Daring To Be 'Fearless Nadia'

A look at Fearless Nadia, the first woman in Indian cinema to lead action sequences and one of the pioneers of an 'action-film-star'.

Baghdad ka jadu by Homi WadiaUltra Media & Entertainment

Societal norms have often projected women as docile and vulnerable.

Therefore they have not only been kept away from fierce-action but they have also been considered prone to all kinds of dangers and attacks.

Khiladi by Homi WadiaUltra Media & Entertainment

Arguably, there has been a wish and fantasy in the human minds to see the woman in the contrary image: that is, a fighter woman that substitutes the hero.

Diler Daaku by Homi WadiaUltra Media & Entertainment

One of the earliest such version of a fighter woman was played by Fearless Nadia.

Circus QueenUltra Media & Entertainment

Mary Ann Evans, a woman of Australian origin, comes to India in her young age with her father's posting.

Known by her stage name: Fearless Nadia, she grows up learning dance, horse riding and circus skills. 

This woman working in circus gets picked by Wadia Brothers for a film called, 'Hunterwali'. 

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Circus QueenUltra Media & Entertainment

It is evident, that she was no ordinary woman. Being able to command Tigers in a show full of audience, establishes her audacity, her grip and even her showmanship.

Nadia instructing the tiger in a scene from the film, 'Circus Queen'.

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TigressUltra Media & Entertainment

Since then, there has been no looking back for Nadia, as she kept featuring in action roles one after another, she became the first woman to appear in the lead roles in Indian cinema history.

A scene from the film 'Tigress': Nadia making an escape from her enemies. 

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TigressUltra Media & Entertainment

At a time when projection of woman's body gave cinema an immoral connotation in India, Nadia was dominating screen not just among the women but she was also leading among the men. 

Consequently, her films were reported as a box office success.

In this scene, from the film 'Tigress', Nadia is rescuing the poor peasants from the assaults of the greed ridden oligarchs. 

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Circus QueenUltra Media & Entertainment

Cinema as a tool brought engagement and excitement to people by providing a medium to look at the daring action stunts, something which most of the viewers would not live in their own lives.
  
At the top of it, it was of course a lot more stimulating and exciting to see a woman doing these stunts.

Nadia's balancing act from the film, 'Circus Queen'. 

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Baghdad Ka JadooUltra Media & Entertainment

It is interesting to note that even though Indian society at that time didn't approve of a 'virile-woman' but a woman like Nadia was well appreciated on the screen.

Nadia in a hard-fight against her enemies in the film, 'Baghdad ka Jadoo'. 

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KhillariUltra Media & Entertainment

Since these are early action films in the cinema history, they may well have been a pre-cursor to iconic action sequences that came later in Indian cinema.

A dangerous stunt from the film, 'Khilari', at a time when action scenes were not so prevalent. 

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TigressUltra Media & Entertainment

She was not merely donning daring action sequences in her films, but she was also voicing the concerns of a poverty ridden society in her fights.

Nadia revealing that to help the poor from cruel oppressors she took the guise of the savior Tigress. 

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TigressUltra Media & Entertainment

Like famous superheroes, Nadia was not only an ace fighter but she was also a figure bearing the torch of justice and righteousness.

In this scene, Nadia as a sensitive teacher is inspiring her students to bear allegiance to their soil as it germinates and sustains life. 

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Baghdad Ka JadooUltra Media & Entertainment

Hence, it was not just hair-raising stunts that brought Nadia the unprecedented fame, but it was her on-screen tryst to deliver a fight for justice, fairness and sensitivity that turned her into a unique film-icon, who became a precursor to action Heroes in India.

In this scene from the film, Baghdad Ka Jadoo, the disguising spy is revealed to be a woman, played by Fearless Nadia. 

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Credits: Story

Story and curation: Abhishek Kukreja

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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