{"id":4171,"date":"2018-04-25T00:00:51","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T18:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=4171"},"modified":"2023-09-03T12:17:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-03T06:47:59","slug":"shyam-actor-swashbuckling-hero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/shyam-actor-swashbuckling-hero\/","title":{"rendered":"Shyam: The Big Heart behind the Swashbuckling Hero"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_4184\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4184\" class=\"wp-image-4184\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s.jpg\" alt=\"Shyam hero in Hindi films\" width=\"400\" height=\"469\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s.jpg 448w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s-341x400.jpg 341w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s-128x150.jpg 128w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s-300x352.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s-150x176.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/04\/Shyam-hero-of-the-40s-256x300.jpg 256w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4184\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shyam (Sunder Shyam Chadha &#8211; February 20, 1920-April 25, 1951)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>He radiated style, charisma and chivalry. The tall, strapping, stunningly handsome man, with razor-sharp features, neatly brushed hair and trimmed moustache is one name which will invariably make it to the list of most striking heroes of Hindi films. In the eighties, this writer remembers, the lone Chitrahaar on Doordarshan would typically have one of his hit songs (usually <em>Tu mera chand main teri chandni<\/em>), although compared to his contemporaries, his repertoire of films was much smaller, as his career was cut short abruptly with his untimely death on 25<sup>th<\/sup> April, 1951, at the age of 30. Shooting for the Filmistan production <em>Shabistan<\/em> at China Creek in Ghodbunder, Shyam, an expert at riding horses, accidentally fell from his horse. The fall turned fatal.<\/p>\n<p>The manner in which <em>The Times of India<\/em> news item of his death began its lead paragraph speaks volumes about the star\u2019s aura. \u201cHigh, wide and handsome Shyam, most popular of the Indian screen\u2019s male stars, idol of millions of film-goers throughout India and adored by lakhs in Bombay where he was mobbed at every appearance, went laughing off to work from his Chembur home on Wednesday morning. By afternoon, he was dead.\u201d (<em>Source: The Times of India, 26<sup>th<\/sup> April, 1951<\/em>)<\/p>\n<p>His sudden death sent shockwaves across the film industry and his fans. People thronged the streets, pulled chains to stop trains to catch a glimpse of him and joined the massive procession as the star set off on his last journey.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c2150a;\"><em><strong>Tu mera chand main teri chandni<\/strong><\/em> (<em>Dillagi<\/em>, 1949) Naushad \/ Shakeel Badayuni \/ Shyam and Suraiya<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cgHhmQUXQLk\" width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Shyam, the Family Man<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4174\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4174\" class=\"wp-image-4174\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam.jpg\" alt=\"Shyam and Naseem Bano\" width=\"400\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam.jpg 800w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam-400x338.jpg 400w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam-150x127.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam-768x649.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/chandni-raat-still-naseem-bano-shyam-300x254.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4174\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shyam and Naseem Bano in <em>Chandni Raat<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Shyam, the actor, the star and the swashbuckling hero of several hits in the forties, lived life large and beautiful, like the dreams he spun on screen. But little did the world know that there was another side to him, a heart that had immense love and compassion for all people dear to him \u2013 his family, his friends, his colleagues and yes, even the obscure unit people, the humble lightboys, the gawky-eyed young aspirants\u2026 the list is vast.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was an out-an-out \u2018family first\u2019 man. His career came second,\u201d says Bimal Chadha, the nephew of Shyam, who has deeply fond and vivid memories of his uncle, their home, the eclectic environment that sparkled with laughter, creativity, family time, playfulness and bonhomie with the legends of the film world walking in without a hitch for some relaxed fun.<\/p>\n<p>Though the polish and style of a star was his persona for the world at large, at home, he was still the boy of a simple, rural lifestyle. The eldest of four brothers and one sister, Shyam was born in Sialkot and grew up in a loving household of closely knit siblings and affectionate parents.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4179\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4179\" class=\"wp-image-4179\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"393\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia.jpg 610w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia-305x400.jpg 305w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia-114x150.jpg 114w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia-300x393.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia-150x197.