By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
दिल से तुझको बेदिली है, मुझको है दिल का ग़ुरूर
तू ये माने कि न माने, लोग मानेंग़े ज़रूर
ये मेरा दीवानापन है, या मोहब्बत का सुरूर
तू न पहचाने तो है ये, तेरी नज़रों का क़ुसूर
ये मेरा दीवानापन है
Dilip Kumar commonly called as ‘Tragedy King’ symbolized pathos in his most films. The actor, who made his debut with Amiya Chakravarty’s 1944 film “Jwar Bhata” , rose to starry heights in later years, becoming a force to reckon with appearing in many hits like- “Andaaz”, “Aan”, “Shaheed”, “Mela” , “Devdas”, “Madhumati”, “Yahudi” ,”Paigham”, ” Naya Daur”, “Ram Aur Shyam” & “Muhal-e-Azam to mention some.
Dilip & Raj Kapoor worked together in one film-“Andaz” starring Nargis, Murad & Cuckoo with some hits like-“Koyi Mere Dil Me Khushi Banke Aaya”, “Jhoom Jhoom Ke Nacho Aaj”, “Tu Kahe Agar” & “Uthaye Ja Unke Sitam” to mention some.
Interestingly, Dilip Kumar was the first actor to win the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his 1952 film “Daag” with a touching song “Aye Mere Dil Kahin Aur Chal” rendered by Talat Mahmood & penned by Shailendra under the music score SJK. The Award came into being in 1953 and he won it in the year 1954.
“Ganga Jumna”(1961) , a film produced by Dilip Kumar, was based on twin brothers- Ganga ( Dilip Kumar ) & Jumna ( Nasir Khan) one becoming a dacoit and the other a police officer. The film inspired many moviemakers to follow the subject in late 1960s & 1970s including some featuring Amitabh Bachchan. “Gunga Jumna” was the highest grossing film of 1961 followed by “Junglee’, “Gharana” & “Aas Ka Panchi” with many hits like -” Nain Lad Jai Hai To Manava Ma Kasak Hoibe Kari”, “Dhundho Dhundho Re Saajanaa Dhundho Re Saajanaa” & “Do Hanso Kaa Joda Bichhad Gayo Re” to boast. Dilip Kumar was at his meteoric best.
Kumar went into hibernation for some time. His next film “Leader” was released in 1964. I wrote many articles about the “Tragedy King” in recent years. Hence, this write up is wholly dedicated to music & songs picturized on him.
I will start with “Kitna Hasi Hai Mausam, Kitna Hasi Safar Hai, Sathi Hai Khubsurat, Ye Mausam Ko Bhi Khabar Hai” , from 1955 movie “Azaad” penned by Rajinder Krishna under the music score C.Ramchander who also sang the song. The song was picturized in the backdrop of a mountain with Meena Kumari riding a horse. During the recording session of the song under reference, Talat Mahmood failed to show up. Annoyed as he was ,C. Ramchandra recorded it himself in his almost Talat like style. This resulted into a bad blood & he never repeated him again.
“Vatan Ki Raah Me Vatan Ke Naujava Shahid Ho” was another patriotic song from 1948 film “Shaheed” picturized on Dilip Kumar with “Badanaam Na Ho Jaaye Muhabbat Kaa Fasaanaa” rendered by Surinder Kaur. I watched the film at Kumar talkies Chandni Chowk in 1963. It was the highest grossing film of the year.
“Madhuban me radhika nache re,giradhar ki muraliya baje re”, by Rafi was a classical hit picturized on Dilip & dancer Kumkum. “Maridang baje titakitadhum titakitadhum ta ta, maridang baje titakitadhum titakitadhum ta ta, na chat chum chum ta thaiya ta thaiya” was a peerless effort by Mohd Rafi . Shakeel Badayuni penned this “Kohinoor” (1969) song for Naushad. “Do Sitaron Ka Zameen Par Hai Milan Aakj Ki Raat” & “Koi Pyar Ki Dekhe Jadugari” were other popular songs from the same film.
“Dil Mein Chupake Pyar Ka Toofan Le Chale” (Aan-1953), “Tujhe Kho Diya Hamne” & “Aag Lagi Tan Man Mein” was another romantically teasing song. The film was released under the title ” The Savage Princess” in UK & was a much talked about affair. It was the highest grossing film of 1952. Appreciating the film ,noted Hollywood producer Cecil B. DeMille himself wrote a letter to Mehboob Khan saying, “I believe it is quite possible to make pictures in your great country which will be understood and enjoyed by all nations without sacrificing the culture and customs of India. We look forward to the day when you will be regular contributors to our screen fare with many fine stories bringing the romance and magic of India”.
“Maang Ke Saath Tumhara, Maine Maang Liya Sansaar” & “Ho Ude Jb Jab Julfen Teri Kvariyo Kaa Dil Machle” were the two most popular songs of late 1950s with the latter fast, catchy, lively & foot-tapping one penned by Sahir under the baton O. P. Nayyar. It continues to enthral the audience even now. “Sathi Hath Badhana Sathi Re” was another popular song from the same film.
“Madhumati’ (1958) was the most successful film directed by Bimal Roy starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala & Tarun Bose. Salil Chowdhary scored the music of hits like “Suhana Safar Aur Ye Mausam Hasin”,”Toote Hue Khwabon Ne, Humko Ye Sikhaya Hai” & “Aaja Re Perdeshi, Main To Kab Se Khadi Is Paar” .Shailendra penned the songs.
Most songs of Mughal-e-Azam were rendered by Lata and penned by Shakeel Badayuni with music score by Naushad. “Jab Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya” , “Mohe Panghat Pe, Nandlal Chhed Gayo Re”, ” Mohabbat Ki Jhuthi Kahani Pe Roye”, & two Qawwalis “Teri Mehfil Me Kismat Aazma Kar Hum Bhi Dekhenge (Lata-Shamshaad Begum)& Ye Dil Ki Lagi Kam Kya Hogi, yeh ishq Bhala kam Kya Hoga”( Lata) were masterpieces.The film celebrated Golden Jubilee at many places and held the rocord for the highest grossing Indian film of the century. I watched his first film “Mughal-e-Azam” in 1961 at Golcha , Delhi followed by “Kohinoor” at Defence cinema, West Patel Nagar.
It would be injustice if we did not mention the “Yahudi” (1958)sad song “Dil Se Tujhko Bedili Hai, Mujhko Hai Dil Ka Gurur,Tu Yeh Maane, Ke Na Maane, Log Maanenhe Jarur, Yeh Mera Dewaanapan Hai, Ya Mohabbat Ka Surur” wonderfully voiced by Mukesh, one of the few songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan duo.
A.Bhim Sing’s “Aadmi”(1968)though did not do well it had some popular songs like-“Aaj Purani Rahon Se Koi” & “Kaisi Haseen Aaj Baharon Ki Raat Hai” rendered by Mohd Rafi. “Ram Aur Shyam”(1967), a story of twin brothers played by Dilip with Waheeda Rehman,Mumtaz & Pran. It was the last successful & second highest-grossing Indian film of 1967 . Dilip Kumar’s comic role won him Filmfare Best Actor Award. “Aaj Ki Raat Mere Dil Ki”, “Aayi Hai Bahare Mite Zulmo Sitam” & “O Balam Tere Pyar Ki Thandi Aag Mein Jalte Jalte, Mai to Haar Gayi Re” were some of the popular numbers .
