By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी से कोई शिकवा तो नहीं,
शिकवा नहीं शिकवा नहीं, शिकवा नहीं
तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी भी लेकिन ज़िन्दगी तो नहीं,
ज़िन्दगी नहीं ज़िन्दगी नहीं, ज़िन्दगी नहीं
तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी से कोई शिकवा तो नहीं..
Rated as one of the finest exponents of film acting, Harihar Jariwala, Born 9 July, 1938, was better known by his nom de plume Sanjeev Kumar. A winner of two National Awards, the actor started his film career doing stunt roles in ‘B’ grade films like “Gunehgar”,”Smuggler” ,”Badal”, “Nishan” & “Alibaba 40 Chor” to mention some. The actor rose to prominence with his awesome performance in H. S. Rawail’s “Sunghursh” (1968), a story based on family feud & animosity between two families, starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Jayant & Balraj Sahni. The actor proved his mettle & histrionics when he dies in the arms of Dilip Kumar. His acting prowess did wonders for the actor in the following years. However, his two earlier fils were “Hum Hindustani”( 1960) & “Aao Pyaar Karen”(1964).
The year 1968 turned out to be fruitful as the actor was lucky enough to work in as many as six films-Aashirvad, Anokhi Raat, Raja Aur Rank, Saathi & Shikar besides Sunghursh.”Raja Aur Rank” became popular amongst children and youth and had some popular numbers like ‘Phirkiwali tu kal phir aana’, ‘Mera Naam Hai Chameli to mention two.
C.V. Sridhar’s “Saathi” (1968) starring Rajendra Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Simmi Grewal was also a box office success and had touching songs like ‘Mera Pyaar bhi Tu Hai, ,’Yeh Kaun Aaya Rosha Ho Gayee mehfil’ under the music score Naushad .”Shikar” was another box office success with hit song “Parde main Rehne Do” rendered by Asha Bhosle, featuring Dharmendra & Asha Parekh. It won Filmfare Awards in 4 categories with Sanjeev winning the Best Supporting Actor, Asha The Best Playback Singer, Jonhny Walker, Best Comedian. These were followed by “Jeene Ki Raah”, “Satyakam” and “Sachhai” in 1969.
L. V. Prasads “Khilona”( 1970) was culmination of his career some believe. He plays son of a rich man whose heart throb gets married to his neighbor Shatrughan Sinha and commits suicide on the night of Diwali. A shocked Sanjeev gets mentally disabled. Thakur believes that if Vijay gets married, his mental health would improve. He approaches a tawaif, Chand (Mumtaz) to pretend to be Vijay’s wife and thus help him get better. But Chand receives cold treatment from Vijay’s mother and his elder brother Kishore. Once, in a fit of madness, Vijay (Sanjeev Kumar) rapes Chand. But later, Chand becomes very friendly with Vijay and that starts improving his condition.The film boasts of lovely songs composed by LKPL like ‘Sanam Tu Bewafa Ke naam Se’, ‘Khush Rahe Tu Sada, & Khilona Jaankar Tum Bhi Mera Dil’ penned by Anand Bakshi. The film collected 35 million at Box office .
Ramesh Sippys “Seeta Aur Geeta”( 1972), a story of identical twins played by Hema Malini, who swap their roles, starring Dharmendra Sanjeev added another feather as it proved to be a box office bonanze with earnings over 19 crore or 190 million rupee with ‘O Saathi Chal’ & ‘Abhi To Haat Main Jaam Hai’ numbers to boast.
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“Aap Ki Kasam” (1974) directed by J. Om Prakash is story of
a jealous husband Rajesh Khanna who doubts the virtue of his beloved wife ,played by Mumtaz, when his friend Sanjeev Kumar enters their life. Mumtaz fails to convince husband that she only loves him. A depressed & confused Rajesh leaves her to become a homeless wanderer, not knowing that she is pregnant. Sunita (Mumtaz) marries Sanjeev Kumar to provide a secure home for her child. Many years later, he returns to know the truth as a badly shattered & broken man, at his own daughter’s wedding. In one of the film’s scenes where Rajesh confronts Mumtaz, bursting out in anger,and she hits back vehemently in anguish on doubting her infidelity without no rhyme and reason. I congratulate director J. Om .Prakash to get the possible best performance out of them besides the touching number ‘Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jate Hain Jo Maqaam’ to further justify the jealous husband’s fiasco. ‘Jai Jai Shiv Shankar’ was the second super hit number in the 1974 Binaca Geet Mala.
