Balraj Sahni

{{Infobox person

| name = Balraj Sahni

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Yudhishthir Sahni

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1913|5|1}}

| birth_place = Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India
{{small|(present-day Punjab, Pakistan)}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1973|4|13|1913|5|1}}

| death_place = Bombay, Maharashtra, India

| occupation = Actor, writer

| spouse = {{marriage|Damayanti Sahni|1936|1947|end=her death}}
{{marriage|Santosh Chandhok|1951}}

| children = 3, including Parikshit Sahni

| relatives = {{plainlist|

Bhisham Sahni (brother)

}}

| family = Anand–Sahni family

| yearsactive = 1946–1973

| party = Communist Party of India{{Cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/why-we-should-remember-balraj-sahni/334674.html|title=Why we should remember Balraj Sahni|date=10 December 2016|work=The Tribune India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111175352/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/why-we-should-remember-balraj-sahni/334674.html|archive-date=11 January 2019|url-status=live}}

| honors = Padma Shri (1969){{cite web | url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Art | title=Padma Awards | Interactive Dashboard | access-date=16 March 2022 | archive-date=27 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127205251/http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Field=Art | url-status=dead }}

}}

Balraj Sahni (born Yudhishthir Sahni; 1 May 1913 – 13 April 1973) was an Indian film and stage actor, who is best known for {{Lang|hi-latn|Dharti Ke Lal}} (1946), Do Bigha Zameen (1953), Chhoti Bahen (1959), Kabuliwala (1961), Waqt (1965) and Garm Hava (1973). He was the brother of Bhisham Sahni, noted Hindi writer, playwright, and actor.

Early life

File:Balraj Sahani with his wife Damayanti, 1936.jpg

Sahni was born on 1 May 1913 in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India.{{cite news|last1=Singh |first1=Paramjit |title=Born to act |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100424/saturday/main3.htm |access-date=18 January 2017 |work=The Tribune (Chandigarh) |date=24 April 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170118183812/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100424/saturday/main3.htm |archive-date=18 January 2017 |url-status=live }} His father belonged to the Arya Samaj organization, a Hindu reformist movement, and stressed the importance of social reforms as well the independence movement also admiring individuals such as Gandhi and Tagore, which would instill an early idealism in the mind of Sahni.{{Cite web |last=Sangghvi |first=Malavika |date=23 September 2013 |title=Remembering Balraj-ji |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/remembering-balraj-ji-113051700956_1.html |website=Business Insider}} His son Parikshit Sahni would say that, later in his life, Sahni would keep such idealism but with a non-religious approach, as he'd identify with Marxism{{Cite web |last=Sahni |first=Parikshit |date=17 November 2019 |title=When my father Balraj Sahni showed the ills of capitalism to me in Kashmir |url=https://theprint.in/pageturner/excerpt/when-my-father-balraj-sahni-showed-ills-of-capitalism-in-kashmir/321845/ |website=The Print}} and declare himself an atheist.{{Cite web |last=Sahni |first=Parikshit |date=1 May 2021 |title=Book extract: Balraj Sahni and the pursuit of excellence |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2021/may/1/29604/book-extract-balraj-sahni-and-the-pursuit-of-excellence |access-date=10 December 2024 |website=Cinestaan |quote="Listen, son, this is not a film set. For me this is holy ground. I am not religious. I am an atheist. I don’t believe in god. I don’t go to temples or churches or gurdwaras. This is a place of worship for me. For me, work is worship."}}

He studied at Government College (Lahore) and Gordon College Rawalpindi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1347056|title=Gordon College — legacy of the colonial era|first=Aamir|last=Yasin|date=23 July 2017|website=DAWN.COM|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=26 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726233738/https://www.dawn.com/news/1347056|url-status=live}} After completing his master's degree in English Literature from Lahore, he went back to Rawalpindi and joined his family business. He also held a bachelor's degree in Hindi.[http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010902/spectrum/main2.htm Stumbling into films by chance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306124130/http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010902/spectrum/main2.htm |date=6 March 2018 }} The Tribune, 2 September 2001. Soon after, he married Damayanti Sahni.

