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There is the odd emotion I feel every time I see Nargis
in a film. It's an irrational thought, I want to jump into
the screen, grab her down and save her. Get her away from
the melodramatic mess she has found herself in. There is a
vulnerability and naivety that vibrates her very screen being.
She is youthful exuberance and desire about to be exploited
by the wheel of life (usually in the form of her male costar
to be exact). If one could only grab into the screen and pull
Nargis away, but then what resolution would that fantasy be?
It would only be another violation. Let Nargis play out her
part, she will with any justice come out redeemed in the end.
Because despite this naive childlike nature of a Nargis portrayal
there is also an underlying fortitude and strength that though
it displays itself with a resignation to the whims of fate
is spiced with a lot of stubbornness and élan that
is sure to in the end, win the day.
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Nargis Photo Galleries
Nargis
Publicity Photo Gallery
12
still captures of Nargis from "Mother India" 1957"
Nargis
from "Awara" [1951]
Nargis
from "Humayun" [1945]
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Nargis had amazing screen close-ups that define facial
histrionics in Bollywood acting style from the 'classic' period
of the 50s (and is still evident today). Watch and learn from
her theatrical nose twitches, the raised eyebrows, and eyes
that glint in the camera's lighting on perfect cue. She was
a master of hand to face gestures; the swooning palm to forehead,
coy finger to smiling edge of mouth touch, the fist to temple
agitation movement, and many, many more. She had a full gap
toothed smile that lit up the frame with an energy on the
edge of containment, about to explode in joy.
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Nargis in the 'classic' period (1950s) of Bollywood exemplified
the modern woman. She wore sharp elegant 'Western' formal, sport,
and casual wear with a natural grace. At a time when every other
actress had long waist length hair Nargis sported a short Western
cut. In a time when 'Western' could be interpreted as corrupt
or uncultured only someone with a lot of style would dare to
play the heroine dressed in the latest Paris fashion and Nargis
had that. She could be urban and smart with a matter of fact
ease without being crass or vulgar. Nargis could NEVER be interpreted
as crass or vulgar. In Raj Kapoor's "Awara" (1951)
Nargis was the first Bollywood actress to wear a bathing suit
on-screen It was a sensation and it didn't hurt her image one
little bit.
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Nargis
Photo Gallery from "Awara"
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