Old is Gold
T
he film industry of India,
that is Bollywood, has always
been somewhat of a magical
mysterious land for those of us
who stand by the sidelines and watch the
most ordinary people being turned into
stars that ooze glamour and showbiz.
The Bollywood that we see now hadn’t
always been tolerant, especially towards
the actresses. Today, an actress doing a
James Burke
bold photo shoot is not something out of
the blue. It is more of a regular occurrence and the internet flooding
with sensual pictures of the actresses is a testimony to that.
Now rewind to the era of 40s and 50s where actresses clad and
covered from head to toe in six yards of sheer elegance, presented
a demure image- both on and off screen. It was then that James
Burke, a legendary photographer of the prestigious LIFE magazine,
and Begum Para, the Bollywood actress, shocked everyone with her
sensuous photo shoot which earned her the title of “Bollywood’s
pinup girl”.
The busty beauty dressed in a gorgeous plain white saree and a white
blouse, was 24 when she posed in front of Burke’s lens in 1951. So
sensuous were her photographs that she has been likened to actress
Jane Russell and has been called the Indian version of “The Outlaw”.
James Burke was one of the few photographers that got to capture
what goes on behind the silver screen and also stunning profiles of
actresses. Begum Para’s intimate photo shoot was one such story of
the hypocrisy in Bollywood. In one of the photographs she is seen
as lighting up a cigarette and smiling as if in open defiance of the
existing norms of how the Bollywood actresses should behave.
Priyashi Negi
[email protected]
Trekking to the top of the hills through tiny little paths and between
pines is nothing short of paradise for Priyashi. Books and poetry are her
refuge. She is a foodie at heart and seems to be blessed with a sweet
tooth and a love for all things cheese (pun-intended).
46
Vol 7
An intimate photo shoot with India’s first glamour
queen - Begum Para - James Burke - 1951
The rebellious actress was infamous for smoking and carrying
a glass of whisky in public events. She would laugh at her female
counterparts who despite enjoying alcohol would conceal their
drinks with cola. Her sensuous intimate photo shoot was yet another
blow to the hypocrite industry of Bollywood who would objectify
women and at the same time vilify them for it.
With all the actresses posing to be the next sex symbol, none
compares to the stunning beauty of Begum Para- India’s first oomph
girl. Even today, the black and white, sepia tinted photographs serve
as an ode to the bold and beautiful Begum Para and her irrepressible
spirit.