In the late 1930s, Sahni and his wife left Rawalpindi to join Tagore's Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan in Bengal as an English and Hindi teacher. It is here that their son, Parikshit Sahni was born, when his wife Damayanti was earning her bachelor's degree.[http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/parikshit-sahni-040506.html Parikshit Sahni turns producer] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120708003931/http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/features/parikshit-sahni-040506.html |date=8 July 2012 }} Mid-Day, 4 May 2006."..My dad came from a literary background and taught English Literature at Shantiniketan. My mom who was doing her Bachelor's degree there, was expecting me then, and was about to give her exams. Tagore told her that I should be called Parikshit as she was giving pariksha, while I was still in her womb.'' He also collaborated with Mahatma Gandhi for a year in 1938. The next year, Sahni, with Gandhi's blessings, went to England to join the BBC-London's Hindi service as a radio announcer. He returned to India in 1943, and his wife died in 1947 at age 26. In 1951, he remarried, to writer Santosh Chandhok; they remained married until his death in 1973.{{Cite web|title="Dad was a broken man" Parikshat Sahni's remembers father Balraj Sahni|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/dad-was-a-broken-man-parikshat-sahnis-remembers-father-balraj-sahni-37927.html|access-date=2021-08-29|website=filmfare.com|language=en|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901070744/https://www.filmfare.com/features/dad-was-a-broken-man-parikshat-sahnis-remembers-father-balraj-sahni-37927.html|url-status=live}} While at the BBC, Sahni worked alongside George Orwell.{{cite journal|url=http://www.concentric-literature.url.tw/issues/Orienting%20Orwell%20Asian%20and%20Global%20Perspectives%20on%20George%20Orwell/4.pdf|title=Orwell's Reflections on Saint Gandhi|first=Gita V.|last=Pai|journal=Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies|volume=40|issue=1|year=2014|page=57|doi=10.6240/concentric.lit.2014.40.1.04|access-date=3 May 2022|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901070748/http://www.concentric-literature.url.tw/issues/Orienting%20Orwell%20Asian%20and%20Global%20Perspectives%20on%20George%20Orwell/4.pdf|url-status=live}}

Career

Sahni was always interested in acting, and started his acting career with the plays of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). Incidentally, his wife Damayanti became well known as an IPTA actress much before Sahni made a name for himself in films.{{Cite web |url=http://www.punjabmonitor.com/2013/04/balraj-sahni-gentleman-actor.html |title=BALRAJ SAHNI : The Gentleman Actor by S. S. JOHAR |access-date=11 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216160958/http://www.punjabmonitor.com/2013/04/balraj-sahni-gentleman-actor.html |archive-date=16 December 2017 |url-status=dead }} He started his film career in Bombay with the film Insaaf (1946), followed by {{Lang|hi-latn|Dharti Ke Lal}} directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas in 1946, Damayanti's first film, Door Chalein in 1946, and other films. But it was in 1953, with Bimal Roy's classic {{Lang|hi-latn|Do Bigha Zamin}}, that his true strength as an actor was first recognised. The film won the international prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

He followed it up with an encore in the 1961 classic Kabuliwala penned by Tagore.

Sahni's wife Damayanti, who was the heroine of his 1947 film Gudia, died at a young age that same year. Two years later, he married his first cousin, Santosh Chandhok, later known as an author and television writer.

He acted opposite heroines such as Padmini, Nutan, Meena Kumari, Vyjayanthimala and Nargis in films such as Bindya, Seema (1955), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Sutta Bazaar (1959), Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan (1961), Kathputli (1957), Lajwanti (1958) and Ghar Sansaar (1958). His character roles in films such as Neelkamal (1968), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970), Do Raaste (1969) and Ek Phool Do Mali (1969) were well received. However, he is perhaps best remembered by the current generation for his picturisation of the legendary song "Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen" from the movie Waqt (1965). Sahni appeared opposite Achala Sachdev in the number.

