Mere hamraah bhi rushwaiyaan hai mere maazi ki
Tumhare saath guzre hue yaadon ke saaye hain….
(From Chalo Ikbaar Phir Se…)
Dear Sunil Saab,
I heard the news last night… and I could not believe my ears… Mother India has lost one of its most popular and least controversial sons…. A Great loss indeed.
In the following few lines, I will try to pass on my few words as your obituary…
Even today, when we talk of Sunil Dutt, we immediately see the Birju of Mother India… a rebel, full of vengeance, icon of the downtrodden or we see the Bhola of Padoshan… happy, innocent, smilling and full of youthful energy. This goes a long way to tell how versatile you were.
Film Career
Balraj Dutt, as you were know in your early days, you grew up to be one of the biggest icons the industry has seen. It may not be known to many that you started as a host for All India Radio doing celebrity interviews… where your would be wife Nargis was one of the first celebrities to be interviewed.
Your debut film – Railway Platform (1955) was known as a Nalini Jayawant film, and why not? She was a celebrity star that time. Probably it was Ek Hi Raasta (1956) that saw the making of not only Sunil Dutt, but also the great association with BR Chopra, which saw as many as seven memorable films. Interestingly enough, this short cameo role in Ek Hi Raasta was good enough to prove your mantle.
1957 saw the release of Mother India…. Probably the turning point of Indian cinema. Anyone who has seen the movie, can never forget the rage, the anger, the fury emoted by you in the film. Probably this image carried very long and you were offered several movies as a dacoit later on. Till date we have not seen another star getting as popular as you were in such roles.
Soon after Mother India you married Nargis… the Doyen of Indian cinema. Your career was growing slow and steady with movies like Sadhna, Sujata and Mein Chup Rahungi. With these movies, established movie makers like Bimal Roy, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and BR Chopra defied the popular opinion and casted you in different roles in movies such as Sujata, Chhaya and Sadhna respectively.
Your ventures as a producer were received with equal applause with movies like Yeh Raaste Hain Pyaar Ke and Mujhe Jeene Do. In fact 1960s were definitely your era with Gumraah, Waqt, Humraaz, Milan, Padoshan and many more.
1970s were a different story altogether. With the swinging Rajesh Khanna in the limelight, your old image came to the mind of the movie makers and you started working more in adventurous movies, including a few shades of negative character, which was a big risk those days.
Jaani Dushman (1979) was among the last films that you made as a hero. Then came the biggest sorrow in your life with the demise of your beloved wife – Nargis. We could see the shades of the same in your film Dard Ka Rishta (1983).
Even though you have a few movies after that like Parampara and Kshatriya, your cameo appearance in Munna Bhai MBBS hasleft its mark.
Music in Your Movies
Your movies have been known for their music. I can think of singers like Talat Mahmood, Mahendra Kapoor, Mohd. Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar… all giving memorable numbers for you. May it be the love songs like Jalte Hain jisj ke liye, Itnaa naa mujhse tu pyaar badhaa or Hai… neele gagan ke tale or may these be meaningful sad songs like Aansoon samajh ke kyun mujhe, Chalo Ikbaar phir se and Mubarak ho sabko samaa yeh suhanaa… each one was special. Also worth mentioning are Raam kare aisa ho jaaye, Sawan Ka Mahina, Aha rimjhim ke yeh pyaare pyaare geet liye, Rang aur noor ki baraat etc.
Politics & Social Service
During early eighties we saw you getting yourself engaged in social service, soon after the death of your wife. In 1985 election, you took your first step in active politics by getting elected as an MP. Since then, we have seen your continuous contribution and growth, till your death. You have served the nation well….. very rarely we see a politician being in politics for two decades and not being involved in any controversy.
My 10 Favourite Movies of Yours
1. Mother India : What can I say of the movie which has changed the entire perception of Indian cinema… Birju stood out tall… a man not to be forgotten for years to come.
2. Padoshan:In this hilarious comedy, the soft and gullible Bhola was nothing less in front of seasoned comedians like Mehmood or Kishore Kumar.
3. Sujata: As a man in love with an achoot girl, people could not forget the emotions involved.
4. Gumraah: As the ex lover of the married heroine, your role had shades of negative in it, but still you came out as the winner.
5. Yadein:What to say of this movie… Never before in the world… One actor (yourself) and one set, how many people dare to make such movies!!
6. Mera Saayaa: In this suspense thriller, your role as the loving husband, who refuses to accept his wife was lovely.
7. Reshmaa Aur Sheraa: In this blood stained desert love story, your role has been the most memorable ones.
8. Nagin: Several versions of snake based movies have been made in India, but Nagin remains as one of the best till date.
9: Mujhe Jeene Do:One of your masterpieces in a Dacoit role.
10. Chhayaa:In this Hrishikesh Mukherjee starrer, your soft romantic role has been one of my most favourite ones.
Finally…..
The industry has missed a gentleman… we all will miss you… You have been a star equally appealing the masses and classes.
May your soul rest in peace….
Finally… I would like to quote from Chalo Ikbaa Phir Se….
Taaroof Rog ho jaye to ushko bhulna behetar
Talooq bojh ban jaaye to ushko todnaa aachhaa…
Woh afsaana, jeese anjaam tak laa naa naa ho munkin…
Ushe ek khoobsurat mod de kar chhodnaa aachhaa…
(If introduction becomes a disease, its better to forget him/her
If relationship becomes a burden, its better to break it….
That story, which cannot be brought to a logical conclusion…
Its better to give it a nice twist and end it there…..)
…….. A fan of yours…..
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.