Dilip Kumar, Ram Aur Shyam and Trend-setting in double roles.

Dilip Kumar, Ram Aur Shyam and Trend-setting in double roles.

Dilip Kumar played his first double role in bollywood film Ram Aur Shyam. In the late 60s, Dilip Kumar’s performance created a landmark trend which was followed in other bollywood films later on.

Chanakya, the director of Ram Aur Shyam, gave two contrasting characters to Dilip Kumar, one being a docile character, the other one being a smart character. While Ram was savagely beaten by Pran, the brother in law of Dilip Kumar, Shyam took revenge and taught Pran a lesson.

Both the Dilip Kumar’s were emotionally involved with Mumtaz and Wahida Rehman. While the tragic andaz and comedy andaz of Dilip Kumar mesmerized the viewers in the film, the romantic sequences in the film created storms as for the first time shooting was done in Kodaikanal in South India. Rafi’s songs “aye hai baharen dekho zulmo sitam”, “aaj ki raat mere” composed by Naushad, written by Sahir Ludhiyanvi and picturized on Rafi created landmark in bollywood history. All the songs of the film became super hit.

After the success of Ram Aur Shyam, most of the directors were provoked to make films with the same formula. Seeta Aur Geeta in early 70s became super hit with the same formula, Chaalbaaz in the mid-80s did great business with the same formula, and Kishen Kanhaiya in the early 90s did fantastic business. Hema Malini, Sri Devi and Anil Kapoor played the double roles like Dilip Kumar in Ram Aur Shyam.

Dilip Kumar had remained a trend-setter in respect of tragic performances which other actors like Manoj Kumar, Rajender Kumar and Shahrukh Khan had followed. Even if they did not imitate Dilip Kumar, they were influenced by Dilip Kumar. Even character actor Kader Khan was influenced with Dilip Kumar’s style of acting. In respect of type of films where Dilip Kumar played the lead roles, the films had remained trend-setter.
Dilip Kumar’s Devdas had been remade a number of time, and whoever played the role of Devdas, they could not resist themselves from following few expressions of Dilip Kumar. Same is the case of Ram Aur Shyam. In the history of bollywood films, the first film which entertained the viewers with double roles of contrasting characters was Ram Aur Shyam and the film had not lost its appeal even today, after 40 years of its date of release. The film and the music should be restored.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday.

The nation remembers Guru Dutt on his birthday on 9th July, 2009. He had died more than 40 years ago, yet his reference comes whenever history relating to thoughtful films is revisited. Guru Dutt was innovative as a director and from the time he created Baazi with Dev Anand in 1951, he showed his spark. As an actor his films Aarpar with Shyama gave a new team in bollywood films with OP Nayyar, Rafi, Geeta Dutt, Johny Walker and others. The song in the “kabhi aar kabhi paar” became super hit.

From that time onwards Guru Dutt created his identity in picturising song sequences and was regarded by the film community after Raj Kapoor. In CID, all the songs of the film like “ay dil mushkil jeena yahan”, “ankhon hi ankho me ishara ho gaya”, “leke pehla pehla pyar” became super hit. Johnny Walker became a leading comedian in the 50s, due to his brilliant relationship with Guru Dutt and Mohammad Rafi and their combination gave numerous hits for the next ten years.

Mr and Mrs 55 was Guru Dutt’s super hit project opposite Madhubala. All the songs in the film became successful including “thandi hawa kali ghata”, “jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji”, etc. Rafi’s songs for Johnny Walker and Guru Dutt like “sun sun sun sun zalima”, “muhobbat karlo aji karlo”, “dil pe kiya aisa jadu” remained everlasting hits and still is considered as some of the most innovative creations of OP Nayyar. The songs of the film 12 O Clock were also hit including “mai kho gaya” sung by Rafi.

From 1957, the viewers saw thoughtful Guru Dutt in films like Pyaasa and Kagaz Ka Phool. Both the films were based on eternal truth. Pyasa was related to recognition of a poet in a materialistic world. Kagaz Ka Phool was related to story of directors and performers in celluloid, their rise and their fall due to ungratefulness of opportunists in society. The music composed by SD Burman in both these films were of high standard. Also the lyrics of Sahir Ludhiyanvi were very meaningful. The notable songs included “yeh mahalon yeh takhton yeh tajon ki duniya”, “sar jo tera”, “bichar gaya bari bari” sung by Rafi, “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” sung by Geeta Dutt, to name a few.

Guru Dutt and Wahida Rehman’s onscreen chemistry was accepted by viewers in the film Chaudavi Ka Chand. The title song “chaudavi ka chand ho, ya aaftab ho” sung by Rafi and composed by Ravi can be considered as one of the ten best ghazals composed in the history of bollywood music. Guru Dutt bought colour in the song sequence. The film did great business. Guru Dutt as an actor did great job in films like Bharosa, Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam, Saanz Aur Sawera, etc. His early demise in the mid-60s led to huge loss in the film industry as his works were filled with deep thoughts. The viewers pay respect to the departed soul on his birthday and want the restoration of his works to acknowledge his creativity as a director, producer and actor.

Happy birthday to Wahida Rehman.

Happy birthday to Wahida Rehman.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to legendary actress Wahida Rehman on 3rd February, 2009. She had played a very long innings in bollywood films right from the 50s till today.

