Dilip Kumar lived through his films, and his every emotion has inspired a generation of movie aficionados to relive their own emotions. As we celebrate his birth centenary, a unique two-day film festival is currently on at PVR Cinemas and Innox, celebrating his life.
A Dilip Kumar movie, an experience to behold
When you went to a movie theatre to watch a Dilip Kumar movie, his dialogues would reverberate in you when he delivers them on the screen. He would make you cry with the depth of the emotion he portrayed through his pain; he would make you think through the intensity of expression on his face.
There has been no other in this century other than maybe Amitabh Bachchan, who had such an aura around them that necessarily didn’t have to deliver dialogues and their eyes would speak.
The film festival; Dilip Kumar, Hero of Heroes
This year marks the 100th birth centenary of Dilip Saab, and there is no better way to relive the magic he created on screen through celebrating a series of his Landmark films and enjoying them at a theatre again.
Four of his iconic films Aan (1952), Devdas (1955), Ram and Shyam (1967) and Shakti (1982), are being shown at PVR and Innox as part of a two-day Film Festival titled (Dilip Kumar, Hero of Heroes).
The festival, organized by The Film Heritage Foundation, aims to introduce the younger generation to the history of Indian Cinema and its richness.
Aan (1952) was the first film that was shown at this festival in front of 300 people strong audience. Among those who attended the screening of Aan were his wife, Saira Banu, Waheeda Rehman, Prem Chopra, Farida Jalal, R. Balki and Ramesh Sippy.
Incredibly Saira Banu was only 12 years old when she saw Aan in the theatres for the first time. She said it was emotional to see Dilip Kumar again in the theatre.
Co-stars remembering Dilip Saab
“It was a great experience watching Aan again at the theatre”, said Dilip Kumar’s co-star Prem Chopra who had worked with Dilip Saab in Duniya and Ram Tere Kitne Naam.
He added after he watched the film “Dilip Saab was such a contemporary actor even way back then.”
Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman said that Dilip Saab was a sincere actor. “It was this quality of his which endeared him in so many hearts. “Even if Dilip Saab did not like a scene, he would still give his best to it,” she added.
Actress Asha Parekh who was also present at the screening, said that she was in awe of Dilip Kumar during his golden years, although she never got a chance to work with him.
Actors like Dilip Kumar come only once in a lifetime, leaving a permanent imprint even after they have left. Dilip Kumar was one of them. Even after he left acting, it never looked like he had gone anywhere; such was the magnificence of his work.
No words can describe what Dilip Kumar finally achieved than what the legendary Amitabh Bachchan himself had to say on his death.
“An institution has gone he said. Whenever we talk about Indian Cinema; it shall always be before Dilip Kumar and after Dilip Kumar’
