Uttam Kumar's Khelaghar has appeal even today.

Uttam Kumar’s Khelaghar has appeal even today.

Mahanayak Uttam Kumar gave a brilliant performance in Ajoy Kar’s film Khelaghar released in early 60s. Ajoy Kar always considered Uttam Kumar as his model in most of the films including the greatest hits of all times, Harano Sur and Saptapadi. Uttam Kumar’s appeal had not died out even today after 29 years of his death. That is the reason Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee renamed Tollygunge Metro Station as Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Metro Station in the recent past to show homage to the greatest superstar of all times.

In Khelaghar, Uttam Kumar surrendered before Kolkata Police after being involved in anti-national activities. He was a freedom fighter. He ran out of the prison and entered the room of Mala Sinha, tied her up and by wearing the clothes of Mala Sinha’s father Chabi Biswas escaped.

The entire film was related to the efforts made by the Kolkata Police to arrest Uttam Kumar. In the meantime Mala Sinha did not want to marry the person selected by Chabi Biswas. So she left her house and took Uttam Kumar’s help to escape from the hands of local gundas.

The relationship developed into affection. Rafi sung for Asitboron in the film while Hemant Kumar sang songs for Uttam Kumar. At the end of the film, the actual freedom fighter for whom Uttam Kumar surrendered before the police appeared in Court and disclosed the truth. Uttam Kumar was a musician who had love for his country, so guarded the freedom fighter. Uttam Kumar was send to two years imprisonment for false personification under section 419 of the Indian Penal Code.

There were very few performers in the film including Chabi Biswas, Uttam Kumar and Mala Sinha. So these few characters Ajoy Kar, the giant director managed to deliver a hit film for the audience. The story still has relevance and Uttam Kumar’s appeal in the film had not died out. The film should be restored and preserved.

Happy birthday to Mala Sinha.

Happy birthday to Mala Sinha.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to Mala Singh on 11th November, 2009. She had been a legendary actress of bollywood films and contributed in both bollywood films and Bengali films for more than 40 years.

In the 50s, Mala Sinha had acted in classic films like Parvarish, Phir Subah Hogi opposite Raj Kapoor. These films became immortal for their unforgettable songs like “anshu bhari hai”, “woh subah kabhi to ayegi”, etc. Mala Sinha was sublime opposite Dev Anand in the film Love Marriage. The music of the film composed by Shankar Jaikishan was equally grand. The hit songs included “dheere dheere chal”, “kahan ja rahete”, etc.

Mala Sinha contributed well in Guru Dutt’s classic film Pyaasa. The romantic andaz displayed by Mala Sinha was very significant in the film in the songs “hum aapke aankho me”, sung by Rafi and Geeta Dutt. Mala Sinha continued her dream run in the 60s by performing in historical films like Jahanara opposite Bharat Bhushan. The film was a musical block buster. The songs “baad muddar key eh ghari aye”, “kisi ki yaad me”, etc., composed by Madan Mohan created history. The biggest achievement of Mala Sinha lies in sustaining in bollywood industry amidst high competition from other leading actresses like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Vaijayantimala, etc.

Mala Sinha also acted with the next generation of actors like Rajender Kumar and Dharmender. Her successful films opposite Rajender Kumar included Dhool Ka Phool, Lalkar and Geet. Her successful films opposite Dharmender included Ankhen, Neela Akash, etc. which did great business. She did very well in films opposite Biswajeet like Night in London and Shammi Kapoor in Dil Tera Diwana.

Mala Sinha played a very long innings in Bengali films as well. Her successful films opposite Uttam Kumar included Khelaghar, Shaharer Itikatha, Bandhu, Putrabadhu, Saathihara, to name a few. Her other notable films include Dhuli, Abhaya Srikanto, etc.

She even featured in modern films in the 90s like Khel where she had played character roles opposite Madhuri Dixit. The viewers expect her to continue in character roles in films in future.

Contribution of Geeta Dutt in Bengali films.

Contribution of Geeta Dutt in Bengali films.

Geeta Dutt was probably the most successful playback singer of bollywood films after Lata Mangeshkar in the 50s and 60s. She had sung for all the leading singers of the period including Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Wahida Rehman and others.

Geeta Dutt was extremely successful in Bengali films as well. Her song “tumi je amar” sung in the film Harano Sur for Suchitra Sen became the greatest hit of the 50s. The song was played in Uttam Kumar’s film Harano Sur a number of times by the director Ajoy Kar and was used to bring back the memory of Uttam Kumar who lost it in an accident.

Geeta Dutt’s songs “ogo shundara”, “jhanak jhanak madhur badhon baaje” and “nir choto khoti nei” composed by Nochiketa Ghosh and picturised on Suchitra Sen in the film Indrani stormed the bollywood viewers in 1958. The film became super hit and songs became timeless hits.

Suchitra Sen and Geeta Dutt combination again struck gold in the film Hospital. The song “ei shundor sharnali shondhay” became super hit in the film. Very Geeta Dutt suited Suchitra Sen as well as Sandhya Mukherjee’s voice. Both Geeta Dutt and Sandhya Mukherjee used to be considered the most popular singers of the golden age, the 50s and 60s.

Geeta Dutt’s other hit songs in Bengali films include “amar duti chokhe” and “ei mayabi tithi” sung in Uttam Kumar’s film Sonar Horin. The songs were picturised on the actress Namita Sinha. Geeta Dutt’s song “kacher chirir chotay” composed by Sudhin Dasgupta and picturised on Sabitri Chatterji became super hit in 1958. It was song in Agragami’s epic film Dakharkara where Kali Banerjee played the role of his life.

Geeta Dutt sang many memorable hit songs for Mala Sinha in Bengali films. One of such songs included “nishi raat banka chaand akashe” in Uttam Kumar’s film Prithibi Amare Chay. The other song include “banshi bujhi shei sure aar baajbe na” sung in the film Sathi Hara with Mala Sinha and Uttam Kumar.

The other films where Geeta Dutt made significant contribution included Lukochuri, Modhyorater Tara, etc. Geeta Dutt’s songs should be preserved and restored.