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Today is Late Sunil Dutt’s or Dutt Saab’s, as he was popularly known as, 77th or 78th birth anniversary. He was born on 6th of June in1929/ 1930. 25th day of May 2005 took away two giant personalities, Sunil Dutt and Ismail Merchant, whose contributions to the cinema have been very important.
Sunil Dutt was given name Balraj Dutt by his parents. During partition his family came to India. First they lived near Ludhiyana in Panjab. Later they all migrated to Bombay or Balraj Dutt alone went to Bombay and after finishing his college education there he joined Radio and hosted a show where he used to take interviews of celebrities. Its said that during this programme he had taken interview of Nargis, the big film star of that time, who later became his wife.
Ramesh Saigal, who was making “Platform” offered him a role in his film and thus Balraj Dutt joined hindi cinema with a new name Sunil Dutt. Perhaps his name was changed because other Balraj, the great actor Late Balraj Sahni was already a known star in the films. Popular actress Nalini Jaiwant was in the main lead in the Platform (1955). Film did not get much success but Sunil Dutt got 2-3 more films and in 1956 he got first success through the film
“Ek hi Rasta”. This full of tears, Meena Kumari starrer film was first film of B.R Chopra with Sunil Dutt. B.R made later 6-7 films with him.
Only 2 years old in films, Sunil Dutt got role of a life time when he was signed by Mehboob Khan for his biggest film, Mother India (1957). Film changed the life of Sunil Dutt. He played role of younger son of Nargis and Raaj Kumar in the film and Birju remains as first ever angry young man of hindi cinema. Except Vinod Khanna we have yet to see such intensive angry eyes as Sunil Dutt had.
Sunil Dutt played this role with lot of rawness and he not only won the heart of audience but he got his life partner also through this film. Its said that during the shooting, Nargis was caught between actual fire and Sunil Dutt saved her life.
During late 50s Sunil Dutt did many films which were heroine oriented but he stood in those films also. Came 1959 and Bimol Roy also took him in his film, Sujata, which challenged cast system. Sunil Dutt played role of idealistic who does not bother about the low cast of Sujata and marries her. The angry young man whose eyes expressed anger in Mother India, was equally suave, soft hearted and charming lover in Sujata and when Talat Mehmood gave him voice for the song,” Jalte hain Jiske Diye, Teri Ankhon ke Diye” then he had proved that he is good in on screen romance also. He proved that not only anger but his eyes can portray mood of a poetic heart also. His bit moist eyes were very useful in the sad scenes. When he sang ”Rang aur Noor kee barat kise pesh karun” in “Ghazal” or acted in the role of a sad husband after losing his wife in “ Mera Saya” then this factor becomes more clear.
Bimal Roy, signed him for another film “Usne Kaha Tha” which was inspired by the famous story of “Chandra Dhar Sharma Guleri”.
He was doing quite good as an actor but he was not there to simply act in the films. Nanavati case was a popular case in India during late 50s and Sunil Dutt, produced his first film in 1963. Film, Ye Raste hain Pyar ke (http://passionforcinema.com/a-film-based-on-real-life-criminal-case/) was based on the real life story of naval officer Commander Kawas M Nanavati, his Anglo Indian wife Sylvia and her lover Prem Ahuja.
In 1963 he was associated with 2 important films. “Mujhe Jeene Do” remains one of the best films, based on the life of Bandits and deserts. Film had fantastic music, composed by Jaidev, also. Gumrah was a big commercial success where he stood strongly against great actor Ashok Kumar.
Sunil Dutt was not satisfied being actor and producer only and he did biggest experiment in the history of Hindi cinema in 1964 when he owned cap of director and made Yadein. Film is a monologue and only Sunil Dutt is seen on the screen, except silhouette of Nargis. Other voices are there. This was an expriemental film which was not going to bring any commercial success to Sunil Dutt.
Came 1965 and Sunil Dutt was seen in B.R Chopra’s multi starrer blockbuster Waqt. Film was directed by Yash Chopra.
In 1966 another feather was decorated in the life of actor Sunil Dutt when Lekh Tandon signed him in his Historical film “Amrapali” in the role of Emperor Ajat Shatru of Maurya Dynasty of Magadh. This was his first historical film and though film remain underrated for unknown reasons but film has no parallel till today. Ashoka, directed by Santosh Sivan having SRK in lead role does not match the quality of “Amrapali” from any angle. Perhaps Santosh Sivan had not seen this beautiful film before he made Ashoka. Vajayanti Mala in the title role of Amrapali and her dances, beautiful music composed by Shankar Jaikishan and Prem Nath in the role of Army Chief of Magadh were other attraction of the film.
Throughout 60s Sunil Dutt gave many hit films and in later years of 60s success of films like Khandan, Milan and Hamraaj in 1967 kept active his acting career. He reinvented him as an actor in a comedy role in Parosan in 1968. He played role of a buffoon. Along with Kishor Kumar, Om Prakash and Mehmood he created laughing riot. Film remains as one of the best comedy films made in hindi cinema.
In 1971, he again used his directorial skills and made a feudal conflict and love based film “Reshma Aur Shera”. He used then a new comer Amitabh Bachchan in the role of a mute. Wonderful acting by Sunil Dutt, Vinod Khanna, Wahida Rehman and Amitabh Bachchan, a classy music composed by Jaidev and never scene so beautiful Rajsthan before, still remain attractive factors associated with the film.
