Hijacking Mujras

A few months ago, a video was circulating of a punjabi girl dancing at what seems to be a festival with a few backup dancers. Comments concerning her gyrations, outfit, and overall demeanor showed sentiments that she was either a bawss, a whore, or a hoochie bhangra dancer. I watched the video a few times and didn’t see anything wrong with her dance, aliking her moves to many of the mujras I’ve watched online.  But recently, I started to think more about the word mujra. Growing up, I heard my mother say mujra more times than I could count, mostly when telling us the history behind Umrao Jaan or Pakeezah and Bollywood movies of the same genre. I started to think about how I’m sure my mom would not be throwing that word around to me at the age of 8 if it was followed by her showing me any of the mujras I see online today. So, what happened? What is the origin of the word, and when did it turn?

Unfortunately, I don’t have enough resources to answer that question. All I have is Wikipedia, my knowledge of mujras through Bollywood and my mother, and some YouTube videos.

Wiki has a small entry written by who knows who on the history of mujras. Basically, the wiki entry likens the mujra movement to Japan’s geisha scene. A mujra was a dance performed by tawaiffs (courtesans) that used classical dance passed down generations as a means of professional entertainment. Tawaiffs were taught from a little age how to act, dance, speak, and arouse the mind, body, and soul of a man. Wiki suggests that mujras lost their history in the early 1900s after being abolished by the British as providing safehouses to rebellious citizens.

The disappearance of classical mujras does not explain the emergence of the modern mujra. (and I am so so so sorry for that last link.) There’s still traces of some of the mujra culture that can be seen through Reema‘s famous movie dances, although tact is missing. The closest I’ve seen to a mujra dancer emulating that of Bollywood’s depictions are dances by Megha. She employs the grace, dress, and classical moves that would have been closer to the original mujra form. The only qualm I have with the modern mujra is that it is allowed to be called a mujra, and thus any like dance can be lumped in the same category. What’s missing is the ability of the dancer to take you to where she wants you to look by making you follow her feet, arms, hands, and eyes. Any girl  can make it bounce, but a true woman can make you question your time and space by the movement of her eyes.

I end this post with more questions than answers. When was the word mujra hijacked? When did Bollywood become the only place where a mujra can be appreciated? And more importantly, when can I look up the word “mujra” on YouTube and not be bombarded with the words “hot & sexy”?

Enjoy the Queen of Mujra: Rekha: