TRIBUTE TO STUNT QUEEN..FEARLESS NADIA!

 

- Manoj Kulkarni

Yesterday was 110th Birth Anniversary of legendary stunt actress of Indian Cinema..Fearless Nadia!..And today is her 21st Death Anniversary!!

Pretty Mary Ann..Nadia!

She was born in Australia as Mary Ann who came with parents in India during World War I. Here she got training in horse riding & shooting. Latter she learned ballet in Bombay and performed on theatre all over India!

Fearless Nadia's hit films!

After mastered in the art of cartwheels & splits..in 1930 she joined 'Zarko Circus' with the name of (fearless) Nadia! Then she was introduced to cinema by Jamshed 'J.B.H.' Wadia, founder of 'Wadia Movietone'. There he first presented her in film 'Desh Deepak' as a cameo in hand-painted colour sequence..in which her blue eyes & blonde hair impressed!

Homi Wadia & Jamshed Wadia.

Then she appeared on screen as Princess Parizaad in costume-drama 'Noor-e-Yaman'. After it's grand success, considering her skills in stunts..J.B.H.s younger brother director Homi Wadia presented her with such roles in action films like..'Hunterwali'. (1935), 'Miss Frontier Mail' (1936), 'Lutaru Lalana' (1938), 'Diamond Queen' (1940) & 'Jungle Princess' (1942). In all such films stuntman John Cawas was her hero!

Fearless Nadia's 'Khiladi'!

Almost all her films became hits and she became Lady Stunt Star of Indian Cinema! At her 50s she came on screen like James Bond in film 'Khiladi' (1967) which also directed by Homi Wadia whom she married!

In 1993 her grandnephew Riyad Vinci Wadia made documentary on her..'Fearless: The Hunterwali Story'! In 1996 at the age of 88 she left the world!

Homage to her!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

['Chitrasrushti', Pune]