Fatma Begum

Fatma Begum was an Indian actress and the first female director of Indian film .

Life

Fatma Begum was allegedly with the Nawab of Sachin married. They had two sons and three daughters Sultana , Zubeida and Shahzadi ; all three became actresses. She started her career on stage in Urdu plays. In 1922 she and her eldest daughter Sultana made her film debut in Manilal Joshi's mythological drama Veer Abhimanyu . From 1924 she appeared together with Sultana and Zubeida in films for the production companies Kohinoor and Imperial Films in Bombay . Two years later she founded her own production company, Fatma Film (from 1928 Victoria-Fatma Film ). She directed Bulbul-e-Paristan herself for the first time in 1926 , making her the first woman in India in this profession. She worked as a director until around 1930. In addition, she continued to play in the film, among others for the directors Nanubhai Vakil and Homi Master . Her last role was in Duniya Kya Hai in 1938 .

Filmography

actress

1922: Veer Abhimanyu
1924: Prithvi Vallabh
1924: Gul-e-Bakavali
1924: Kala Naag
1924: Sati Sardarba
1924: Raja Harishchandra
1925: Naharsinh Daku
1925: Devadasi
1925: Mumbai Ni Mohini
1925: Gaud Bangal
1926: Khubsoorat Bala
1926: Indrajal
1926: Panna Ratna
1927: Goddess of Love
1928: Chandravali
1928: Army Ranjha
1928: Naag Padmini
1928: Bharmayalo Bharthar
1928: Sarojini
1929: Kanakatara
1929: Milan Dinar
1929: Naseeb Ni Devi
1929: Shahi Choir
1929: Shakuntala
1929: Mahasundar
1929: Pardesi Saiyan
1929: Punya Prabhav
1929: Lanka Lakshmi
1930: Zalim Zulekha
1930: Baharvatiyo Ni Beti
1931: Lutaru
1931: Aflatoon Abla
1931: Afghan Abla
1934: Sant Tulsidas
1934: Neki Ka Taj
1934: Seva Sadan
1935: Rank Bhoomi
1937: Punjab Lancers
1938: Duniya Kya Hai

Director

1926: Bulbul-e-Paristan
1927: Goddess of Love
1928: Chandravali
1928: Army Ranjha
1929: Kanakatara
1929: Milan Dinar
1929: Naseeb Ni Devi
1929: Shahi Choir
1929: Shakuntala

literature

Entry on Fatma Begum in Ashish Rajadhyaksha, Paul Willemen: Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema , p. 95

Web links

Fatma Begum in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

↑ genealogical overviews of the ruling family of Sachin as at http://www.royalark.net/India/sachin3.htm cast doubt on this information: Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III is supposed to have left three daughters by the Bollywood actress and first female film director, Fatima Bai (b.1903; d. 1983). Alas, the same sources give the date of birth for this lady's second daughter as 1911, sufficient cause to raise doubt on the whole story. Even if true, there is no record of a marriage or contract having taken place between the Nawab and Fatima Bai. Equally, no record exists of the Nawab having recognized any of her children as his own, a prerequisite for legal paternity in Muslim family law.

personal data
SURNAME	Fatma Begum
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Fatima Begum
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Indian actress and director
DATE OF BIRTH	19th century
DATE OF DEATH	after 1938

[1] verviews of the ruling family of Sachin as at http://www.royalark.net/India/sachin3.htm cast doubt on this information: Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III is supposed to have left three daughters by the Bollywood actress and first female film director, Fatima Bai (b.1903; d. 1983). Alas, the same sources give the date of birth for this lady's second daughter as 1911, sufficient cause to raise doubt on the whole story. Even if true, there is no record of a marriage or contract having taken place between the Nawab and Fatima Bai. Equally, no record exists of the Nawab having recognized any of her children as his own, a prerequisite for legal paternity in Muslim family law.