 1964 Ram Singh's Girlfriend
April Fool 1964 Mrs. Brijlal Sinha
Kohraa 1964
Shehnai 1964 Salma

References

  1. ^ Biddle, Arthur W.; Bien, Gloria; Dharwadker, Vinay, eds. (1996). Contemporary Literature of Asia (Blair Press titles in contemporary world literature). Prentice Hall. p. 58. ISBN 9780133732597. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Untold Story of Chand Usmani - Bollywood Stories: Tabassum Talkies".
  3. ^ Merchant, Hoshang (2009). Forbidden Sex, Forbidden Texts: New India's Gay Poets. Routledge. p. 53. ISBN 9780415484510. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  4. ^ India. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Research and Reference Division (1991). Mass Media in India 1991. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b Film Heritage Foundation, India. "Character Artists of Indian Cinema - Chand Usmani".
  6. ^ "Review of Rangeen Raten". Swatantra. 11: 38. 1956. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  7. ^ Sharma, Devesh (8 September 2016). "Happy Birthday Asha Bhosle!". Filmfare. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  8. ^ The Times of India Directory and Year Book Including Who's who. 1982. p. 310. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  9. ^ Malhotra, APS (10 March 2016). "Blast from the past Friday Review Pehchan (1970)". The Hindu. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. ^ Devi, Mahasweta (1986). "The Wet-Nurse". In Butalia, Urvashi (ed.). Inner Line: The Zubaan Book of Stories by Indian Women. Zubaan, 2006. p. 33. ISBN 9788189013776. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  11. ^ Yarrow, Ralph (2012). Indian Theatre: Theatre of Origin, Theatre of Freedom. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 9781136778759. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
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