What is "tawaif"

A tawaif also Kanjri or Kanjari was a courtesan who catered to the nobility of India, particularly during the Mughal era. The tawaifs excelled in and contributed to music, dance ( mujra), theatre, and the Urdu literary tradition, and were considered an authority on etiquette. Tawaifs were largely a North Indian institution that became prominent during the weakening of the Mughal rule in the mid-18th century.

Tawaif is a Bollywood movie released in 1985. It was produced by R.C. Kumar and directed by B. R. Chopra.