Dilip Kumar and His Ten best Performances

Dilip Kumar( Born on 11th Dec 1922) is one of the greatest and most iconic Indian film actors. Acclaimed throughout his career span of 54 years. His performances have been regarded as the epitome of emoting in Indian Cinema. He was the first actor to receive a Filmfare Best Actor Award and holds the record for most numbers of Filmfare Awards won for that category. 
Though he has done all kinds of films and a wide variety of roles. In this blog, I have selected his Ten best performances starting from his first film in 1944 to the last film in 1988.
Andaz (1949)

The film stars Dilip Kumar, Nargis and Raj Kapoor in a love triangle. It was the first blockbuster film of Dilip Kumar. It is to date regarded as the mother of all triangles of the Hindi Cinema. Dilip Kumar who played Dilip in this film continued his tragedian onslaughts and reigned supreme as the bitter suitor whose love goes unrequited.
Deedar 1951

 It is a story of unfulfilled love, where the hero's childhood love is separated from him due to class inequalities. It is one of the noted tragedies made in the early Hindi cinema. It became a popular film of the Golden era and further established Dilip Kumar as the "King of Tragedy. Dilip plays a blind singer who is cured by Ashok Kumar, a doctor. The twist in the tale is that they both love the same girl (Nargis). She’s his childhood sweetheart who doesn’t remember him, not even when he sings the song they crooned together as children. He vainly hopes that his restored vision would help restore her memories but sadly that doesn’t happen. Angered, he blinds himself in his grief.
Daag 1952

 The film stars Dilip Kumar, Nimmi and Lalita Pawar in lead roles. Dilip Kumar plays Shankar in this film 
To earn money he makes and sells mud toys. Being the lone breadwinner of the family, he is unable to meet the needs. His debt starts rising higher and higher when he gets addicted to alcohol. He is attracted to Parvati (Nimmi), who also lives a poor lifestyle along with her step-brother In this film he played the role of a drunkard.

Devdas (1955)

Dilip Kumar played a man driven by unrequited love into being a drunkard to perfection. His eyes are hazy throughout the film and his silences are eloquent. He got so much under the skin of the character that it’s said he had to go to London and consult Harley Street psychiatrists to overcome depression.

Naya Daur (1957)

For this film, Kumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the third time in a row, being his fourth overall. Dilip played the rustic tangewala to perfection, flirting outrageously with his firebrand heroine Vyjayanthimala. 

Madhumati (1958)

The film stars Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala in the lead roles. This Bimal Roy classic superbly employs the theme of reincarnation. You enjoy the film despite the clichés because of the atmosphere created by the director and excellent performances by both Dilip and Vyjayanthimala.

Mughal-E-Azam (1960)

Dilip Kumar plays the role of Salim wh0 falls in love with Anarkali. Salim pleads to marry Anarkali, but his father refuses and imprisons her. Despite her treatment, Anarkali refuses to reject Salim, as Akbar demands. Dilip Kumar, in keeping with the nature of a prince, was regally restrained and conveyed more through his eyes than others would with their facial expressions.

Gunga Jumna (1961)

 The film stars Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala and Nasir Khan (real-life brother of Dilip Kumar) in the lead rolesDililp Kumar was excellent as the rustic villager forced by circumstances to become a dacoit. Dilip Kumar's performance as Ganga is considered one of the finest acting performances in the history of Indian cinema.

Ram Aur Shyam (1967)

Dilip Kumar played a double role in the film. It was the story of twins separated at birth. Shyam grows up to be street smart man-about-town while Ram is a bumpkin much abused by his brother-in-law. Things are set right when the duo by chance exchange places. 

Shakti (1982)

A father-son story, the role of the father played by Dilip Kumar and the son played by Amitabh Bachchan. The end scene where Amitabh is dying in Dilip’s lap remains a masterpiece. You can feel a father’s anguish, his anger, and the momentary joy that though dying, his son has finally reconciled their differences.

13 October - A Cruel Co incidence in Bollywood

13th Oct is the Birthdate of Dada Muni, Ashok Kumar and unfortunately, it became the last day of Kishore Kumar, who passed away on this day.  Dada Muni was born on 13 Oct 1911. He was an Iconic Actor of the 1940s and 50s. By 1947, he was the most bankable star of Hindi cinema and started producing films for Bombay Talkies. He was the eldest son of the Ganguli family. Kishore Kumar was the youngest among all.
Kishore Kumar who was 18 years younger than Ashok Kumar. He was a lively child who was passionate about singing. He was especially obsessed with legendary singer and composer KL Saigal and learned music by imitating his style.
Kishore had no formal training in music and Ashok Kumar, who was already a film star, discouraged him from taking up a playback career. He felt that Kishore’s voice lacked ‘modulation’, among other things. But Kishore was in no mood to hang up his boots.

It was in 1945 when Kishore Kumar was in Bombay living with Ashok Kumar, who that time shooting for Shikari gave him a small role in that film. However, Kishore disliked acting. His first few films flopped and then he decided to act so badly that nobody will cast him. Kishore’s decision to perform badly became his calling card and the audience’s started loving him for it. It was the 1951 release of Andolan, however, that propelled him to stardom as a singer-actor and ultimately freed him from the shadow of his brother Ashok.
He was given break for singing by Khemchand Prakash for the 1948 film Ziddi, the song was  “Marne ki duayen kyon mangu”  The song was a hit but he didn't get many offers for singing.It was S D Burman who advised him not to imitate KL Saigal, sing in your own style.
 It was music director SD Burman who gave Kishore opportunities to sing in one movie after another beginning with Dev Anand’s hit films -- Munimji and Taxi Driver (1954), House No. 44 (1955), Funtoosh (1956), Nau Do Gyarah and Paying Guest (1957) and many more. Not only these movies became big hits but their songs too soared in popularity charts. Dev Anand’s own popularity scaled higher peaks while Kishore Kumar began to be recognized as Dev Anand’s voice.
Kishore Kumar and Ashok Kumar acted together in many films.the first time they acted together in Bhai Bhai released in 1956. Ashok Kumar, who played the lead role and Kishore Kumar (real-life brothers) as the two brothers, with the film being referred to as one of Kishore Kumar's prominent films. In this film sang one song for himself "Mera Naam Abdul Rehman"

Both of them are considered to be one of India’s finest artists who have successfully entertained us. Talking about Ashok Kumar, he was an actor who ruled the silver screen whereas, Kishore Kumar’s melodious voice remains etched in our hearts to date, and maybe forever.

Both the brothers were going great when destiny played a cruel game and one’s happy occasion, unfortunately, turned sad and unhappy for the other one. Kishore Kumar died on the birthday of Ashok Kumar in 1987, which shattered Ashok Kumar, he decided that he will never celebrate his birthday now and onwards. Ashok Kumar died 14 years later in 2001.
Here are 5 Prominent films of both brothers working together
Bhai Bhai 1956

Song of Bhai Bhai 1956

The story is of two brothers, with the younger brother running away from home at an early age. The older brother gets entangled with another woman, leaving his wife and child at home. This situation leads to the meeting of the brothers, with the older one mending his errant ways.


Bandi (1957)

Song of Bandi (1957)

This is a 1957 film directed by Satyen Bose and had all three brothers Ashok, Kishore and Anoop coming together for the first time. Ashok Kumar as his educated elder brother has negative shades to his character. while Kishore played a simpleton. The confrontation scenes between Ashok Kumar and Kishore Kumar are superb especially in the end when they meet after 16 years.


Raagini  (1958)

Song of Ragini 1958

It is a 1958 Bollywood film starring Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, and Padmini. Kishore sings "Main Bangali Chhokra" The film was an average.at Box office


Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)-

Song of Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958)

 The film featured the 3 brothers once again and Madhubala. The music was given by SD Burman and the Kishore sang most of the sings along with Asha Bhosle. The film was a huge success.

Door Ka Rahi (1971)

Song of Door Ka Rahi (1971)

 The film was directed by Kishore Kumar himself who also wrote the film and featured Tanuja, Ashok Kumar and himself in major roles. The film strives to deliver a very strong message of humanity using the simplest possible language.