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Farewell Rajendra Nath : Laughter has left the building
Pavan emailed in the news. The king of laughter has gone silent. Forever. Links about the news are pouring in… Hindustan Times reports
Popular Hindi film comedian of yesteryears Rajendra Nath died in Mumbai on Wednesday evening after prolonged illness. He was 76.
The actor had been suffering from breathing problems for the last several days and his end came at his residence in suburban Khar.
He will be cremated on Thursday, family sources said.
Probably the first actor in Hindi cinema, to bring physical energy into straightforward comedy where the laughter came in from his bending those funny knees a few inches, making tight fists, bending in elbows as if he was gonna throw in a few wild punches, but really delivering those punches with is side-car bashing style of delivery that would rock one off the chair… Rajendra Nath’s style of comedy was tried by many but none truly could match or deliver the aughter like the king himself.
Maps of India has an interesting feature on the King of Comedy. It’s quite ironic that the King of Comedy was the brother of one who established himself as one of the best suave villains in Hindi cinema, Prem Nath.
Rajendra Nath is an actor of Bollywood who mostly did comic roles. He studied science at Darbar College in Rewa. His father was in the police, and retired as the IG of Police of Rewa. His sister Krishna was married to the great showman of Bollywood Raj Kapoor. In 1949, he shifted to Mumbai. By that time his brother Premnath was an established actor of film industry. He was a good friend of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor.
Rajendera Nath worked on the stage in Prithvi Theatres with Prithviraj Kapoor. He toured all over India with the troupe, alongwith Shammi Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. Then he entered film industry and started doing small roles in movies. He acted in many films in Hindi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, and in South Indian movies also. In 1938, he acted in Franz Osten’s Vachan with Ashok Kumar.
Rajendra Nath then got a break with a small comic role in I.S.Johar’s Hum Sab Chor Hain(1956), with Shammi Kapoor and Nalini Jaywant. People appreciated his work and he got a few small roles in films. He got a better role of a harmonium player in H.S.Rawail’s Sharaarat with Meena Kumari, Kishore Kumar and Raaj Kumar.
His transition from theater to movies and become one of the biggest character actors who could deliver comedy with ease happened shortly after… where he was destined to find success. Though sadly enough many movies pushed him into doing those buffoonery kind of roles, where he was still easily able to produce those gags and laughs (even on repeat viewing of those movies today)… while it’s a pain to see some of today’s comedians attempting to do the same and falling flat on their faces.
Through the recommendation of Shammi Kapoor, who was working with Filmistan, he met Nasir Husain. He did a number of movies with Nasir Hussain like Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon, Teesri Manzil, Baharon Ke Sapne, and Pyar Ka Mausam. He played the role of a buffoon called Popatlal in Jab Pyar Kisi Se hota Hai, and the character became so popular that it soon became synonymous with Rajendera Nath. In 1958, Rajendra Nath got a chance to work with S. Mukherji of Filmalaya in the film Dil Deke Dekho. The film was very successful and he was flooded with offers by good producers and directors.
The hanging “nada”, the thick glasses, the shorts hanging over his knees and even the accidental dropping of his pants (which some found ugh), the slow start of and then the jet set speed with which he would deliver his dialogues… they are patented Rajendra Nath style of comedy.
He delivered his lines. He got us to laugh. And in the end that’s all that matters. He truly had mastered the science of laughter. The King of Comedy. Rajendra Nath. Rest in Peace. Amen.
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Let’s celebrate a fine actor and comedian. In fact I respected him way more than his illustrious brother Premnath, for the way he conducted himself in public and also his onscreen performances. RIP
will remember him for a great onscreen presence and a lovely smile… a never say die attitude despite getting bashed by on screen father, or the principal or the heroine.. there always was a real life lively Zindadil Rajndranath in the characters portrayed onscreen.. Loved a few songs picturised on him specially Meri lottery lag jaane wali hai in Holi Aayi Re and Dil ki manzil in Tere Ghar ke Saamne.. He provided a lot of entertaining and funny moments to cheer to people like me who have grown up with the cinema of 60s and 70s…
May his soul Rest in Peace…
May his soul rest in peace!
RIP… and now begins my hunt to find out who he is…
ravptor if you have ever seen a sunday movie on DD in the late 80s then you surely would know who he was. I believe if it is a Shammi Kapoor movie it has to have Rajendernath in it. 3 out of 5 sundays….i have seen a movie that has him….there is no way anyone can miss him……we will miss him now though. RIP
His funny comments on his father-mother or his beloved, in some movie don’t remember name -
Hooui Houii - what a funny father, what a fat mother..hui hui…
Great timimg, and presense and always brought smile on our face whenever on screen.
Lasty he was seen in TV series “Hum Paanch” as Popatlal- boss of Ashok Sharaf.
The innocense on face was his big asset. definitely he was one of the best comedians of golden period of hindi cinema.
Ishwar unki aatma ko shanti de!
may god rest nath saab’s soul in peace…hats off for th legend.
Rajendra naths entry into a scene would evoke instantaneous laughter from the audience.
He was,invariably the hero’s sidekick in college.
A tribute to him was paid by Farah Khan in Main hoon na ( remember the rajender nath lookalike in the college scenes)
An outstanding comedian.
Totally agree about his timing aspect. He had me in splits in the first half of the movie “Jhuk gaya aasman”, the only saving grace of that movie and many more. RIP.
GOD bless his soul.
God bless your soul.
And may you bless him with your incredible mirth.
RN was my fav comedian of all times.
Even in a B-grade Ramsay flick like Veerana, his sidekick show had me in splits.
R.I.P.
RIP
:(
End of an era. Saw “An Evening in Paris” again recently. I was surprised that his “Oyee Hoee oi oi” going Sardarji role could still made me laugh.
:(
He was a very talented person..an able foil to Shammi Kapoor in many movies..May his soul rest in peace!
Sad- one more of the generation gone !- Of his era only a few are left.
Yesteryears’ actress Manorama passes away
Seems like a rather sad time for movie people :(
May their souls rest in peace.
Rajendranath will live forever !! He brought pep to so many movies, he will never fade away.
am trying to get some info on IS Johar.. zilch :(
Rajendra Nath had something unique about his acting as a comedian. His presence was almost compulsary in all the films because his very sight was sufficient enough to create laughter in the audience. His death has left a void which cannot be filled by other comedians. Whenever a film ran into serious story,he was inducted to provide laughter moments so that audience did not get bored due to seriousness of scenes.HIS CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY IS UNIQUE AND CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN. i LOVED HIM FROM THE CORE OF MY HEART.