Dadasaheb Phalke Birth Anniversary: Yash Chopra Ne Kaise Dadasaheb Phalke Ka Sanmaan Kiya Tha .....

The presentation of the Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Film Awards in Mumbai on February 20 reminded me of several such Dadasaheb Phalke award ceremonies in New Delhi , especially the time when the then President A P J Kalam stood for fifteen minutes and applauded Dev Anand when he ran up the steps in his corduroy jeans , boots , jacket and his favourite cap to receive his award as a select crowd of celebrities gave him a rousing standing ovation - Ali Peter JohnI remember Yash Chopra receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for a very different reason .

He had come back to Bombay after receiving the award which included a memento and a cash prize of two lakhs of rupees .

He called me and asked me to see him in his office at Vikas Park in Juhu as soon as I could and Yashji was a friend I could do anything for and so I was with him within minutes .

He had the cheque he had received before him and after he had offered me a cup of hot tea , he said ,. " Yaar Ali , ye award toh theek hai , lekin inn paiso ka main kya karoonga ?Luckily for me , that same morning ,I had read a news item about Dadasaheb Phalke's daughter Vrinda Pusalkar dying of cancer and that she was living in a chawl in Mahim , a suburb of Mumbai .

I told Yashji that he could do the best thing if he offered his prize money to Phalke's daughter and Yashji stood up and embraced me and said , " mujhe maaloom tha ki tu koi accha hi raasta bataayega lekin paise un tak pahunchayege kaise ?" I told him I would ask her son to come to his office the next morning and Yashji said , " Teri aur ek meharbaani hogi "

I called the young man who was working in a back without telling him what the purpose was . And when he came to Vikas Park, he looked bewildered because Yashji had stretched out the red carpet for him .

He was felicitated before his entire staff and after a very good breakfast for every one , the cheque of two lakhs was presented to him by Yashji and he was asked to take Yashji's own Mercedes to reach wherever he wanted.The young man had tears running down his cheeks and had no words to say and I felt delighted and moved that I could be a part of this unusual and unexpected happenings in the lives of the Phalkes

KAASH YE SAARE AWARDS KE BADLE MEIN KUCH LOGO KO KI PAISO KI MADAD KIYA JAAYE , KYOONKI AAJ KAL PAISA HI KHUDAH HAI , BHAGWAN HAI , GOD HAI , DOCTOR HAI , DAVA HAI , DUA HAI , SAB KUCH HAI