Nirmala Devi

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Template:Main otherTemplate:Wikidata image Nirmala Devi (7 June 1927 Template:Endash 15 June 1996) also known as Dulari, was an Indian actress in the 1940s and a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. Bollywood actor Govinda is her son.

In January 2025, Nirmala Devi was honored with the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the Government of India.

Personal life

Nirmala Devi was born as Nazim on 7 June 1927, in Varanasi (then known as Banares), Uttar Pradesh. Her father was Vasudev Narayan Singh, a well known Hindu musician in Varanasi at the time. However, Nirmala was raised as a Muslim by her aunt Mannan Jan, who was a tawaif by profession.Template:Sfn Nirmala's siblings include musician Lachhu Maharaj and actress Kumkum.

Mannan Jan enrolled Nirmala into music classes from Ustad Ata Mohammad Khan of the Patiala gharana, who had previously taught high-profile figures such as Begum Akhtar.Template:Sfn

In 1942, much against her aunt's wishes, Nirmala eloped with co-actor Arun Kumar Ahuja. Nirmala severed ties with her aunt following her marriage.Template:Sfn She and Arun went on to have five children: three daughters and two sons, including actor Govinda and film director Kirti Kumar.

Career

Nirmala took to acting during the period of her betrothal and her first film to be released was Savera (1942), with husband Arun Kumar Ahuja as co-star. Before Govinda started working in films, Nirmala was the sole earning memeber of her family.

In 1944, she starred in Rama Chowdhury's Gaali, alongside Karan Dewan. It was a popular release. The following year, she played Motilal's leading lady in S. M. Yusuf's Piya Milan (1945), which received a scathing review by Baburao Patel, though he appreciated Nirmala as the only good performer in the film.

Nirmala then reunited with her husband in Nanabhai Bhatt's comedy Chalis Karod (1946), which opened to decent reviews.

Her last film, M. Sadiq's Anmol Ratan, was released in 1950. It was a critical and commercial failure.

Death

Nirmala Devi died on 15 June 1996, at the age of 69, in Mumbai.

Playback singer

Credited as Nirmala

• Savera (1942)
• Sharda
• Kanoon
• Geet
• Gaali (1944)
• Sehra
• Janamashtami

Credited as Nirmala Devi

• Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985)
• Bawarchi (1972)
• Zara Bachke (1959)
• Shama Parwana (1954)

Soundtrack

• Bawarchi (1972) – one of the performers on the track "Bhor Aai Gaya Andhiyara"

Filmography

Source:Template:Sfn

• Savera (1942)
• Sharda (1942)
• Kanoon (1943)
• Geet (1944)
• Gaali (1944)
• Jeevan (1944)
• Piya Milan (1945)
• Chalis Karod (1946) as Muniya
• Ghunghat (1946)
• Sehra (1948) — produced by her husband
• Janamashtami (1950)
• Anmol Ratan (1950)
• Jai Mahalakshmi (1951)

Music albums

Genre: Hindustani Classical / Music Label: His Master's Voice

Singles:

• Banaa Banaa Ke Tamanaa & Gham Ki Nishani (Ghazal)
• Jaadu Bhare Tore Nainava Ram & Mori Baali Umar Beeti Jaye (Thumri)

Full Albums:

• Saavan Beetaa Jaye (Thumri) (With Ms Laxmi Shankar, contemporary singer)
• Weekend Pleasure (Thumri)
• Thumriyan by Nirmala Devi (Thumri)
• Laakhon Ke Bol Sahe (Thumri)
• Ghazals by Nirmala Devi (Ghazal)

External links

• Template:Trim/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidata