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Balraj
Sahni the great Punjabi
Balraj
Sahni was
an actor with the talent for stealing the show and capturing the
maximum applause. His contribution to Punjabi literature is equally
important
by
Paramjit Singh
Birth
anniversary on May 1
Balraj Sahni was a highly
talented, sincere and serious actor. He was an actor with the talent
for stealing the show and capturing the maximum applause. He was
born on May 1, 1913, in
Rawalpindi
. His father, Harbans Lal Sahni, was a staunch Arya Samaji with a
strong dislike for acting.
His
childhood name was Yudhishtar, which he later changed to Balraj.
Since his early school days, he had a taste for literature. He not
only did MA in English literature from
Government
College
,
Lahore
, but also contributed exhaustively to the college magazine, Raavi.
Although his father was against acting, he kept on acting in skits
and one-act plays during his college days.
The
plaque in Sahni’s honour at Govt College Lahore.
Photo
by Amarjit Chandan. April 2010
After
the completion of his studies, he became a cloth merchant, and lent
a helping hand to his father in extending his family business. A few
months later, he went to Shanti Niketan near
Calcutta
and served there as a teacher for two years under the guidance of
Tagore. Then he moved to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sewa Gram Ashram, and
after having a brief stay there, he joined the BBC in
London
serving for four years as a Hind announcer. Later on his return to
India
, he got associated with the Communist Party of India and its
cultural front Indian People’s Theatre Association (Ipta) in
Bombay
in various stage plays along with his wife Damyanti.
The
plays served as a firm ground for his acting career. Then one day he
switched over to acting in films. His debut film was Justice,
whereas he gained recognition. In his second film, Dharti Ke Lal,
which was directed by KA Abbas, he played the role of a young man
who, in spite of all odds, stands boldly against social injustice.
Balraj
Sahni & Leela Naidu. A still from Anuradha
After
Dharti Ke Lal, Balraj gave a number of super hits to the film
industry. Being a versatile and talented actor, he delivered several
hits. Among his more than 100 blockbusters, the films that are
laudable and cannot be forgotten include Hum Log, Footpath, Do
Bigha Zameen, Aulaad, Jawab, Hira Moti, Garam Kot, Kathputli,
Pardesi, Seema, Raahi, Devar Bhabi, Anuradha, Parineeta, Chhoti
Behan, Anpadh, Kabuliwala, Haqiqat, Sangharsh, Ek Phool Do Maali,
Neel Kamal, Waqt, Do Raste, Hanste Zakham, Duniya, Chhoti Bahu,
Humraaz, Pavittar Paapi, Garam Hawa and Mere Humsafar.
Apart
from being a great actor, he was a well-known Punjabi author also.
His most famous writings are Mera Pakistani Safarnama, Mera Roosi
Safarnama, Cinema te Stage, Purab ke Bhai, Meri Filmi
Atamkatha and Meri Gair-Jazbati Diary, Kaamey.
Sahni
was the recipient of many prestigious awards and honours. He was
awarded the Padmashri for his exemplary contribution to the Indian
cinema. He was a man with a great heart and was a generous
benefactor. He always preferred signing films with good scripts and
significant roles. Money was not his priority.
As
far as his family life was concerned, he married Damyanti in 1936,
but she passed away in 1948.
Later
on, he married Santosh. His son Parikshat is also a noted actor. On
April 13, 1973, he died of heart failure. With him died his dream of
leading retired life in Preet Nagar founded by Gurbakhsh Singh.
Stalwarts
of Punjabiyat
From
left Mohinder Singh Randhawa, Balraj Sahni and Mohan Singh the poet.
Chandigarh
.
c 1973. Photographer unknown
[Unedited
version of this article appeared in The Tribune.
Chandigarh
.
Saturday,
April 24, 2010]
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