By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On Her Birth Anniversary
इस दिल के तारों में मधुर
झंकार तुम्हीं से है
और यह हसीं जलवा
यह मस्त बहार तुम्हीं से है
दिल तो मेरा सनम
तेरा तलबगार था
तेरा तलबगार था
आज भी है और
और कल भी रहेगा
Like many other actresses of her time Asha Parekh, too, started her career as a child artist in early 1950s later graduating to a front Line actress of her time. I saw her first time in film film “Aasha” (1957) starring Kishore Kumar & Vyjayanthimala at Defence Cinema, Ambala in 1962 ( I was then 11-years-old ). One of the film’s song “Eena Meena Deeka ” was the star attraction of the film. Hers was a cameo.
She debuted with 1959 movie “Dil Deke Dekho” as heroine opposite Shammi Kapoor also starring Surendra & Indira Billi with “Bade Hai Dil Ke Kale, Yahi Neeli Si Aankhonwale”, “Bolo Bolo, Kuch To Bolo” & “Dil Deke Dekho” some of the hits. She later did another hit “Teesri Manzil” (1966) with Shammi Kapoor. During my sitting with the romantic hero I asked him about his three films- ‘Dil Deke Dekho’, ‘Raj Kumar’ & ‘Teesri Manzil’. He was all praise for Asha Parekh.
“Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai” (1960) was another of her musical hits with many foot-tapping hits like- “Jiya O Jiya”, “Yeh Aankhen Uff Yun Maa”, “Sau Saal Pehle” & “Teri Zulfon Se Judai To Nahi Mangi Thi”. The film directed by Nasir Hussain starred Dev Anand in the lead. Hasrat Jaipuri & Shankar Jaikishan did wonders on the musical front. The film grossed about 2 crore Indian rupee. Asha Parekh was still a teenager as an actress in the lead.”Ghunghat” (1960 film) “Gharana” & “Chhaya”(1961) were her other notable films. In the last film Sunil Dutt was the hero. “Itna Na Mujhse Tu Pyar Badha” & “Aansoo Samajh ke” rendered by Talat were the most popular & touching numbers. The film was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Gharana (1961 film) starring Raj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar & Asha Parekh was another social-music film with lovely songs- “Husnwale Tera Jawab Nahin”, “Jabse Tumhe Dekha Hai, Aankhon Mein Tum Hi Tum Ho” & “Yeh Duniya Usi Ki” to mention some. “Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon” & “Bharosa” (1963), “Ziddi” (1964), “Mere Sanam” (1965), “Teesri Manzil”, “Love in Tokyo”, “Do Badan” & “Aaye Din Bahar Ke” (1966) were some of her other musical hits. I was sixteen-year-old when I watched her above mentioned last film “Aaye Din Bahar Ke” at Liberty cinema in New Delhi. I have been lucky enough to see most of her films.
