Rajesh Khanna: The Earthly Superstar Who Now Became A Star In The Sky

Anand Never Dies!

The passing away of Rajesh Khanna makes all sensitive souls very sad. He should have lived for some more years on this planet. In India, they say people used  to live for more than 100 years in ancient  times. The  people are dying at a very young age nowadays. We have been witnessing the passing away of creative souls at frequent intervals since last year- Jagjit Singh, Shahryar, Ravi, Shri Lal Shukla, Shammi Kapoor, Hanuman of modern times Dara Singh and now Rajesh Khanna. It appears that heaven badly needs creative artists to entertain its own residents, and thus, be it a singer, writer or actor, all are slowly getting  placed in heaven one by one. Anyway, the death of Rajesh Khanna makes me realize that death is really the great leveler. It leaves none. It cares a damn for stature.

Rajesh Khanna provided death a new meaning in his timeless classic movie “Anand”. The movie highlighted the theme that death is an insignificant drama. However, today when he has passed away, it’s pretty hard to keep emotions in check. The Hindi movie landscape’s first superstar has now become a sweet memory as the presence now gets limited to magazines, books and movies. I really don’t know what are the elements involved in the making of a superstar but I am aware of the fact that his charishma in 70s left both young and old spellbound. Male newborns got named Rajesh, a new hair style came into existence and the frenziness found in every woman’s heart attained new height. The arrival of angry young man Amitabh Bachchan  soon eclipsed the magic of Rajesh Khanna, but by then Rajesh Khanna image has attained some sort of immortality.

 
The early phase of all great actors had been a roller coaster ride. Rajesh Khanna proved to be no exception. The leading actresses of those days refused to work with him and well known directors failed to take note of him. His early movies did not create a desired effect. When Shakti Samanta narrated him the story of Aradhana, he noticed that Rajesh Khanna did not seem to be much impressed. After all, it was a female oriented movie, in which the hero died during the middle of the movie. It was no less a herculean task for Shakit Da to make Rajesh Khanna see light at the end of the tunnel. However, very few can predict the course  of destiny. The movie, which in eyes of Rajesh Khanna, offered no better prospects not only proved to be a milestone in history of Indian movies but also gave Hindi movie world its first superstar. That’s the only logic which governs Bollywood- success appears like appearance of cascade in barren land. It defies all established rules. A female oriented movie gave Indian movie landscape its first male superstar!
 
Interestingly, the other dominant trend which defines Bollywood is that superstars rarely know real acting or, for that  matter, are  rarely offered roles that involve some real shades of acting.  That’s so evident if one has witnessed acting skills of present “Khan Brigade”. They develop some lovable styles but they  rarely come to act. The only superstar that can act a bit, Amitabh Bachchan, too feels that he never got an opportunity to reveal interesting shades of acting. All the time he remained engaged in “dhishum dhishum” (fight scenes)! Anyway, destiny smiled on Rajesh Khanna once again when he got opportunity to show his acting skills in some movies having substantial plots. It’s really curious coincidence that it was Hrishikesh Mukherjee, known for his simplistic take on serious issues, who came to provide both Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan some good opportunities to strike a bonhomie with various shades of acting. In fact, they both came to work together under his direction in Anand and Namak Haraam. Anand turned out to be a huge success. In fact, the character played by Amitabh, Babu Moshay, became a household name. The plot of Anand revolved around the philosophy found in the Upanishads that there is no such thing as death. Death is not an end but a new  beginning. In other words, it taught the art of living, reminding us that laughter is the best medicine. After all, we rarely come to live life in a proper way.  The movie made it clear that death is final drama, which paves the way for soul’s fresh journey with new set of cloth in form of a new body! Rajesh Khanna depicted this art of living in an unforgettable way.

