RAZIA SULTAN and the art of Bollywood Blackface

[Peter Nepstad]

RAZIA SULTAN is an historical epic, complete with elephants, massive battles, and flame-throwing catapults. It evokes the classic sword and sandal movies of Italy as much as anything, and stars Hema Malini as Razia Sultan, and Dharmendra as her black slave. Parveen Babi also appears, but is wasted in a small role.

Dharmendra plays the role in very distracting and uneven Blackface which gets darker or lighter depending on the scene, and sometimes takes on a positively greenish cast, which along with his kinky hair gives him a bit of a Hulk vibe.

The movie is pretty entertaining nontheless, though it is clear that the print on the Eros Entertainment DVD is worn and missing some scenes.

Thank goodness the recent OMKARA did not take this route with the makeup.

Now I'm wondering if there are other examples of Bollywood Blackface that we can come up with? Surely nothing else in such a central role, but even small moments, for "comedic" effect, or bit characters, or who knows? I'd like to come up with more of these moments that, well, probably those who made the films, they would much prefer to forget.

[BollyPaap]

HULK!  Hilarious - I am going to watch Razia Sultan again with that in mind (thanks for the visual!!  ).  One movie that stands out to me would be Gumnaam, where Mahmood sports the look.  I'll let you know if I think of others...

[Darshana]

Extra jewels in your heavenly crown for those who come up with  screen captures.  I vow to do so within 48 hours for the song Hawa Hawaii from Mr India.  It's an interesting topic on lots of levels. 

Also in the brillliant book on Helen (title: Helen) by Jerry Pinto there's a page or two about some thing she was in where at least one person was in blackface, I'll find it.  That book is so good that I have now slowed myself down reading it as I don't want it to end.  The kind of movie she was in, or her kind of scene, dealt wantonly and often randomly in wacked-out stereotypes of everybody.


I'll also promise to find and quote some of the blackface stuff, it's just a few paragraphs.  Unless somebody else feels like doing it first, I won't mind. 

As far as I know India never made a movie about someone supposed to be an actual African person, where social issues and differences were engaged in any "realistic" way, also as far as I know India, unlike the US, hasn't had major engagement with people from Africa so such stories don't seem to arise.

The only Bollywood Africans I can think of right now are the "African Disco Champions" in the International Ntie of Disco in Disco Dancer - played by people who appear to be actual Africans, but who do not appear to really be disco champions.  But then the French champions in Disco Dancer don't set the bar very high.

[Stephen]

Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini black up for a song number in 'Desh Premee' (1982).

[BollyPaap]

I just thought of another one.  This movie stars Rajendra Kumar in a double role (twin brothers separated at birth, I believe).  The movie is called 'Gaura Aur Kala'; 1972. 

[Darshana]

I.  From the book Helen, by Jerry Pinto - this follows a description of a blackface role Helen has in Bewaqoof, 1960, in a chapter on various kinds of "otherness" Helen portrays in her movies.

 ***  This is probably the only such dance that Helen did.  Blackface was never very popular in Hindi cinema.  When actors disguised themselves, they generally became Muslims, either nawaabs or Arabs, always bearded.  This, along with a bouquet of frightful mannerisms, was seen as sufficient disguise, since the audience had to be kept in the know as well.  The only other instance I can remember of blackface is in Desh Premee (1982), where Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Maliini black it up to penetrate the villain's den in the climax.  However, they must indicate their acceptance of lowered status with lyrics like Gore nahin hum kaale sahi/ Hum naachne gaanewaale sahi . ..  (We're not white, we accept, we're black/It's true, we're mere singers and dancers . . . )  The film flopped and blackface died with it.   ********* Helen, p. 77


II.  The only blackface things I've run into are background dancers: dancing with Sri Devi in the song Hawa Hawaii, from Mr India:

and then in an unidentified movie clip in the documentary Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls (found on the dvd of Bombay Talkie): this is a number I find horrible: it's a nightclub scene, and Helen performs with a man in blackface (black everything) who is dressed as a Roman slave, in a cage.  She taunts him and he goes crazy.  It's exceptionally unwholesome I think.

