Fatma Begum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fatma Begum
Born	1892 India
Died	1983 (aged 90–91) India
Occupation	Actress, director, screenwriter, producer
Spouse(s)	Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III (allegedly)
Children	3, including Zubeida and Sultana
Relatives	Rhea Pillai (great-granddaughter)

Fatma Begum (1892–1983) was a pioneering Indian actress, director, and screenwriter. She is often seen as the very first female film director in Indian cinema. In just four years, she wrote, produced, and directed many films.

Fatma Begum started her own film company, Fatma Films, which later became Victoria-Fatma Films. She directed her first movie, Bulbul-e-Paristan, in 1926. She was a mother to three children, including famous actresses Zubeida and Sultana.

Her Family and Background

Fatma Begum was born in India into an Urdu-speaking Muslim family. She was the mother of three silent film stars: Zubeida, Sultana, and Shehzadi.

Her family continued to be involved in the film world. She was the grandmother of Humayun Dhanrajgir and Durreshahwar Dhanrajgir. She was also the great-grandmother of model and actor Rhea Pillai.

Her Amazing Career

Fatma Begum started her acting journey on the Urdu stage, performing in plays. Later, she moved into films. Her first movie was Ardeshir Irani's silent film, Veer Abhimanyu (1922).

In those days, it was common for men to play women's roles in movies. So, when Fatma Begum, a woman, became a superstar, it was a big deal! She had fair skin and used dark makeup, which looked good on the black and white screens of the time.

Starting Her Own Film Company

In 1926, Fatma Begum created her own film company called Fatma Films. This company later changed its name to Victoria-Fatma Films in 1928.

She became a leader in making fantasy films. She used special camera tricks, called "trick photography," to create early special effects in her movies. This made her one of the first people to use such effects, like George Melies in other parts of the world.

First Female Director

Fatma Begum made history by becoming the first female director in Indian cinema. Her first film as a director was Bulbul-e-Paristan in 1926.

Even though no copies of this film exist today, it was known for being a big-budget fantasy movie with many special effects. Besides directing her own films, Fatma Begum also acted for other studios like Kohinoor Studios and Imperial Studios. Her last film was Duniya Kya Hai? in 1938.

She directed several other movies, with her last one being Goddess of Luck in 1929.

Her Lasting Legacy

Fatma Begum passed away in 1983 when she was 91 years old. Her important work in films was continued by her daughter, Zubeida. Zubeida was a famous silent film star and also acted in India's very first "talkie" (a movie with sound), called Alam Ara.

Images for kids

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  Fatma Begum around 1925

See also

In Spanish: Fatma Begum para niños