Meena Shorey - Upperstall.com
So
many film artistes of yesteryear have one through the riches-to-rags
experience. Amongst them was 'Lara Lappa' girl, Meena Shorey...
upperstall.com
Meena Shorey - Upperstall.com
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Indian films and posters from 1930: film (Ek Thhi ladki) (1949)
https://bombaymann2.blogspot.com › 2013/09 › film-ek-th...
Ek Thi Ladki is a 1949 Hindi action comedy film by director Roop K. Shorey. The movie had the ... Ye Sokh Sitare, Starring: Meena, Movie- Ek Thi Ladki 1949 ... https://bombaymann2.blogspot.com/2013/09/film-ek-tha-ladka-1951.html. After the ...MY TRIBUTES TO THIS BEAUTIFUL ACTRESS
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Directed by Roop K. Shorey, Hindi movie Ek Thi Larki..
FILM Ek Thha Ladka" (1951)
Roop K. Shorey
Singer(s): Mohammad Rafi,
Lata Mangeshkar,
G. M. Durrani
Music Director: Vinod
Lyricist: Aziz Kashmiri
Ek Thi Larki Full Hindi Movie 1949 Director: Roop K. Shorey Stars: Meena Shorey, Motilal, Bharat Bhushan.
Ghat Kari Matwari Ghir Aay Performers: Meena Shorey, Motilal Singer: Zeenat Begum Music: Vinod Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri Film: Ek ...
2:49:15
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songs:-
Song : Lara lappa lara lappa ...one of the great fun songs of all time..since 62 yrs Movie : Ek thi ladki (1949) , Singers : Lata ...
3:19
3:49
3:38
Dilli Se Aaya Bhai Tingu Performer: Honey O'Brien Singer: Honey O'Brien Music: Vinod Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri Film: Ek Thi Ladki, ...
CC
Watch Ghat kaari matwari ghir aayi | EK THI LADKI (1949) | Lata Mangeshkar.
2:58
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YQr43bmQdg
................................................................................
Ek Thi Larki is perhaps the best known film of yesteryear
actress Meena Shorey. Its success and the huge popularity of one of the
songs in the films, Lara Lappa, Lara Lappa, gave Shorey the
tag of the ‘Lara Lappa’ girl, which stuck to her for life and was the
high point of a career that, sadly, ended in abject poverty in Pakistan,
where she died alone and unsung.
The film follows Meena (Meena Shorey) on a series on adventures, which begin with her going for a job interview only to find the office head murdered with a knife up his back. She is then blackmailed by two conmen, Mohan and Sohan (IS Johar, Majnu) who saw her in the room with the dead man and who convince her that she would be hung for the killing. They force her her to impersonate a princess before another escape from the conmen leads her to accidentally finding a job as a secretary to office manager, Ranjit (Motilal), who is being wooed by his boss’ daughter, Vimla (Kudip Kaur). Ranjit, along with secretary Meena, are sent to Delhi to ensure that their firm gets a particular lucrative contract. Events play out where they have to live as servants in the house of the very person they have come to meet. Of course, in all this mess, they fall in love, and predictable complications are created by Vimla, Mohan and Sohan before the customary all’s well that ends well ending.
As is apparent from the storyline, the film, helmed by husband Roop K Shorey, centres around Meena Shorey. And it has to be said, she owns the film. Looking at her inherent comic capabilities, it is all the more tragic to see her career trajectory post Ek Thi Larki. The film, written by IS Johar, is little more than light, unpretentious on-the-surface stuff – funny, corny, silly and even illogically stupid in parts. The comparatively dramatic last bit is heavy-handed and at odds with the rest of the film. But it’s all a reasonably fun ride that is characteristic of what Hindi mainstream cinema has always considered as the ‘leave-your-brains-behind-at-home’ type of entertainment.
Of the rest of the cast, Motilal plays it largely straight, perfectly playing off the exuberant Shorey while providing his odd comic moment – such as his plate dropping episode! IS Johar and Manju are funny enough as the conmen always out to make a fast buck and create problems for our heroine. Incidentally, Vijay Anand called his separated brothers Mohan and Sohan in Johny Mera Naam (1970), which also starred IS Johar as triplets. Kuldip Kaur, in the early part of her career, vamps it up deliciously.
