By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her 84th Birth Anniversary
परदेसियों से ना अँखियां मिलाना
परदेसियों को है एक दिन जाना
परदेसियों से ना अँखियां मिलाना
Nanda the child artist of 1940s was lucky enough to be born in a show business family of Maharashtra comprising of his father Vinayak Damodar, a known Marathi producer and mother Meenaxi an actress. Naturally, therefore, the child grew in an atmosphere conducive to show biz, prompting her to take to films at an early age. She made her debut in a 1948 film “Mandir” as baby Nanda. V. Shantaram, the noted director & her uncle saw sparks of acting in the girl and gave her an opportunity to work in “Toofan Aur Diya” also featuring Rajendra Kumar with a song I still remember “Yeh Kahani hai diye ki aur toofaan ke’. then at 6. I saw the film at Firozepur. She also appeared in Satyen Bose’s “Jagriti” ( the awakening-1954) with many lovely songs to boast like- “Aao Bachchon Tumhe Dikhaye”,”Hum Laaye Hain Toofan Se” & “Sabarmati Ke Sant Tune”,the last rendered by Asha Bhosle .
She won a Filmfare nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1957 social drama “Bhabhi” ,an AVM Production, staring Balraj Sahni, Pandari Bai & Om Prakash with music score by Chitragupta with many hits like-“Chal Ud Ja Re Panchhi” by Mohammed Rafi,”Chali Chali Re, Patang Meri Chali Re”, Mohammed Rafi-Lata, & “Ja Re Jaadugar, Dekhi Teri Jaadugari” again by Lata.It was followed by yet another box office hit “Barkha” featuring Jagdeep & Nanda,another film by AVM directed by Krishan Panju with few poupular songs like “Ek Raat Men Do Do Chand Khile”-Mukesh-Lata & ” O Sajna-Barkha Bahar Aai” by Lata Mangeshkar.
Nanda who did supporting roles in earlier films was cast as a leading lady in Prasad Productions “Choti Behan” featuring Balraj Sahni & Rehman, a story highlighting the deep love bonds between a brother & her sister with heart touching hit numbers- “Bhaiya Mere Rakhi Ke Bandhan Ko” by Lata,”Jaoon Kahan Bata Ae Dil”by Mukesh,”Main Rangeela Pyar Ka Rahi” Lata- Subir Sen , “Bagon Mein Baharon Mein by Lata “Kali Anar Ki Na Itna Satao” Asha Bhosle & Manna Dey. It was a musical hit winning nominations in 5 categories with music score by Shanker Jaikishan and lyrics penned by Hasrat & Shailendra.
She was captivating nay mesmerizingly coy beauty in the song “Yeh sama, sama hai yeh pyaar ka kisi ke intezaar ka” in Shashi Kapoor’s first solo hit “Jab Jab Phool Khile” shot in the beautiful backdrop of lush green Kashmir valley. The film produced with a budget of 5 crore grossed 35 crore( present value based on gold price in 2019 as 295 crore) with Kalyanji Anandji doing wonders with hits like-“Ek Tha Gul Aur Ek Thi Bulbul”, “Na Na Karte Pyar Tumhin Se”, & “Pardesiyon Se Na Ankhiyan Milana”.The film turned out to be a mile stone for Shashi Kapoor who later rubbed shoulders with many a top brass in the industry. Shashi plays a boatman who falls for an exceptionally rich tourist Nanda. In between the actress appeared in many emotional & romantic movies like” Kala Bazaar” , “Hum Dono” & “Teen Devian” with Dev Anand, “Kanoon” & Dhool Ka Phool”( 1959) with Rajendra Kumar, “Usne Kaha Tha” (1960) with Sunil Dutt , & “Gumnaam” & “Shor” ( 1972) with Manoj Kumar . “Mazdoor” ( 1983) with thespian Dilip Kumar & Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award winning “Aanchal” opposite Ashok Kumar( 1960) were her other mentionable movies.
Some of the hit songs picturized on her include the likes of “Baagho Me Baharo Me Ithlaata Gaata Aaya Koi” & “Bhaiya Mere Rakhi Ke Bandhan Ko Nibhana” ( Choti Behan),”Aha Rimjhim Ke Yeh Pyare Pyare Geet Liye” ( Usne Kahah Tha), ” Jane Chaman Shola Badan, Pehlu Me Aa Jao ” (Gumnaam),” Jhukti Ghata Gaati hawa Sapne Jagaye Nanha sa Dil Mera Machal Machal jaye”(Dhool ka Phool) , “Na Na Karte Pyaar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe” ( Jab Jab Phool Khile)” Allah Tero Naam” ( Hum Dono) ” “Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai, Maujo Ki Ravani Hai, Zindagi Aur Kuch Bhi Nahi” (Shor) & “Gulabi Aankhe Jo Teri Dekhi Sharabi Ye Dil Ho Gaya”( The Train).
Perhaps ‘Jab Jab Phool Khile’ was the best movie of her career, portraying her in the mould of a glamorous Hollywood actress, singing ‘Ye Sama, Sama Hai Ye Pyaar Ka’ s in a glamorous attire. Some of the costumes worn by her were exotically nay dazzlingly ultra-modern, especially her gown in the song ” Yeh Sama,Sama hai”.Shashi Kapoor was all praise for her allure. He revealed many more things about her eating habits during an interview. She was also one of my favourite actresses. She was close to Waheeda Rehman, Jabeen Jalil , Asha Parekh & Shakila. Remained unmarried.
Born this day in 1939,the actress breathed her last on 25 March 2014.
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