By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her Birth Anniversary
क्यों आग सी लगा के
गुमसुम हैं चांदनी
सोने भी नहीं देता
मौसम का ये इशारा
ये रात भीगी भीगी
ये मस्त फिज़ाये
उठा धीरे धीरे
वो चाँद प्यारा प्यारा
Nargis Dutt, born Fatima Rashid ,was younger sister of actor Anwar Husain & daughter of Jaddanbai, well known classical singer . She is considered among the finest & sensitive actresses of her time.
Nargis appeared in ‘Talash-E-Haq’ (1935) as a child artist. Though her first film was ‘Tamanna’ (1942), she rose to prominence after she became a permanent member of RK Camp. She did many films with late Raj Kapoor like “Andaz” (1949),”Awaara” (1951)”Shree 420″(1955) & “Chori Cori” (1956) to mention some.
‘Barsaat’, written by Ramanand Sagar & directed by Raj Kapoor featuring Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Prem Nath, Nimmi & Cuckoo set the tempo. It also introduced music directors Shankar Jaikishan who tuned some of the finest numbers like- “Jiya Beqarar Hai”, “Hawa Mein Udta Jaye” , “Chhod Gaye Balam”, “Barsaat Mein Humse Mile”, & “Mujhe Kisi Se Pyaar Ho Gayaa”. Naurally,the film turned out to be the Highest grossing film of the year 1949 ahead of “Mahal” (Madhubala, Ashok Kumar) & ” Andaz” ( Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar & Nargis).
In Mehboob Khan’s ‘Magnum Opus’ “Mother India” Nargis successfully changed the perception of cinegoers that women are, in anyway, less stronger or competent than men. The film was released on 25 October,1957. It was based on film “Aurat” & starred Raj Kumar, Nargis, Sunil Dutt & Rajendra Kumar with Kumkum & Kanhaiya Lal in supporting roles. The film is alo remembered for hit numbers like- “Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain”,”Ghunghat Nahin Kholoongi Saiyan”,& “Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re” to mention only three. Nargis portrayed a traditional Indian woman who believes that he modesty of a woman is her precious asset. She went out to kill her son when he abducted a nubile Chanchal (daughter of cunning money-lender Kanhaiya Lal .Mehboob Khan justified both the characters (Nargis as Radha & Sunil Dutt as Birju) with aplomb.
Nargis enjoyed a long relationship with Raj Kapoor. She wanted to marry him. Kapoor, already married, refused to divorce his wife. Resultantly they parted ways. Later when Sunil Dutt reportedly saved her life from a fire on the sets of ‘Mother India’, the two tied the knot in 1958. Sunil Dutt later became a successful actor and politician. The couple was blessed with three children- Sanjay, Namrata , and Priya Dutt.
Interestingly, Nargis was the first actress to be awarded the Padma Shri. Nargis was bestowed with the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress “Raat Aur Din” (1967). There is a road named after him in Bandra in Mumbai. Nargis Dutt Award is given to the Best film on National Integration at the National Film Awards every year. Nargis Dutt was also a member of Rajya Sabha in 1980. She died days before the maiden release of her son Sanjay Dutt’s maiden film “Rocky”. Received Filmfare Best Actress Award for “Mother India”. Nargis was a social activist ,too. She travelled widely.
Born this Day in Calcutta in 1929.
