{"id":5874,"date":"2020-10-13T00:35:10","date_gmt":"2020-10-12T19:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=5874"},"modified":"2020-10-13T07:58:54","modified_gmt":"2020-10-13T02:28:54","slug":"ashok-kumar-the-first-superstar-of-the-indian-talkie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/ashok-kumar-the-first-superstar-of-the-indian-talkie\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashok Kumar – The First Superstar of the Indian Talkie"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ashok<\/a>

Ashok Kumar, fondly called ‘Dadamoni’<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The 2000s have several megastars, the 90s had Amitabh Bachchan and Shahrukh Khan sharing the limelight, the 80s had Amitabh Bachchan, the 70s had Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, the 60s and 50s had Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor sharing honors with Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar. No one talks about the 30s and 40s. The man who ruled the box office in these decades, and continued his charm the following years in none other than Ashok Kumar, endearingly called \u2018Dadamoni\u2019<\/em> within the film fraternity. His enormous contribution to Hindi cinema is largely unsung for inexplicable reasons.<\/p>\n

Born Kumudlal Ganguly in Bhagalpur (Bihar) on October 13th, 1911, Ashok Kumar was a product of Presidency College, Calcutta. In 1936, Himanshu Rai of Bombay Talkies launched Ashok Kumar in Jeevan Naiya<\/em>. Ashok worked as a lab assistant in Bombay Talkies, and when the lead hero of Jeevan Naiya<\/em> eloped with actress Devika Rani, Rai replaced him with Ashok starting a resplendent career lasting almost six decades.<\/p>\n

Ashok introduced a natural style of acting quite divergent from the theatrical form prevalent in the 30s. Jeevan Naiya<\/em> was declared a hit, and this followed six successive hits including Achhut Kanya, Savitri<\/em> and Izzat<\/em>, leading to a meteoric rise of an actor into mega stardom. Achhut Kanya<\/em> is memorable for its theme of untouchability and the song Main ban ka panchhi<\/em>\u2026 filmed on Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani.<\/p>\n

\"Achhyut<\/a>

Ashok Kumar and Devika Rani starred in the superhit Achhyut Kanya<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

In 1940, on the silver jubilee of Bandhan<\/em> in Lahore, Ashok Kumar was accorded a hero\u2019s welcome at Nishat cinema. Amidst the huge crowd was Dev Anand trying to get a glimpse of his favorite hero, but couldn\u2019t. In 1943 Ashok Kumar smashed all records with Bombay Talkies\u2019 Kismat<\/em>, which proved to be the biggest success of Hindi cinema all the way till G P Sippy\u2019s Sholay<\/em> in 1975! It was also his first negative role.<\/p>\n

Once he became a huge star, he got a stake in the prestigious Bombay Talkies where he launched the success of several actors including Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand. He signed Dev Anand for Ziddi<\/em> at a time when the latter was struggling to for a hit. Ziddi<\/em> (1948) gave Dev Anand stardom, which was reaffirmed with Guru Dutt\u2019s Baazi<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Ashok Kumar ruled the forties. Bandhan<\/em> (1940), Anjan<\/em> and Jhoola <\/em>(1941), Kismet<\/em> (1943), Chal<\/em> Chal<\/em> Re<\/em> Naujawan<\/em> (1944), Humayun<\/em> (1945), Shikari<\/em> (1946), Sajan<\/em> (1947), Padmini<\/em> (1948) and Mahal<\/em> in 1949 were huge hits.<\/p>\n

\"Dilip<\/a>

Dilip Kumar, Ashok Kumar and Raj Kapoor<\/p><\/div>\n

Even when Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor were emerging as the new heart-throbs on the horizon, Ashok Kumar held his own with memorable hits all through the fifties. Sangram<\/em> and Samadhi<\/em> in 1950 with his favorite actress Nalini Jaywant were super-successful, with Ashok Kumar playing a freedom fighter in the latter. He shared acting honors with Dilip Kumar in Deedar<\/em> (1951) and in the same year did Afsana<\/em> for B R Chopra in which he had a double role. This film was later remade with Dilip Kumar as Dastaan<\/em>, and failed.<\/p>\n

\"Ashok

Ashok Kumar launched Ashok Kumar Productions with his first venture Parineeta,<\/em> based on a story by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.<\/p><\/div>\n

In 1952, Betaab<\/em> and Nau<\/em> Bahar<\/em> did well, while 1953 had him working in Bimal Roy\u2019s classic Sarat Chandra adaptation Parineeta<\/em> with Meena Kumari. A superb performance.<\/p>\n

Bombay Talkies closed in 1954 with Baadbaan<\/em> being its last film with Ashok Kumar and Dev Anand leading the cast. It was made to help the workers of the studio and none of its stars had charged money. The same year Naaz<\/em> was released which was extensively shot abroad. In 1955, Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari surprised the audience with their delightful comedy in Bandish<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"baadban\"<\/a>

Meena Kumari, Dev Anand, Usha Kiron and Ashok Kumar in Baadban<\/em> (Pic: Facebook)<\/p><\/div>\n

After Bhai Bhai<\/em> (1956) Ashok Kumar teamed once more with brother Kishore Kumar taking Anoop Kumar as well to create magic with Madhubala in Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi<\/em> (1958) an unforgettable comedy made in the country featuring the Ganguly brothers.<\/p>\n

Ashok Kumar\u2019s notable films in the 60s include Kanoon<\/em> (1960) a songless taut drama by B R Chopra, Rajshri\u2019s Aarti<\/em> with Meena Kumari and Burma Road<\/em> (1962). In 1963, he once again joined hands with Bimal Roy for Bandini<\/em>, a milestone of his career. He did this film amidst strained relationship with the celebrated director, and gave a marvelous performance, and his cameo in Ye Raaste Hain Pyar Ke<\/em> was the most talked about aspect of the film besides the beautiful Leela Naidu. Meena Kumari complimented his stature as an actor in many ways and their team worked wonders in Benazir, Chitralekha<\/em> (both 1964) and Bheegi Raat<\/em> (1965).<\/p>\n

\"Amitabh<\/a>

Amitabh Bachchan and Ashok Kumar in Mahaan<\/em> (1983)<\/p><\/div>\n

Ashok Kumar excelled as an actor as the decade progressed. Mamta<\/em> (1966) with Suchitra Sen, Bahu Begam<\/em> (1967) with Meena Kumari, and Navketan\u2019s Jewel Thief<\/em> (1967) made him the icon of histrionics in the eyes of talented directors.<\/p>\n

\"Ashok<\/a>

Ashok Kumar, Satyajit Ray and Kishore Kumar<\/p><\/div>\n

Alongside, in Bengal, his few but notable films were winning critical acclaim. Hospital<\/em>, 1960, where he was paired Suchitra Sen, who would later co-star with him in Mamta<\/em>, is still remembered especially for that ethereal song by Geeta Dutt, Eyi shundor swarnali sandhyaye<\/em>. Tapan Sinha\u2019s award-winning Haatey Baajarey<\/em> (In the marketplace) (1967) was another performance that won many hearts.<\/p>\n

Eyi shundor swarnali sandhyaye<\/em><\/strong> (Hospital, 1960) Amal Mukherjee \/ Gouriprasanna Majumdar \/ Geeta Dutt<\/span><\/p>\n