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While Esther remained a Jewess to the end, her children have embraced many different faiths – Maurice is Jewish, Akbar, Asghar and Haidar are Muslim, and Naqi has embraced Hinduism. She also became the first major woman film producer in India, with 16 films under her banner Silver Productions. He found strong parallels between his life and the Mughul King Akbar who was known for religious toleration and for his devotion to his Hindu wife Jodhaa. Esther stayed on in Bombay and was signed up to work at Irani’s Imperial Company. Esther and Hassan Ali started their own film production Company called Silver Films 7 in 1942. The Return of the Toofan Mail, however, was never completed. “When she wore the latest designs in a sari or blouse, the styles would become a rage immediately….With her Western sensibilities and features, Pramila represented the Western woman of that time. Esther Victoria Abraham was born in Calcutta on December 30th, 1916. degree, did not stay long in the teaching profession. It is also a story of great religious and cultural mixing.
What people are saying - Write a review. ⓘ Esther Victoria Abraham, better known by her stage name Pramila, was an Indian model, actress and first woman film producer in the Hindi film industry. Pramila’s parents helped her buy a home near Shivaji Park, and the home was called Pramila Vilas, still in the family’s possession. [11] She also designed her own film costumes and jewelry. Memories of the Jewish community in Calcutta, Pramila: Esther Victoria Abraham – A Star Studded Bollywood and Glamour Family in India, 05 Film Personalities and Others in the Public Gaze, Arati Devi (screen name of Rachel Sofaer), Naqui Jaan, Pramila's daughter and Miss India 1967, Solomon Bekhor and Amateur Shakespearean Theater, http://weeklypresspakistan.com/2013/04/7196. Both religions got equal play in our home.” Esther celebrated the festivals and attended the synagogue. I use WIKI 2 every day and almost forgot how the original Wikipedia looks like. At her funeral Maurice recited the scriptures in Hebrew at the Maghen David Synagogue, and Akbar recited the scriptures in Arabic. It was Baburao Pendharkar who gave her the screen name Pramila.
Esther admired her cousin Rose Ezra and her sister Sophie (Romila) who had left Calcutta to join the Bombay film industry. As a young man he became a stand-up comedian and played at the legendary Firpos in Calcutta to quite a lot of acclaim. Esther was very proud of her Jewish identity and registered the ration cards for her children in her name. Syed Hassan Ali became an important star on the Pakistani screen, but his ties to his family in India were tenuous. She is also well known for winning the first Miss India pageant in 1947. Iraqi Jewish food was regularly cooked in her home. Esther Victoria Abraham (30 December 1916 – 6 August 2006), better known by her stage name Pramila, was an Indian model, actress and first woman film producer in the Hindi film industry.wikipedia.
She was a hockey champion and won many trophies in sports. However, this business did not do well either. [9] Pramila acted as a fearless stunt star in 30 films, including Ulti Ganga, Bijli, Basant (film) and Jungle King.
For example, Naqi’s ration card states her name as Naqi Ali Abraham, as do the cards of her other children.
She is also well known for winning the first Miss India pageant in 1947. Esther, attended Calcutta Girls’ High School, but shifted to St James which was a co-educational school at that time, and more reasonable in its fee structure, which was important as the family means declined. [11] She also designed her own film costumes and jewelry. She had three siblings from her father's first marriage to Liya, and six siblings from her own parents' marriage. Esther Victoria Abraham died on 6 August 2006. [1][2] She was the daughter of Reuben Abraham, a businessman from Kolkata, and Matilda Isaac, from Karachi. Esther died five months short of her ninetieth birthday - soon after she played the role of a grandmother in Amol Palekar’s Thang (Quest). Pramila: Esther Victoria Abraham- The First woman to be crowned Miss India “My husband asked me to choose between him and the theatre.