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Young Manorama, 1945


Manorama in Mujhe Jeene Do (1963). Probably the most famous eyebrows in Indian Cinema. Her arched eyebrows and puffed, caked cheeks from 'Seeta aur Geeta' are things of legend.

Manorama was half-Irish and her real name was Erin Isaac Daniel. She started working in films in 1920s and appeared on screen regularly right till 1980s. In the 90s she did a cameo in Mahesh Bhaty's Junoon (1992) and in 2005 she had a small role in Deepa Mehta’s Water. Thus she had a release in every decade starting  1920s and ending with 2010. A no small feat. Manorama passed away on 15 February 2008.


Manorama in a photograph published in year 1945 in Telugu film journal Roopavani. Found it in the archives of Centre for the Study of Culture and Society
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Comments

  1. ekta khetanNov 17, 2009, 11:43:00 PM

    Hey I saw ur blog being featured on labnol and now I know hy…good work…I loved manorama nad her lovely eye brows. Oh they were so kind.

    Seeta aur geeta immortalized her or she immortalized it? I guess the latter, the better.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vinayak RazdanNov 18, 2009, 1:38:00 AM

    I did realize that suddenly (raising eyebrows real high) a lot of people are visiting me via labnol directory but didn't realize it because my blog was the feature. So thanks for pointing out!

    And indeed Manorama was a critical ingredient in Seeta aur Geeta.

    ReplyDelete
  3. bollywooddeewanaNov 24, 2009, 11:50:00 PM

    Thanks for this write up on MANORAMA, WHO HNEW SHE WAS HALF iRISH (BAHUT SHUKRIYA FOR THaT INFO) and indeed like the first comment she's one of the spectacular personalities that made Seeta aur Geeta what it is

    ReplyDelete
  4. Vinayak RazdanNov 25, 2009, 12:43:00 AM

    I think talk about her Irish origin first started while she was working in Deepa Mehta’s Water. Deepa Mehta mentions it in her book on the film.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AshiMay 15, 2011, 11:09:00 AM

    A true Legend and unfort almost forgotten, but we will cherish her for as long as we can !

    ReplyDelete

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