Comments on: Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/ Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:56:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Schumail http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-3147 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:07:59 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-3147 My mame is Schumail Khan from Pakistan and Im a great fan of Helen's beauty and talent likewise, but frankly speaking she was better than many leading ladies of her era, still she was only given those roles which showed her as the less fortunate part of our female society or may i am allowed to say condemned females in our soceity of Indian & Pakistani culture. A shockingly resembling in looks & talent to Ms Helen is Ms Nargis now 33yrs of age of Pakistan who is even less fortunate since the film Industry here is almost finished and she has to do stage shows which feature her dance to carry on. Anyways today as a grown up when i look at Helen i dont like the leading ladies which were shown better than her,She is a pearl so precious, I want to meet her and show her my respect appreciation and thank her for her lovely self. May Allah bless you Helen MAAM.... My mame is Schumail Khan from Pakistan and Im a great fan of Helen’s beauty and talent likewise, but frankly speaking she was better than many leading ladies of her era, still she was only given those roles which showed her as the less fortunate part of our female society or may i am allowed to say condemned females in our soceity of Indian & Pakistani culture. A shockingly resembling in looks & talent to Ms Helen is Ms Nargis now 33yrs of age of Pakistan who is even less fortunate since the film Industry here is almost finished and she has to do stage shows which feature her dance to carry on. Anyways today as a grown up when i look at Helen i dont like the leading ladies which were shown better than her,She is a pearl so precious, I want to meet her and show her my respect appreciation and thank her for her lovely self. May Allah bless you Helen MAAM….

]]> by: Kurt Langmann http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-2300 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:56:27 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-2300 My wife and I worked as extras with Helen in Bollywood, late '60s to early '70s, and she sure could bust the moves. Very sweet too, not condescending to anyone. Thanks for these clips, great memories. My wife and I worked as extras with Helen in Bollywood, late ’60s to early ’70s, and she sure could bust the moves. Very sweet too, not condescending to anyone. Thanks for these clips, great memories.

]]> by: Vicky http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-1924 Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:50:12 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-1924 I was wondering, does she speak burmese? I was wondering, does she speak burmese?

]]> by: Kishan http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-1785 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:04:53 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-1785 You are the best dancer in the world Helen. I love you lots and I miss you. Kishan You are the best dancer in the world Helen. I love you lots and I miss you.
Kishan

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-694 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:57:25 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-694 Joe - I'm not so sure about that, but I really appreciate your vote of confidence and I'm glad you enjoyed the post! ;) Many thanks for the nice words. Cheers! xox Kimberly Joe - I’m not so sure about that, but I really appreciate your vote of confidence and I’m glad you enjoyed the post! ;) Many thanks for the nice words.

Cheers! xox
Kimberly

]]> by: Joe D http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-692 Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:52:56 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-692 K You've done it again, posted the coolest stuff on the Internet! She is incredible. Thanks for sharing! Peace. Love, & Soul, Joe D K
You’ve done it again, posted the coolest stuff on the Internet! She is incredible.
Thanks for sharing!
Peace. Love, & Soul,
Joe D

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-691 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:55:27 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-691 Thanks for all the feedback! I've been super busy with work this week so I don't have a lot of time for posting responses, but I'm glad I could share some clips from a few favorite Bollywood films with you all and I hope you'll give some of the movies that are easily available on DVD a look. I've only been regularly watching Bollywood films myself for about 5 or 6 years so I'm pretty new to it all as well and I don't care for the newer films all that much. Earlier this year a wonderful new Indian market opened up about 3 blocks from my apartment and they rent films (and sell fantastic food!) which makes it easy for me to see lots of Bollywood movies. I hope to share some more detailed reviews of some of my great new discoveries soon! Thanks for all the feedback! I’ve been super busy with work this week so I don’t have a lot of time for posting responses, but I’m glad I could share some clips from a few favorite Bollywood films with you all and I hope you’ll give some of the movies that are easily available on DVD a look.

I’ve only been regularly watching Bollywood films myself for about 5 or 6 years so I’m pretty new to it all as well and I don’t care for the newer films all that much. Earlier this year a wonderful new Indian market opened up about 3 blocks from my apartment and they rent films (and sell fantastic food!) which makes it easy for me to see lots of Bollywood movies. I hope to share some more detailed reviews of some of my great new discoveries soon!

]]> by: Gautam http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-689 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:44:46 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-689 Excellent piece Kimberly! Helen was 'the' quintessential pin-up girl of my father's generation. If you noticed she also has a cameo in Sholay during the gypsy dance sequence. She definitely had all the qualities of a typical Bond-girl and I wonder why she wasn't cast in Octopussy. Excellent piece Kimberly! Helen was ‘the’ quintessential pin-up girl of my father’s generation. If you noticed she also has a cameo in Sholay during the gypsy dance sequence. She definitely had all the qualities of a typical Bond-girl and I wonder why she wasn’t cast in Octopussy.

