Fatma Begum

Early life Fatma Begum was born into an Urdu-speaking Muslim family in India and came from a background in the Urdu language theater, her family of Muslim background having spoken that tongue. She was trained in theater and mostly acted in Urdu and Hindi plays. The film was a high budget production has been described as a fantasy film featuring many special effects and her daughters Sultana, Zubeida also Shehzadi worked in the film. She directed many other films, her last being the Goddess of Luck in 1929. While continuing to produce and appear in her own work, Fatma worked for Kohinoor Studios and Imperial Studios in the film Duniya Kya Hai? in 1937. Her husband didn't approve of her acting career, as it was not then considered an appropriate profession for girls from respectable families. In response, she divorced him and took custody of her daughter.

Death She died in 1983 at the age of 91.

Filmography Silent Movies

Talkie Movies Year Film Role Notes 1931 Discarded Love Actress 1933 Satan's Victim Actress 1934 Seva Sadan Actress Sant Tulsidas Actress Neki Ka Taj Actress Starred with Noor Jehan 1938 Duniya Kya Hai? Actress 1939 Romancero Marroquí Actress 1940 Jai Swadesh Actress Diamond Queen Faima

Writer Year Film Role Notes 1926 Bulbul-e-Paristan Writer Screenplay 1928 Heer Ranjha Writer Screenplay 1929 Wonderful Prince Writer Screenplay

Director Year Film Role Notes 1926 Bulbul-e-Paristan Director First female director of Indian cinema;Used own production house 'Fatma Films' 1927 Goddess of Love Director 1928 Chandravali Director Heer Ranjha Director Director and writer1929 Goddess of Luck Director Director Kanakatara Director Milan Dinar Director Shakuntala Director Kanak Tara Director Nasib Ni Devi Director She also acted in the film

Producer Year Film Role Notes 1928 Heer Ranjha Producer Producer, director and writer

Legacy Her legacy was carried on by her daughters Sultana, Shahzadi and Zubeida acted in India's first ever talkie, Alam Ara, in addition to being a silent film star.