Who Was Indian Cinema's First Item Dancer? You Might Be Surprised, It's Not Helen!
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Beyond Helen: Unveiling Indian Cinema's First Item Dancer, Madam Ajurie
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News18•02-03-2026, 10:48
Beyond Helen: Unveiling Indian Cinema's First Item Dancer, Madam Ajurie
•Madam Ajurie, not Helen, was Indian cinema's first item dancer, performing in the 1936 Bengali film 'Sonar Sansar'.
•Ajurie's dance in 'Sonar Sansar' was considered bold and unique, laying the foundation for item songs in Indian cinema.
•Cuckoo Moray, an Anglo-Indian sensation, popularized foreign dancing styles in the 1940s, earning more than many lead stars.
•Helen revolutionized item dance from 1958 to the 1980s, establishing it as a respectable art form with her unique blend of styles.
•From Bindu and Aruna Irani to Madhuri Dixit, Malaika Arora, and Nora Fatehi, item songs have evolved into a multi-crore business, redefining entertainment.