]]> by: Viruete http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-688 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:33:33 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-688 That Caravan number was very famous in Spain some years ago. I love her dance in Don, too. Great post!!!! That Caravan number was very famous in Spain some years ago. I love her dance in Don, too. Great post!!!!

]]> by: Jeremy http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-687 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 08:26:52 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-687 Thanks Kimberly, This was fascinating as I know nothhing of Bollywood films. I have been meaning to check some out but right now I am still a total novice...thanks for the tips and for introducing me to this talented performer. Thanks Kimberly,
This was fascinating as I know nothhing of Bollywood films. I have been meaning to check some out but right now I am still a total novice…thanks for the tips and for introducing me to this talented performer.

]]> by: Keith http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-686 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:10:15 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-686 Those are some great clips. Wow. I loved them. She's amazing. I've only recently gotten into Bollywood movies. I've seen a few of the more recent ones, but want to also see more of the classic ones. You've definitely inspired me with this blog. Those are some great clips. Wow. I loved them. She’s amazing. I’ve only recently gotten into Bollywood movies. I’ve seen a few of the more recent ones, but want to also see more of the classic ones. You’ve definitely inspired me with this blog.

]]> by: Jonathan Lapper http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-684 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:13:42 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2007/09/12/helen-queen-of-the-nautch-girls/#comment-684 Well I don't know how much of an actress she was, having never seen one of her films, but she certainly was <i>one hell of a performer!</i> If she did what she did in those clips over 500 times in Bollywood productions it's a wonder she wasn't 80 pounds. I haven't seen that kind of energy since the Nicholas Brothers (the greatest dancing team of all time) or early Russ Tamblyn. And the opening of the <strong>Caravan</strong> number where she performs to her glass and the clock could have easily been straight out of a silent film. You know, since the advent of naturalistic acting so many actors have lost the art of performing for the camera. As most people probably know I'm a big fan of the thirties (I've probably seen more from that decade than any other, besides possibly the seventies, my second favorite period) and so I have a certain comfortable familiarity with "playing it big" that I sometimes miss in many later movies. I remember thinking (foolishly as it turns out) that Nicholas Cage, after I saw him in <strong>Vampire's Kiss</strong> and other work in the eighties, that here was an actor who wasn't afraid to "act" in front of the camera. And then he turned into a bore like so many others and well... what in god's name did happen to his career anyway? Jesus, what a descent. But I digress. Anyway, the point is there's an excitement watching someone not afraid to let it all hang out for the camera. And I really liked the mirrored dancing going on in the <strong>Jewel Thief</strong> clip. There are so many movies out there from so many countries, how can we possibly keep up? At least when I come here I can get a taste of some things I've been missing. Even if I can't see them all you give me an idea of what's out there off the beaten path. Well, off the beaten path of America and Europe that is. I can't imagine, from what I read here and on the Wikipedia entry, that there's a person alive in India who doesn't know who Helen is. Thanks for continuing to bring me up to speed. Well I don’t know how much of an actress she was, having never seen one of her films, but she certainly was one hell of a performer! If she did what she did in those clips over 500 times in Bollywood productions it’s a wonder she wasn’t 80 pounds. I haven’t seen that kind of energy since the Nicholas Brothers (the greatest dancing team of all time) or early Russ Tamblyn.

And the opening of the Caravan number where she performs to her glass and the clock could have easily been straight out of a silent film. You know, since the advent of naturalistic acting so many actors have lost the art of performing for the camera. As most people probably know I’m a big fan of the thirties (I’ve probably seen more from that decade than any other, besides possibly the seventies, my second favorite period) and so I have a certain comfortable familiarity with “playing it big” that I sometimes miss in many later movies. I remember thinking (foolishly as it turns out) that Nicholas Cage, after I saw him in Vampire’s Kiss and other work in the eighties, that here was an actor who wasn’t afraid to “act” in front of the camera. And then he turned into a bore like so many others and well… what in god’s name did happen to his career anyway? Jesus, what a descent. But I digress.

Anyway, the point is there’s an excitement watching someone not afraid to let it all hang out for the camera. And I really liked the mirrored dancing going on in the Jewel Thief clip.

There are so many movies out there from so many countries, how can we possibly keep up? At least when I come here I can get a taste of some things I’ve been missing. Even if I can’t see them all you give me an idea of what’s out there off the beaten path. Well, off the beaten path of America and Europe that is. I can’t imagine, from what I read here and on the Wikipedia entry, that there’s a person alive in India who doesn’t know who Helen is. Thanks for continuing to bring me up to speed.

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