#GoldenFrames: Kumkum featured in some of the most successful songs in the Hindi movies of the 50s and 60s

Kumkum worked in as many as a hundred movies in her two-decade career. She became a household name after movies such as 'C.I.D.' (1956), 'Mother India' (1957), 'Kohinoor' (1960) and many more. The actress was an accomplished dancer, second lead and character artist. She is known for her performance in the song "Kabhi aar kabhi paar" from the movie 'Aar Par' (1954).

Born on December 21, 1935, as Zebunnisa in Hussainabad, Bihar—Kumkum didn't have a pleasant childhood. Her father Nawab Manzoor Hasan Khan was the landlord of Hussainabad near Patna. When their financial condition started deteriorating the family left for Kolkata. It’s said the father remarried and left for Pakistan afterwards.

The actress learnt Kathak under the tutelage of Shambhu Maharaj in Lucknow and later migrated with her family to Mumbai in 1952.

Kumkum knew Naushad, and it is believed that the composer helped her get a break in movies. That was how the actress got the break in the 'Sheesha' (1952). Apparently, Naushad had put in a good word for her with filmmaker Shaheed Lateef.

Nargis and Sajjan played the lead in the movie 'Sheesha' (1952). Kumkum was only sixteen when she got her first break. She danced to the song 'Angana baje shehnai re, aaj moi jagmag atariya.' Kumkum only appeared on the screen only for a few minutes, she created a good impression and soon, work started coming in.

Kumkum became a star after Guru Dutt's 'Aar Paar' (1954). Apparently, the song 'Kabhi aar kabhi paar' was initially picturised on Jagdeep, but the censor team wanted it to be picturised on a female artist, and hence Kumkum got chosen. Guru Dutt reportedly was in a hurry to finish the movie, so he choreographed the song himself.

Guru Dutt offered her another acting role where she played his bhabhi in the satire 'Mr and Mrs ’55' (1955) and also played the mother of five children despite being quite young at that point in time.

Kumkum is best known for her roles in 'Mother India' (1957), 'Pyaasa' (1957), 'Kohinoor' (1960), 'Son Of India' (1962), 'Ujala' (1959), 'Mr X in Bombay' (1964), 'Aankhen' (1968), 'Lalkaar' (1972), 'Geet' (1970) and 'Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara' (1973).

Kumkum also worked in Bhojpuri movies and acted in one of the biggest blockbusters and her first movie, 'Ganga Maiya Tohe Piyari Chadhaibo' (1963). She also appeared in Bhojpuri movies 'Ganga' and 'Bhauji' as the main lead.

Kumkum's evergreen dance numbers include "Ae Dil Hai mushkil jeena yahan" from 'CID' (1956), "Ja, ja re ja balma" from 'Basant Bahar' (1956), "Reshmi salwar kurta jali ka" from 'Naya Daur' (1957), "Tera jalwa jisne dekha" from 'Ujala' (1959), "Madhuban mein radhika nache re" from 'Kohinoor' (1960), "Daga daga vai vai vai" from 'Kali Top Lal Rumaal' (1959), "Mera naam hai chameli" from 'Raja Aur Runk' (1968) and many more.