By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

‘ठण्डी हवाएं, लहराके आएं
रुत है जवां, उनको यहाँ, कैसे बुलाएं
ठण्डी हवाएं’

Nalini Jaywant was one of the most popular actresses in late 1940s & 1950s. I remember having seen one of her films “Railway Platform” (1955) starring Newcomer Sunil Dutt , Sheila Ramani & Nalini Jaywant, the subject of this write up. The film highlighted the plight of passengers stranded at a secluded railway station owing to some natural calamity. Ramani acted as a princess while Jaywant was in the lead opposite Dutt who earlier worked as a Radio Announcer at the All India Radio. “I watched the film at Ferozpur, then aged Six. “Basti Basti Parvat Parvat Gata Jaye Banjara” & “Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Halat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwan” were two popular songs rendered by Mohammed Rafi. The film also starred Nishi, Leela Mishra & Nana Palsikar .

The other film of the actress, I was lucky to see , was “Kala Pani” starring Madhubala, Dev Anand, Sapru, Mumtaz Begum, & Kishore Sahu who plays a prosecuter in the film. The film was a box office hit with some of the hau nting melodies like- “Dilwale O Dilwale, Ab Teri Gali Tak Aa Pahunche”, “Nazar Lagi Raja Torey Bangley Per” & “Achha Ji Main Haari, Chalo Maan Jao Na” to mention only three rendered by Rafi & Asha Bhosle. The film was directed by Raj Khosla & won Filmfare Best Actor for(Dev Anand) & Best Supporting Actress Award for Nalini Jaywant who plays a courtesan and & a witness in the murder mystery involving Dev Anand’s father & his subsequent life imprisonment (Kala Pani).

One of her earlier films was “Bahen” directed by Mehboob Khan, story of a brother who loves his sisters and become too possessive, wanting not to lose them. It starred Shaikh Mukhtar, Meena Shorey, Baby Meena Kumari & Kahhaiyalal. In “Nastik” (1954) she was cast opposite Ajit & “Munimji” (1955) opposite Dev Anand with a popular number “Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Rahi, Milte Hain Bichhad Jane Ko,” rendered by Kishore Kumar.

“Shikast” with Dilip Kumar , “Rahi” opposite Dev Anand , & “Samadhi” & “Sangram” with Ashok Kumar were other films of the actress. Ramesh Saigal repeatedly cast her in his films. She appeared in “Naujawan” also starring Prem Nath. The film is remembered for a lovely song “Thandi Hawayen Lehra Ke Aaayen” picturized on the lead pair & sung by Lata Mangeshkar. I had seen this film in 1970s in Kanpur. Dilip Kumar who also worked with her in “Anokha Pyar” (1948) alongside Nargis, found her gifted with exceptional qualities.

She remained a well adored actress through 1950s until she retired in 1960s, later to appear after a long hiatus in few films including her last “Nastik” (1983) as Amitabh Bachchan’s mother .It also starred Hema Malini & Pran. Nalini Jaywant was related to Samarth family. Her father and actress Shobhana Samarth’s mother Ratan Bai were brother & sister respectively.

‘ओ दिलवाले अब तेरी गली
तक आ पहुंचे ओ दिलवाले’

Born 18 February 1926 in Bombay the actress was married to director Virendra Desai ( film Gunjan, Sadhana) in the 1940s. They later divorced. She later married actor Prabhu Dayal & they also featured in few films. She spent the last two decades as a virtual recluse. After the death of her husband in 2001 she lived in absolute anonymity. Died on 22 December 2010 unnoticed & unceremoniously at her Chembur, Mumbai residence.