Kajjanbai

Kajjanbai Biography

Kajjanbai, also known as "Miss Kajjan" was a singing actress of Indian cinema in the early talkies, who was most active in the era of 1920s and 1930s. She is often referred to as the "Nightingale of Bengal", and she lived during the period, 1915-1945. Sadly she died at a very young age of only 30, when she was enjoying her career peak. She was suffering from cancer at a young age. She was also dubbed as ‘Lark of Hindi cinema’ and the ‘Beautiful Nightingale of Bengal Screen’. She worked in both Hindi and Bengali movies. Her pairing with Master Nissar on celluloid as well as stage was well appreciated and had a lot of fans. She was also a trendsetter known to be a fashion icon of early talkies.

She was hailed as the reigning queen of the stage, the glamorous film actress, the trained singer, the fashionable modern girl, and the trendsetter. Her real name is Jahanara Kajjan or Kajjan Bai. She was one of the celebrated young stars of silver screen in the 1920s and 1930s. Madan Theatres’ Laila Majnu (1931) was one of her major works on silver screen. She played lead roles in Shirin Farhad (1931), Laila Majnu (1931), Zalim Saudagar (1941), Prarthana (1943) and Prithvi Vallabh (1943). Shirin Farhad (1931), the second Indian Talkie to be made and she played female lead in India’s first Hindi/Bollywood film. Alam Ara was released in Urdu two months before Shirin Farhad.

Kajjanbai was born in Patna, Bihar in the year 1915. She received education at home and learnt English. She was well-versed in Urdu. She trained in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Hussain Khan of Patna. Later she joined theatre. While working with Alfred Company owned by Madan Theatres of Calcutta, she earned success and fame, and it also gave her first break to film industry.

Published: February 26, 2019

Updated: February 26, 2019