Sultana (10 February 1910 - 19 September 1990), also known as Sultana Razzaq, was one of the earliest film actresses from India who acted both in silent films and later in sound films. She was one of the most popular actress during 1920s, 1930s and 1940s in Indian Cinema in both silent films and later in the talkies. She was the daughter of India's first female film director, Fatma Begum. She was the elder sister of Zubeida a leading actress of India's first talkie film Alam Ara in 1931.
Early life Born in 1910 at Surat city of Gujarat in western British India, Sultana was the daughter of Nawab Sidi Ibrahim Muhammad Yakut Khan III of Sachin State and Fatma Begum. She had two sisters, Zubeida and Shehzadi, both actresses. She was among the few girls who entered films at a tender age during a time when it was not considered an appropriate profession for girls from respectable families.Nazir, Asjad. "Lighting Up the Big Screen."Eastern Eye, 26 July 2013, pp. 21-33. ProQuest.
Career Sultana was a popular actress in the silent movie era, usually cast in romantic roles. She started her career as actress in film Veer Abhimanyu (1922) and later performed in several silent films. Later, she also acted in talkie movies. When India was partitioned in 1947, she migrated to Pakistan with her husband, a wealthy man named Seth Razzaq. Her daughter, Jamila Razzaq, also became an actress with her encouragement. She produced a film in Pakistan, named Hum Ek Hain (1961), written by famous scriptwriter, Fayyaz Hashmi. The film was partly shot in colour, which was rare those days, but it failed miserably and Sultana stopped producing any films afterwards but later the film became popular among the audience the film received critical acclaim for its script and performances. Its reputation has shifted over the following years, and many critics now consider the film to be a masterpiece and one of the best films of the 1960s.
She continued to remain active and worked as a producer in some films and then as her daughter's dress-designer when Jamila started working in films.
Personal life She married businessman Seth Razzaq and together they had a daughter named Jamila, a popular actress during 1950s and 1960s in the cinema of Pakistan. Jamila married the well known Pakistani cricketer Waqar Hasan, who is the brother of filmmaker Iqbal Shehzad. He runs a business under the name National Foods at Karachi.
Death Sultana died in 1990 at her family's home in Karachi, Pakistan and was laid to rest in a Karachi graveyard.
Filmography Silent Movies + Year Title Producer Role Notes 1922 Veer Abhimaniyu Star Films Uttari Debut Movie 1924 Gul Bakavali Kohinoor & Imperial Kalyan Khajina Kohinoor & Imperial A Fair Maiden Kala Naag Kohinoor & Imperial Manorama Kohinoor & Imperial Prithvi Vallabh Ashoka Pictures Jakkala Devi Sati Sardarba Saraswati Film Company 1925 Indra Sabha Kohinoor & Imperial 1926 Bulbul-e-Paristan Fatma Films Company 1927 Balidan Orient Pictures Corporation 1928 Chandravali Victoria Fatima Film Company 1929 Kanak Tara Fatima Film Company Young India Indulal Yagnik 1930 Brand Of Fate Imperial Film Company Glory Of India Ranjit Film Company Revence Imperial Film Company The Comet Surya F. Co. 1931 Wages of Sin Sharda Mysore Pictures Corporation
Talkie Movies + Year Title Producer Role Notes 1931 Milkmaid Ranjit Film Company First Indian Talkie Movie of Sultana Kamar-Al-Zaman Imperial Film Company Maimoonah 1932 Balwant Bhatt Balwant Bhatt 1933 Intekam Amar Mullick Shan-e-Subhan Brahma Film Company 1934 Afghan Abla Kumar M. Amirzadi Kumar M. Saubhagya Laxmi Kumar M. 1935 Behan Ka Prem Prosperity Films Bidrohee East India Film Company Kamroo Desh Ki Kamini Kumar M. Maut Ka Toofan All India Movie Step Mother East India Film Company 1936 Hoor-E-Samundar Vishnu Cine Sagar Ki Kanya Vijay Pictures Devdas Pramathesh Barua Parvati 1938 Talwar Ka Dhani 1939 Indramalati 1940 Usha Haran Popular Pictures 1949 Girdhar Gopal Ki Mira
Producer + Year Title Notes 1961 Hum Ek Hain Pakistani Movie
References
External links Sultana brief biography List of films