Women's Day Special: Fatma Begum, India's first female director, who broke every barrier in Bollywood

Women's Day Special: Whenever women directors are talked about in the history of Indian cinema, Fatma Begum's name is taken first. Born in an Urdu-speaking Muslim family in 1892, Fatma Begum not only became India's first female film director, but also established her own identity in a male-dominated industry. Her courage and foresight not only gave a new direction to Indian cinema, but also paved the way for women filmmakers of future generations.

Fatima Begum started her career with theatre and made her own identity in the world of acting. She challenged the traditional thinking of the society and entered the field of film production. By establishing her own production company 'Fatima Films' in 1926, she proved that women can create history not only on screen but also behind the camera.

Journey from theatre to cinema

Fatma Begum, who was interested in art since childhood, started her acting career in Urdu theatre. At that time, acting for women was not acceptable in society, but she broke these stereotypes and proved her talent. Although there were many speculations about her personal life, she never let her career get affected by it.

Strong presence in movies

Fatma Begum started her film career in 1922 with 'Veer Abhimanyu', which was directed by Ardeshir Irani. In an era when men used to play women's roles, Fatma Begum established herself on the basis of her talent. In 1924, she made her strong presence felt in the film industry by working in films like 'Sati Sardaba', 'Prithvi Vallabh', 'Kala Nag' and 'Gul-e-Bakawali'.

The pride of India's first woman director

In 1926, Fatima Begum earned the distinction of becoming India's first female director by founding 'Fatima Films'. The production company was later renamed 'Victoria-Fatima Films'. Her first directorial venture 'Bulbul-e-Paristan' proved to be a huge hit. Though unfortunately no print of the film is available now, it became an inspiration for fantasy genre films in Indian cinema.

An example of women empowerment

Fatma Begum created strong female roles in cinema, which was rare in those times. By directing films like 'Goddess of Love' (1927) and 'Shakuntala' (1929), she proved that women were not just symbols of beauty on screen, but also deserved strong characters. Although her studio closed in 1929 due to legal problems, her legacy continues to this day.

Fatma Begum's legacy remains immortal

Fatma Begum's daughter Zubeida, like her mother, also played an important role in Indian cinema and acted in India's first talking film 'Alam Ara' (1931). Fatma Begum died in 1983 at the age of 91, but her contribution to Indian cinema will always be remembered. She was not just a director but also a symbol of women empowerment.