Remembering Dilip Kumar

Celebrating a Super Star

What endeared us to Dilip Kumar?

Was it his relaxed gait? Was it his evocative eyes which could alternate between kindness and sadness that would haunt us? Was it the restraint in his speech, a restraint that could unleash so much power beyond comprehension?

I decided to revisit with Shakthi which I had seen in Devi Paradise in 1982.  Wanted to understand how Bachan had performed in the company of Dilip Saab. 

I was not really disappointed with the movie, except that the background sound was completely out of place.

Dilip Kumar's control of varied emotions is punctuated by restraint. Whether it was responding to the demise of his wife or rebuking his son or ecstatically welcoming his would be daughter in law home, the man is in perfect control of his craft.

Surprisingly Bachan was a tad heavy and loud, probably miscast, with Rakhee as his mother and Smita Patil as his wife. The ladies are in great form.

There are different versions, some say the movie has been adapted from Sangram some say, Thanga Pathakkam, but in true Salim Javed style, no credit to anyone.

We have always believed that Shakti was a remake of  "Thanga pathakkam". The writers were more sympathetic  to Amitabh in the way the misunderstanding developed between the son and the dad. But what was interesting to note that Amitabh's character arc is directly lifted from Deewar.

The climax sequence clearly gave away that "Indian" (Hindusthani )core has been lifted from Thanga Pathakkam/Shakti.

I decided to savour one more of Dilip Kumar's movie, the one in which he acted first and then Gemini remade with Sivaji in the lead. Paigham and Irumbuthirai.

Understand that Dilip Kumar is not supposed to have charged  SS Vasan for acting in Paigham.

The kindness of Dilip Kumar's eyes and his body language were a treat. Paigham is available on Prime. A predictable fare. But  Dilip Kumar and the onscreen chemistry with Vyjaythimala is worth watching.

Since I got a taste what Dilip did  in Shakti, I wanted to check out how Sivaji had reprised Dilip's role in Irumbuthirai. Did he overact?

Here is a sample of how Sivaji acts. I could not get the equivalent footage of Paigham on Youtube. For people who are seriously interested in understanding the geniuses of two different actors in a simple similar scene, can be instructive.

May your soul rest in peace. Thanks for entertaining us and several moments of bliss in our  lives