Chennai: Google today remembered iconic actress and dancer Zohra Segal who is India’s first female actors to get recognition globally.
The special doodle has her animated picture in a classical dance posture with floral background. The special doodle on Zohra Segal is designed by artist Parvati Pillai.
“Today’s Doodle, illustrated by guest artist Parvati Pillai, celebrates iconic Indian actress and dancer Zohra Segal, one of the country’s first female actors to truly achieve recognition on the international stage. Among Segal’s notable early work was a role in the film “Neecha Nagar“ (“Lowly City”), which was released on this day in 1946 at the Cannes Film Festival. Widely considered Indian cinema’s first international critical success, “Neecha Nagar” won the festival’s highest honor: the Palme d’Or prize,” the Google Doodle blog said.
Segal was born on April 27, 1912 in Saharanpur, in what is now Uttar Pradesh. She learnt ballet in a prestigious school in Dresden, Germany when she was in her early 20s. She later toured internationally with Indian dance pioneer Uday Shankar.
Years later in 1945, Segal joined the Indian People’s Theatre Association and took to acting. Some of her famous films included Neecha Nagar (Lowly City), which was released on this day in 1946 at the Cannes Film Festival. The film won the festival’s highest honour, the Palme d’Or prize.