Vinod’s music, though fine, sees all the other songs totally eclipsed by Lara Lappa, Lara Lappa, which is the standout song of the film. Still, Dilli Se Aaya Bhai Tingu, performed by Honey O’Brien and an all girl band with Vinod himself conducting the band, is fun as is Lambi Joru Badi Musibat (a forerunner to Mere Angane Mein?). Among the others, Chandni Raaj Hai, Yeh Shokh Sitare and Ab Haal-e-Dil Ya Haal-e-Jigar are no doubt, melodious enough.
The success of Ek Thi Larki led to a series of films directed by Roop K Shorey starring his wife – Dholak (1951), Aag Ka Dariya (1953), Jalwa (1955) – but none had the same impact, not even a reunion of the duo with Motilal in Ek Do Teen (1953). And possibly, with the comparative disappointing performance of these films, some ambitious announcements made by Roop K Shorey, highlighted on the back covers of the song booklets of Aag Ka Dariya and Ek Do Teen – a film titled Ladaaki, or an extravaganza in colour, Char Minar – could not be made. The final nail in the couple’s marriage came when they were invited by Pakistan to go to Lahore and make a film, which they did – Miss 56 (1956). Meena, suddenly faced with much adulation across the border, decided to stay back and pursue a career there, leaving a broken-hearted Roop Shorey to return to India alone. In hindsight, it appears to be the worst decision she made.
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Ek Thi Ladki…There Existed A Girl…
Ek Thi Ladki…There Existed A Girl… (Love-story of Meena & Roop Shorey...)
It was the cool night in the winter season. The climate in Mumbai was very fine. There was a big party, a very big bash in the Hotel Taj Mahal, near Gateway, thrown by a young handsome businessman. While everybody was enjoying, his two eyes met hers. Those eyes communicated a message secretly, that no one but only both of them understood. In the garden he was then waiting impatiently for her, pacing up and down anxiously. Eventually she managed to escape, away from the maddening pompous crowd, hawk-eyed press-reporters etc. He spotted her, hurrying towards him. His eyes twinkled with hope. She came hurriedly toward him swirling, in her silken dress and tenderly held his hand in hers, said in honeyed tone, “Roop Sahaab… .I have kept my words.. I had fulfilled my promise.. You see!!.. Now your film is super-hit. You’re a well-established film-maker !!!. Tell me now what your desire is?” He, who was touched by her gesture; held her hand close to his heart and while trying feebly to control his emotions uttered in a shaky-emotional voice..” Meena!!! Please go ahead!! Say what ever you want to say so.. .ask for whatever you want…” Her eyes met his, giving a meaningful glance ,”Togetherness. .Forever!!” she exclaimed, that was followed by a warm hug. The sea and the Hotel Taj were the witnesses of their engagement… of-course an unofficial one.
He.. Mr. Roop Shorey a well educated, rich-famous, Punjabi businessman from Lahore and she…Meena, a beautiful but illiterate girl from an ordinary family hailed from Multan, who had later migrated to Mumbai….He was emotional and she… brainy, had a lot of street-smartness. He was bit shy, introvert, always cared for the people; while she was an extrovert, chirpy, fearless one. He was talented, poetic-natured and she had got a very good sense of humor, excellent comic talents. In short both of them were like a “sharp-contrast”. .but still destiny had brought them together. He had injured himself emotionally, due to his unsuccessful marriage that had resulted into paying heavy debts; while she was trying to float and desperately trying to keep herself alive as gone through the trauma of one unsuccessful marriage and one broken affair. She was a well-established film heroine from Mumbai; while he was trying his luck as a producer, a mere struggler in Bolly-wood, as his well-established studio at Lahore, was burnt during the riots of 1948 and had a tremendous loss.
She had met him earlier in Lahore, in early 40’s during pre-partition days while shooting and was impressed by his personality. They soon had become mutual friends. Later she went back to Mumbai and had signed an exclusive contract with Soharab Modi, started performing lead-roles, mostly romantic types in historical films; while he enjoyed his luxurious life in Lahore.