[filmifan]

As far as I know India never made a movie about someone supposed to be an actual African person, where social issues and differences were engaged in any "realistic" way, also as far as I know India, unlike the US, hasn't had major engagement with people from Africa so such stories don't seem to arise.

there is one way i know in which Africa and India are connected, but in a largely isolated way - the Sidi:

http://www.boloji.com/wfs4/wfs492.htm

The Sidi community lives mostly in Gujarat (in western India), with smaller populations settled in the neighboring state of Maharashtra and the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. There is no accurate census on the number of Sidis in India. According to various publications, there are no more than 20,000 in any one state. Although most Sidis live in villages, many are urban dwellers residing in towns and cities. Some also live in tribal surroundings and villages.

Descendants of African slaves and seamen, the ancestors of the Sidis came to India through sea trade with East Africa and the Gulf around the 12th century. They came from different areas such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and later Zanzibar. The Sidis of Gujarat are Muslims with a strong Sufi tradition. They have to some extent assimilated into the local culture through their dress, food and language, though their dark skin and African features are distinctive. Some have even married outside of their community. But, by and large, they remain marginalized, leading a life of relative obscurity and poverty. In some districts, the government has accorded them the Scheduled Tribe status.

there's also a couple of documentary shorts by Beheroze Shroff that are currently making their way around:

WE'RE INDIAN AND AFRICAN: VOICES OF THE SIDIS This documentary gives voice to the conflicts and dilemmas of an Afro-Indian Sidi community in a village in Gujarat, India. In the green hilly landscape of South Gujarat, as spiritual healers/caretakers at the shrine of their ancestral saint Bava Gor, the Sidis sell flowers and coconuts to devotees and pilgrims and also perform their sacred Goma-Dhammal dance.
VOICES OF THE SIDIS: ANCESTRAL LINKS In this entertaining portrait of an urban Sidi family in Bombay, India the father traces his ancestry to Zanzibar, Africa. Heena the daughter, Babubhai the father and Fatimaben the mother discuss their lives and work and issues of identity as Sidis. In one sequence the father talks about his past work as a stuntman in Bollywood films. Filmmaker Beheroze Shroff has explored issues of diaspora, dislocation and relocation and issues of gender. Her most recent work on the Afro-Indian Sidis is an ongoing project, a series that explores the multi-faceted lives of Sidis in India.

off-topic: Shroff also did a documentary, Sweet Jail: The Sikhs of Yuba City, on the descendents of Sikhs who came to California during the early 1900s, which i wish i could track down to see.

if the Sidi are for the most part acclimated into Indian culture, and watch Hindi films, i especially wonder what they think of any blackface usage...

[andrea]

I actually ran into quite a few African international students while I was in Mumbai, apparently it's quite common for them to come over to study at university.

Another blackened face film, though done much better was 'Izzat' with Dharmendra and Tanuja. He played a double role of two brothers, one legitimate and one illegitimate born from the landlord and a tribal girl (therefore dark). The makeup was MUCH better than in Razia Sultan, possibly because they didn't put as much of it on him.

[filmifan]

was goofing around on YouTube today and found this (from the 70s film Agent Vinod):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn4XUIORJTk

[filmifan]

Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini black up for a song number in 'Desh Premee' (1982).

here's a YouTube link for this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqZZYGAZ0l8

[cheesetikka]

Bollywood Blackface actually has a french Caberet and revue tradition, which used to be called cakewalk.

[shanks]

Also in the brillliant book on Helen (title: Helen) by Jerry Pinto there's a page or two about some thing she was in where at least one person was in blackface, I'll find it.  That book is so good that I have now slowed myself down reading it as I don't want it to end.  The kind of movie she was in, or her kind of scene, dealt wantonly and often randomly in wacked-out stereotypes of everybody.

Darshana, thanks for that. I knew that Jerry had got into journalism (we were in college together - Elphi) but hadn't realised he has taken to decent writing. I must ask my mum if she can get her hands on the book and send it over. Been a long time since I met ol' Jeronimo Pinto! Thanks for the memory.

[Darshana]

Darshana, thanks for that. I knew that Jerry had got into journalism (we were in college together - Elphi) but hadn't realised he has taken to decent writing. I must ask my mum if she can get her hands on the book and send it over. Been a long time since I met ol' Jeronimo Pinto! Thanks for the memory.

Hi Shanks - tried to send you a PM but I guess you haven't gained that privilege yet so will inappropriately and happily "get personal" right here with the family watching (just like in the movies) - to say - I really really love that Jerry Pinto book,  Don't know where you are but I'm sure I ordered it on the Internet, probably through Amazon.  I am in NYC.

