By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His 94th Birthday
खुदा भी आसमाँ से जब ज़मीं पर देखता होगा
मेरे महबूब को किसने बनाया सोचता होगा
खुदा भी आसमाँ से
Born Rajendra Kumar Tuli at Sialkot in Punjab, the shy looking serene actor began his career when the ‘big trio’ -Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand were ruling the tinsel town. He went noticed in his debut film “Patanga” starring Nigar Sultana & Shyam directed by H. S. Rawail (1949).The cine-goers ,however, recognized him in ” Toofan Aur Diya”( 1956) starring Nanda & Satish Vyas with a lovely song ” Nirbal Se ladai Balwaan ki, Yeh Khani hai Diye Ki Aur Toorfan Ki” rendered by Manna Dey under the baton of Vasant Desai. This was one of the earliest films I saw and still remember. “Mehboob Khan’s ” magnum -opus “Mother India” did wonders and he got recognition as an actor.
The year 1959 turned out to be too lucky for the star as one after another three hits- Devendra Goels “Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan”, starring Meena Kumari,” Dhool Ka Phool”, starring Mala Sinha, on a taboo subject illegitimacy, directed by Yash Chopra & Vijay Bhatt’s “Goonj Uthi Shehnai” with soulful numbers like “Jivan Mein Piya Tera Sath Rahe” & “Dil Ka Khilona Hai Toot Gaya” were simultaneously released .” Dhool Ka Phool” brought Mahendra Kumar into the limelight as a singer with many hit songs like “Jhukti Ghata Gaati Hawa”,” Jo Tum Muskara Do”, and “Tere Pyaar Ka Aasra Chahta Hoon” with Asha Bhosle.
In Mid 1960s Rajendra Kumar dominated the Hindi screen the way Raj and Dilip had done earlier. Infact,the star ruled the Hindi tinsel empire with Sadhna and Vyjanthimala like a king & queen in many films. The stupendous box office success of “Dil Ek Mandir”, “Gehra Daag”, “Humrahi”, “Mere Mehboob”, ” Sangam”, “Ayee Milan Ki Bela”, ” Zindagi”, ” Arzoo” & “Suraj” took him to the summit of success to be justifiably called ‘Jubilee Kumar’, a fete Rajesh Khanna repeated in 1969-71.
Kumar also worked in few Punjabi film like “Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam” ( 1974) & ” Teri Meri Ik Zindari” (1975) in a special appearance. ” Gharana”, ” Sasuraal”and B. R. Chopra’s suspense -drama ” Kanoon” and ” Saathi” were his other notable hits. Interestingly, most of his films were family-social with music being its forte for instance” Teri Pyaari Pyaari Surat Ko Kisi Ki Nazar Na Lage”,” & “Ek Sawal Main Karoon”(Sasuraal), under the baton Shanker Jaikishan & “Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin” & “Jabse Tumhe Dekha Hai”( Gharana) with music scored by Ravi.” Mera Naam Joker” ,” Love Story” and “Phool”( 1993) starring Sunil Dutt, Kumar Gaurav and Madhuri Dixit was his last film.
It would indeed be injustice if I did not mention “Aman” (1967) a film based on the eventualities of the Atom Bomb explosion on Japan during the Second World War. The film starring Rajendra Kumar & Saira Banu also featured Nobel Prize winner Bertrand Russel & director Chetan Anand.
Rajendra Kumar also appeared in teleserial “Andaaz” and “Vansh”.I met him on the sets of “Andaz” with many others like Sujata Mehta & Shekhar Suman.I asked him questions related to his films like “Kanoon”,”Arzoo”,and” ” Dhool Ka Phool” his three hits.He was nominated for Filmfare Best Actor Award thrice for “Dil Ek Mandir”,”Aayee Milan Ki Bela “& ” Aarzoo” and produced “Love Story” ( 1981),”Lovers” ( 1983), & ” Naam”( 1986) directed by Mahesh Bhatt,& “Phool”( 1993) his last film.He acted as presenter in ” Phool Aur Patthar” ( 1966) “Talash” ( 1969) & “The Train” ( 1970).During the prime of his career heroines yearned for having an opportunity to co-star with him.Playing the leading lady opposite him was their most cherished dream.