When in 1948, she came to know that he had migrated to Mumbai and was in penniless condition, then like a true friend she had rushed to him. She as promised, had signed an exclusive contract with him as a leading lady for his films, which had caused unpleasantness between her and the company she was working for. She had to under-go the wrath of Soharab Modi, the company owner. She was dragged to court and was fined heavily. She had already recognized Roop ji’s talents in film making, especially in creating situational comedies and had a solid faith in him. So she took the risk gladly and bared the loss. In this way the number 0 and 1 had come together and became 10, eventually. She along with his other friends, viz. an established star Karan Diwan and Lahore based genius music director(whose family actually en-rooted from Kerala) named Vinod (Eric Roberts) helped him in producing a classic, super-hit Punjabi film called “Chaman”, followed by “Dholak”. Later I.S. Joahar too had joined them. He wrote a very funny story named “Ek Thi Ladki” a comedy, spinning around a carefree, smart girl. This role fitted very well to Meena and the film was super hit. And Meena was nick-named as Lare-lappa girl, soon became a super-star. Roop Shorey ji, hence gained back his lost status and he was thankful to his friends; so to express the gratitude and celebrate, he had thrown a big party at Taj, where those two Meena and Roop ji were tied together...for along time.
Later on after tying a knot with him, she had decided to work only with his production company, which later proved the most impractical for her. Both of them did couple of successful films. His Punjabi-Hindi films called Dulla-Bhatti, Koel and Mangti broke all the records of popularity of Hindi and Punjabi films. Soon Roop ji was very highly praised and titled as “King of the comedies” by Karanzia in Blitz and “Majahiya Sultaan” by his fans. There also was an honorable mention about him in many film magazines and newspapers as “the pioneer of the situational comedy”, “Emperor of Sit-com” “wizard of comedies” etc. Roop Shorey became the Mumbai’s film industry’s one of the top-most directors. He was then invited very often, with great respect to Pakistan to direct the Pakistani films... I think he was the first film producer/director to get honorable invitations from our dear neighbor.
But perhaps one can’t be always happy. Meena stupidly then decided to migrate to Pakistan forever, as she was frustrated due to lack of work and she insisted Roop ji to accompany her. And she kept on throwing tantrums, kept on persuading, pestering him to migrate but he didn’t pay any attention, as the idea of leaving his mother-land was just impossible for him. Mumbai was his everything and he didn’t want to go anywhere else by then . This had resulted into various rows-quarrels. The small storms later transformed into cyclones and later Meena got legally separated out, from Roop ji. She eventually migrated to Pakistan alone, leaving Roop ji heart-broken who was already in grief, as his friend, music director Vinod had died unexpectedly, at very young age while at the peak of his career.
After migrating to Pakistan, she struggled for roles, at Lolly-wood or at the studios in Lahore but couldn’t find any proper roles. Her career soon had flopped and she became a B or C grade artist. She realized soon that she had taken a wrong decision. She knew that she was at fault but then it was too late for her to rectify the mistake.
Here in Mumbai Roop ji had directed many super-hit comedies like “Aklamand”, “Mein shaadi karne chaala” etc. The songs from above films were hit, are still popularly heard. His last venture was the super-hit film called “Ek Thi Rita” in 1971.Roop ji had encouraged many new-comers like Vinod Mehra and helped them in building up their careers. But although he was a very successful, rich-famous man; he was very lonely and unhappy in his heart, as he missed his Meena a lot. She too was finding very difficult to live without him. But their ego had kept them apart
The adoring and helping friends like I.S. Johar then brought them together with great efforts and soon they were on talking terms. When Roop ji understood, her worst financial condition via his friends (she never expressed this to him as her pride came in between), he every year invited her to Mumbai for a friendly visit and helped her financially without making her feel obliged or low. .These loving visits continued till Roop ji‘s sudden death, due to heart attack, at the age of 56 in 1973.
After Roop ji’s death Meena didn’t have any true friend or supporter. In 1989 she had a lonesome death in a very poor condition and the charitable organizations had contributed for her funeral. There was hardly anyone at the burial ground, except couple of newspaper, no one gave the proper coverage and I think it’s the real tragedy...
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After the success of "Ek Thhi ladki" (1949), a movie called "Ek Thha Ladka" (1951) got made too. "Ek Thha Ladka" (1951) was a Chitra Mahal Production.
