Sujit Kumar who quietly died last week, was the traditional side hero of the Hindi movies who started his career with small roles.
He graduated to B class films as hero such as Ek Saal Pehle and Lal Bungalow where he was teamed up with late actress Sayeeda Khan and South Indian actress Jayanti. He was a talented actor and his histrionics were realized by the film industry.
He was then offered meaty roles in A class films prominent among them were Ramannad Sagar’s Ankhen where Dharmendra and Mala Sinha played the leading role.
Sagar again signed him for his film Geet starring Rajendra Kumar but this time he was offered the role of a villain. He did his job so convincingly that from then onwards, he started playing the roles of villain.
In between Kundan Kumar’s film Aulad was released in late 60s where Sujit Kumar played a very emotional role and made the audience weep. He played brief but important role in J Om Prakash’s Rajesh Khanna-Asha Parekh starrer Aan Milo Sajna.He also played memorable roles in Aradhana and Ittefaq.Sujit Kumar was the first super star of Bhojpuri films where he had a carved a niche for himself.
Ganga Maiya Tuhi meri Chadai Bo and Dangal were his super hits in Bhojpuri. Sujit Kumar, Rakesh Roshan and Jeetendra were best friends in Hindi film industry and they remained so till his last breath.
All filmy and family parties of these friends never complete with attendance of each other. Sujit Kumar was a great fan of thespian Dilip Kumar and always wanted to work with him. His wish was fulfilled in Bairaag where he was cast against him as villain. Saira Banu and Leena Chandavarkar were the heroines of the movie where Dilip Kumar played triple role.
Sujit Kumar never compromised with the on going trend in the film industry and filmmaking. His ambitious movie Champion with Govinda is under production for quite long time and due to some or the other obstruction in its production, his movie as a producer would perhaps never see the light of the day.
It is a matter of shame and regret that the news of his death was covered with just two or three liners in media whereas the entire focus was on SRK-Shiv Sena feud over the release of his latest film My Name is Khan.
This is another instance of the film fraternity saluting only the rising sun. May his soul rest in peace.
Wajid_siasat@yahoo.in