Mehmood passes away

From being a chauffeur and doing some errands to earn a living to the status of a superstar comedianit had been a long and arduous journey for film actor and Hindi film industry's most popular comedian Mehmood Ali who died in the USA on June 23.

His career in Hindi film industry spanned three decades from the late 1950s. With his acting roles in more than 250 films, Mehmood was the undisputed king of comedy. In fact, his appearance in a film often guaranteed its box office success-- despite the presence of the reigning superstars of those days.

Mehmood's greatness lay in combining humour with sensitivity and excelled in stirring the emotions of the viewers, even through comic portrayals. A fine example of this is his performance in Kunwara Baap in the role of a bachelor-father who fends for a polio-stricken boy.

Son of illustrious actor and dancer Mumtaj Ali, Mehmood, born in 1932 in Mumbai, was a familiar face in the studios since he was five.

The comedian began his career in films like Do Bigha Zameen and legendary Guru Dutt's Pyasa. But his real big break came in Parwarish in 1958. Three years later, another film Sasural ensured that Mehmood was here to stay.

Popular as 'Bhaijan' in Bollywood, Mehmood also made a mark in Guru Dutt's CID. His acting prowess, however, came to the fore in full force in films like Chhoti Bahen, Aulad, Bhootbangla, Sabse Bada Rupaiya, Humrahi, Humjoli, Aankhen, Patthar Ke Sanam, Do Kaliyan and Neel Kamal .There was also the super-hit Padosan where he plays the role of a South Indian music teacher in a film which features Sunil Dutt, now India's Sports Minister, as the hero and Saira Banu the heroine.

Such was the popularity of Mehmood that directors would shoot an entire song sequence around him. Who can forget the songs Muthukodi Kabadi Haya or Main Mandi GayanHaji or Ek Chatur Nar Karke Singar or Hum Kale Huai to Kya Hua Dil Wale Hain.

Bollywood's reigning super star Amitabh Bachchan, who co-starred with Mehmood in Bombay to Goa, pointed out that never before had an entire script of a Hindi film been written around a comedian and this was a great tribute to Mehmood.

Besides acting, Mehmood also directed a few films and his last directorial venture was Dushman Duniya Ka. His son Lucky Ali is already a big name in Indian music world with several video albums. Lucky Ali also acted in the lead role in Sur, made by leading director Tanuja Chandra.

Film critics remain divided about whether Mehmood by and large indulged in slapstick comedy. It is, however, an indisputable fact that he created a unique acting genre --often through innovation.