Birthday Jukebox: The Unconventional Charm of Mala Sinha

Mala Sinha turns a year older on 11 November. Ride on a wave of nostalgia with this playlist.

Mala Sinha’s ability to emote with her eyes dazzled the audience. 

(Photo:  Altered by The Quint)

Known as the daring diva of the 1950s, Mala Sinha made unconventional film choices and took on roles that her contemporaries were too hesitant to pick. She was the first one to essay the role of an unwed mother in Hindi cinema.

Hindi cinema’s feminist icon, she drove the success of the films she appeared in as much the male stars then. Regardless of the stature of the film, she was uncompromising when it came to content and her character.

Having begun her career in the early 50s with Bengali films like Rashonara, she went on to work in memorable Hindi films like Pyaasa, Phir Subah Hogi and Gumraah. The legend turns a year older on 11 November. Here’s a compilation of music to honour her courageous and unconventional filmography.

(This story is from The Quint’s archives and is being republished to mark Mala Sinha’s birthday)