On New Year, An Ode To The Old Treasure, A Nonpareil: The Substance & The Shadows; That Ought Not To Be Forgotten

On New Year, An Ode To The Old Treasure, A Nonpareil: The Substance & The Shadows; That Ought Not To Be Forgotten: When Amitabh Bachchan says he wouldn’t dare do any of his films, “HE” must be a star of Resplendence beyond bounds. The name Dilip Kumar brings in the flurry of memories with it, innumerable images and myriad of emotions; each one iconic in its own way.

As thespian celebrated his birthday, it is imperative for the audience of this age to understand why it is that whenever the subject of acting in Bollywood is brought up, Dilip Kumar is the name that comes up and above everything. What is it about him that makes him the Idol of every known actor-director even in today’s time? Right from Nasir Saab to Amitabh Bachchan to Shahrukh Khan to Rajkumar Rao to Dibaker Banerjee to Anurag Kashyap and the list that almost rounds up everyone worth his name in the industry. Everyone seems to have taken a grain from the dunes he’s created with his acting. What makes him so relevant even after he has long ceased appearing in movies and associating with movies?

During his speech on the occasion of Launch of autobiography of Dilip Saab, Javed Akhtar spoke of him with such a fervor and torrent of strong emotions that any celebrity hardly shows for someone, aptly using a Couplet of Firaq in making way for emotions

“Aane wali asle tum par fakhrkaregi ham-aseeron, Jab unko ye Dhyan aayega tumne Dilip sahab ko dekha hai”.

What is it about him that makes who’s who of industry put him on the highest pedestal of the pantheon of Motion Pictures Industry of India?

Is it the restraint, realism, and subtlety he brought in the acting? perhaps the acumen he’s exhibited in selecting his work? the fact that despite being sought after star he never practiced overindulgence, that he’s left an impression that continues to inspire every new generation? Amalgamation of all these things? Perhaps all of this and much more than we can ever grow to appreciate. He’s had so much to learn for everyone, the actors, the directors, the screenwriters and everyone associated with this form of vicarious art.

It was the time when the term method acting was not a thing for actors to boast about, wasn’t even well established, approaches were there in principles but were not deployed and propagated much.