Nirmala Devi (7 June 1927 15 June 1996) also known as Dulari, was an Indian actress in the 1940s and a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana.

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...

actor

Govinda Govinda (, ), also rendered Govind, Gobinda, and Gobind, is an epithet of Vishnu and his avatars, such as Krishna. The name appears as the 187th and the 539th name of Vishnu in the ''Vishnu Sahasranama''. The name is also popularly addressed to ...

is her son. In January 2025, Nirmala Devi was honored with the

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by the

Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...

Personal life

Nirmala Devi was born as Nazim on 7 June 1927, in

Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

(then known as Banares),

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

, in a

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

family. Actress

Kumkum Kumkuma is a powder used for social and religious markings in India. It is made from turmeric or any other local materials. The turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder into a red color. In ...

was her half-sister. In 1942, a 15 year-old Nazim converted to

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

, adopted the name Nirmala Devi, and married actor

Arun Kumar Ahuja Arun Kumar Ahuja (born Gulshan Singh Ahuja; 17 January 1917 – 3 July 1998), popularly known as Aroon, was an Indian actor and producer who was active in Hindi cinema in the 1940s and early 1950s, appearing in over 30 films in both leading and ...

. They went on to have five children: three daughters and two sons, including actor

and film director Kirti Kumar. Nirmala took to acting during the period of her betrothal and her first film to be released was '' Savera'' (1942), with husband Arun Kumar Ahuja as co-star.

Death

Nirmala Devi died on 15 June 1996, at the age of 69, in Mumbai.

Playback singer

Credited as Nirmala * ''Savera'' (1942) * ''Sharda'' * ''Kanoon'' * ''Geet'' * ''

Gaali ''Gaali'' is a Bollywood film. It was released in 1944. A social film, its theme dealt with injustice to women. The music was by Sajjad Hussain with lyrics by Pandit Indra. It starred Karan Dewan, Nirmala, Manjula, and Yakub. Cast The cast ...

'' (1944) * ''Sehra'' * ''Janamashtami'' Credited as Nirmala Devi * ''

Ram Teri Ganga Maili ''Ram Teri Ganga Maili'' () is a 1985 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film co-written and directed by Raj Kapoor. The film stars Rajiv Kapoor and Mandakini (actress), Mandakini. The music was composed by Ravindra Jain. It was the last film ...

'' (1985) * '' Bawarchi'' (1972) * ''Zara Bachke'' (1959) * ''Shama Parwana'' (1954)

Soundtrack

* '' Bawarchi'' (1972) – one of the performers on the track "Bhor Aai Gaya Andhiyara"

Filmography

Credited as Nirmala * '' Savera'' (1942) * ''Sharda'' * ''Kanoon'' *'' Geet'' * ''

'' (1944) *'' Chalis Karod'' (1946) * ''Sehra'' * ''Janamashtami'' * ''

Anmol Ratan ''Anmol Rattan'' (Rare Jewel) is 1950 Bollywood drama film directed by M. Sadiq. The film was produced by Jaimani Dewan for his Dewan Productions banner, with music composed by Vinod ER, Vinod. The film starred Karan Dewan, who was known as a ...

'' (1950)

Music albums

Genre: Hindustani Classical / Music Label:

His Master's Voice His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...

Singles: * ''Banaa Banaa Ke Tamanaa & Gham Ki Nishani'' (Ghazal) * ''Jaadu Bhare Tore Nainava Ram & Mori Baali Umar Beeti Jaye'' (Thumri) Full Albums: * ''Saavan Beetaa Jaye'' (Thumri) (With Ms Laxmi Shankar, contemporary singer) * ''Weekend Pleasure'' (Thumri) * ''Thumriyan by Nirmala Devi'' (Thumri) * ''Laakhon Ke Bol Sahe'' (Thumri) * ''Ghazals by Nirmala Devi'' (Ghazal)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devi, Nirmala 1927 births 1996 deaths Hindustani singers Indian film actresses Place of birth missing 20th-century Indian singers Singers from Uttar Pradesh Women Hindustani musicians 20th-century Indian women singers Women musicians from Uttar Pradesh Actresses from Uttar Pradesh Indian women classical singers 20th-century Indian actresses Actresses in Hindi cinema 20th-century Khyal singers Converts to Hinduism from Islam Indian former Muslims Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts