By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary”
Motilal, gifted with a natural ability to both act & react, is rated as one of the finest actor and show man in his own right. He was an aristocrat who lived in style like a King. Most people compared him with Balraj Sahni.
Moti Lal came from a reputed family. His father was an educationist who died when the latter was an infant. He has had his schooling at Shimla & Uttar Pradesh. He later shifted to Delhi. Motilal started working in films as early as in mid 1930s. Some of his earlier films include, “Hum Tum Aur Woh” ( 1938) directed by Mehboob Khan, “Achhut” ( 1940), “Pardesi” ( 1941), “Shaadi” with Khursheed & “Armaan” ( 1942). He, however, got recognition in Bimal Roy’s “Devdas” ( 1955) featuring Dilip Kumar (as Devdas) , Vyjayantimala (as Chandramukhi), Suchitra Sen (as Paro) & Moti Lal as Chunni Babu.
The film’s lyrics were penned by Sahir & music scored by S. D. Burman.The film won National Award for Best Feature film besides Filmfare Awards in three categories- Best Actor Dilip Kumar, Best Supporting Actor Motilal & Best Supporting Actress Vyjayanthimala which she refused on the grounds that her role was parallel to Suchitra Sen. Hence, she deserved Best Actress Award.
Devdas is considered a Classic. The atmosphere of the film was heavy sans emotional outburst.
“Devdas” was followed by Raj Kapoor’s “Jagte Raho” (1956) & Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s “Anari” ( 1959), a musical extravaganza . The film won Filmfare Awards in 5 categories including President’s Silver Medal. Bimal Roy repeated him in “Parakh” opposite Sadhna with a lovely number “O Sajna , Barkha Bahar Aai’ to win Filmfare Best Director Award. The Best Supporting Actor Award went to Moti Lal.
“Jagte Raho”, “Ab Dilli Door Nahin” ( 1957) “Paigham”( 1959) starring Dilip Kumar, Raj Kumar & Vyjayanthimala, “Asli-Naqli”( 1962), “Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke” (1963) & “Waqt”(1965) were his other notable films. He died before the release of “Chhoti Chhoti Baatein” (1965) written & produced under his direction. The film starred Motilal & Nadira. At the 13th National Film Awards, the film won Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film and he posthumously won the Certificate of Merit for the Best Story Writer. A distinguished personality as he was, the veteran actor and ‘show man’ died on 17 June 1965.