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/shyam-in-filmindia-229x300.jpg 229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4179\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shyam had the looks and pizzazz of a Hollywood star. (news item in <em>Film India<\/em>, dated Feb. 1943, announcing his debut in <em>Mann Ki Jeet<\/em>)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cAn all-rounder, Shyam took to theatre in a big way, while studying in Gordon College, Rawalpindi. He became the President of the Dramatics Society, excelling in plays and had a passion for playing tennis. When he passed out of college, he had built up name as a good actor with loads of stage presence,\u201d says Bimal ji. \u201cWhen he moved to Lahore, in search of films or theatre, his reputation followed him. And a lot of people who went to see him in his plays were people from the film industry. They spotted him. But he did have to struggle a lot,\u201d he adds. And acting wasn\u2019t his only expertise. An extremely well read person, Shyam excelled in English and Urdu. He used to write weekly columns in both languages for newspapers.<\/p>\n<p>Shyam stepped into films with the Punjabi film <em>Gowandi<\/em> (1942), co-starring well-known actors such as M Ismail, Veena, Manorama and Asha Posley but returned to Lahore after it. Two years later, his break into Hindi films came with <em>Mann Ki Jeet<\/em> (1944) when W Z Ahmed, the owner of a beautiful studio in Poona, launched Shyam under the banner of Shalimar Films. And the person cast as Shyam\u2019s heroine was none other than Ahmed\u2019s wife Neena. Such was the trust the impeccably well-mannered and courteous Shyam had built up among the people who came to know him. Singing star Suraiya\u2019s uncle Zahoor Rana, had no qualms about allowing his niece to work with Shyam and the duo went on to do several films together including <em>Char Din\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<em>Naach<\/em>\u00a0and among the biggest hit of Shyam\u2019s career, <em>Dillagi<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The Bombay Talkies production <em>Majboor<\/em>\u00a0(1948) was Shyam\u2019s first big hit. Shyam went on to work with the lead actresses of the era, delivering a string of hits in the late forties. With Naseem Bano, described as \u201cBeauty Queen of the Silver Screen\u201d he did M. Ehsan\u2019s <em>Chandni Raat<\/em>; with Nargis it was <em>Meena Bazar<\/em> and <em>Chhoti Bhabhi<\/em>; with Nigar Sultana it was <em>Patanga, Sangeeta, <\/em>K Amarnath\u2019s <em>Bazar<\/em> and Shaheed Lateef\u2019s <em>Shikayat<\/em>, with Munawar Sultana it was the hit <em>Kaneez<\/em> and <em>Raat Ki Rani<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4180\" style=\"width: 807px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4180\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4180\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana.jpg\" alt=\"Shyam and Nigar Sultana\" width=\"797\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana.jpg 797w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana-400x301.jpg 400w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Shyam-and-Nigar-Sultana-300x226.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4180\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shyam and Nigar Sultana worked together in several hit films<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>The Famed Friendship: Shyam and Manto<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_4181\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mid-day.com\/articles\/saadat-hasan-manto-s-writings\/17332167\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4181\" class=\"wp-image-4181\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Saadat-Hasan-Manto.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Saadat-Hasan-Manto.jpg 670w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Saadat-Hasan-Manto-400x343.jpg 400w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Saadat-Hasan-Manto-150x129.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Saadat-Hasan-Manto-300x257.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-4181\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Saadat Hasan Manto (Pic courtesy: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mid-day.com\/articles\/saadat-hasan-manto-s-writings\/17332167\">Mid-Day<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It was in Bombay Talkies that his friendship with renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto struck firm roots. \u201cManto and Shyam were two bodies, one soul,\u201d says Bimal ji. In his book <em>Stars from Another Sky<\/em> (a translation from Urdu of Manto\u2019s experiences of the Bombay film industry), Manto dedicated the most poignant and heart-warming chapter to Shyam titled <em>\u2018Murli Ki Dhun\u2019<\/em> (Shyam: Krishna\u2019s Flute). Manto was then an employee with Bombay Talkies where Shyam had got a contract for a film but the money came in as a trickle. Those were the days of struggle and the two buddies shared an apartment and expenses.<\/p>\n<p><em>Murli Ki Dhun<\/em> is replete with incidents that bring to life the large-heartedness of Shyam and their deep, intense friendship. One day when Shyam had received a tidy sum and Manto had no money on him, while returning on a train, Shyam halved a wad of ten rupee notes and asked his friend to take one bundle. Manto took one and got down at the station. Shyam had to go to meet another friend and as the train moved away Shyam waved some money at his friend and shouted, \u2018for safety\u2019s sake I had kept this money away\u2019, laughing at his own joke.