Viewing the TV channels announcing the demise of Rajesh Khanna, for the first time I experienced at a personal level the emotion linked to the realisation that an era has passed. He was a large part of our teens. And it all started on a non flattering note.
In those days, with our farther in the Defence Services, shifting town on short notice was de reguire. So here we were, smack dab in the centre of Kanpur, an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone, friend or enemy. Our sole source of entertainment was Amin Sayani of Radio Ceylon promoting the music releases of up and coming movies. One of which was Aradhana. Whose songs literally stormed the charts. To the extent me and my elder brother vowed to see the movie even though it featured some average looking jerk opposite the delectable Ms Tagore.
Well the movie delivered, the picturisation of the songs certainly lived up to our expectations, Ms Tagore did very delivered in the Roop Tera Mastana song sequence (my emotions are overruling my grammar), the story line was plausible, which in those days was a complement given that we would swallow anything as long as the songs were sensational and the heroine was cute, and despite our apprehensions, our hero did his bit. With panache. So much so we labelled him affectionately "Ole Gurkha Eyes" based on his Head gear and twinkle in "Mere Sapno ki Rani".
Well, I suppose as South Indian lads living in the Hindi Heartland, in his subsequent movies our primary focus was on the Music Genius RD, Ms Tagore and that girl with divinely upturned pert nose, Mumu in short. Infact I once bunked school to see her rendering of "Duniya Mein" in Apna Desh. A worthwile exercise despite ensuing punishment. And Mr Khanna held his part in the ongoing dramas with effortless ease. In fact his "Mush" in Daag way outshone Dev Anand's attempt in "Gambler". And his stylish duet with the gorgeous Tanuja in his "O Mere Dil ke Chain" will remain forever in my memories of the man.
I would call him more than a meteor than a Superstar cause he entered our firmament sweeping away everyone else, glowed for a brief period, and then vanished. Never to be seen again in that persona that electrified the nation. I would like to remember him like that.
In those days, with our farther in the Defence Services, shifting town on short notice was de reguire. So here we were, smack dab in the centre of Kanpur, an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone, friend or enemy. Our sole source of entertainment was Amin Sayani of Radio Ceylon promoting the music releases of up and coming movies. One of which was Aradhana. Whose songs literally stormed the charts. To the extent me and my elder brother vowed to see the movie even though it featured some average looking jerk opposite the delectable Ms Tagore.
Well the movie delivered, the picturisation of the songs certainly lived up to our expectations, Ms Tagore did very delivered in the Roop Tera Mastana song sequence (my emotions are overruling my grammar), the story line was plausible, which in those days was a complement given that we would swallow anything as long as the songs were sensational and the heroine was cute, and despite our apprehensions, our hero did his bit. With panache. So much so we labelled him affectionately "Ole Gurkha Eyes" based on his Head gear and twinkle in "Mere Sapno ki Rani".
Well, I suppose as South Indian lads living in the Hindi Heartland, in his subsequent movies our primary focus was on the Music Genius RD, Ms Tagore and that girl with divinely upturned pert nose, Mumu in short. Infact I once bunked school to see her rendering of "Duniya Mein" in Apna Desh. A worthwile exercise despite ensuing punishment. And Mr Khanna held his part in the ongoing dramas with effortless ease. In fact his "Mush" in Daag way outshone Dev Anand's attempt in "Gambler". And his stylish duet with the gorgeous Tanuja in his "O Mere Dil ke Chain" will remain forever in my memories of the man.
I would call him more than a meteor than a Superstar cause he entered our firmament sweeping away everyone else, glowed for a brief period, and then vanished. Never to be seen again in that persona that electrified the nation. I would like to remember him like that.
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