In her Marathi autobiography Zimma (2012), noted theatre director Vijaya Mehta shares a vivid memory. When Mehta was preparing to direct Anil Barve’s play Hamidabaichi Kothi, she struggled to envision the body image of the courtesan, the title character, Hamidabai. Her mother-in-law, the esteemed actress Durga Khote, suggested that she visit Neelam Bai, a courtesan who had moved to Bombay around the time Durga Khote began her film career.
Neelam Bai lived in a three-story building named Neelam Manzil, located near the Gomant Dham building of the Goa Hindu Association. She was a close friend of the legendary singer Begum Akhtar. During their meeting, Neelam Bai, adorned with more than a dozen gold bangles, revealed to Mehta the significance behind them.
“Begum is my friend,” she said. “Whenever she came to Bombay, she stayed with me. I wear these gold bangles because of her. I used to wear diamond-studded ones before. But after I heard Begum sing in Mumbai—what a singer, what a voice—I was restless. I went to the dargah and promised Wali Baba that until my singing reached somewhere near hers, I would not wear those diamond bangles. They remain locked away. Begum never gave me the chance to use them.”
Begum Akhtar, Vijaya Mehta, and the resident of Neelam Manzil, Grant Road