In the mid-50s, she cemented her position in bollywood films after giving hits after hits in Guru Dutt’s films. In CID, which was produced by Guru Dutt, she played the role of a seductive character who ultimately led to unfolding of truth relating to murder mystery. She acted opposite Dev Anand and balanced him with her powerful performance. In Pyasa, she played the role of a tawaif who gave shelter to Guru Dutt, an eminent poet in the film. The legendary pair was created in that film and songs like “jane kya” sung Geeta Dutt, “yeh mahalon yeh takhton” sung Rafi became evergreen hits.

Although Kagaz Ka Phool did not do well in the box-office, both Guru Dutt and Wahida Rehman received critical acclamation for their powerful performances in the film. Again hit songs like “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” sung by Geeta Dutt and “bichar gaya bari bari” sung by Rafi and composed by SD Burman became landmark songs of the period.

Chaudavi Ka Chaand, marked the most successful film depicting the romantic association of Wahida Rehman and Guru Dutt. Rafi’s song “chaudavi ka chaand” composed by Ravi was dedicated towards Wahida Rehman. The muslim pardanashin community was well depicted by Wahida Rehman in the film. She again did well in the film Saheb Bibi Aur Ghulam opposite Meena Kumari and Guru Dutt. It was an adaptation of Uttam Kumar’s legendary Bengali film Saheb Bibi Ghulam directed by Karthik Chatterji.

All time great director Satyajit Ray experimented with Wahida Rehman in the role of a rural woman in the film Abhijan in the early 60s. Wahida Rehman’s broken Bengali having hindi accent attracted the attention of the intellectual viewers. In the 60s she transformed herself into a glamorous heroine.

Her second innings included hit films opposite Raj Kapoor like Ek Dil Sau Afsana, Teesri Kasam, superhit films opposite Dev Anand like Guide, Prem Pujari, and everlasting films opposite Dilip Kumar like Ram Aur Shyam, Aadmi, Dil Diya Dard Liya, to name a few.

The songs in these films composed by Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, SD Burmna, etc. created history. Wahida Rehman’s dancing skills were also exhibited in these films.

She was even sublime in films like Mujhe Jeene Do, Reshma Aur Shera, opposite Sunil Dutt, Bees Saal Baad, opposite Biswajeet, Neel Kamal opposite Raj Kumar, Dharti opposite Rajender Kumar, Patthar Ke Sanam opposite Manoj Kumar, to name a few.

Articles after articles can be devoted to the legendary actress who had same box-office popularity like that of legendary star Meena Kumari and Madhubala. Directors like Asit Sen experimented with her in the film Khamoshi, Gulzar experimented with her in the film Namkeen, Yash Chopra experimented with her in the film Kabhi Kabhi.

Viewers had seen her character acting in films like Mashal opposite Dilip Kumar in the 80s to Dilli 6, that was released in 2009. Increase in age had increased her variety of performance and she has been growing old gracefully. The viewers expect her to continue the monumental performances that she had been giving for the last 60 years. Viewers pay respect and regard to the living legend.

Review of Dilli 6.

Review of the film Dilli 6.

Abhishek Bacchan is back with a bang in the film Dilli 6. Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra had directed the film. The major actors and actresses who had contributed in the film include Om Puri, Sonam Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Wahida Rehman, Divya Dutta and Atul Kulkarni.

Rakesh Mehra had impressed the viewers with his brilliant in films like Aks and Rang De Basanti in the past. In fact Amir Khan, the perfectionist had created a different dimension for Rang De Basanti with his dynamic performance. With that background Rakesh Mehra had done a notable experiment in the film Dilli 6.

In this film Abhishek Bacchan, who was an Indian who had settled in US brought his sick grandmother back to India. He brought her to New Delhi. The story had highlighted the life of people around the Chandni Chowk area of New Delhi. It falls within old Delhi, and as the pincode of the area was 110006, the people of that area used to call the place Dilli 6. That is how the name of the film had been derived.

Abhishek Bacchan realized within a short time that he had taken a wrong decision in terms of bringing her grandmother back to Old Delhi for her recovery. Instead of recovering she got entangled in a number of urbanized problems. Most of the problems were related to religion, popular beliefs, ideologies, etc.

The treatment of Rakesh Mehra had been excellent in the film. The strong script of the film had been given expression by brilliant performance of Om Puri. Om Puri, a veteran actor who had performed in more than 300 films still got motivation to do something new, even after playing every type of role that was possible in the career of an actor.

Sonam Kapur once again did a great job. She had been brilliant in Sawariya and had shown in this film that if good scripts are given she can provide adequate expression. Wahida Rehman and Rishi Kapoor were brilliant as ever. Divya Dutta and Atul Kulkarni also did a decent job.

The biggest gift for the audience had been given by AR Rehman in terms of the music that was composed for the film Dilli 6. He had been a sensation during the last few years, specially after amusing international audience with his brilliant music in Anil Kapoor’s film Slumdog Millionaire which even received Golden Globe Award. All the songs in Dilli-6 were impressive including “mashak kali”.

The film has all the prospects of becoming a dashing hit and the first blockbuster of 2009. Viewers should watch the film.