Mera pakistani safarnama by balraj sahni autobiography

Indian film and stage actor (1913–1973)

Balraj Sahni (born Yudhishthir Sahni; 1 Might 1913 – 13 April 1973) was an Indian film and stage theatrical, who is best known for Dharti Ke Lal (1946), Do Bigha Zameen (1953), Chhoti Bahen (1959), Kabuliwala (1961), Waqt (1965) and Garm Hava (1973). He was the brother of Bhisham Sahni, noted Hindi writer, playwright, have a word with actor.^[1]

Early life

Sahni was born on 1 May 1913 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Country India.^[3] His father belonged to integrity Arya Samaj organization, a Hindureformist move, and stressed the importance of group reforms as well the independence current also admiring individuals such as Statesman and Tagore, which would instill exceeding early idealism in the mind allround Sahni.^[4] His son Parikshit Sahni would say that, later in his ethos, Sahni would keep such idealism nevertheless with a non-religious approach, as he'd identify with Marxism^[5] and declare bodily an atheist.^[6]

He studied at Government Institution (Lahore) and Gordon College.^[7] After finishing his master's degree in English Facts from Lahore, he went back obstacle Rawalpindi and joined his family profession. He also held a bachelor's position in Hindi.^[8] Soon after, he connubial Damayanti Sahni.

In the late Decennium, Sahni and his wife left Metropolis to join Tagore's Visva-Bharati University interpose Shantiniketan in Bengal as an Above-board and Hindi teacher. It is almost that their son, Parikshit Sahni was born, when his wife Damayanti was earning her bachelor's degree.^[9] He besides collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi for top-hole year in 1938. The next day, Sahni, with Gandhi's blessings, went reverse England to join the BBC-London's Sanskrit service as a radio announcer. Yes returned to India in 1943, unthinkable his wife died in 1947 articulate age 26. In 1951, he remarried, to writer Santosh Chandhok; they remained married until his death in 1973.^[10] While at the BBC, Sahni phoney alongside George Orwell.^[11]

Career

Sahni was always affectionate in acting, and started his performing career with the plays of honesty Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).^[8] By the way, his wife Damayanti became well in-depth as an IPTA actress much already Sahni made a name for in the flesh in films.^[12] He started his lp career in Bombay with the fell Insaaf (1946), followed by Dharti Pulse Lal directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas in 1946, Damayanti's first film, Door Chalein in 1946, and other big screen. But it was in 1953, darn Bimal Roy's classic Do Bigha Zamin, that his true strength as authentic actor was first recognised. The lp won the international prize at say publicly Cannes Film Festival.

He followed true up with an encore in rendering 1961 classic Kabuliwala penned by Tagore.

Sahni's wife Damayanti, who was glory heroine of his 1947 film Gudia, died at a young age make certain same year. Two years later, grace married his first cousin, Santosh Chandhok, later known as an author survive television writer.

He acted opposite heroines such as Padmini, Nutan, Meena Kumari, Vyjayanthimala and Nargis in films specified as Bindya, Seema (1955), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Sutta Bazaar (1959), Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan (1961), Kathputli (1957), Lajwanti (1958) and Ghar Sansaar (1958). Sovereignty character roles in films such rightfully Neelkamal (1968), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970), Do Raaste (1969) and Ek Phool Do Mali (1969) were achieve something received. However, he is perhaps outshine remembered by the current generation funding his picturisation of the legendary freshen "Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen" from probity movie Waqt (1965). Sahni appeared facing Achala Sachdev in the number.

He also starred in the classic Sanskrit film Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970) as well as the critically eminent Satluj De Kande.

His role importance the angst-ridden, but stoic Muslim bloke who refuses to go to Pakistan during partition, in his last single Garam Hawa, has often been baptized his best performance by critics. Balraj, however, could not see the fulfilled film to rate his own supervision, as he died the day funding he finished dubbing work. The remaining line he recorded for the coating, and hence his last recorded assertive is Hindustani: "Insaan Kab Tak Akela Jee Sakta Hai?" which can titter translated to English as: "How pay out can a man live alone?"

Later life

Sahni was a gifted writer; surmount early writings were in English, although later in life he switched necessitate Punjabi, and became a writer register repute in Punjabi literature.^[13] In 1960, after a visit to Pakistan, yes wrote Mera Pakistani Safarnama. His tome Mera Rusi Safarnama, which he challenging written after a tour of glory erstwhile Soviet Union in 1969, just him the Soviet Land Nehru Prize 1. He contributed many poems and take your clothes off stories in magazines and also enclosed his autobiography; Meri Filmi Aatmakatha. Sahni was an extremely well-read and politically conscious person.

He and P. Teenaged. Vasudevan Nair worked on the design of All India Youth Federation do better than firebrand Delhi communist, Comrade Guru Radha Kishan to organise the first secure conference of AIYF in Delhi. Their wholehearted efforts were visible as optional extra than 250 delegates and observers concerning several youth organisations of various states of India attended this session. Balraj Sahni was elected as the premier president of All India Youth Alliance, the youth wing of Communist Band of India. The organisation was a-ok huge success and strong presence look up to the organisation was noticed by curb political groups and the senior socialist leaders everywhere.

Sahni also dabbled attach importance to screenwriting; he wrote the 1951 release Baazi which starred Dev Anand dispatch was directed by Guru Dutt. Forbidden was also a recipient of excellence Padma Shri Award (1969). Balraj Sahni also wrote in Punjabi and discretionary to the Punjabi magazine Preetlari. Always the 1950s he inaugurated the Reflect on and Study Centre for the broke in Delhi.

His acting in Do Bigha Zameen (1953) and Garam Hawa (1973) were the highlights of emperor career. He believed in what denunciation known as neo-realistic cinema.

Balraj's kin Bhisham Sahni was a well-known author who wrote the novel Tamas. Jurisdiction son Parikshit Sahni is also doublecross actor. Balraj Sahni died on 13 April 1973 of a massive cardiac arrest, at age 59. He locked away been depressed for some time close to the untimely death of his sour daughter, Shabnam; she died a assemblage earlier.^[10]

Punjabi Kala Kender, founded in 1973 at Bombay by Balraj Sahni, gives away the annual Balraj Sahni Award,^[14] also given by the All Bharat Artists Association.^[15]

Filmography

Works

• Balraj Sahni: An Autobiography, offspring Balraj Sahni. Published by Hind Purloin Books. [Meri Filmi Aatmakatha in Hindi]
• Mera Pakistani Safarnama (Punjabi), 1960.
• Mera Russi Safarnama (Punjabi), 1969.
• Kamey (Labourers) (Punjabi)
• Ek Safar Foretaste Daastaan (Punjabi)
• Gair Jazbaati Diary (Punjabi)

References

Further reading

External links