By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
नीली आँख मिला लो जी, दिल में आज छुपा लो जी
बाहों में बाहें डालो जी, गिर ना जाए संभालो जी
भीगी हवाओं में ऐसी फिजाओं में, होश मुझे कहाँ
मस्ती भरा…
On Her 88th Birth Anniversary
Mala Sinha, one of the most popular actresses of 1950s, 1960s & 1970s was born to Nepali parents in Calcutta, now renamed Kolkata also called ‘City of Joy’. Mala Sinha was lucky enough to get recognition & taste stardom when she was cast in Yash Chopra’s debut film”, Dhool Ka Phool” opposite Rajendra Kumar, a musical hit film based on a hitherto taboo subject -illegitimacy. 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.”Pyaasa’ is considered a ‘classic’ and one of the most talked about film.
Said to be the highest paid actress in early 1960s, sharing the screen with Vyjayanthimala, she worked in several successful Bengali flms with veteran actor Uttam Kumar.Her coquettish shyness, as she revealed at a point in a ” Parvarish “song “Masti Bhara Hai Sama” with Raj Kapoor was too bewitching .Naturally, therefore, the actress went on to become a darling of millions of cinegoers in the films that followed. In “Anpadh” she played an illiterate wife opposite Dharmendra, then a newcomer, another masterpiece.
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B. R. Chopra’s “Gumrah” 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. She enacted her role with aplomb. 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 on the box-office, 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”. The film starred Bharat Bhushan & Shashikala & Om Prakash.
Mala Sinha’s other mentionable movies include Phir Subah Hogi ,Maya, Dil Tera Diwana, Love- Marriage, Gehra -Daag, Mere- Huzoor ,Bahurani, Hariyali Aur Rasta, and Himalaya Ki God Mein. She worked opposite two legendary actors Raj Kumar & Rajesh Khanna in ‘Maryaada’ , known for their amour propre, and came out meritoriously. Interestingly, the actress was named Meena in her three prominent films- Dhool Ka Phool, Gumraah and Pyaasa.
“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 OP 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. “Himalay Ki God Mein” had some of the the best lyrics and music as well. “Kahe Jhoom Jhoom Raat Ye Suhani Piya Haule Se Chedo Dobara” penned by Shailendra & rendered by Lata Mangeshkar under the music score Shankar Jaikishan was another of my favourite numbers from Dev Anand starrer “Love Marriage”.
It would indeed be injustice if we did not mention Ramanand Sar’s suerhit film “Aankhen” starring Dharmendra, Mala Sinha, Mehmood, Zeb Rehman & Sujit Kumar. The film boasts of many popular songs like- ‘Mlti hai Zindagi Mein Mohabbat Kabhi Kabhi’ & ‘Tujhko Rakkhe Raam Tujhko Allah Rakhe’ to name two. Sagar also won Filmfare Best Director Award.
Nominated four times for Best Actress Award for ‘Dhool Ka Phool’, ‘Bahurani’ ,’Jahan Ara’ and ‘Himalay Ki god Mein’ respectively. ‘Maya’, ‘Dharmputra’, ‘Main Nashe mein Hoon’ (1959) ‘Neela Akash'(1965), ‘Night in London’ (1967), ‘Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi’ (1966), ‘Dhan Daulat’ (1980), ‘Khel’ (992) ‘ & ‘Zid (1994) were some of her other movies.
Mala Sinha, one of my favorite actresses, currently lives at her Bandra flat . Her bungalow is demolished & converted into a high-rise building. She is likely to occupy two floors. Married to P. C. Lohani, she has a daughter named Pratibha Sinha, also a former actress.
