IN MEMORIUM
Unsung, unhonoured
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Suraiyya's golden voice still rules the airwaves though the face behind it has been forgotten. V. GANGADHAR goes down memory lane.
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The Hindu Photo Library
"But yesterday the melodies of Suraiyya warmed many hearts
Yet today, she lies there with none to do her reverence."
SLIGHTLY ALTERED, Mark Antony's tribute to his friend and master Julius Caesar suited the mood at "Krishna Mahal" in Mumbai's posh Marine Drive on January 31. Here lay yesteryear singing star, Suraiyya, who died at 74, after a brief illness.
One of the great singing stars of Hindi cinema died unmourned and unhonoured. Music director Naushad Ali, actors Sunil Dutt and Dharmendra were the only ones from the industry to turn up at her home. Dharmendra observed that, as a young man, he had walked miles to watch Suraiyya sing and act in films like "Dillagi". "She was unique in the industry," said Naushad Saab. Thespian Dilip Kumar, who had never co-starred with Suraiyya, said that she had worked very hard to reach the top but was not appreciated enough.
The star, who retired from films at 39, chose to live in isolation, with most of her relatives migrating to Pakistan. Her only friends were her solicitor-neighbour, Dhimant Thakkar and his family members who cared for her during her illness. Suraiyya, known for her glamorous outfits and heavy jewellery, seldom attended parties and functions. Gradually the crowds outside her home went away. She was a memory kept alive by her songs.
Cut to happier times. Audiences at the Star Theatre in Fort Cochin in 1952 clapped in rhythm as Suraiyya waltzed with hero Raj Kapoor to "Tara ri, yara ri... ". Later the two gambolled for another fast number, "Dhadak dhadak dil dhadke... ". Raj and Suraiyya were starring together for the first time and these two songs were rare instances of Naushad opting for western tunes.
In the audience, I admired Suraiyya's serene beauty, melodious singing and wondered at the general air of mystery about her personal life. Debonair Dev Anand, who was in love with Suraiyya, proposed to her. But the singing star, living under the shadow of a conservative granny, turned him down. Dev Anand, who later married actress Kalpana Kartik, maintained that Suraiyya was the one big romance in his life. She remained unmarried.
Suraiyya quit films at her peak. No character roles or playback singing for her. But there was something special about her eyes. Though untrained, she had a natural melodious voice. This and her good looks ensured her a long rule in Hindi cinema.
Beginning as a child playback singer, she was soon lured into films, achieving stardom with the 1946 blockbuster "Anmol Ghadi". Her songs "Socha tha kya kya ho gaya" and "Main Dil Mein Dard Basa La Aayee" are still popular. Suraiyya developed a special rapport with producer-director A.R. Kardar. They had many hit films, starting with "D" — "Dard", "Dillagi", "Dastaan" and "Deewana". Her duet with hero Shyam in "Dillagi", "Tu mera chand, main teri chandini" became a superlative hit. Her peak was between 1948 and 1950 when she starred in memorable hits like "Pyar ki jeet" and "Badi Bahen". Suraiyya's melodious voice was a bonus and put her far above her contemporaries — Nargis, Kamini Kaushal and Madhubala.
On the music front, Suraiyya withstood competition from Noorjehan, Shamshad Begum, Raajkumari, Kanan Devi. Though not trained in classical music, she excelled in all kinds of songs as discovered by music directors Naushad, Husanlal Bhagatram and S.D. Burman According to Hindi film music expert Manohar Iyer, she retired at the right time. "I doubt if Suraiyya would have been able to compete with Lata Mangheshkar, who rose to the top in no time. In fact, Suraiyya was not interested in continuing as a playback singer, and quit while still in demand as a singing star," he explained
Suraiyya acted in just one film with Raj Kapoor. With Dev Anand, she shared the screen in six films. Despite the unhappy end to their romance, they were a popular romantic pair and shared an admiration for Hollywood star, Gregory Peck.
The 1950s did not begin well for Suraiyya, but she made it up with the successful "Mirza Ghalib" co-starring with Bharat Bhushan. The film, produced by Sohrab Modi, won the President's gold medal and had golden hits like "Yeh na thi hamari kismet" and "Dil-e-nadan, tujhe hua kya hain". She had a memorable duet with playback singer - actor Talat Mehmood in Nitin Bose's "Waris" — "Rahi matwale" — where Suraiya and music director Anil Biswas discovered each other. The films that followed — "Shama", "Maalik" and "Rustom Sohrab" — despite excellent music scores did not click. Suraiyya quit the silver screen and disappeared from the public eye.
But was there ever a better singing heroine? I doubt it.
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