Remembering Rajendra Kumar aka Jubilee Kumar on his Birthday

In the late 80's during my childhood days,Doordarshan showed this program on Wednesday called "Chitrahaar" and many times they would include "Mere Mehboob" song in this collection.Whenever I watched "Mere Mehboob tujhe Meri Mohabbat Ki Kasam",the title song from Mere Mehboob,a Muslim-Social Classic,I would think Rajendra Kumar would be playing a blind man in the movie,the way he looked into oblivion blinking his eyes now and then,like guys playing blind men in Hindi movies do.But much later on in early 90's when I saw the movie,I came to know he was not blind in the movie.So this song introduced me to this great Actor who is still loved and remembered by masses.In Govinda's "Aankhen" one song pays tribute to the actor's tragic hero image "Roye to Rajendra".He was good-looking and full of positive energy even in the 90's when he produced a comeback movie for his son Kumar Gaurav "Phool" co-starring Madhuri Dixit.

The second movie I heard from my friend Jaideep's Father,who specifically asked local video cassette rental guy to get him "Arzoo" ,a celebrated romantic Musical-drama directed by Ramanand Sagar whose Ramayan came on Doordarshan on Sunday.

The third movie which I loved immensely when I first saw it and which is my favorite movie of Rajendra Kumar and Saira Banu is "Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan".It was telecasted in late 80's during election time when there were paper ballots whose counting took a week's time.Doordarshan would show interesting films in between election bulletins."Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan" started late in the day and continued through Dusk into the evening."Mere Tumhare Beech Mein Ab To Na Parvat Na Sagar" song came in the second half where Saira is remembering Rajendra,its a song filmed in rain in lovely colors in a Park,its my favorite romantic song visually,I love it then.Then in the beginning there is the most loved song of his "Kaun Hai Jo Sapnon Mein Aaya",it has a very melodious and fresh youthful tune sung beautifully by Mohd.Rafi.Its a pivotal song as at the end of this song Rajendra dies in an accident and his spirit is introduced later on in another man's body who looks exactly like him.

Kanoon I saw when  in late 90's where they showcased Director's movies,i.e. Guru Dutt,Raj Kapoor,B.R.Chopra.Almost all of their movies were shown.Kanoon a beloved crime Black and white classic of B.R.Chopra dealing with Law,how a Judge(Ashok Kumar) takes a bet that he can commit a murder and get away with it.Rajendra Kumar too plays an important role in this movie.

"Dil Ek Mandir" is a beloved eternal classic starring Meena Kumari,Raj Kumar at their best along with Rajendra Kumar."Yaad Na Jaye Beete Dinon Ki" and "Tum Sabko Chod Kar Aa Jao" made their
frequent appearance on Chitrahaar.I especially love "Tum Sabko Chod Ke Aa Jao" which has a nice flashback aura around it,its music is just lovely and the whole song is so romantic.

"Do Jasoos" which was shown on doordarshan in late 80's was interesting spy story where Rajendra Kumar costarred with Raj Kapoor.It was a funny spy story,quite exciting.There's a New Year song in this movie which was shown often on Chitrahaar when ever New Year came.

In last thirteen years I have enjoyed watching many of his classic movies that are so tender at heart and so emotional.My all time favorite song "Ye Mera Prem Patra" from Sangam stars him.This was a role written for Dileep Kumar who refused it and it went to Rajendra Kumar who excelled in this movie shot across Europe in Technicolor.This song is the most beautiful song Raj Kapoor ever filmed,it starts beautifully and ends in a lovely way with awesome music from Shankar-Jaikishan.

"Dhool Ka Phool" my favorite movie stars him too,but in a negative sort of role which was a first in Hindi cinema where he refused to accept his illegitimate son and his girl friend played by Mala Sinha leaves her child in the Jungle.Its a great classic directed by Yash Chopra.

"Aas Ka Panchchi" is my all time favorite movie,a great classic spanning a decade in a man's life from his student life to how he joins army and to the battle-field co-starring Vyjanthimala.Its a unique movie as it shows how a Father ruins his son's future by not allowing him to do what he wants to adapt as a career but forcing him into a clerical job. 

Gharana and Sasural are two family classic gems of Rajendra Kumar.Gharana is best remembered for the children song "Dadi Amma Dadi Amma Maan Jao" and Mohd.Rafi classic "Husnwale tera Jawaab Nahin".Sasural has this eternal love song "Teri Pyari Pyari Surat Ko",we used hum it a lot when we were kids.And a unique song "Ek Sawaal Main Karoon" which is a song where various question are asked in song format which are their own answers.