He did not shy away from taking challenges in his acting career and played grey shaded roles in Sadhna’s come back film “Geeta Merra Naam” and Raj Tilak’s crime thriller “36 ghante”.
He was part of Raj Kumar Kohli’s multi starrer blockbusters “Nagin” and “Jaani Dushman” also in the late 70s. In the era of Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Shashi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna and Amol Palekar, Sunil Dutt still gave many hits. His pair with Reena Roy was a hit pair.
In 1981 he directed a film “Rocky” to launch his son Sanjay Dutt. On one hand he was having happiness to launch his son but on other hand, his life was facing extreme sadness as his wife Nargis was seriously ill. She died just 4 days prior to the premiere of “Rocky”.
Deeply attached with Nargis, Sunil Dutt was to face many more difficulties in the life, after her death. Nargis was died because of cancer and she had said to him in the hospital in USA that we came to USA because we have money, what about those who cant afford. Sunil Dutt was becoming less active in the films and had shifted his focus towards social service. Though he had always been associated with the social work. The die hard attitude of Sunil Dutt, won him over several difficulties in his life. Sunil Dutt got involved in the making a charity hospital for cancer patients in the memory of Nargis Dutt.
Actor and director residing inside Sunil Dutt, was also affected with this event and he made a touching film “Dard Ka Rishta” dealing with cancer disease.
On home front, Sanjay Dutt, his son, had got deeply involved with drugs. He took his son Sanjay Dutt to USA for treatment and his determination to get him back in healthy mind and body worked again and Sanjay Dutt could come out of the traps of drug addiction. Sunil Dutt brought Sanjay Dutt back to India and said,” I had launched you, but I am not going to make any film for you now. You have to make your career on your own”.
Indira Gandhi was assassinated and Rajiv Gandhi asked Sunil Dutt to contest election. Sunil Dutt was elected as an MP in 1984. Amitabh Bachchan also won in same parliamentary elections. While Amitabh left politics in 1987. Sunil Dutt remained there till his death.
Sunil Dutt was becoming more and more busy in his political and social works. When Panjab was burning with terrorism, he decided to go on foot though the highly disturbed Panjab. His journey got great space in media also. Here was a man who did not dare to enter in a state which was burning with terrorism. He asked young people to think and do about their country and he had said then “ Vatan ko maan see muhabbat nahin laila see diwangee kee jarurat hai”. Right wing politicians were waiting for this moment only and they tried to nail him for this statement. Though what he had said was perfectly true. And Since then it became a fashion. Whenever he became famous because of his actions for the benefit of people of the country, his political rivals tried to nail him with continuous attack on him, his family etc.
More sorrow was due in the lives of Dutts and Sanjay Dutt’s wife Richa Sharma was also diagnosed with cancer. She later died.
Rajiv Gandhi was also assassinated in 1991 and Sunil Dutt again got elected in the parliamentary elections. He was the only MP of congress who resigned after Ram mandir-Babri Masjid structure was demolished on 6th Dec. 1992.
Riots captured the Bombay in Dec. 1992 and January-March 1993. He was very active in brining peace in the city. His home became shelter place for the victims of riots.
Worse was to happen in his life. Police contacted him to tell that his alone son Sanjay Dutt was involved with the Bombay Blasts happened in March 1993. Sunil Dutt was taken aback but he called Sanjay Dutt ,who was shooting for his film abroad, and asked him to come back to India immediately. Sanjay Dutt came and he was arrested on the airport itself.
It was the heaviest blow to the Sunil Dutt. He was Mr clean and nobody dared to say any allegation against him but he was brought down for his son’s deeds.
He again fought for his son and after spending around 18 months in Jail, Sanjay Dutt was given bail. Its said that Sunil Dutt could have shined much more in the politics if Sanjay Dutt was not arrested in TADA. This factor surely let him down and his spirit to great extent.
He remained a popular actor turned politician. Unlike many other film stars Sunil Dutt always entered Parliament after winning the elections and he did not take refuge of nomination in upper house. He was a popular leader and always won with good majority from his constituency.
This is not a less achievement for any film star cum politician that when he died on 25th May 2005, people genuinely felt his absence as if someone of their own was passed away. He was not a great orator but he used to speak from his heart and thus was able to make a heart to heart connection with the people.
He understood his responsibility towards the nation and remained pro active. When Gujarat was burnt with communal riots he again arranged walk through the state. He did not fear and did not shy away from the difficulties which may come in the life of active social worker. Perhaps he paid price of being too honest with his feelings.
Many only talk but he truly got inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and his walking movements.
Sunil Dutt has left behind an image of a thoroughly gentleman and responsible human being whose smile touched his eyes also, which is a sign of a genuine person.
Hardly we may find such man who does not shy away from any question. There have been tales of affair of Raj Kapoor and Nargis. When some journalist asked Sunil Dutt he said without any hitch,” I don’t know and don’t care for her life before she came in to my life. But after her arrival in my life I have found her completely devoted to me and my family and I value that thing the most”. That’s great ideas of a great man.
Perhaps Sagar Sarhadi created character of Shashi Kapoor in Kabhi Kabhi after getting inspiration from Sunil Dutt.
We will always miss this gem of a person and actor and politician and social worker. Neither in acting career nor in real life he anytime showed fear or shied away from the responsibility which he thought was appropriate to do.
The last film he made was “Ye Aag Kab Bujhegee” which dealt with the rotten system of Dowry.
Wish, we get some more Sunil Dutts in several fields of life.