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The 1960s – Golden Years – Part 5

Ashok Kumar won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for Rakhi produced by Shivaji Ganesan. His natural acting in Dharmaputra, Aarti, and Masoom impressed viewers.

Dharmaputra produced by BR Chopra and directed by Yash Raj Chopra boldly tackled the issue of religious bigotry, fanaticism, and communalism. The film took an honest and realistic look at Hindu-Muslim ties in the years leading to Independence. Based on a novel by Acharya Chatursen, the film traces, with its no-holds-barred script, its treatment of its characters. and hard-hitting dialogus, the irrevocable degeneration of a composite fabric, brutally torn apart by communal forces, and the anguish of the people who become victims of the conflict. All the actors, from veterans Ashok Kumar and Leela Chitnis, through Rehman, Manmohan Krishna, Nirupa Roy, Mala Sinha, and newcomers Shashi Kapoor and Indrani Mukherjee gave memorable performances. In his first adult role, Shashi Kapoor played a Hindu fundamentalist, unaware that he was born illegally in a Muslim family. In a cameo, Rajendra Kumar plays a politician advocating unity and brotherhood. Dilip Kumar lent his voice for the narration of Dharmputra. Dharmputra has some very good songs, with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi and music composed by N Dutta. My favourites are Main jab bhi akeli hoti hoon sung by Asha Bhonsle and Tumhaari aankhen and Yeh kiska lahu hai yeh kaun maraa sung by Mahendra Kapoor.

Dharmaputra was a commercial failure but it won the National Award for Best Hindi Film in 1961 and the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogues for Akhtar-ul-Iman in 1963. After the awards ceremony, BR Chopra wrote an article in Filmfare expressing his anguish at the failure of his film despite its recognition at the National level.

Masoom directed by Satyen Bose, is the story of three children who are orphaned and struggle to live up to the values inculcated in them by their father. Sarosh and Honey Iran, siblings in real life, played two of the children. It was an absorbing film for which writer Ruby Sen won the Filmfare Award for Best Story. The film was also nominated for a Filmfare Award for Best Film. Robin Banerjee was the music director and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan wrote the lyrics of all the songs except for Yeh Haath hi apni Daulat hai written by Sahir Ludhianvi and Nani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye, written by Shailendra and tuned by Hemant Kumar. Hemant Kumar’s seven-year-old daughter Ranu Mukherjee sang Nani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye for five-year-old Honey Irani.

Aarti was the first film produced by Tarachand Barjatya for Rajshri Productions. The film, starring Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari and Pradeep Kumar was directed by Phani Majumdar, with music composed by Roshan. Aarti tells the story of a determined young woman who has the courage to break her engagement to marry the man she loves and braves the difficulties she encounters in her new home and those engineered by her former fiancé. Eventually, when her husband is seriously injured in an accident and his life is at the mercy of her tormentor, the only available brain surgeon, she is prepared to give her all to save him. The problem is resolved in an an emotional scene, extremely well enacted by Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari. Roshan’s music is one of the hallmarks of the film with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The most popular songs were Ab Kya Misaal Doon Main Tumhare Shabaab Ki by Mohammed Rafi, Kabhi To Milegi, Kahin To Milegi by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar’s duets Aapne Yaad Dilaaya To Mujhe Yaad Aaya and Baar Baar Tohe Kya Samjhaaye Paayal Ki Jhankaar by. At the 1963 annual Filmfare Awards, Meena Kumari set a record by winning all three nominations for Best Actress for Aarti, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, and Main Chup Rahungi. She won the award for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Shashikala won her first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Rakhi, starring Ashok Kumar, Waheeda Rehman, Pradeep Kumar and Mahmood, was produced by Shivaji Ganesan and directed by A Bhimsingh with music by Ravi. Remake of the Tamil movie Pasamalar, the film relates the story of two orphaned siblings and the ups and downs in their relationship. Ashok Kumar won his first Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance and screenwriter KP Kottarakara won the Filmfare Award for Best Story.

Raj Kapoor acted in three films outside his home production RK Films, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Aashiq, Chhalia, directed by debutant director Manmohan Desai, and Nazrana, a remake of a South Indian film.

Chhalia, starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan is focused on the strife of families torn apart by the partition of the Indian sub-continent. It was the first film directed by Manmohan Desai, whose father owned a studio and produced stunt films. In later years, he made many blockbusters, including Amar Akbar Anthony. Manmohan Desai was known for his masala films, full of action, songs, and dances that catered to the masses' tastes. A common theme in his films was the lost and found plot where family members would be separated and reunited. Music by Kalyanji-Anandji played a part in the film's success. Lata Mangeshkar’s solo Baje Payal chhun chhun, and Mukesh’s solos, Chhalia mera naam, Dum dum diga diga, and Mere toote huwe dil se became very popular.

Nazrana, the Hindi remake of the Tamil film Kalyana Parisu (1959), ushered in another talented South Indian director CV Sridhar into Hindi films. Starring Raj Kapoor and Vyjayantimala, it was a love triangle in which the younger sister sacrifices her love for the elder sibling. B Saroja Devi, who acted in the Tamil original Kalyana Parisu and its Telugu remake Pelli Kanuka was the first choice for the leading role but dropped out of the film due to differences with the director. Music director Ravi composed some good songs. Baazi kisi ne pyar ki sung by Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh and Asha Bhonsle duet Mere peechhe ek diwana and Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar duet Bikhrake zulfen and Lata Mangeshkar’s solo Mele hain chiragon ke were popular as was Mukesh’s solo Ek woh bhi diwali thi. The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Story in 1961.

