Muslim Heroines in Indian Films: Dominating, famous, and Defiant
Muslims in Mumbai Films
In India, the film world is centered in Mumbai and is often referred to as Bollywood. In terms of global viewership, Bollywood closely follows Hollywood but more films are produced in India than in Hollywood. As an example in 2018 alone, there were 1,800 digital feature films released in India while in the US only released 500 were released. In India, films are produced in a number of regional languages, but the pride of place goes to Hindi films which have Mumbai as their base.
The Mumbai film industry is the numero uno in the Indian film industry. . Numerous heroines have adorned the silver screen as in Hollywood, but one startling fact that defies explanation is the preponderance of Muslim girls as heroines in Hindi films. This is more intriguing when you realize that 85% of the population is Hindu and the Muslim population is just about 10–12%.
Mumbai dreams
Muslim heroines have dominated Hindi cinema. This is very intriguing as Islam frowns on a woman not modestly dressed. There are many restrictions on the dress and conduct of women, but the Muslim heroines in India have not allowed religious dogma to enter their professional world. Muslim girls are in the front and live their roles.
First Muslims Girls came from Areas now Known as Pakistan
Most of the earlier or old-time Muslim heroines came to Mumbai from Punjab and the Frontier and when India was partitioned none of them opted to go to Pakistan. This is a fact and these glorious women stayed back in India. Most of the Mumbai film industry is dominated by Muslims and this has been so since the dawn of filmmaking in India 100 years before.
A look at the list of Mumbai heroines reads like a who-is-who listing of actors who profess the Islamic faith. Starting with Nargis and Meena Kumari( Mahjabeen Bano) and followed by Madhubala( Mumtaz Jehan Dehlavi ), Nimmi the Moslem heroines are the pick of Mumbai films. By chronology, they are also the dream girls of the masses who I dare say adore them. The list is endless and the names of Shyama, Nimmi( Nawab Bano), Suraya, Praveen Babi, and Zeenat Aman are a byword.
Some of the Moslem heroines did adopt Hindu names. But that was just after the partition and creation of Pakistan when Hindu -Muslim riots had occurred, but now like Katrina Kaif, Nargis Fakih, and Zia Khan( bless her soul she committed suicide) go by their own names. Most Muslim heroines flaunted their sex appeal and were not averse to exposure of body or daring scenes.
International recognition
Many Muslim Heroines have made it to the world stage and Praveen Babi was featured on the cover of Time magazine
Muslim heroines are not trapped by Islamic rhetoric and are pragmatic and wear the most modern dresses including beach ware. It is a tribute that these girls though have defied orthodoxy.
India has a sizeable Muslim minority but there is no opposition. While Muslim heroines thrive in India, in Pakistan the film industry is in the doldrums. Many girls from Pakistan have acted in Mumbai films.
Last word
The world can take an example from Mumbai films and realize that given the necessary impetus Islam is not all that forbidding. Maybe it is the effect of the Continent of Circe; the book referring to India by Nirad Choudhri has rubbed on these girls. Muslim actresses in Islamic countries are pretty restrained in dress but in India, it is a different world. Nargis Fakhri can wear a bikini without anyone batting an eyelid.
Muslim girls feel safer in India and the hardliners are kept in check. Perhaps this was possible only in India and in the end, we must give credit to the overwhelming Indian ethos that has allowed this phenomenon to flower in the land of the Lord Buddha and Lord Krishna.
