Bharat Bhushan – the legendary actor of bollywood.
Bharat Bhushan had created a distinct place for himself in the bollywood films made in the 50s and 60s. He can be rightly known as a singing star as most of his films depicted historical characters who were famous for their singing skills or poetic skills. He impressed the viewers with his performance in the film Anandmath with Pradeep Kumar and Pritviraj Kapoor, based on the novel of Bankim Chandra Chatterji.
His film Baiju Bawra, opposite Meena Kumari, had stormed the Indian silver screen with legendary music and lyrics. Naushad had made lifetime composition in the film and songs like “tu ganga ki mauj”, “woh duniyake rakhwale”, “man tarapata”, etc., made both Rafi and Bharat Bhushan legendary stars. The ragas were extraordinary and Naushad’s use of Rafi and Lata, showed the viewers why he was a legend of legends. He also depicted the characters of saints and noted poets like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Mirza Ghalib. In Mirza Ghalib, his performance opposite Suraiya is worth mentioning, with superlative music composed by Ghulam Mohammad, with songs like “dil-e-nadaan tujhe hua kya hai”, sung by Talat Mehmood and Suraiya.
After performing well in films like Phagun, opposite Madhubala, Bharat Bhushan again amazed the viewers with his serene performance in the film Basant Bahar. The music composed by Shankar Jaikishan included classical compositions of the highest degree with Manna Dey singing legendary songs like “sur na saje kya gayun mai” and facing Bhimsen Joshi in a musical contest. The display of quality ghazals and qawallis continued in the film Barsaat Ki Raat, where Bharat Bhushan, and Madhubala provided outstanding lips in the legendary composition of Roshan with songs like “zindagi bhar nahi bhulenge who barsaat ki raat”, sung separately by Rafi and Lata, and “yeh isq isq”, the immortal qawalli sung by Manna Dey, Rafi and others.
Bharat Bhushan was even sublime in his role in the film Jahan-ara, opposite Mala Sinha. He gave adequate lips in the songs composed by Madanmohan and sung by Rafi and other playback singers like “baad muddat ke yeh ghari ayi”, “kisi ki yaad me apna ko hai bhulae hue”, etc. He performed in character roles in the 70s and 80s, and there too commanded respect. His education and understanding of the historical characters are evident in the legendary roles he had played during the long span of film career. The viewers are respectful towards the notable performances of Bharat Bhushan in bolywood films.
Article By: CR Chatterji.
