Nimmi
Nimmi wasn’t one of Hindi cinema’s all-time great actresses, but she held her own in film after film in the ’50s and ’60s, especially in Mehboob Khan’s Amar, where Naushad, according to many of his fans, created his finest soundtrack ever, with Lata Mangeshkar singing five of the eleven songs for Nimmi, including the timeless classic Na Milta Gham Toh Barbaadi Ke Afsane
In Amar, Nimmi had the better role and the better songs, despite the fact that Madhubala was the main lead. In Raj Kapoor’s first film, Barsaat, Nargis sang most of the songs composed by Lataji and Shankar-Jaikishan. Jiya Beqaraar, though, was shot on Nimmi, and it became the biggest hit of all.
Eight of Uran Khatola’s eleven songs were written specifically for Nimmi, with Lataji singing the lead. These songs include the classics “Mera Salaam Leja,” “Hamare Dil Se Na Jana,” and “Mera Saiyaji Utrenge Paar Re.” Nimmi spent approximately 50% of the film disguised as a man.
It was Nargis who sang the majority of Lataji’s Naushad compositions in the 1951 film Deedar. however, She was the one who lip-synced the two best solos by Lataji: Duniya Ne Teri Duniyawale and Le Ja Meri Duwayen Le Jaa.
The 1956 film Basant Bahar was Nimmi’s best chance to break into the lead role. The film’s score by Shankar-Jaikishan is still considered one of the best examples of a Hindi cinema musical. To the tune of “Main Piya Teri Tu Maana Ya Na Mane,” Nimmi danced her heart out while lip syncing to Lataji.
Dil Ka Diya Jalake Gaya Yeh Kaun Meri Tanhai Mein by Lataji is the perfect song to cap off Nimmi’s musical journey. One of the most stunning love songs of the ’60s. This phrase encapsulates Nimmi’s entire story, her illuminating yet unassuming presence. Concise but not forgettable.
