By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her 87th Birth Anniversary
सुन के जिसे दिल मेरा धड़का
लाज के सर से आँचल सरका
रात ने ऐसा जादू फेरा
और ही निकला रंग सहर का
कहे झूम झूम रात ये सुहानी
पीया हौले से छेड़ो दुबारा
वही कल की रसीली कहानी
Born to Nepali parents at Calcutta, also called the ‘City of Joy’, Mala Sinha appeared on the cine horizon in 1954. Though, initially, she had to struggle a bit, she made her presence felt in Yash Chopra’s debut film “Dhool Ka Phool” as director, opposite Rajendra Kumar, a musical hit film based on a hitherto taboo subject -illegitimacy. “Bhagwan, Ek Kasoor Ki Itni Badi Sazaa” & “Tumhe Pake Humne Jahan Pa Liya Hai” were hit numbers from “Gehra Daag” (1963). It was directed by O. P. Ralhan of “Phool Aur Patthar” fame. The net profit of the film was 70 lakh, a whopping sum at that time when a dollar cost rupee Four.
In 1957 she was cast in Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa” playing Meena his ex-girlfriend with heart rendering songs like “Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo”, “Jaane Kya Tune Kahi”, “Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye” and ” Jaane Woh Kaise Log The” to mention few.
Besides, Hindi she also worked in Bengali films, opposite Uttam Kumar and Kishore Kumar. She was also said to be the highest paid actress in early 60s sharing the credit with Vyjanthimala. Her coquettish shyness, as she revealed at a point in a “Parvarish” song ‘Masti Bhara Hai Sama’ with Raj Kapoor, was simply superb. Naturally, therefore, the actress went on to become a darling of millions of cine-goers in the films that followed. In “Anpadh” she played an illiterate wife opposite Dharmendra, then a newcomer, another masterpiece.
In “Hariyali Aur Rasta” she worked opposite Manoj Kumar- a musical film with hit numbers like-“Teri Yaad Dil Se Bhulaane Chala Hoon”, “Kho Gaya Hai Mera Pyar”, “Bol Meri Taqdeer Mein Kya Hai & “Dil Mera Chup Chap Jala” to mention some. It was the forth highest grossing film of the year after ‘Bees Saal Baad’, ‘Ek Musafir Ek Haseena’ & ‘Professor’ netting 95,00,000. B. R .Chopra’s “Gumraah” starring Sunil Dutt and Ashok Kumar added another feather in her kitty :the film highlights the plight of a woman caught between her lover and her husband, yet another taboo subject-infidelity. In F. C. Mehra’s “Ujala”, she was cast opposite Shammi Kapoor and Raj Kumar, frolicking around in a water sequence singing “Ya allah, Ya allah Dil Le Gaya”.
Vinod Kumar’s “Jahan- Ara”, though did not do well at the box-office front, would be remembered for its haunting music by Madan Mohan and songs rendered by Talat Mahmood viz.”Teri Aankh Ke Ansoo Pee Jaoon”,”Phir Wohi Shaam Wohi Gham “and last but not the least,”Main Teri Nazar Ka Suroor Hoon”.
“Himalay Ki God Mein”(1965) starring Manoj Kumar, Sapru, David & Jayant was another musical hit with songs like- “Kankariya Maar Ke Jagaya”, “Tu Raat Khadi Thi Chhat Pe”,”Chand Si Mehbooba Ho Meri” & “Ek Tu Na Mila Sari Duniya Mili Bhi To Kya Hai”. It was directed by Vijay Bhatt of ‘Baiju Bawra fame’.
Mala Sinha’s other mentionable movies include ‘Phir Subah Hogi’, ‘Maya’, ‘Dil Tera Diwana’, ‘Love- Marriage’, ‘Gehra -Daag’, ‘Mere- Huzoor’, ‘Bahurani’ & ‘Maryaada’ opposite Rajesh Khanna and Raj Kumar. Interestingly, the actress was named Meena in her three prominent films-Dhool Ka Phool, Gumraah and Pyaasa. Nominated four times for Best Actress Award for Dhool Ka Phool, Bahurani, Jahan Ara and Himalay Ki God Mein respectively. “Zid” (1994) directed by Esmayeel Shroff of ‘Thodisi Bewafaii’ fame was her last film. Bestowed with Lifetime Achievement Award. Was not suitably rewarded for her work in Hindi films.
One of my favorite actresses, Mala Sinha made her film debut in “Hamlet” (1954) opposite Kishore Sahu. She lives at her Bandra bungalow in Mumbai with husband P. C. Lohani and daughter Pratibha Sinha, a former actress.