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Ek Thi Larki (1949) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director ... - Cinestaan
https://www.cinestaan.com › ek-thi-larki-1580 › cast-crew
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Release date: 1949 (India)
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Running time: 2h 44m
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Genres: Bollywood, Comedy, Action Film, World cinema
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Release date: 1949 (India)
Running time: 2h 44m
Genres: Bollywood, Comedy, Action Film, World cinema
FILM Ek Thha Ladka" (1951)
After
the success of "Ek Thhi ladki" (1949), a movie called "Ek Thha Ladka"
(1951) got made too. "Ek Thha Ladka" (1951) was a Chitra Mahal
Production. It was directed by R Sanware. The movie had Bharat Bhushan,
Geeta Bali, Tiwari, Geeta Nizami, Nilopher, Kamal, Umesh Sharma,
Jankidas etc in it.
Here
is a less known song from this obscure movie. This song is sung by
Mukesh. Ehsaan Elahi is the lyricist. Music is composed by Murari
Sharma. This is the first song in the blog for the lyricist as well as
the music director. This movie in fact had three lyricists and two music
directors in it and all of them are new names for the blog.
Only
the audio of this song is available and so it is difficult to say how
and on whom this song is picturised. I request our knowledgeable readers
to throw light on the movie as well as on the picturisation of this
song.
Director:
Roop K. Shorey
Ek Thi Larki (1949)
The movie is based on Meena (Meena Shorey) who is
running away from two men, who are blackmailing her for a crime she did
not commit. Along the way she meets Ranjeet (Motilal), who is ...
See full summary »
Director:
Roop K. ShoreyWriter:
I.S. JoharStars:
Meena Shorey, Motilal, I.S. Johar | See full cast & crew »Cast
| Credited cast: | |||
 |
Meena Shorey | ... | Meena |
 |
Motilal | ... | Ranjit |
 |
I.S. Johar | ... | Sohan |
 |
Agha | ||
 |
Shakuntala | ... | Vimla |
 |
Kuldip Kaur | ... | Vimla |
| |
Kuldeep | ... | Vimla |
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| |
Satish Batra | ||
| |
Moti Bina | ||
| |
Majnu | ... | Mohan |
| |
Shyamlal | ... | (as Sham Lal) |
Singer(s): Mohammad Rafi,
Lata Mangeshkar,
G. M. Durrani
Music Director: Vinod
Lyricist: Aziz Kashmiri
Storyline
The
movie is based on the girl Meena (Meena Shorey), who is running away
from two black mailers who are black mailing her for a crime she did not
commit. Along the way she meets Ranjeet (Motilal) who is engaged to be
married to the daughter of his boss, but falls in love with Meena.
Watch Ek Thi Ladki.
CC
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Ab Haale Dil Ya - Lata Mangeshkar,Rafi - EK THI LARKI - Meena Shorey, Motilal, Bharat Bhushan3:16
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Chandni Raat Hai Gulshan - Geeta Roy - EK THI LARKI - Meena Shorey, Motilal, Bharat Bhushan2:21
Ek Thi Ladki
Ek Thi Ladki, 1949 Director: Roop K. Shorey Music Director: Vinod Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri Playback: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad ...
=================================================
songs:-
lara lappa..ek thi ladki1950_Best of Lata..a tribute to la ra lappa girl Meena Shorey
Song
: Lara lappa lara lappa ...one of the great fun songs of all
time..since 62 yrs Movie : Ek thi ladki (1949) , Singers : Lata ...
Ek Thi Ladki - Ab Hale Dil Ya Hale Jigar
Ab Hale Dil Ya Hale Jigar Performers: Meena Shorey, Motilal Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi Music: Vinod Lyrics: ....
Ek thi ladki [1949] Yeh Shokh Sitare [Rafi]
4:44
Hum Chale Door Dil Hua Choor - Ek Thi Ladki
Watch the music video of Hum Chale Door Dil Hua Choor from the 1949 Hindi movie Ek Thi Ladki starring Meena Shorey and ...
