Thursday Post

Generally, I do not write my blog on films and Bollywood during weekdays, but today I am making an exception for giving tribute to the great legendary actor Dilip Kumar who expired yesterday. His real name was Yusuf Khan, and his screen name Dilip Kumar was given by Devika Rani. During his career spanning from 1944 to 1999,  a period of 55 years, he just acted in 60 films because he was always choosey about his roles. At one time he was known as Tragedy King because he was mostly acting that time in serious films. On the advice of his doctor, he started acting in light comedy roles, and then there was no looking back, and this helped him in becoming the complete actor. Most of his films were great hits, even if some films did not do commercially well, his performance was always appreciated.

The listing below is his films in which he was appreciated by both critics and masses.

1 Jugnu (1947)- He got his first taste of success with this film. Paired opposite singer/actress Noorjehan, films start out as a breezy romance between a happy-go-lucky young man and a golden-hearted heroine before hitting an unforeseen tragic conclusion, quite typical of films in those days. A super hit film

2 Shaheed (1948)- He made a lasting impression with his sensitive and sensible acting as a nationalist in the Quit India Movement of 1942. A hit film.

3 Mela (1948)- In this film, he acted with Nargis. In the film, they played childhood sweethearts, who spend most of the film away from each other owing to unfortunate circumstances. But the moments that do come together are sheer magic. A hit film.

4 Andaaz (1949)- It was a casting coup of that time when Dilip Kumar acted with Raj Kapoor and Nargis. But it was the grey area conveyed in his performance that truly elevated the film from a glamourous love triangle to a serious study of the Human Psyche. A super hit film.

5 Babul (1950)- Matters of the heart continue to create irreversible anguish in his performance following a series of misunderstandings and misfortune in this melodramatic film. His co-star was Nargis, in this hit film.

6 Deedar (1951)- In this film, he acted with Ashok Kumar and Nargis. He is a blind singer who is in love with his childhood friend but when they meet, he was not ready for the surprise. A super hit film.

7 Daag (1952)-  In this film, he again reiterated his tragedy king tag, who is a toy seller turned hopeless alcoholic pining for, his lady love Nimmi. This film gave his first Filmfare best actor award. A super hit film.

8 Footpath (1953)- In this film, he takes a break from lovelorn tales to reflect the desperation that comes from poverty. He plays the role of a journalist whose publication is in dumps, and he takes to black marketing and extortion. Later he is troubled by his conscience and he confesses his crimes. Meena Kumari acted first time with him. As average business grosser.

9 Aan (1953)- This is the first time he acted in a costume drama. He was in a swashbuckling avatar to play a commoner in love with a haughty princess. But it’s his torrid chemistry with leading lady Nadira that hits the screen with spark and sizzle.

10 Amar (1955)- He takes advantage of a young village girl (Nimmi) in a moment of lust and rapes her. He does not want to admit this to his soon-to-be wife (Madhubala). The guilt pangs then question his sense of justice and morals. He conveys a complex mass of emotions with mind-blowing acting. A hit film.

11 Devdas (1955)- Based on Sarat Chandra’s novel of the same name. This story has been made into a film several times, but this version is rated as best. The credits for which goes to his immersive rendering and profound understanding of Devdas’s deep-rooted ego and affections, alcoholic breakdown, and complete refusal to move on. A super hit film, he won the Filmfare award for best actor.

12 Azaad (1956)- This was the film where he heeded his doctor’s advice and acted in light-hearted fanfare. His exuberant antics/disguises along with his counterpart in tragic roles, Meena Kumari who was also incomplete form. This gives a feeling of wholesome cheerfulness. A super hit film, also fetched him Filmfare best actor award,

13 Musafir (1957)- The film encompasses three stories under one roof to explain the cycle of birth, marriage, and death. He is a character that seems to be serene, not so the moody extension of Devdas who opts for an alternate destiny, which is sad and surreal. In this film, he sang his first and only song, a duet with Lata Mangeshkar. Business-wise an average film

14 Naya Daur (1957)- A story involving Tangas and Machines. He plays the challenge accepting hero with conviction. The other tracks- his soured friendship, strained romance, and struggle to succeed against all odds, showed his range of this powerful performance. He won Filmfare’s best actor award for this film. A super hit film.

15 Yahudi (1958)- The film is an account of what ensues after a Roman Prince falls for a Jewish girl (Meena Kumari). His performance as a Roman prince who is not ready to rebel was flawless.

16 Madhumati (1958)- Film’s intricate web of reincarnation, suspense, and thrill against a traditional romance between him and Vyjayantimala. This reincarnation drama still inspires many films. A super hit film.

17 Kohinoor (1960)-  This film is a fairy tale of a prince, princess, and evil ministers conspiring to spoil their chances of a happy life. Wonderful performance by him, which also fetched him his fifth Filmfare best actor award. A super hit film

18 Mughal E Azam (1960)- A film, which no one can match for the director’s grand vision is yet to come even after 60 years. This apparent scale gets its epic soul from Dilip Kumar’s restrained performance as price Salim, with bewitching Madubala (Anarkali) and dramatic Prithviraj (Akbar). A Blockbuster film.

19 Ganga Jamuna (1961)- This was the film produced by him and some say he even ghost-directed it. It is the story of two brothers, the elder one after being wronged becomes dacoit and the younger one becoming a policeman. The film shows the conflict of brothers. With his rustic body language and speech, he delivers yet another super performance. Some critics say this was his best performance. A super hit film.

20 Ram Aur Shyam (1967)- In this film portrayed a double role of two brothers, one timid and the other jovial and daring character. This film was the inspiration for so many Hindi films to date. He won his 7^th Filmfare award for best actor (6^th was for his acting in Leader a 1964 film). A super-duper film.

21 Sungharsh (1968)- This film based on Mahasweta Devi’s story boasts of stellar star cast- which included Dilip Kumar with Sanjeev Kumar, Balraj Sahni, Jayant, and Vyjayantimala. The story is about two scions of feuding families. A hit film.

22 Shakti (1982)- The film is about a father-son strained relationship, played by Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan, father is a police officer and resentful criminal son. This film was made when Amitabh was at the height of superstardom, but in the film, he was overshadowed by Dilip Kumar. His performance won his eighth and last Filmfare best actor award. A super hit film.

23 Mashaal (1984)- In this film, he revived the memory of his tragedian days to enact one of the most heartbreaking scenes, when his wife (Waheeda Rehman) needs desperate medical attention, and no one is willing to give them lift. This one scene lifted the film. A hit film.

24 Karma (1986)- In this film, he sets up his own army of well-meaning convicts to avenge the villain’s brutal slaughter of his loved ones. Playing it sharp, aloof, persuasive but always an effective character that balances the camaraderie of Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, and Naseeruddin Shah. A super hit film.

25 Saudagar (1991)- This film brought two stalwarts of Hindi film ie Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar playing the proverbial friends turned foes. This being the highlight of the film, which otherwise would have been an average film. A super hit film.

So above are his most famous films, no doubt his performances in other films were also great. He is the first actor who after he grew old and comes into his fifties, started a new movement where he could act in films where he was not a traditional hero but he played a central character who carries the film on his shoulder in presence of an actor from the younger generation. An example which Amitabh Bachchan is following.

His old films are still a treat to watch.

Actor Par Excellence  DILIP  KUMAR—- RIP.

Waiting for your comments and views on this blog.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

8^th July 2021