Tribute to the mighty hero of Bollywood

Homage to a hero of all times

     Dharmendra who was originally named as Dharmendra Kewal Kishan Deol was one of the earliest heroes of macho might in Hindi cinema. With an acting career of almost 65 years with his last completed film Ikkis  waiting for a posthumous release, Bollywood and all his fans would have their eyes filled with tears, over missing a hero of well-built physique, endowed with a stentorian voice and vigour for a racing role play. 

   The fans of MGR in Tamil Nadu, would always keep in their minds a never missing link between the late Bollywood hero and their mass hero, on a similar pathway to stardom. Perhaps that was why the immortal Dharmendra was picked up for playing the role Alibaba {that MGR played much earlier in the Tamil version "Aibbabavum Naarpadhu Thirudarkalum"} in the film "Alibaba aur 40 Chor". When the Tamil film Naalai Namadhe, the Tamil remake of Yadon ki Baaraat was released, the fans of Hindi films, eagerly looked for their Dharmendra in M G R, and the latter did not disappoint the audience.

    Having lived in a district in Tamil Nadu where Hindi film releases were not many, this blogger cherishes in lasting memory, the five films of Dharmendra he watched. Raj Kapoor's four-hour fascinating film Mera Naam Joker {1970},was the first film in which this blog writer saw Dharmendra in the role of Mahendra Singh. The next film was Seetha Aur Geeta {1971} followed by Jugnu(1973). While Sivaji Ganesan played the role of Dharmendra in the Tamil remake of Seetha Aur Geeta {Vani Rani} Kamalahasan played his role in the Tamil version of Jugnu {Guru}.Jugnu was celebrated for the twice said dialogue,"Baap ke naam kaa sahaaraa kamzor log lete hai" which when translated into English would mean, ''the weak would be longing to be known by their father's reputation"

  The two other films were the mega hit Yadon Ki Baaraat {1973} and the blockbuster film Sholay {!975}.It was a pleasure to watch Dharmendra, along with the other sterling hero Sanjeev Kumar in Seetha Aur Geeta and Sholay and with the adorable Amitabh Bachan in Sholay.Among these five films, Hema Malini was his pair in Jugnu, Seetha Aur Geeta and Sholay. Besides these films, the blogger also saw Dharmendra as himself, in the film 'Chhoti Si Baat'.

  It is not the number of films of a hero that one watched, matters here. A veteran actor like Dharmendra can create a massive impact on the minds of the audience, as he did by jumping from a bridge on a running train in Yadon Ki Baaraat. Behind his grim look, he could create a world of grandeur, and his graceful half smile, was a treat more enchanting than the broad smiles of several other heroes. By looks and by the loaded roles Dharmendra performed, one could reflect upon the magnificence of Hindi cinema, and the whole gamut of Hollywood style radiating through the Hindi screens.

  Dharmendra was a hero of might; and that was ever a ruling macho might. Be it stunt or romance or emotional display, Dharmendra was by all means, the most captivating hero of Hindi cinema,with his unique charisma firmly fixed to the minds of his fans, as someone with a capacity for creating a superman impact, downsizing the dramatic efficacy of several other heroes of his time. The dynamic name Dharmendra will be eternally vibrating through the memories of his family, friends, film fans and the entire bastion of Bollywood.

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