Thursday, February 7, 2008

Nanda – the soft actress of bollywood.

Nanda – the soft actress of bollywood.

NandaNanda, is known for her soft performance in notable bollywood films of the 60s and 70s. She acted as the wife of military major played by Dev Anand in the film Hum Dono, where the major died, and another military officer, having resemblance with the major came to her house to give the news of his death. As her mother-in-law was blind and had no other bread-earner, Nanda asked the officer to pretend to be her son, as she was not strong enough to bear the news of his death. It was a very landmark film, with unique story having resemblance with Uttamkumar’s film Uttarayan. Nanda gave very impressive lips in Lata’s bhajan “allah tero naam”, composed by Jaidev in raag gour-sarang.

In the 60s, Nanda had acted in successful films opposite Shashi Kapoor, including Jab Jab Phool Khile, Neend Humari Khwab tumhari, Mohabbat is ko kehte hai, etc. The songs composed in these films by Kalyanji Anandji, Khayyam, and sung by Rafi, Lata, Suman Kalyanpur, were very unique, including “pardesiyon se na aankhiya milana”, “mai yaha ek ajnabi hun”, “theheriye hosh me aalun, to chale jaiyega”, etc.

NandaIn the film Gumman, in 1965, she transformed her docile image into stylish image and provided landmark performance opposite Manoj Kumar. It was crime-thriller, with 7 murders, and the actual criminal played by Tarun Bose, was detected at the end of the film. Shankar Jaikishan, as usual, had given memorable tunes including “gumnaam hai koi”, “ek ladki ne”, “jaan pehchaan ho”, “is duniya me jeena ho to”, “o mere maan”, etc. Nanda had balaned the strong performance of Helen, Pran, Mehmood and others in the film.

In the 70s, she was sublime in the serene performance in the film Shor, opposite Manoj Kumar, where she died, and her son was nurtured with her memory, although the film. The song “ek pyar ka nagma hai”, sung by Lata and Mukesh, composed by Laxmikant Pyarellal has become immortal with passage of time. Jaya Bachhan also performed well in the film. Nanda’s other notable films include The Train, and Joru ka ghulam, opposite Rajesh Khanna, and a familydrama titled Bhabi. If the films of the 60s and 70s involving soft romantic stories are remembered, Nanda’s performance will be adored as well, as the style of dialogue delivery was soft, unique and impressive.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Nanda impressed the viewers with her performance in Bhabhi. She depicted the gentle, submissive character of girls in hindu joint family that used to exist in the 50s and 60s. It was the realistic performance as expected from a professional actress.
CR Chatterji.

Rumi said...

Nanda was sublime in her performance in Shor. The song "ek pyar ka nagma hai" had haunted the viewers throughout the film.
Rumi Chatterji

Souvik Chatterji said...

In Gumnaam, the viewers were perplexed about who had committed the murder. Nanda showed the fear very well whenever the title song "gumnaam hai koi" was played several times in the film.
Souvik Chatterji.

VINAY SHARMA said...

ACTRESS NANDA IS REMEMBERED FOR HER POWERFUL ROLLS IN HINDI & MARATHI FILMS,SOME HINDI FILMS ARE HERE :
1.AAJ AUR KAL(1963)-HANDICAPPED GIRL
2.NARTAKI(1963)-GOOD GIRL OF PROSTITUTE MOTHER(BOTH FILMS WITH ACTOR SUNIL DUTT)
3.MERA QASOOR KYA HAI(1965)-DOUBLE ROLLS OF GOOD & BAD GIRL(WITH DHARMENDRA)
4.ITTAFAQ(1969)-MURDERER OF HER HUSBAND(WITH RAJESH KHANNA).

SHE DONE A GOOD JOB OF NARTAKI,SHE LEARNT DANCING FOR THIS FILM & HER INNOCENT FACE SHOWN THE MATURITY OF THE CHARACTER,PLAYED BY HER.
SHE ALSO DID GOOD ROLL IN B.R.FILM'S SONGLESS MOVIE ITTAFAQ.

Unknown said...

Nanda has been one of my favourite actress of all time.I have watched most of her films. I enjoyed Bhabhi Teen Deviyaan Ittefaaq Gumnaam Jab Jab Phool Khile and many others including Prem Rog and Ahista Ahista. I think she was an extremely beautiful and complete actress. I still watch her movies and I am always on the lookout for her films (Dvds)in which she has acted. I want her entire collection.Great Actress.

VINAY SHARMA said...

NANDAJI WILL BE REMEBERED FOR HER VARIETY OF ROLLS DID IN HINDI FILMS:
1.USNE KAHA THA(1960)-SUNIL DUTT
2.AANCHAL(1960)-SUDESH KUMAR
3.MEHNDI LAGI MERE HAATH(1962)-SHASHI KAPOOR.
4.AASHIQ(1962)-RAJ KAPOOR
5.KAISE KAHOON(1964)-BISHWAJEET
6.PARINEETA(1972)-AJAY SAHNI
AND MANY MORE..............

Souvik-indrajalik said...

Dear Gujraji and Vinaykumar, thanks for your excellent comments.
She had excelled in both non-glamourous roles as well as stylish roles.
Souvik Chatterji.

