THE DIGNIFIED AND TALENTED ACTOR KUNDAN MALLIK

 

THE DIGNIFIED AND TALENTED ACTOR KUNDAN MALLIK

                   WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and RAJEEV  V. GAUR

 EMAIL:  sunrise607@rediffmail.com

                                                       

Kundan Mallik may not have been a big star but he was a very competent actor who acted in about 60 Hindi films. Born on August 8th 1932 in Sargodha, then a part of India, the acting bug had bitten Kundan at a very young age. He used to save money and run away from school to watch films starring his favourite stars. These films and film stars made him dream of a career on the silver screen, so much so, that he even ran away from home at a young age to try his luck in films but was caught and handed over to his parents, by a relative. His father did not just give him a verbal lashing but also a physical bashing.                                                                
                                                   

                                                
                         KUNDAN AND KISHORE KUMAR IN 'NAUGHTY BOY'          
 
      Though born in an affluent family, nothing could stop Kundan from dreaming of an acting career. He used to write fan mail to his favourite actors and even sent his photos to them. When he got a reply from the likes of Motilal his joy knew no bounds and he became delirious with happiness. His family shifted to Lucknow from Sargodha and he acted in the local Ram Leela stage programmes every now and then. This was perhaps his only experience in acting before landing in Bombay. It so happened that his father suffered a paralytic stroke and he being the eldest in the family came to Bombay to try his luck in films and earn a livelihood for himself.
                                                              

                                    Shakti Samanta and Kundan                                     

 Kun dan landed a role in the Sajjan and Nimmi starrer “Kasturi” (1954) and even changed his name for the screen and became Nakul Mallik. At the premiere of “Kasturi” he met his idol Motilal ji and touched his feet with reverence. Motilal was pleasantly surprised and smiled “Ama tu Bombay aa gaya, Tu to mujhko chittiyan likhta tha apni photos ke saath Lucknow se. Yahi umeed karta hoon ki jo sapne tu dekh kar yahan aaya hai woh pure hon”. Kundan told Motilal ji that needed his good wishes and blessings.

                                                

After Kasturi he went back to his original name Kundan, and signed some more films like Shakti Samanta’s “Howrah Bridge” (1958), “Jaali Note” (1960), “Naughty Boy” (1962), “Baarish” (1957), “Manzil” (1960), “Insaan Jaag Utha” (1959), “Post Box 999” (1958), “Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai” (1962), “Aadhi Raat Ke Baad” (1965), etc. He also acted in a Hollywood film called “Nine Hours To Rama”. Things were looking rosy and he called his family comprising of his Mother and siblings to Mumbai. His dad had in the meanwhile succumbed to his illness in Lucknow. He struck a great friendship with actor Mehmood a struggler then, and the two became inseparable pals with Mehmood spending most of his time at Kundan’s home. Kundan’s mother used to even give them money to sustain themselves during their struggling days. But somehow despite good performances and films coming his way Kundan could not attain the heights of stardom.

                                                          

Kundan and Om Prakash in "Eent Ka Jawab Paththar"

Kundan acted in many films in the ensuing years. Films like “Pagla Kahin Ka” (1970), “Amar Prem” (1972), “Sharmeelee” (1971), “Do Yaar”, “Kati Patang” (1970), “Shankar Shambhu” (1976), “Khoon Aur Paani” (1981), “Balam Pardesiya” {Bhojpuri], “Yaarana” (1981), etc. His dialogue  ‘Kachcha Papad Pakka Papad’ from the film “Yaarana”  is popular to this day.

                                                     

The industry believes in ‘maska’ and sweet talks, but Kundan being a self respecting man never begged for roles and the work that came his way started reducing. Its surprising that Kundan and Mehmood though friends, never worked together. When Mehmood made it big and started making his own films he conveniently forgot his old buddy Kundan and  he was sadly never seen in a Mehmood made film. Kundan remained friends with Mehmood but never ever asked him for work as he thought it to be below his dignity to do so.                                              
                                        

Ashok Kumar and Kundan in "Aadhi Raat Ke Baad"

                                                                               
Kundan eventually retired from films while still active and passed away suddenly on 25th November 2007 at the age of 75 Kundan’a passing away came as a surprise as he led a healthy lifestyle and did not have any any ailment. . Amongst his very good friends in the industry were Ram Mohan, Subhiraj, director Chand, Madan Puri, Chandrashekhar and Mehmood, who stood by him through thick and thin and vice versa . Even, today, film buffs remember his performances and dignified and decent lifestyle.

WRITTEN BY: RAJESH V. GAUR and RAJEEV V. GAUR

Email: sunrise607@rediffmail.com

 

RAJESH V. GAUR                                    RAJEEV