EK THI LADKI - HUM CHALE DOOR DIL HUA CHOOR.avi - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NU3w4eV1xc
May 18, 2010 - Uploaded by shreeji45555
ab haal e dil (ek thi ladki) lata - rafi - Duration: 3:03. moula53 13,747 views · 3:03. lara lappa..ek thi ...Hum Chale Door Dil Hua Choor | EK THI LADKI (1949) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4fobL4Cr4k
May 11, 2017 - Uploaded by PURANI HINDI FILMS
Watch Hu
Ek Thi Ladki [1949] Ghir Ghir Ke Aaye Badaria Sajanwa Na Ja [Lata]
Another one from the popular film.
Lambi Joru Badi Museebat - Lata, Rafi - EK THI LARKI - Meena Shorey, Motilal, Bharat Bhushan
Director: Roop K. Shorey Stars: Meena Shorey, Motilal, Bharat Bhushan Music: Vinod Released: 1949 Genre: Comedy film EK THI ...
Chandni Raat Hai. Performers: Kuldip Kaur, Motilal Singer: Geeta Dutt Music: Vinod Lyrics: Aziz Kashmiri Film: Ek Thi Ladki, 1949 ...
CC
Chaandni raat hai..unse kehna ki Geeta Dutt Film Ek Thi Ladki (1949) Music Vinod / Aziz Kashmiri
Chaandni raat hai..unse kehna ki woh pal bhar ke liye aa jaayen Geeta Dutt Film Ek Thi Ladki (1949) Music Vinod Lyrics Aziz ...
Watch Ghat kaari matwari ghir aayi | EK THI LADKI (1949) | Lata Mangeshkar.
Ghat kaari matwari ghir aayi & Ghir ghir ke aayi badariya Zeenat Begum Lata Mangeshkar Ek Thi Ladki
Motilal,
Meena Shorey, Kuldeep Kaur, Ghat kaari matwaari ghir aayi rasiya re
Zeenat Begum & Ghir ghir ke aayi badariya ...
.
EK THI LADKI - GHAT KARI MATWARI GHEER AAYEE RASIYA RE.avi
Sabzbaag [1951] Mere Dil Ke Tadapne Ka Tamasha Dekhne Wale ...
h
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YQr43bmQdg
Oct 6, 2011 - Uploaded by Kelly Mistry
Sabzbaag [1951] Mere Dil Ke Tadapne Ka Tamasha Dekhne Wale [Lata] ... Taqdeer ka shikwa kaun ................................................................................
The film follows Meena (Meena Shorey) on a series on adventures, which begin with her going for a job interview only to find the office head murdered with a knife up his back. She is then blackmailed by two conmen, Mohan and Sohan (IS Johar, Majnu) who saw her in the room with the dead man and who convince her that she would be hung for the killing. They force her her to impersonate a princess before another escape from the conmen leads her to accidentally finding a job as a secretary to office manager, Ranjit (Motilal), who is being wooed by his boss’ daughter, Vimla (Kudip Kaur). Ranjit, along with secretary Meena, are sent to Delhi to ensure that their firm gets a particular lucrative contract. Events play out where they have to live as servants in the house of the very person they have come to meet. Of course, in all this mess, they fall in love, and predictable complications are created by Vimla, Mohan and Sohan before the customary all’s well that ends well ending.
As is apparent from the storyline, the film, helmed by husband Roop K Shorey, centres around Meena Shorey. And it has to be said, she owns the film. Looking at her inherent comic capabilities, it is all the more tragic to see her career trajectory post Ek Thi Larki. The film, written by IS Johar, is little more than light, unpretentious on-the-surface stuff – funny, corny, silly and even illogically stupid in parts. The comparatively dramatic last bit is heavy-handed and at odds with the rest of the film. But it’s all a reasonably fun ride that is characteristic of what Hindi mainstream cinema has always considered as the ‘leave-your-brains-behind-at-home’ type of entertainment.
Of the rest of the cast, Motilal plays it largely straight, perfectly playing off the exuberant Shorey while providing his odd comic moment – such as his plate dropping episode! IS Johar and Manju are funny enough as the conmen always out to make a fast buck and create problems for our heroine. Incidentally, Vijay Anand called his separated brothers Mohan and Sohan in Johny Mera Naam (1970), which also starred IS Johar as triplets. Kuldip Kaur, in the early part of her career, vamps it up deliciously.