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4182\" style=\"width: 545px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4182\" class=\"wp-image-4182 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad.jpg\" alt=\"Dillagi 1949\" width=\"535\" height=\"596\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad.jpg 535w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad-359x400.jpg 359w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad-135x150.jpg 135w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad-300x334.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad-150x167.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/dillagi-ad-269x300.jpg 269w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 535px) 100vw, 535px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4182\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An advertisement of <em>Dillagi<\/em> in <em>The Times of India<\/em> (dated 15 October 1949), promoting the film with figures of its box-office collections.<br \/>(Pic courtesy: The Times of India)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Manto and Shyam shared their thoughts, works and dreams. If Shyam would be privy to the stories Manto wrote, Manto would know everything about the films he was doing and his co-stars and colleagues. Shyam\u2019s home in Poona saw a steady stream of visitors from the world of films and literature including screenwriter and author Krishan Chander, poet-lyricists Rajinder Krishan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan among others. Some of their rollicking drinking sessions led to hilarious incidents which Manto detailed in <em>\u2018Murli Ki Dhun\u2019<\/em>. <em>\u201cShyam bahut buland baan thha. Uski har baat, uski har harkat, uski har ada, oonche\u00a0<\/em><em>suron mein hoti thhi,\u201d<\/em> writes Manto.<\/p>\n<p>When success secured Shyam\u2019s financial status, he made sure that the whimsical and spendthrift Manto should have enough money to take care of his small kids and wife.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter Manto migrated to Pakistan, Shyam would pine for his friend, and write letters to him. Manto would not reply. Shyam would get worried and send messages to his distributors, asking them to send money to him on his behalf,\u201d says Chadha. Manto never had to ask, Shyam would intuitively know his friend\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n<p>Explains Bimal ji, \u201cShyam was completely against Manto\u2019s decision to move to Pakistan and tried to persuade him to change his mind but Manto would not budge. The two friends stopped talking to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4176\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4176\" class=\"wp-image-4176\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar.jpg 961w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-113x150.jpg 113w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-768x1023.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-769x1024.jpg 769w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-150x200.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/meena-bazar-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4176\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Meena Bazar<\/em> was another Nargis-Shyam starrer<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In <em>Murli Ki Dhun<\/em>, Manto fondly recalls the goodbye the two friends bid each other, as he set sail for Karachi. The day Manto was to leave, Shyam had come back from the shooting to see his friend off. He shared two drinks with his friend, not speaking a word, and then stood up and said, \u2018<em>Chalein<\/em>\u2019? He helped him with his luggage and kept cracking jokes all the way to the Mumbai seaport. When Manto was boarding the jetty at the ship\u2019s whistle, Shyam shook his friend\u2019s hand, cried, <em>Hiptullha!<\/em> and walked away down the gangway in firm strides without looking back.<\/p>\n<p>And if you are wondering what is <em>\u2018Hiptullha!\u2019,<\/em> it was a word coined by Manto, spun from an odd-sounding name of a cricketer he had noticed in a newspaper and he used it liberally as an exclamation or an expression of excellence till the coinage became popular in the film circles with several derivatives such as something that needs to be \u201chiptullized\u201d or something is not \u201chiptullha enough\u201d. When in a gathering, a curious Ashok Kumar had asked Shyam what it meant, a guffawing Shyam had simply termed it as a \u201cMantoism\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Bimal ji explains, when Shyam visited Lahore for a premiere of a film, the day he landed he sought out the whereabouts of his friend. By that time he had become a star and was hounded by fans. Though Manto met up with him and the two friends hugged each other in delight, the steady stream of visitors and crowds of fans did not let them spend much time with each other.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c2150a;\"><em><strong>Bolo ji dil loge<\/strong><\/em> (<em>Patanga<\/em>, 1949) C Ramchandra \/ Rajinder Krishan \/ Shamshad Begum and Rafi<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IBGOSZdse70\" width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>It was an Era of Creativity and Excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4177\" style=\"width: 410px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4177\" class=\"wp-image-4177\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam.jpg\" alt=\"Suraiya and Shyam\" width=\"400\" height=\"504\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam.jpg 1015w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-317x400.jpg 317w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-119x150.jpg 119w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-768x969.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-812x1024.jpg 812w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-300x378.