During the making of the film, Raj Kapoor told Vyjayantimala that he wanted to cast her as the heroine Radha in his next filmed titled Sangam. Since her father and grandmother controlled her acting assignments; she did not consent immediately. Later, Raj Kapoor sent her a telegram that read, “Bol Radha bol Sangam hoga ki nahin.” She replied “Sangam hoga, hoga, zaroor hoga.” Raj Kapoor opened the telegram in the presence of his team that included lyricist Shailendra. When he read it out and explained the background, Shailendra promptly composed the lines that were to be a part of a hit song from Sangam.

Mere man ki ganga aur tere man ki jamna ka
Bol radha bol sangam hoga ke nahin
Hoga hoga hoga.

Kishore Kumar was going through a rough patch during this time. Disputes with director Kalidas Batabyal, Madhubala’s deteriorating health and the death of his father, all in quick succession, were enough to test the sanity of the sanest person.

He had married Madhubala in December 1960 during the shooting of Jhumroo knowing that she was critically ill. After Jhumroo was released, Kishore Kumar took her to London for treatment. The doctors told them she had only a year or so to live and that surgery was hazardous, with no guarantee of complete recovery. Back in Mumbai, Madhubala attempted suicide by jumping out of the building but was saved by Kishore Kumar. She shifted to her father’s house to escape the sounds of airplanes in Kishore Kumar’s house in Juhu. Kishore’s time was mostly spent taking care of Madhubala. Some of Madhubala’s films were interrupted by her illness, some were abandoned and in some, she was replaced. Details of Madhubala’s health and her attempted suicide were hidden from the public. Most of us believed that she had withdrawn from films voluntarily.

Kishore Kumar turned moody and temperamental. He began to skip shooting schedules, putting impossible conditions. The press manufactured stories of his tantrums and his troubled married life and his impending divorce. Producers ganged up to report to the income tax department, quoting false figures of his income, resulting in his arrest. The first media reports for the publicity for Kishore Kumar’s film Half Ticket in December 1960, coincided with the news of his arrest. This incident affected his popularity, and his films began to flop. Of the eleven films of Kishore Kumar released during this period, only three, Jhumroo, Manmauji, and Rungoli did well at the box office, Half Ticket did well on re-runs and gained cult status.

Jhumroo is a romantic comedy directed by Shankar Mukherjee. In Jhumroo, Kishore Kumar showcased his multiple talents. Apart from producing the film and playing the title role, he wrote the story, composed the music, wrote the lyrics of the title song, and helped Majrooh Sultanpuri with the lyrics of some bizarre songs. Main hoon jhum jhum jhum jhum jhumroo, became the signature yodelling Hindi song of all time.

Assisted by Suhrid Kar for orchestration, Kishore Kumar’s music for Jhumroo was in two distinct moods. One was sans sentiment, bizarre, nonsensical, often bordering on madness, and the other soft, romantic, and deeply sorrowful. The first, like Babalu babalu babba, adapted from the English tune Tequila (Champs – 1958), allowed Kishore Kumar to display his yodelling and other tricks. In the second category, Thandi Hawa ye chandni suhani and Koi humdum na raha, which is one of Asha Bhosle’s favourite songs of Kishore Kumar, were well composed and sung. Jhumroo also had some unconventional choreography, some of it created by Kishore Kumar himself. Bordering on absurdity, the film was perhaps an attempt by Kishore to cheer up his wife Madhubala, whose illness delayed the release of Jhumroo by six months. In Ge ge ge geli zara timbaktu, Kishore Kumar prompted Majrooh with the words, kathmandu and chumbak tu to rhyme with timbaktu.

Koi humdum na raha was originally composed by Saraswati Devi and sung by Ashok Kumar for Jeewan Naiyya (1936). Kishore Kumar had learned to sing the song as a child. When Kishore Kumar wanted to sing the song for Jhumroo, Ashok Kumar tried to dissuade him, saying that it had an intricate meter. Kishore Kumar is reported to have said, "I don’t know about that but I will sing it and I will sing it better than you." Kishore remodelled the song, starting with a hum, orchestration in line with the times, and fresh lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.

AVM’s Manmauji was a remake of the Telugu mega hit Dongaramudu. It owed its success to a string of songs composed by Madan Mohan, Kishore Kumar’s Zaroorat hai zaroorat hai, Lata Mangeshkar’s Main to tum sang, and their duet, Ek tha Abdul Rehman, a sequel to the extremely popular song, Mera naam Abdul Rehman from Bhai-Bhai. The censors removed the third Kishore song Bura lagta hai to lage duniya ko as they considered the line ‘Apni marzi se jiyoonga mai toh’as anti-establishment!

Rajinder Singh Bedi’s Rungoli was a romantic comedy that brought Kishore Kumar and Vyjayantimala together again. It became a popular entertainer with Kishore Kumar’s comic acts, singing, and Vyjayantimala’s dance numbers. Shankar Jaikishan provided music and composed some popular songs. The film is known for the song Choti si yeh duniya. The tune of the song had remained with Shankar–Jaikishan since 1960. It seems Shankar–Jaikishan had promised to recommend Shailendra to important producers but when there was a delay he sent a reminder with the lines,

Choti si yeh duniya
Pehchane raaste hain
Kahin toh miloge
Toh puchhenge haal

The composers got the message, liked the lines, and completed the song.