Meena Kumari, is a rich,multi-layered, bi-lingual play, combining music, dance, recitation, and live dancing to create an immersive experience for the audience. The story will delve into the personal and professional life of Meena Kumari, exploring her artistic journey, her struggles with addiction, and her resilience in the face of adversity.
By showcasing her poetry, we hope to inspire a new generation of artists and writers. Raise awareness of addiction and its effects. Our goal is to build compassion and understanding around addiction, supporting people in asking for help without judgment, discrimination, or stigma. The project will emphasize that addiction is a serious mental illness with a profound impact on people’s lives, which must be recognized and addressed at all levels of government and society.
Through this play, we hope to introduce Meena Kumari’s works to a new generation, promoting a positive life in Britain. Born Mahjabeen Bano (1933-1972), Meena Kumari was an acclaimed Indian actress and poet who appeared in over 90 films during her 33-year career. Known as “The Tragedy Queen” she won four Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and remains one of the greatest actresses in Indian cinema. Her untimely death at age 38 due to cirrhosis of the liver, linked to her alcoholism, serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of addiction.