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-150x189.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Naach-Suraiya-and-Shyam-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4177\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Naach<\/em> poster starring Suraiya and Shyam<\/p><\/div>\n<p>That was Shyam, a happy-go-lucky man, a caring, affectionate, and doting friend, son, brother, father, husband, uncle \u2013 showering his love and laughter on everyone dear to him. Among his closest pals from Lahore and Rawalpindi was actor Om Prakash. Their bond of friendship prompted them to buy houses opposite each other in Union Park (named Shyam Park after the actor\u2019s death and now renamed as Maitreyi Park), off the Chembur Naka Road. A narrow path connected the Union Park road locality with RK Studios. Along the same stretch of road were the homes of actor-director Kishore Sahu, filmmaker Ramesh Saigal, Trilok Kapoor, actress Nalini Jaywant and further down, around the turn, lived Ashok Kumar. The era and the environment would be thriving with creativity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have very strong memories of those days as I was the first born of our generation in the family and the most loved one,\u201d says Bimal ji. When Shyam took on a negative role for Ramesh Saigal\u2019s <em>Samadhi<\/em>, it was much debated among his friends who were aghast about how can a hero, a star, play a negative role. Shyam got his green signal from his mother as Ramesh Saigal was a close friend. <em>Samadhi,<\/em> woven around Netaji Subhas\u2019 Indian National Army, starring Ashok Kumar and Nalini Jaywant in the lead, was a superhit with an iconic song <em>Gore gore o banke chhore<\/em> topping the charts. Shyam\u2019s role earned much appreciation too. Music director C Ramchandra scored hit music for several of Shyam\u2019s films including <em>Samadhi, Patanga, Sangeeta<\/em> and <em>Shabistan<\/em>. They were all friends and very happy for each other. It was a different era.<\/p>\n<p>Shyam was deeply in love with his wife Mumtaz Qureshi (nicknamed Taji), a beautiful lady and aspiring actress. The apple of his eye was his daughter Sahira. When Shyam passed away, she was one year old and his son Shakir (named Shekhar at birth) was born two months later in June.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_4200\" style=\"width: 260px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4200\" class=\"wp-image-4200\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha.jpg\" alt=\"Bimal Chadha\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha.jpg 514w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Bimal-Chadha-128x128.jpg 128w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-4200\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bimal Chadha, nephew of Shyam, currently engaged in writing a book on his Uncle<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Taji migrated to Pakistan and the two children grew up there. Sahira went on to become a popular TV actress with her famed husband the producer-director-actor Rahat Kazmi, making popular television serials such as <em>Dhoop Kinare<\/em> and <em>Parchhaiyyan<\/em>, starring her. Sahira\u2019s son is also an actor and is now working in Hollywood. Shakir, who is said to resemble his father, lives in London. Says Bimal ji, \u201cShyam was most loved by the entire family. Not a day went without my parents remembering him. There are pictures of him in all our homes. He lived and loved and spread happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As Manto describes Shyam with soul-touching affection in <em>Murli Ki Dhun<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p><em>Woh har khubsoorat cheez pe marta thha.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Mera khayal hai ki maut zaroor khubsoorat hogi, warna woh kabhi na marta.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Usko tapish aur hiddat se pyar thha. Log kehte hain ki maut ke haath thande hote hain. Main nahin manta.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Shyam thande haathon ka bilkul kaayal nahin thha. Agar wakai maut ke haath thande hote to usne bas yeh kehkar ek taraf jhatak diye hote, \u2018Hato Badi Bi. Tum mein khuloos nahin\u2019.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c2150a;\"><em><strong>Kaho ek baar<\/strong><\/em> (<em>Shabistan<\/em>, 1951) C Ramchandra \/ Qamar Jalalabadi \/ Geeta Dutt and Talat Mahmood<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_hyoKGhaFtk\" width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4206\" src=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"97\" srcset=\"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information.jpg 900w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information-400x43.jpg 400w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information-150x16.jpg 150w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information-768x83.jpg 768w, https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Silhouette-film-information-300x32.