REHMAN : THE UNFORGETTABLE ACTOR OF INDIAN CINEMA ..

                                                
                                                                  

                                       

                         (Fasi ur Rehman)

REHMAN .. THE UNFORGETABLE  ACTOR   OF INDIAN CINEMA  AND HIS SUPER TALENTED NEPHEW  FASI UR REHMAN..

He belonged to a  liberal Pathan family  that had come to India and settled at Jabalpur  much before the partition of the country . The family traces its roots to King Amanullah of Afghanistan.

Rehman  Khan  ( 1921-1984) was born at Lahore but the family moved to  Jabalpur  where he graduated from Robertson College and joined Royal Indian Air Force as  pilot in1942 . He resigned from Air Force in 1944 and moved to films . The  first major role that he earned was for a movie called Shahjahaan . He starred  in about 70 movies as  lead man  looking  strikingly handsome,  suave and aristocratic .The memorable roles that he played are from movies like WAQT, SAHIB BIBI AUR GHULAM ,PYAASA  and CHAUDHAVIN  KA  CHAAND . I still remember the  fantastic demeanour  that he put up in these roles . I still  remember  the  scene, where a dead drunk   Chhote  Sarkar  (Rehman )  forces the bitter brew down  Meena Kumari’s throat, signaling  her unstoppable slip into addiction and defeat.And the song "Na Jao Saiyan Chhudaake Baiyan" picturised on Rehman and Meena Kumari is simply unforgettable.

Not much is known about Rehman’s personal life except that he lived behind Regal Cinema in Colaba ,  Mumbai  . He married his girlfriend and the couple lived a reclusive life. Guru Dutt, Johnny Walker ,Sapru and Abrar Alvi were  amongst his  few friends from the film industry.

Well known  Pakistani male  kathak  dancer  ,lFasi Ur Rehman  , known as  Chhote Birju Maharaj is his nephew . Fasih ur Rehman began his Kathak training in 1977 under the tutelage of Maharaj Ghulam Hussain - a disciple of Achhan Maharaj of Lucknow Gharana. He was also trained under the guidance of Smt. Kumudini  Lakhia. Fasih ur Rehman is a dancer who has strived throughout his career to promote dance and staunchly protect classical Kathak both worldwide and within his home country; all the while facing  strong opposition from conservative forces. About this dancer ,   Renuka Narayanan of   Indian Express writes :

"On stage, though, he shifts seamlessly between Tandava and Lasya, the masculine and feminine energies needed to portray a Kathak love song, tugging at his imaginary paramour's plait one moment, gracefully sliding on bangles the next."

Another nephew of this great actor is Faisal Rehman  noted TV and film personality from across the border .  Massud ur  ( father of Faisal and Fasi ur ) , his youngest brother is a well known cinematographer in Pakistan.

Rehman  suffered three massive heart attacks in 1977  but died of throat cancer in 1984.

I end this post with lines from  a poem Naya Ahang  by noted urdu poet  Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996).

"Loghaat alfaaz Ka ek Dher hai Lafzon Pe mat Jaana ,
Nayaa Ahang Hotaa Hai Moratab Lafz o Maani Kaa ,
Mere Haq Mein abhi Kuchh Faisalaa Saadir Naa Farmaana ,
Mein Jiss Din Aaoongaa Taaza Loghaat Hamraah Laoongaa ."

"The dictionary is nothingis  but a heap of words,
Be cautious and discreet !
A fresh design is in the offing to define everything anew.
Pray , don’t pass any judgment at the instant .
The day I come my Lord ,
I shall bring along with me the new Lexicon."

( Avtar Mota )

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