Dr. B. R. Chopra Celebrating The Centenary Of His Life Which Was A Celebration Of Cinema

Ali Peter John

He was born to give life to brave new ideas to make films that were way ahead of their times, films which were eye-openers to the ailments killing society, to the fake values and traditions which played havoc with humanity and the various systems created by man which were followed by man only to destroy the goodness of man.

Baldev Raj Chopra was born on April 22, 1914 to be one of the greatest makers of India, a filmmaker as a torchbearer, a trend setter and a thought¬-provoker, a filmmaker who touched and tackled sub-jects no ordinary filmmaker could. He believed in enlightening people but making sure that he did not preach or teach but only showing the mirror to the masses and the classes alike with a dash of enter¬tainment which included some very good music and meaningful songs, good writing and outstanding performances by some of the best artists during the time he made his films in the sixty years that he was active with his banner, B. R. Films, the banner he founded and established, a banner which shone among all the other banners which came up in all directions, one of the most respected banners whose contribution cannot and will not be forgotten as long as Indian films are talked about, a banner which had a man who could make things happen in the most difficult circumstances.

Baldev Raj was born in pre-partition India. He showed signs of going away from the beaten track at a very early age. At a time when boys were aim¬ing to be in the civil services or join some high office of the British Raj, Baldev Raj did his M.A. in English Literature from Lahore University and took to writ¬ing short stories: He then became a film critic in a film magazine, 'Cine Herald' and his reviews were looked up to and looked forward to by filmmakers and film goers alike. He could have continued as a writer and a critic but the ravages of partition forced him to land in India and finally reach Bombay, a city of dreams even then. His name had reached the city before he could because of his writings and his reviews. He continued writing for various magazines. But he had a hidden dream - he wanted to make it as a filmmaker because he believed films had the power to reach many more people than writing could.

His friends and admirers, the Agarwal brothers, and the constant encouragement of Ashok Kumar, the leading star of those times encouraged him to take his first step as a director. He had not learnt the basics of filmmaking but he made his debut in a difficult to make film called 'Afsaana' with Ashok Kumar in a double role (he was to remake the film as 'Daastaan' with Dilip Kumar thirty-five years later). The film won him acclaim and more encouragement to go ahead. The next two films 'Sholay' and 'Chandni Chowk' kept him going strong in the race. But his intentions and his genius as a filmmaker came to the fore in a big way when he made 'Naya Daur', a film which was a warning to man about the danger of machines taking over from man. It was to star Dilip Kumar and Madhubala who were madly in love those days. It was Madhubala's father, Ataullah Khan who was against his daughter coming close to Dilip Kumar who did not want his daughter to work with Dilip Kumar in a prestigious film like 'Naya Daur'. He tried to go against the con-tract and B. R. had no way out but to go to court. It was a major issue and finally Madhubala was replaced by Vyjayantimala and with meaningful and moving songs by Sahir Ludhianvi and pulsating music by O. P. Nayyar went on to become a craze, a rage during the next forty years but surprisingly failed to work the same wonders when it was released in its colored version some years ago...

1. R. had launched his own banner, B. R. Films with "Naya Daur" during the making of which his younger brother, Yash Chopra who was to go to London to pur¬sue his ICS joined him as an assistant. The success of "Naya Daur" was followed by eight successful films. Prominent among which were 'Ek Hi Raasta', 'Sadhna', 'Gumrah' and 'Hamraaz' which dealt with the man and woman relationship, all of them bold sub¬jects which were never tried in films before. He contin¬ued making the kind of films he and his banner were now known for. He made 'Insaaf Ka Tarazoo', a con-troversial film about rape and 'Nikaah', a voice against the out-dated Muslim laws when it came to marriage. He then took one big major turn and decided to make 'Mahabharat', the mega serial on the great epic. The serial gave him the kind of popularity all his films to¬gether couldn't. He was more than just a maker of films now. He was treated like a messenger sent by God to spread his message among the people. He was however growing old and falling sick time and again. It was at this stage that he handed over his torch to his only son, Ravi Chopra who kept up his tradition by making films like 'Baghbaan' and 'Babul'.
2. R. has made his tremendous contribution to Indian films. His films, the subject of his films, the lyrics, the music and above all the messages he was able to convey through his films are things that will be remembered for all time. And if there is one priceless gift B. R. has offered to Hindi films it was his younger brother, Yash Chopra who he took under his wings when their father was against Yash joining films and wanting him to be an ICS officer. Can you wonder what Indian cinema would be if Dr. B. R. Chopra had not defied his father and saved his brother to save Indian cinema?

Zara rukhiye, zara suniye, ae bekaar ki daud dhoop mein bhaagnewalo, suno meri baat. Give this amazing man, this man who is undoubtedly one of the greatest men of our time, a die-hard optimist a man who can never go away, come what may the pedestal he deserves. Man may make great strides in every field, man may find answers to questions which have troubled man from time to time. Man may sell his soul to technology, the most unbeliev¬able progress made in technology. But how can just one man make so much progress in one field of life and make so much progress, films? There have been priests, saints, holy men and other super human men who have tried to change man and his world. And some have succeeded and most have failed and have proved how unholy they are in practicing their holy ways. B.R was one man who succeeded.

But, I ask you to wait and think and pay your respect to a man who deserves all the respect a man called Dr. B. R. Chopra has made for himself.

Think of the way his mind worked when he was a victim of the holocaust of the partition, how he decided to fight against odds and find ways for man to find ways for men. Baldev Raj Chopra made films fighting against time to make films that were way ahead of their time.

He had a gift of telling stories; he mastered the art of telling stories on celluloid which was still in its early stages.

He told stories of the need of one human being under¬standing another, of man knowing a woman better.

He told stories about the progress man was making at the cost of selling his soul, his sprit, divine gifts gifted to him by God.

He talked about the country, about harmony, about hu¬manity, about love, peace and understanding

He told stories, brave stories about the changing tradi¬tions, values, customs and principles

He made films which did the country proud, films which had their locations in the hearts and minds of people

He never compromised; he never took pride in the progress he and the company he had founded had made

He made films to show the light and to drive away all the devils of darkness lying within...

But time, time, time does not spare any man big or small, good, bad or very good.

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