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Neelo

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Neelo
نیلو
Born
Cynthia Alexander Fernandes

(1940-06-30)30 June 1940[1]
Bhera,Punjab,British India
Died30 January 2021(2021-01-30)(aged 80)
Lahore,Punjab, Pakistan
Other namesThe Queen of Romance[2]
The Princess of Romance[3]
Abida Riaz
OccupationFilmactress
Years active1955 – 2005
Spouse
​
​
(m.1965; died 1972)​
[4]
ChildrenShaan Shahid(son)
AwardsSitara-i-Imtiaz(2022)[5]

Neelo Begum(bornCynthia Alexander Fernandes;néeAbida Riaz;30 June 1940 – 30 January 2021) was aPakistaniveteran film actress. She made her film debut in 1956 with Hollywood filmBhowani Junction.She was known asThe Queen of RomanceandThe Princess of Romancefor her portrayal of romantic roles.[2][3]She worked in more than 134Pakistani filmsincludingUrduandPunjabi languagefilms.[1][6]

She was the recipient of numerous awards, includingNigar Awards,she earned recognition after appearing in a song "Aaye Mausam Rangilay Suhanay" from the filmSaat Lakhand after playing lead role inZarqa.[7]

Early life

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Born into aCatholic family,she adopted a Muslim name, Abida Riaz after marrying a Pakistani filmmaker,Riaz Shahidin 1965.[8]She is the mother of film actorShaan Shahid.[9]

Neelo was born inBhera,British India.[10]She did her primary schooling at Kinnaird High School, Lahore.[9]

Controversies

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In 1965, at the peak of her popularity, she was summoned byNawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan,thenGovernorofWest Pakistan,to dance on stage for theShah of Iranduring his official visit to Pakistan; but she refused to do it for her own reasons. Harassed and threatened, Neelo faced dire consequences for refusing to obey official orders. She was allegedly gang molested and attempted suicide on the way to the Governor's House and was taken to a hospital instead, where the doctors saved her life.[11]

News of the incident generated widespread public backlash against the Nawab. The renowned leftist poetHabib Jalib,on hearing of the incident, expressed his anguish in his poem over her attempted suicide: "Tu kay nawaqif-e-aadab-e-ghulami hae abhi...raqs zanjeer pehan ker bhi kya jata hae" (meaning: "unaware art thou yet of the rites of enslavement...dance can be performed even while enchained".) Later this poem was used in the filmZarqa(1969) with slight changes in the words and ended up becoming a super-hit film song in Pakistan. The film song became much more relevant, effective, and popular because it was picturised on Neelo herself and was based on similar real-life events in Neelo's life. She also won the Best ActressNigar Awardfor filmZarqa(1969). It had superb music by Wajahat Attre and was sung byMehdi Hassan.[11]FilmZarqa(1969) was produced and directed by Riaz Shahid who also wrote its screenplay. Neelo helped her husband,Riaz Shahid,produce this film and it became the box office hit film of her career.[1]

Personal life

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Born Cynthia Alexander Fernandes, Neelo was the only Pakistani actress to feature in a major Hollywood film, "Bhowani Junction," starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, which also marked her film debut. She later entered the Pakistani film industry as an extra, worked her way up to second lead roles, and eventually became a leading lady due to her exceptional talent.

"Zarqa" became Pakistan's first diamond jubilee film and marked the pinnacle of Neelo's career, being hailed as a milestone in Pakistani cinema.

The couple named their first child Zarqa in honor of the film. Riaz Shahid died from blood cancer in October 1972.[11][1]

Illness and death

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She died fromblood canceron 30 January 2021 in Lahore.[4][12]

Filmography

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Tribute and honour

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Actress and modelIqra Azizheld a tribute in her memory on International Women's Day and described her a very fine actress, successful individual, an amazing wife, and a wonderful mother.[17]TheGovernment of Pakistannamed a street and intersection after her inLahoreon August 16, 2021.[18]

Awards and recognition

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Year Award Category Result Title Ref.
1959 Nigar Award Best Supporting Actress Won Koel [1][19]
1963 Nigar Award Best Supporting Actress Won Aman [19]
1969 Nigar Award Best Actress Won Zarqa [19]
1999 Nigar Award Special Millennium Award Won Herself [19]
2022 Sitara-i-Imtiaz Award by thePresident of Pakistan Won Herself [20]

References

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  1. ^abcdefghijklm"Profile of actress Neelo".Cineplot.com website.27 September 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 11 October 2011.Retrieved23 April2022.
  2. ^ab"Neelo: The Defiant Screen Starlet".Youlin Magazine.2 February 2021.
  3. ^ab"Shaan shares adorable pictures with mother Neelo".Daily Times.12 December 2021.
  4. ^ab"Legendary film star Neelo passes away".Images.30 January 2021.Retrieved1 November2021.
  5. ^"Rohail Hyatt receives Hilal-e-Imtiaz, thanks partners in Vital Signs, Coke Studio journey".The Express Tribune.25 March 2022.
  6. ^"Famous Pakistani actor Neelo dies, 'happiest moment' says Bilawal Bhutto on sister's marriage".ThePrint.1 February 2021.Retrieved1 November2021.
  7. ^"Veteran film star Neelo passes away".The Nation.31 January 2021.Retrieved1 November2021.
  8. ^"Neelo - the iconic filmstar of yesteryears".Daily Times.29 May 2019.Retrieved1 November2021.
  9. ^ab"Veteran actress Neelo Begum dies of cancer".Pakistan Today.30 January 2021.Retrieved31 January2021.
  10. ^"IN MEMORIAM: NEELO'S UNCHAINED SPIRIT".Dawn Newspaper.27 February 2022.
  11. ^abcSocialist cinema: Habib Jalib and Riaz Shahid in Neelo's film Zarqa (1969) on Dawn (newspaper)Published 5 November 2014, Retrieved 18 July 2018
  12. ^"Vetreran Pakistani actress Neelo Begum passes away".ARY News.30 January 2021.
  13. ^Gazdar, Mushtaq(1997).Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997.Oxford University Press. p. 246.ISBN0-19-577817-0.
  14. ^Gazdar, Mushtaq(1997).Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997.Oxford University Press. p. 247.ISBN0-19-577817-0.
  15. ^Gazdar, Mushtaq(1997).Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997.Oxford University Press. p. 250.ISBN0-19-577817-0.
  16. ^abGazdar, Mushtaq(1997).Pakistan Cinema, 1947-1997.Oxford University Press. p. 249.ISBN0-19-577817-0.
  17. ^"Iqra Aziz pays tribute to Neelo Begum on Women's Day".Daily Times.17 November 2021.
  18. ^"Lahore streets, intersections to be named after famous personalities".Dawn News.21 September 2021.
  19. ^abcd"Pakistan's" Oscars ": The Nigar Awards".The Hot Spot Film Reviews website.24 November 2017. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2020.Retrieved23 April2022.
  20. ^"126 people to get civil awards for their distinguished work".Dawn Newspaper.2 January 2022.
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