A family in films & politics

Thirty years ago, Manmohan Desai, the originator of the lost-and-found brand of Bollywood films, had made a film called Amar, Akbar, Anthony. The story was uncomplicated and elegant in its simplicity: A man loses his three young sons; one grows up as a Hindu, the second as a Christian and the third as a Muslim. They finally meet up, each with a woman in tow, beat up the bad men and live happily ever after.

The film was a hit and the abnormality of the plot did not seem to bother viewers at all. It would take a bold producer today to use a story line like this. Clearly, the cultural melting pot no longer exists. One place where it has flourished is Indian filmdom. And nothing exemplifies it better than the story of Nargis and Sunil Dutt.

Their story has been told well by Kishwar Desai in this latest book. Using stuff from the National Film Archives, diaries, letters and periodicals, she has put together a fine book, which may not be racy or the final word in linguistic finery, but is sincere and interesting.

Dilipa was a child-widow in a Brahmin household of east Uttar Pradesh (United Provinces in late-19th century). Unsure of her fate, she decided to marry a wandering Muslim musician, Miajan. Their daughter was Jaddan Bai, a singer who also dabbled with films as an actress as well as a producer. Jaddan Bai, in turn, herself married a Hindu, Mohanbabu, though he converted to Islam out of love for her and took the name Abdul Rashid. The conversion was carried out by none other than Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Nargis was their daughter and even had a Hindu name, Tejeshwari. Her first romantic alliance was with a Hindu, Raj Kapoor, and she went on to marry another Hindu, this time a Brahmin from Khurd (now in Pakistan), Sunil Dutt (he was born Balraj Dutt but took a more contemporary name after he joined the film world). The two got married according to Hindu rituals and customs, though her last rites were done the Islamic way.

The story of their romance is no less bizarre. Nargis grew up amidst plenty at Marine Drive in Mumbai, started her acting career early and was a success at a very young age. She went to good schools and could mingle without a care amongst the beautiful people of the city.

Sunil Dutt, on the other hand, came from an agricultural family which lost everything during Partition. He had to struggle long and hard first to get himself a semi-decent job and then to establish himself in the film world.

The two met on the sets of Mother India. Nargis had realised by now that Raj Kapoor would never marry her. Her brothers had even tried to get her married to the upcoming Pakistani politician, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, though nothing came out of it. As is well known, there was a fire on the sets, Nargis was trapped and Sunil Dutt suffered serious burns in trying to rescue her. It was then that the two decided to become life partners.

It is here that the book begins to ramble. Chapter after chapter is devoted to the hitches the two faced. Nargis' brother, Akhtar Hussain, was unwilling to let her go because the household was running on her earnings. Sunil Dutt, in turn, was insecure and wanted Nargis not to sign any more films. More than once, Sunil Dutt came close to calling off the marriage. Surely, all this is interesting stuff but could have been told in fewer pages.

They eventually got married in 1959. But a series of tragedies would strike the family in a little over 20 years. First, Nargis died of cancer. Then, their first child, Sanjay, got into drugs and had to be put through rehab. After he had brought his life and career back on track, he was picked up by the police for illegally acquiring an AK 47 rifle. Recently, he was once again sent to jail, though he is currently out on bail.

Desai's book makes one startling revelation: Nargis' family shared ties with the Nehrus before Independence, much before they became India's first political family. Jaddanbai was in some way associated with this aristocratic family of Allahabad. Some even say that Jawaharlal Nehru was like an older brother to her and she used to tie rakhi on his wrist. Years later, Nargis was awarded a national honour (Padmashri) and was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, Sunil Dutt became a Congress Member of Parliament and minister. After his death, his daughter Priya won the elections from his constituency in Mumbai, again on a Congress ticket. Was it sheer coincidence? Maybe.

DARLINGJI
THE TRUE LOVE STORY OF NARGIS AND SUNIL DUTT

Kishwar Desai
HarperCollins
Pages: 442, Rs 395