By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
आइये मेहरबाँ, बैठिये जाने-जाँ
शौक़ से लीजिये जी, इश्क की इम्तहाँ
कैसे हो तुम नौजवाँ, इतने हसीं महमाँ
कैसे करूँ मैं बयाँ, दिल की नहीं है ज़ुबाँ
आइये मेहरबाँ…
Ashok Kumar, popularly called Dadamoni ,was a versatile actor, director, occasional singer and co-owner of Filmistan Studios, Goregaon in Mumbai. He was eldest among brothers in a family comprising four children, Kishore Kumar being the youngest.
Bestowed with Dadasaheb Phalke Award ,a National Award, two Filmfare Awards including Padma Shri (1962) & Padma Bhushan (1999), the actor worked in many memorable movies like “Bhai Bhai” (1956), “Howrah Bridge”, “Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi”(1958) “Dhool Ka Phool” (1959), “Kanoon” (1960), “Grehasti”, “Mere Mehboob’ (1963) ,”Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke”, “Gumraah”, “Bandini” (1963), “Bheegi Raat” (1965), “Mamta” (1966) & “Jewel Thief”(1967), to mention only some.His “Kismet”(1943), opposite Devika Rani, wife of Himanshu Rai, grossed ten million (present value about 85 crores).It was said to be the first blockbuster in the history of Hindi cinema.
‘Jeevan Naiya’ & ‘Achhut Kanya'(1936) were his earliest films followed by ‘Kangan’,’Bandhan”Jhoola’.His film “Bhai Bhai” (1956)was a social drama with some hits to boast like-
“Kadar Jane Na,Mora Balam Bedardi”( Lata Mangeshkar) & “Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De, Tu Kispe Aa Gaya Hai” (Geeta Dutt). His 1958 film “Howrah Bridge” is remembered for one of the most popular dance number picturized on him & Madhubala- “Aaiye Meharban”. “Ek Hi Rasta”(1956) was another of his memorable films starring Sunil Dutt & Meena Kumari.
I rate the actor at par with the ‘Big Three’ ( Dilip, Raj & Dev Anand). His expressions were convincingly peerless and so was his style of villainy as is evident from some of his films including “Jewel Thief” (1967) starring Dev Anand & Vyjayanthimala .