Anonymous said...

I am asked to submit my comments on Nanda. I am amazed that great as she is could be commented upon as she herself is a ocean and her heights are unfathomable. She is so glamorous, gorgeous full of serene beauty accompanied by fragrance of spring meadows which cannot be held back from spreading. Her creator has been very generous to grace her with all finest biological chemistry and spiritual virtues. However, having been obsessed with her fabulously, I cannot refrain from expressing some of my thoughts about her.

She is the most outstanding actress I have ever watched. Recently after watching some of her films, I have developed very strong and intense liking for Actress Nanda. When watching Mehndi Lagi Meray Haath movie, I came to watch madhur song - Kankariya Maarey Kar key Isharey. This madhur song lost me in golden years of my life of 1961 when I was 14 years school going boy and used to very fondly listen this then famous song as at that time there were only radios and no TVs. Nanda while has travelled 73 stages of her life, I have reached 65 in this way made me young. She is thus an actress of all ages and times, eternal, never to become old or of yesteryears and never to recede in delusion of grandeur in the splendor of which she has all through lived and remembered. Nanda is an actress who is seldom born and once born become eternal. Nanda in fact had already become a legend in a very young age by her outstanding performance in famous movie Choti Behan (song - Baghoan main baharoan main Gungunata aiya koi). Even earlier she had got herself acclaimed of her exceptional stupendous talents in movie Bhabhi (songs - Chali Rey Patang Meri Chali Rey & Tie Laga Key Mana Ban Gaiey Janab Hero...)She has given so much that stars of the stature of Jetendra, Shashi Kapoor and Anjahani Rajesh Khana owed her a lot for their ascendanency to become great. She is therefore, non imitable, unparallel, legend of the legends and a goddess.

She is so great that in fact I fail to find words to describe her truly. I highly adore Great Nanda and strongly wish I could write a book on her as some service to this great star. I however, feel deeply saddened to know that Nanda who all through sprinkled all around smiles and joys herself had a tragic life.
S. Israr Ali, Houston, TX

S. Israr Ali said...

“Reclusive yesteryears heroine Nanda made a rare public appearance” or “The reclusive actress Nanda is now unrecognizable” – I am so obsessed with fabulous Nanda that it is really very offending for me to read all this about her and pains me gravely. She has a Himalyan stature and as the Himalya is there majestically for thousands of years unfaded so is the Nanda to similarly ever live as fairy never to eclipse on the horizon. She is so glamorous, gorgeous full of serene beauty accompanied by fragrance of spring meadows which cannot be held back from spreading. Her creator too has been very generous to grace her with all finest biological chemistry and spiritual virtues.

She is the most outstanding actress I have ever watched. Recently after watching some of her films, I have developed very strong and intense liking for Actress Nanda. When watching Mehndi Lagi Meray Haath movie, I came to watch madhur song – Kankariya Maarey Kar key Isharey. This madhur song lost me in golden years of my life of 1961 when I was 14 years school going boy and used to very fondly listen this then famous song as at that time there were only radios and no TVs. Nanda while has travelled 73 stages of her life, I have reached 65 in this way made me young. She is thus an actress of all ages and times, eternal, never to become old or of yesteryears and never to recede in delusion of grandeur in the splendor of which she has all through lived and remembered. Nanda is an actress who is seldom born and once born become eternal. Nanda in fact had already become a legend in a very young age by her outstanding performance in famous movie Choti Behan (song – Baghoan main baharoan main Gungunata aiya koi). Even earlier she had got herself acclaimed of her exceptional stupendous talents in movie Bhabhi (songs – Chali Rey Patang Meri Chali Rey & Tie Laga Key Mana Ban Gaiey Janab Hero…) She has given so much that stars of the stature of Jetendra, Shashi Kapoor and Anjahani Rajesh Khana owed her a lot for their ascendanency to become great. She is therefore, non imitable, unparallel, legend of the legends and a goddess.

She is so great that in fact I fail to find words to describe her truly. I highly adore Great Nanda and strongly wish I could write a book on her as some service to this great star. I however, feel deeply saddened to know that Nanda who ever sprinkled all around smiles and joys herself had a tragic life.
S. Israr Ali, Houston, TX. USA

Anonymous said...

Great Adorable Nanda! You are such a Great Lady about whom it is said time is from you and you are not from time. There was a song became famous when you graced it with filming on you - "Tum hamain piyar karo yaa naa karo, ham tumhain piyar kiyay jain gey, chahey qismat main khushi ho keh na ho, yeh gham bhi ham uthaiey hi jain gey." Wah Nandaji you have proved it true. You are such a great lady who selflessly gave to the world with all exceptional glamour and glitter every love, smiles and pleasures to happily live and rejoice in your splendor and grandeur, but for your ownself what - sacrifices and tragedies in life and an ungrateful world to still call you yesteryears or reclusive heroine. or apparently now unrecognisable. For you heart goes out. Really you are legend maker and Devi and will ever remain alive to rule with dignity for thousands of years magnificent heroine of all times and ages. God bless you always. S. Israr Ali, Houston, TX. USA