DHARMENDRA

This year on 8th December was the 79th Birth Anniversary of

Dharmendra. I learnt of it whilst surfing the channels and finally settling
for the Hindi Music where songs of his films were being played and I
remained hooked to it for about an hour : Aaaj Mausam bara beiman
hai ( Loafer with Mumtaz ), Ke Aaja teri yaad Aayi O balam harjai (
Charas with HemaMalini ), Kuch kahta hai ye Saawan kya kahta
hai ( Mera Gaon Mera Desh with Asha Parekh ), Kisi Shayer ki gazal
Dream Girl ( Dream Girl with Hema Malini), Tera picha na mein
chodunga Soniye ( Jugnu with Hema Malini ), Pal Pal dil ke paas
tum rehti ho ( Blackmail with Rakhi ), Kali palak piya mori ( Do Chor
with Tanuja ), Bagon mein phool khilte hein ( Chupke Chupke with
Sharmila Tagore ), Hum bewafa hargiz na the par hum wafa kar
na sake ( Shalimar with Zeenat Aman) , Mein Jat Yamla Pagla
Diwana ( Pratigya with Hema Malini )and many more.
As a young boy in Dehradun in the middle sixties whilst watching 'Phool
aur Patthar' at 'Prabhat' Cinema hall , I became his Fan. The Gym going
culture has proliferated in recent times but it was germinated by
Dharmendra with the masculinity he emanated when he appeared
shirtless spreading his protective arms over the docile Meena Kumari in the
film. He is the original 'He Man'. To call him Handsome would be a mere
simplification; he was much more. He appeared genuine, balanced,
proportionate in all his performances. Though in the popular perception he
is regarded as 'Macho' but his strength was more emotional than physical
.That was one reason that he was on top for a very long time. His appeal
was wide not only among the film going people of North India and UP,

Delhi and Punjab in particular, but also among the film makers of all kind:
Bimal Roy ( Bandini ) to Arjun Hingorani ( Kahani Kismet Ki ), Hrishikesh
Mukherjee ( Anupama , Satyakam, Chupke Chupke
) to Anil Sharma ( Hukumat , Elaan -e Jung, Apne ), Ramanand Sagar (
Ankhen, Lalkar, Charas ) to Vijay Anand ( Blackmail, Ram- Balram, Rajput
) and many more. He acted in all the top banners and with all the leading
ladies of his time.
Let us examine the roles which he did: A Poet in 'Anupama'; a doctor in
'Bandini'; a secret agent in Ankhen and Yakeen; a thief in ' Do Chor ' and
'Kahani Kismet Ki'; a Union leader in 'Naya Zamana'; a Professor in
'Chupke Chupke' and 'Dillagi'; a Conman in 'Raja Jani', 'Phandebaaz'
,'Shalimar'; An Army Officer in 'Haquiquat' and 'Lalkar'. Part of the
'Underworld' in 'Yadon ki Baarat' and ' Hathiyaar'. A Dacoit in 'Patthar aur
Payal', 'Gulami' and many films. A Manager of a Circus in 'Mera Naam
Joker'.
He must have given the maximum hits in Indian Cinema, it is my opinion,
even more than Amitabh Bachhan both in terms of numbers and
percentage. However his second innings was late and weak as there was a
long gap when he started again. It was not nice to see him in 'Metro'
struggling with his dialogues . However it was very shocking to see him
killed by a rookie Neil Mukesh in 'Johnie Gaddar'; How can any one kill
'DRAEMENDRA'? No one can! He can only die in Battle for the Country as
in 'Haquiquat' and 'Lalkar' , but in ordinary life no one can kill him. It is not
done . It is bad Cinema!! This was my reaction.
It is reported that he was adjudged as one of the most Handsome Men by
an International Magazine, however he does not require a certificate from
anyone when the people had adjudged him as one. When the International
film maker Krishna Shah announced to make a film for International
audience in India starring foreign and Indian actors most thought that
Amitabh Bachhan would be cast , but he chose Dharmendra as the lead
actor in 'Shalimar'. When the Indo-USSR joint venture was made it was
Dharmendra cast in 'Alibaba and 40 thieves' as Alibaba.
It was unfair to deny him the best Actor award by the 'Filmfare' during his
long career; his acceptance speech on being given the 'Lifetime
Achievement Award' conveyed the pain. However the love which he

received from the masses compensated all that. Time will also recognize
him as a Good Actor and not merely a Star. He always played to his
potential and never overplayed himself, remained within the realms of his
abilities and therefore remained balanced.
If I were to name Ten of his best films, these would be:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)

Phool aur Pathhar By OP Ralhan

Mera Gaon Mera Desh By Raj Khosla
Ankhen by Ramanand Sagar
Yadon ki Baarat by Nazir Hussain
Jugnu by Pramod Chakravorthy
Satyakam By Hrisikesh Mukherjee
Sholay By Ramesh Sippy
Pratigya By Dulal Guha
Blackmail By Vijay Anand
Gulami By J P Dutta