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>Shyam&#8217;s Filmography<\/h2>\n<p><em>Gowandi<\/em> (1942) (Punjabi) \u2013 with M Ismail, Veena, Manorama and Asha Posley<br \/>\n<em>Khamoshi<\/em> (1942) \u2013 with Ramola<br \/>\n<em>Man Ki Jee<\/em>t (1944) \u2013 with Neena, Rajkumari<br \/>\n<em>Room No. 9<\/em> (1946) \u2013 with Geeta Nizami<br \/>\n<em>Aaj aur Kal<\/em> (1947) \u2013 with Nita, Nayantara<br \/>\n<em>Majboor<\/em> (1947) \u2013 with Munawar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Shikayat<\/em> (1948) \u2013 with Nigar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Bazaar<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Nigar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Chandani Raat<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Naseem Bano<br \/>\n<em>Chaar Din<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Suraiya<br \/>\n<em>Dada<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Munawar Sulltana<br \/>\n<em>Dillagi<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Suraiya<br \/>\n<em>Kaneez<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Munawar Sultana and Kuldip Kaur<br \/>\n<em>Naach<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Suraiya<br \/>\n<em>Patanga<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Nigar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Raat ki Raani<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Munawar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Sangeeta<\/em> (1949) \u2013 with Nigar Sultana<br \/>\n<em>Chhoti Bhabhi<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Nargis<br \/>\n<em>Meena Bazar<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Nargis<br \/>\n<em>Nirdosh<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Kuldip Kaur<br \/>\n<em>Samadhi<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Ashok Kumar and Nalini Jaywant<br \/>\n<em>Suraj Mukhi<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Rehana<br \/>\n<em>Wafa<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Nimmi<br \/>\n<em>Kale Badal<\/em> (1950) \u2013 with Meena Shorey<br \/>\n<em>Madhuban<\/em> (1950)<br \/>\n<em>Dharkan<\/em> (1951)<br \/>\n<em>Bhaiyya Ji<\/em> (1951)<br \/>\n<em>Shabistan<\/em> (1951) \u2013 with Naseem Bano<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c2150a;\"><em><strong>Murli Ki Dhun<\/strong><\/em> (Mahmood Farooqui reads reminiscences of Shyam by Saadat Hasan Manto published in Manto&#8217;s collection of essays\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2v2Zmul\">Stars from Another Sky<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CZofKNT9Uf4\" width=\"100%\" height=\"360\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #c2150a;\"><em>Pictures used in this article are courtesy Bimal Chadha, unless otherwise attributed.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Books by Saadat Hasan Manto<\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-in.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=IN&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=learcrea-21&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=IN&amp;placement=0140275967&amp;asins=0140275967&amp;linkId=ff6b70be2309e9a4d2fa474b9c409670&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-in.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=IN&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=learcrea-21&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=IN&amp;placement=0143102184&amp;asins=0143102184&amp;linkId=6c8e6ea5bcb36f6a8371e6baf54ccb08&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-in.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=IN&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=learcrea-21&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=IN&amp;placement=0143102176&amp;asins=0143102176&amp;linkId=2dc311a6e937f2442cfc30c000d583f4&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-in.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=IN&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=learcrea-21&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=IN&amp;placement=8184001444&amp;asins=8184001444&amp;linkId=29ffbf9a5ab353568c4f073dfc62101e&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width: 120px; height: 240px;\" src=\"\/\/ws-in.amazon-adsystem.com\/widgets\/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;OneJS=1&amp;Operation=GetAdHtml&amp;MarketPlace=IN&amp;source=ss&amp;ref=as_ss_li_til&amp;ad_type=product_link&amp;tracking_id=learcrea-21&amp;marketplace=amazon&amp;region=IN&amp;placement=938403018X&amp;asins=938403018X&amp;linkId=9ca0cd4538b1c35553fa188cfeceba88&amp;show_border=true&amp;link_opens_in_new_window=true\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe> <\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shyam \u2013 the screen idol of the forties with his irresistible charm, good looks, style and panache left behind a brief but redoubtable repertoire of films. Even 67 years after his untimely death, Indian cinema remembers this actor with awe and affection. In an interview with <em>Silhouette Magazine<\/em>, Bimal Chadha, the nephew of Shyam, (eldest son of Shyam\u2019s younger brother Harbans Chadha), revealed the other facet of the flamboyant hero. Shyam (born Sunder Shyam Chadha) had a heart of gold with abundant love, compassion, affection and caring for his family, friends, co-workers and even the starry-eyed fans. Bimal ji and his family have lovingly treasured Shyam\u2019s memories, photos, letters, handwritten cards, books and belongings.<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[424,422],"tags":[1968,527,2015,2016,1742,1756,2013,2014,1427,1555,1554],"class_list":["post-4171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-cinema-retrospectives","category-indian-film-personalities","tag-c-ramchandra","tag-geeta-dutt","tag-naseem-bano","tag-nigar-sultana","tag-raja-mehdi-ali-khan","tag-rajinder-krishen","tag-saadat-hasan-manto","tag-shyam","tag-suraiya","tag-suraiya-films","tag-suraiya-songs"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4171"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8012,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4171\/revisions\/8012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4171"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4171"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4171"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}