Balraj Sahani was a great actor.

Balraj Sahani was a great actor. If the Bollywood films of 1950s and 1960s are seen, it will be known that it was dominated by Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar. While Raj Kapoor gave blockbusters like Awaara, Shree 420, Anari, Sangam and other films, Dilip Kumar gave blockbusters like Madhumati, Mughal-I –Azam, Ganga Jumna, Ram Aur Shyam and other films. Balraj Sahani acted in realistic films and maintained and same class in his films in that era. He was not considered to be romantic actor. But his character acting created life in classic films. He was brilliant in the film Do Bigha Zameen in 1953, where he played the character of a farmer who had sold the land and came to the city of Kolkata. He displayed the hardship of a rickshaw-puller in Kolkata. In Seema he played an important role of moulding the character of Nutan, who faced many hardhips in life. He was sublime in Hemen Gupta’s film Kabuliwala. It was written by Rabindranath Tagore. Bimal Roy produced the film. It was released in 1961. He was brilliant in the film Bhabhi released in 1957. He showed the sacrifice of an elder brother of a middle-class family. His wife Pandari Bai sacrificed her life for the wellbeing of the family. He was brilliant in the film Bhabhi Ki Chudiya opposite Meena Kumari. There also both Balraj Sahani and Meena Kumari showed the sacrifice for middle-class family. He played the character of an honest doctor in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s film Anuradha in 1960. He could not do justice to the singing talent of his wife Leela Naidu in the film. But she also never left her. The film received National Award for best film. Balraj Sahani had acted opposite all the best actresses of silver screen including Vaijayantimala in Katputli, Nargis in Lajwanti, Meena Kumari in Satta Bazaar, Nutan in Seema, to name a few. Whenever he played any character, he kept his mark. He had acting experience of working in Indian People’s Theatre, (IPTA). It never looked that he was acting. His performances were very realistic. There were no mannerisms. He also gave lips in landmark songs of Bollywood films. Some of the brilliant songs included “kahan ja rahe ho’ sung by Mohammad Rafi in the film Seema, “aye mere zohrazabi” sung by Manna Dey in the film Waqt, “aye mere pyare watan” sung by Manna Dey in the film Kabuliwala, to name a few. His films and works should be preserved and restored.

The film Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan was a masterpiece.

Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan. The film Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan, which was released in 1961 was a masterpiece. It was directed by Sadashiv Kavi. The music was composed by Sudhir Phadke. The film was related to the story of a middle-class woman played by Meena Kumari who sacrificed her entire life for the cause of happiness for the family. Balraj Sahani had a small brother who missed his mother very early. The mother died before the brother got senses. He required mother’s care. Balraj Sahani married Meena Kumari. She fulfilled all her duties of mother and nurtured the child. Sailesh Kumar played the role of the brother of Balraj Sahani. He married Seema Deo who belonged to a rich family. Durga Khote played the role of the mother of Seema Deo, while Om Prakash played the role of the father of Seema Deo. Her mother tried her tricks to get the brothers separated. She did not succeed. Meena Kumari never begot any child due to miscarriage. But when Seema Deo’s child was seriously ill, Meena Kumari sacrificed her health to treat the child and at the end of the film died. Her bangles (chudiyan) did not burn after her body turned into ashes. The excellent performance of Meena Kumari and Balraj Sahani made the film immortal. Sudhir Phadke’s excellent classical music mesmerized the audience. Lata’s song “jyoti kalash” still haunts huge number of cinelovers. Mukesh and Asha Bhosle also sang brilliant songs in the film. The real life story of sacrifice of a middle-class woman had made everyone spellbound. The film should be shown to the new generation for excellence of direction, music and powerful acting.

Chitragupt's memorable combination with Rafi.

Chitragupt’s memorable combination with Rafi.

Chitragupt gave very melodious tunes in the 50s and 60s and as most of his songs were sung by legend of legends Mohd Rafi, the songs became immortal after creation. Rafi’s song “chal ur ja re panchi” composed by Chitragupt in the film Bhabi brought tears in the years of numerous viewers. Rafi used his emotions towards fulfillment of the literary value of the song and Balraj Sahani’s lips in the song also require special mention.