Vinod’s music, though fine, sees all the other songs totally eclipsed by Lara Lappa, Lara Lappa, which is the standout song of the film. Still, Dilli Se Aaya Bhai Tingu, performed by Honey O’Brien and an all girl band with Vinod himself conducting the band, is fun as is Lambi Joru Badi Musibat (a forerunner to Mere Angane Mein?). Among the others, Chandni Raaj Hai, Yeh Shokh Sitare and Ab Haal-e-Dil Ya Haal-e-Jigar are no doubt, melodious enough.
The success of Ek Thi Larki led to a series of films directed by Roop K Shorey starring his wife – Dholak (1951), Aag Ka Dariya (1953), Jalwa (1955) – but none had the same impact, not even a reunion of the duo with Motilal in Ek Do Teen (1953). And possibly, with the comparative disappointing performance of these films, some ambitious announcements made by Roop K Shorey, highlighted on the back covers of the song booklets of Aag Ka Dariya and Ek Do Teen – a film titled Ladaaki, or an extravaganza in colour, Char Minar – could not be made. The final nail in the couple’s marriage came when they were invited by Pakistan to go to Lahore and make a film, which they did – Miss 56 (1956). Meena, suddenly faced with much adulation across the border, decided to stay back and pursue a career there, leaving a broken-hearted Roop Shorey to return to India alone. In hindsight, it appears to be the worst decision she made.
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Meena Shorey, Begum Para and Nargis playing cricket in Sri Lanka (1954)
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There Existed A Girl… (Love-story of Meena & Roop ...
Ek Thi Ladki…There Existed A Girl…
TrueLove-story of Meena AND Roop Shorey...
It was the cool night in the winter season. The climate in Mumbai was very fine. There was a big party, a very big bash in the Hotel Taj Mahal, near Gateway, thrown by a young handsome businessman. While everybody was enjoying, his two eyes met hers. Those eyes communicated a message secretly, that no one but only both of them understood. In the garden he was then waiting impatiently for her, pacing up and down anxiously. Eventually she managed to escape, away from the maddening pompous crowd, hawk-eyed press-reporters etc. He spotted her, hurrying towards him. His eyes twinkled with hope. She came hurriedly toward him swirling, in her silken dress and tenderly held his hand in hers, said in honeyed tone, “Roop Sahaab… .I have kept my words.. I had fulfilled my promise.. You see!!.. Now your film is super-hit. You’re a well-established film-maker !!!. Tell me now what your desire is?” He, who was touched by her gesture; held her hand close to his heart and while trying feebly to control his emotions uttered in a shaky-emotional voice..” Meena!!! Please go ahead!! Say what ever you want to say so.. .ask for whatever you want…” Her eyes met his, giving a meaningful glance ,”Togetherness. .Forever!!” she exclaimed, that was followed by a warm hug. The sea and the Hotel Taj were the witnesses of their engagement… of-course an unofficial one.
He.. Mr. Roop Shorey a well educated, rich-famous, Punjabi businessman from Lahore and she…Meena, a beautiful but illiterate girl from an ordinary family hailed from Multan, who had later migrated to Mumbai….He was emotional and she… brainy, had a lot of street-smartness. He was bit shy, introvert, always cared for the people; while she was an extrovert, chirpy, fearless one. He was talented, poetic-natured and she had got a very good sense of humor, excellent comic talents. In short both of them were like a “sharp-contrast”. .but still destiny had brought them together. He had injured himself emotionally, due to his unsuccessful marriage that had resulted into paying heavy debts; while she was trying to float and desperately trying to keep herself alive as gone through the trauma of one unsuccessful marriage and one broken affair. She was a well-established film heroine from Mumbai; while he was trying his luck as a producer, a mere struggler in Bolly-wood, as his well-established studio at Lahore, was burnt during the riots of 1948 and had a tremendous loss.
She had met him earlier in Lahore, in early 40’s during pre-partition days while shooting and was impressed by his personality. They soon had become mutual friends. Later she went back to Mumbai and had signed an exclusive contract with Soharab Modi, started performing lead-roles, mostly romantic types in historical films; while he enjoyed his luxurious life in Lahore.
