'Devdas', 'Madhumati', 'Daag', 'Ram aur Shyam', these are some of the trendsetter movies that formed the base of the 'Bollywood' we know today. What all these films have in common is a legendary actor who made these film memorable in the minds of every cinema lover. Dilip Kumar or Yusuf Khan, the tragedy king of Bollywood , created a niche for modern day Bollywood along with Raj Kapoor and Guru Dutt. He was the first receiver of Filmfare best actor award in 1954.
While Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor were known for showing the perils of post colonial India and busy building entertainment around it, Dilip Kumar emerged as a director's actor. Coming from a non-filmy background , Yusuf Khan was spotted in a military canteen by actress Devika Rani and her husband actor-director Himanshu Rai and was cast in 1944's 'Jwar Bhata'. This is when Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar. In front of the camera Yusuf was Dilip, an actor, a performer, a character and once the camera stopped rolling the film star resided back to his former, simple self.
That was the charm of Dilip Kumar, he knew how to live the life of an actor without losing his real self. Ace film maker Satayajit Ray called Dilip Kumar the 'master of method acting'. One who could adapt a character into his soul and makes it difficult for the fans to find their star in their favourite character.
In 1950's, Bollywood or the Hindi film industry was revamping itself, with artists choosing between Bombay and Lahore as their 'karmbhumi'. Amidst that chaos, industry found a man who would take Bollywood to new heights. Actors at that time and even today change their names- making it easier for the audience to connect with them. Yusuf Khan became Dilip Kumar to gain a larger acceptance in Hindu dominant society in front of the camera, however he remain Yusuf for himself . He never wanted to lose his identity after becoming a star so he created a different version of himself. One for the camera and one outside of it.
His roles from Shyam to Sooraj and Shankar, all had a real connect to the world. They were the types who were present in everyone. They were all common men stuck in the turmoil, and struggling to come out of it. Aamir Khan might be touted as the one who goes to great extent to transform himself according to the character he plays. But Dilip Kumar went into the emotional aspect. He used to observe his character and feel him to the grass root level. It is his emotional character study , that kept him ahead in his skills and made him an actor of the masses.
Dilip Kumar as Shankar (Daag) was a different alcoholic than Dilip Kumar as Devdas. Shankar had a rags to riches story. His tragedies and heartbreaks were society oriented. He was a poor man drinking on his poverty and his incapability to cope up with the debts, later in the same film he drinks to drown the sorrow of his mother's death and lover's separation. Devdas might seem very same from the character construction and narrative but it was Dilip Kumar's intense connect with the two characters that separated thm. He made the end look like an obvious happy ending in 'Daag' and lived the novel-ic tragedy in 'Devdas'. Shankar always had a ray of hope that Devdas didn't and it was Dilip Kumar who successfully mastered the thin line.
Today, as Dilip Saheb turns 93, we salute the spirit of the man who made common man relevant in Bollywood. One who established commercial success amidst simple narrative. Rajesh Khanna to Shah Rukh Khan, everybody's 'favourite star' Dilip Kumar is a legend who is irreplaceable in Bollywood. He is one of the pillars on whose techniques and lines actors today function, be it the role of a misunderstood man, a devastated lover, a true blue patriot or a twin brother. He is an institution in himself and Bollywood is indebted to him for his talent.
Wishing the father of modern Bollywood a hearty and healthy birthday.
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