Chitragupt Srivastav, better known as Chitragupt, was born in Karmaini, Bihar in 1917, and due to his experience in the hindu heartland most of his tunes had the fragrance of folk songs. Besides as he was a lecturer in Patna, his academic brilliance did blend with his musical excellence which was given expression by Rafi. Rafi’s song “chaand jane kahan kho gaya” in the film Mai chup Rahungi, composed by Chitragupt, written by Rajinder Kishan, and picturised on Sunil Dutt and Meena Kumari showed the use of light music as well from Chitragupt. Lata Mangeshkar sang the duet song with Rafi. The other hit duet in the film included “koi bata de dil hai kahan” sung by Rafi and Lata in the film.

Rafi’s song “itni nazuk na bano” in the film Vaasna composed by Chitragupt created a very romantic appeal. Also Rafi’s song “yeh parbaton ke dayre” became a big hit in the late 50s. Besides the songs of Rafi “chupakar meri aankhon ko” and “chali chali re patang” in the film Bhabhi were very impressive. Chitragupt’s compositions in somber mood for Rafi had a great impact. One example is “mujhe dard-e-dil ka pata na tha” from the film Akash Deep. The song “raste me hai tere kab se khare” sung by Rafi and Lata in the film Opera House require special mention.

Although Chitragupt gave landmark music in films like Oonche Log, Ganga Ki Lehre, Zabak, Bada Aadmi, etc., he did not get recognition during the golden age due to dominance of Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, Roshan and others, and may be due to his composition of music in less significant films. He hardly got an opportunity to compose music in big banners like RK or Navketan, otherwise his contribution was very grand during the golden age.
Rafi’s songs composed by Chitragupt should be restored and revisited.

Balraj Sahani – the elegant character actor of bollywood.

Balraj Sahani – the elegant character actor of bollywood.

Balraj Sahani is one of the most gifted character actors of bollywood films of 50s, 60s and 70s. He performance used to be absolutely natural, without mannerisms. He was sublime in his performance in Do Bigha Zameen, where he portrayed the character of a villager who had come from his village and settled in Kolkata and earned his livelihood by rickshaw-pulling. It was a classic film of Bimal Roy and Balraj Sahani expressed the different emotions of the peasant in style.

In Seema, he played the role of superintendent of a home which cured women suffering fro mental disease. Nutan, who was depressed due to family disturbances was admitted there, and Balraj Sahani taught her to be positive in life and make life meaningful. He gave very quality lips in the songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan which included “tu pyar ka sagar hai” sung by Manna Dey and “kahan ja rahe ho” sung by Rafi.


In Kabuliwala, he played the same role which was plyed by Chabi Biswas in the Bengali film, which was baased on the classic literature of Tagore involving an Afghan father who left his country and came to Kolkata to sell mewa, pesta, etc. He loved the daughter of a bengali middle-class family, which reminded him about his own daughter in Kabul. He got involved in a violent affair and was imprisoned for life. When he came out of prison, hee entered the house of the Bengali family and saw the little girl named Mini getting married. The savings that was available with the father of Mini was given to Balraj Sahani so that he can return back to Kabul. Tagore had portrayed that the love of a father towards his daughter is uniform across the world. Balraj Sahani brought out the emotions very well. Manna Dey’s song “ai mere pyare watan” composed by Salil Choudhury was well appreciated by filmlovers.


Balraj Sahani’s other notable films include Lajwanti, Waqt, Izzat, etc. In Waqt, he played the role of the father of Raj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor, who were lost during an earthquake with their mother and he spent his entire life in search of the children whom he met at the end of the film. He even acted in a negative character in Dharmender’s Izzat. For more than 30 years he maintained a respectable image in bollywood films and his film should be restored for new generations to learn the art of realistic, natural performance.

By: CR Chatterji.