Please when you get in touch with him next tell him he has a small (but bigger than just me!!) and intense following among some "foreign" fans.  I think he watched every movie Helen ever made, in any case I know that was his goal.  In his acknowledgements he thanks his sister, with whom he was staying while writing it, for tolerating the unholy racket coming out of his room 24/7. 

[shanks]

Hi Shanks - tried to send you a PM but I guess you haven't gained that privilege yet so will inappropriately and happily "get personal" right here with the family watching (just like in the movies) - to say - I really really love that Jerry Pinto book,  Don't know where you are but I'm sure I ordered it on the Internet, probably through Amazon.  I am in NYC.

Please when you get in touch with him next tell him he has a small (but bigger than just me!!) and intense following among some "foreign" fans.  I think he watched every movie Helen ever made, in any case I know that was his goal.  In his acknowledgements he thanks his sister, with whom he was staying while writing it, for tolerating the unholy racket coming out of his room 24/7. 

Thanks Darshana.

Haven't met Jerry in about 15 years now, and on the occasions when I visit Bombay I rarely have time to try to track down all the old Elphi people. But if, perchance, I happen upon him again, I shall definitely pass on the message.

[nicoletta]

I stumbled upon this movie by chance and I loved it! Although its pace is very slow it is quite compelling, Amrohi certainly knows how to make details significant and how to create "an atmosphere" without falling into kitsch (as SLB often does). I love the song when she sees herself wandering inthe desert from the palace, the use of colour is really magic. I couldn't care less about Dharmendra's make up, i was just wondering WTF were the Turks doing in India, mainly because I thought it was set in late Moghul times - then I checked it up , it is the 13th century! In my next life, when i have more time, I shall investigate further into the matter...

[Prem Rogue]

Promo still from the upcoming Tamil film Kanthaswamy.  I don't know if there is actually such a scene in the film.

[jenni]

Ponderous and theatrically stylized sword and sandal epic. Line delivery was all in the style of speech giving in Hollywood historic epics  .    There is family drama and court intrigue but for the most part found it slow moving and boring.  Elephant and horse battles, some beautiful desert fort sets and an amazing garden with tanks, fountains and exotic greenery and yet, strangely hollow and dull.  If I'd been the bad brother I would probably have resorted to sex and alcohol to cope with all the pompous speech making too  . I found it a bit more interesting when Razia finally becomes the sultan (or should that be sultana?). Music nothing special (IMO) although there was one quite nice and beautifully picturised wedding song.  Bad lip syncing from Dharmendra I seem to recall.  Kind of a relief when it ended really.

[shalini]

I admit that the movie is a bit of a drag, but I love the music of Razia Sultan - the songs have a dreamy, almost surreal, feel to them. 

I think the key failure of the film is that Hema Malini is seriously miscast in the title role.  She certainly has the grace and the regal bearing needed to portray a queen but I think the heavy Urdu/Persian dialogues were too much for her.  Her line delivery and enunciation are atrocious and shatter the illusion of the character she's enacting.

[bharatmaa]

well, this example isn't strictly blackface, but SRK and Juhi Chawla in Phir Bhi dil Hai Hindustani pretending to be "Chinese". You can hear the pair being introduced as "Mr. and Mrs. Hyundai" in this part of the movie.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qPv2tvqsac

edit: added image for instant gratification

[Prem Rogue]

and then in an unidentified movie clip in the documentary Helen, Queen of the Nautch Girls (found on the dvd of Bombay Talkie): this is a number I find horrible: it's a nightclub scene, and Helen performs with a man in blackface (black everything) who is dressed as a Roman slave, in a cage.  She taunts him and he goes crazy.  It's exceptionally unwholesome I think.

That is Aa Jaane Ja from Inteqam. This is one of the more bizarre songs I've seen.

[odadune]

Another case of Bollywood blackface..."I Need You Babe" from Apne Rang Hazaar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLe2IxFi6vo

(mild spoiler warning: this is a key part of the climax of a quasi-thriller, albeit not a very good one.)

[Darshana]

That is Aa Jaane Ja from Inteqam. This is one of the more bizarre songs I've seen.

THanks!! for some reason this is shown in black and white in that Helen documentary where I got the screen cap.  It is amazingly ill!!