Anand: Now Offering Solace To People In Heaven

Rajesh Khanna’s method of acting was not full of complex elements. Like any star actor, his appeal was confined to few stylish gestures, which suited him so well. His acting mannerism was heavily dramatic, which went so well with romantic plots. But he was a good actor, who can do justice with complex themes became known to all  cinema-goers with release of “Ittefaq” which came right in the beginning of his career. The movie directed by Yash Chopra and produced by B R Chopra revolved around a painter trapped in a tragic situation, wherein people perceived him to be a murderer with an unstable mind. He  depicted the agony of such an innocent man in an impressive way. Anyway, the movies like Amar Prem, Kati Patang, Kudrat, Khamoshi, Souten, Avatar, Doli, Roti, Aan Milo Sajna, Thodi Se Bewafai, Sachha Jhootha and Dushman, to name a few, are some of his super-hit movies, which made him darling of the masses.

However, let’s not forget the role which Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, R D Burman, Salil Choudhary, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anand Bakshi, Laxmikant Pyarelaal, Hemant Kumar, Sahir and Khaiyyam played in shaping the course of success for Rajesh Khanna. It’s an undisputed fact that Kishore Kumar played the most significant role in making Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan careers attain starry heights. It’s also a proven fact that both of them lost their star appeal, when Kishore Kumar stopped singing for them in last stage of his singing career, due to health reasons. The romanticism demonstrated by Rajesh Khanna and machoism exhibited by Amitabh were heavily dependent on voice of Kishore Kumar! His voice acted as most suitable medium for them, which earlier provided new heights to Dev Anand. I am sure had Kishore been missing, Rajesh Khann would have failed to locate “Mere sapno ki Rani“. Tanuja would have maintained safe distance from Rajesh Khanna had Kishore not turned out to be “Dil ke Chain“. This song “Ye Jo Public Hai Ye Sab Jaanti Hai” became the most popular idiom to make a remark on the shady affairs in the world of politics and business. Another song from the same movie Roti “Gore Range Pe Na Itna Gumaan Kar” transcended generations to influence the fate of every fair skinned Indian girl.

     

May his soul rest in peace. The people who have moved ahead in this eternal  journey, never travel backwards. They simply live inside our heart and minds as sweet memories. This line which forms the part of song picturized on him expresses this sentiment so well: “Kuch Log Jo Ek Roj Bichud Jaate Hai  Wo Hazaro Ke Aane Se Milte Nahi“. Anand never dies. He always manages to be back on earth’s playground to play the game of life with a new face.That realization is bound to make one smile even as the eyes remained moist with tears. It makes reunion with Rajesh Khanna-a good soul-a great possibility. By the way, let’s not forget  Rajesh Khanna’s  words said to Pushpa In Amar Prem: ” Pushpa, I hate tears”.  

                             

These songs picturized on Rajesh Khanna are very close to my heart:

1. Mere Naina Saawan Bhado ( Mehbooba )

2. Kuch To Log Kahenge  (Amar Prem)

3. Zindagi Pyar Ka Geet Hai (Souten)

4. Hazaar Rahe Mud Ke Dekhi (Thodi Se Bewafai)

5. Vada Tera Vada (Dushman)

6.Sajna Saath Nibhana (Doli)

7. Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai (Kati Patang)

8. Ye Reshmi Zulfein  (Do Raastein)

9. Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein (Safar)

10. Zubaan Pe Dard Bhari Daastan( Maryaada)

11. Wo Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi  (Khamoshi)

12. Yun Hi Tum Mujhse Baat Karti Ho  (Sachha Jhootha)

13. Mere Dil Me Aaaj Kya Hai (Daag)

14. Kahin Door Jab Din Dhal Jaayein (Anand)

15. Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana   (Andaaz)

A lot depends on how the song is picturized. I love this song not only for beautiful verses by Majrooh Sultanpuri, excellent composition by R D Burman, terrific singing by Kishore Kumar, but also for its mesmeric picturization. Absolutely stunning romantic song picturized in a perfect setting. A meaningful one as well. The verses are not only talking about romance in some absurd way like “Tum mujhko chand laake do” (get the moon for me) but they are having a take on it in a balanced way. The movie was full of typical Bollywood elements ( and that’s why I don’t like this movie) but the songs stand apart. 

Pics Credit:

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