When in 1948, she came to know that he had migrated to Mumbai and was in penniless condition, then like a true friend she had rushed to him. She as promised, had signed an exclusive contract with him as a leading lady for his films, which had caused unpleasantness between her and the company she was working for. She had to under-go the wrath of Soharab Modi, the company owner. She was dragged to court and was fined heavily. She had already recognized Roop ji’s talents in film making, especially in creating situational comedies and had a solid faith in him. So she took the risk gladly and bared the loss. In this way the number 0 and 1 had come together and became 10, eventually. She along with his other friends, viz. an established star Karan Diwan and Lahore based genius music director(whose family actually en-rooted from Kerala) named Vinod (Eric Roberts) helped him in producing a classic, super-hit Punjabi film called “Chaman”, followed by “Dholak”. Later I.S. Joahar too had joined them. He wrote a very funny story named “Ek Thi Ladki” a comedy, spinning around a carefree, smart girl. This role fitted very well to Meena and the film was super hit. And Meena was nick-named as Lare-lappa girl, soon became a super-star. Roop Shorey ji, hence gained back his lost status and he was thankful to his friends; so to express the gratitude and celebrate, he had thrown a big party at Taj, where those two Meena and Roop ji were tied together...for along time.
Later on after tying a knot with him, she had decided to work only with his production company, which later proved the most impractical for her. Both of them did couple of successful films. His Punjabi-Hindi films called Dulla-Bhatti, Koel and Mangti broke all the records of popularity of Hindi and Punjabi films. Soon Roop ji was very highly praised and titled as “King of the comedies” by Karanzia in Blitz and “Majahiya Sultaan” by his fans. There also was an honorable mention about him in many film magazines and newspapers as “the pioneer of the situational comedy”, “Emperor of Sit-com” “wizard of comedies” etc. Roop Shorey became the Mumbai’s film industry’s one of the top-most directors. He was then invited very often, with great respect to Pakistan to direct the Pakistani films... I think he was the first film producer/director to get honorable invitations from our dear neighbor.
But perhaps one can’t be always happy. Meena stupidly then decided to migrate to Pakistan forever, as she was frustrated due to lack of work and she insisted Roop ji to accompany her. And she kept on throwing tantrums, kept on persuading, pestering him to migrate but he didn’t pay any attention, as the idea of leaving his mother-land was just impossible for him. Mumbai was his everything and he didn’t want to go anywhere else by then . This had resulted into various rows-quarrels. The small storms later transformed into cyclones and later Meena got legally separated out, from Roop ji. She eventually migrated to Pakistan alone, leaving Roop ji heart-broken who was already in grief, as his friend, music director Vinod had died unexpectedly, at very young age while at the peak of his career.
After migrating to Pakistan, she struggled for roles, at Lolly-wood or at the studios in Lahore but couldn’t find any proper roles. Her career soon had flopped and she became a B or C grade artist. She realized soon that she had taken a wrong decision. She knew that she was at fault but then it was too late for her to rectify the mistake.
Here in Mumbai Roop ji had directed many super-hit comedies like “Aklamand”, “Mein shaadi karne chaala” etc. The songs from above films were hit, are still popularly heard. His last venture was the super-hit film called “Ek Thi Rita” in 1971.Roop ji had encouraged many new-comers like Vinod Mehra and helped them in building up their careers. But although he was a very successful, rich-famous man; he was very lonely and unhappy in his heart, as he missed his Meena a lot. She too was finding very difficult to live without him. But their ego had kept them apart
The adoring and helping friends like I.S. Johar then brought them together with great efforts and soon they were on talking terms. When Roop ji understood, her worst financial condition via his friends (she never expressed this to him as her pride came in between), he every year invited her to Mumbai for a friendly visit and helped her financially without making her feel obliged or low. .These loving visits continued till Roop ji‘s sudden death, due to heart attack, at the age of 56 in 1973.
After Roop ji’s death Meena didn’t have any true friend or supporter. In 1989 she had a lonesome death in a very poor condition and the charitable organizations had contributed for her funeral. There was hardly anyone at the burial ground, except couple of newspaper, no one gave the proper coverage and I think it’s the real tragedy...
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Indian films and posters from 1930: film (Ek Tha Ladka) (1951)
https://bombaymann2.blogspot.com/2013/09/film-ek-tha-ladka-1951.html
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