By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
“Sanam Bewafa” directed by Sawan Kumar Tak was a Muslim costume film .It boasts of scintillating dialogues, catchy and hummable songs, and equally dazzling dances. The departure of the ‘barat’ was the highlight item with a touching song. The hero was young Salman Khan who had already established himself as a bankable horse through his maiden film “Maine Pyar Kiya”.
Chandni ( named Mrinalini)a college -going daughter of an Army Officer, was spotted by eagle-eyed Sawan Kumar Tak who wanted to cast her in ‘Souten Ki Souten’ but later she was selected to play the lead in “Sanam Bewafa”. Obviously the name Chandni was given to the actress by Sawan Kumar, influenced or inspired by Sridevi’s hit film of the same name. Chandni nevertheless is a romantic name evoking myriads of mesmerizing thoughts & fantasies associated with moon and moonlight ( chandni ).
Sawan Kumar, the subject of this write up & not Chandni, who visited Chandigarh few times earlier had told me that he wanted to shoot all songs of the film in the backdrop of Kullu Manali where a number of films had already been picturized. “Sanam Bewafa”, also featuring Pran and Danny Denzongpa, turned out to be a low budget ‘Blockbuster”.
Married to music director Usha Khanna (Dil Deke Dekho, Shabnam fame) , though albeit brief, Sawan Kumar was also emotionally attached with Meena Kumari during the making of “Gomti Ke Kinare” (1972), her last film, released after she passed away.
Producer, director and lyricist Sawan Kumar Tak has directed many Hindi films including “Souten”(1983), “Souten Ki Beti”(1989) , “Sanam Bewafa” (1991), “Bewaffa Se Waffa” ( 1992), “Chand Kaa Tukdaa” (1994) & “Dil Pardesi Ho Gaya” (2003). “Hawas” starring Neetu Singh, Anil Dhawan, Vinod Mehra & Bindu, was one of his earlier films. In most of his films Usha Khanna scored the music.
I met him thrice at Chandigarh & thrice in Bombay . I was also present at Hotel Piccadilly where he stayed prior to the start of “Chand ka Tukda”. He had asked me to introduce some girls to him to be cast in the film. Having failed to pick up ‘Chand ka Tukda’ anywhere, he eventually cast Sridevi opposite Salman & did shooting at & around Chandigarh. I visited the distant & difficult shooting site ‘Kansal Forest’ and met Sridevi ,albeit brief.
“Shayad Meri Shaadi Ka Khayal” & “Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai” were two hit numbers from film “Sauten” starring Rajesh Khanna,Tina Munim & Padmini Kolhapure. “Teri Galiyon Mein” was another hit fron his 1974 movie “Hawas”.He also played a small role in the film. His earliest film “Naunihal” starring Sanjeev Kumar
