By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
Om Prakash, the well known comedian and character actor of Hindi films, was noticed first by Dalsukh Pancholi, eminent Punjabi filmmaker. He was cast in “Daasi” to get recognition followed by a few more films by the same producer. Pancholi is credited with producing the first Punjabi film. He is known for introducing Pran & Noor Jehan, too in Gu-E- Bakawali.
After the independence Om Prakash shifted to Delhi and eventually to Bombay where he was spotted by Baldev Raj Chopra, then a Journalist who later graduated as a producer-director. It was in this background that Om Prakash saw his career flourishing day by day with hits like “Azaad”(1955) playing a constable and “Miss Marry”(1957) also starring Gemini Ganeshan & Meena Kumari. He touched the pinnacle of success with the release of “Dus Lakh”(1968) directed by Devendra Goel, winning Filmfare Best Comedian Award. The film was a Silver Jubilee hit featuring Pran, Sanjay Khan, Babita & Helen with “Garibo Ki Suno” a popular song rendered by Asha Bhosle.
I had watched some of his earlier films – “Rail Ka Dibba” (1953), “Marine Drive”(1955),”Bhai Bhai” (1956) & “Howrah Bridge”(1958) at Kanpur, the last starring Madhubala, Ashok Kumar & K.N.Singh with a lovely number to boast rendered by Asha Bhosle under the baton O. P. Nayyar “Hariyali Aur Rasta”(1962), “Bharosa”(1963) “Khandaan” (1965) & “Pyar Kiye Jaa” (1966), “Purab Aur Paschim”, “Mera Naam Joker” (1970), “Parwana”, “Hulchul”, “Buddha Mil Gaya”, “Paraya Dhan” (1971), “Zanjeer” (1973) & “Namak Halaal” (1982) were his other popular films.