He also starred in the classic Punjabi film Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970) as well as the critically acclaimed Satluj De Kande.

His role as the angst-ridden, but stoic Muslim man who refuses to go to Pakistan during partition, in his last film Garam Hawa, has often been called his best performance by critics. Balraj, however, could not see the completed film to rate his own performance, as he died the day after he finished dubbing work. The last line he recorded for the film, and hence his last recorded line is Hindustani: "Insaan Kab Tak Akela Jee Sakta Hai?" which can be translated to English as: "How long can a man live alone?"

Later life

Sahni was a gifted writer; his early writings were in English, though later in life he switched to Punjabi, and became a writer of repute in Punjabi literature.[https://books.google.com/books?id=eTXougCB-NMC&dq=Balraj+Sahni&pg=PA605 In Jhang Manghiane, an article by Balraj Sahni] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901070741/https://books.google.com/books?id=eTXougCB-NMC&dq=Balraj+Sahni&pg=PA605 |date=1 September 2023 }} Modern Indian Literature an Anthology: Plays and Prose, by K. M. George, Sahitya Akademi. Published by Sahitya Akademi, 1992. {{ISBN|81-7201-783-9}}.Page 605. In 1960, after a visit to Pakistan, he wrote Mera Pakistani Safarnama. His book Mera Rusi Safarnama, which he had written after a tour of the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1969, earned him the Soviet Land Nehru Award. He contributed many poems and short stories in magazines and also penned his autobiography; Meri Filmi Aatmakatha. Sahni was an extremely well-read and politically conscious person.

He and P. K. Vasudevan Nair worked on the idea of All India Youth Federation with firebrand Delhi communist, Comrade Guru Radha Kishan to organise the first national conference of AIYF in Delhi. Their wholehearted efforts were visible as more than 250 delegates and observers representing several youth organisations of various states of India attended this session. Balraj Sahni was elected as the first president of All India Youth Federation, the youth wing of Communist Party of India. The organisation was a huge success and strong presence of the organisation was noticed by other political groups and the senior communist leaders everywhere.

Sahni also dabbled in screenwriting; he wrote the 1951 film Baazi which starred Dev Anand and was directed by Guru Dutt. He was also a recipient of the Padma Shri Award (1969). Balraj Sahni also wrote in Punjabi and contributed to the Punjabi magazine Preetlari.

In the 1950s he inaugurated the Library and Study Centre for the underprivileged in Delhi.

His acting in Do Bigha Zameen (1953) and Garam Hawa (1973) were the highlights of his career. He believed in what is known as neo-realistic cinema.

Balraj's brother Bhisham Sahni was a well-known writer who wrote the novel Tamas. His son Parikshit Sahni is also an actor. Balraj Sahni died on 13 April 1973 of a massive cardiac arrest, at age 59. He had been depressed for some time by the untimely death of his young daughter, Shabnam; she died a year earlier.

Punjabi Kala Kender, founded in 1973 at Bombay by Balraj Sahni, gives away the annual Balraj Sahni Award,[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69006 Balraj Sahni awards announced] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301034231/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69006 |date=1 March 2009 }} Indian Express, 25 November 2003. also given by the All India Artists Association.[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1725087.cms Prem Chopra, Bollywood's good old bad man talks about his nomination for the prestigious Balraj Sahni Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022182222/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1725087.cms |date=22 October 2012 }} The Times of India, 10 July 2006.

Filmography

File:Balraj Sahni 2013 stamp of India.jpg

class="wikitable"
Year !Title !Role !Notes
rowspan=3\|1946 \|{{Lang\|hi-latn\|Dharti Ke Lal}} \| \|
Door Chalen \| \|
Badnami \| \|
1947 \|Gudia \| \|
1948 \|Gunjan \| \|
1950 \|{{Lang\|hi-latn\|Dharti Ke Lal}} \| \|
rowspan=3\|1951 \|Maaldar \| \|
Hum Log \|Raj \|
Hulchul \|The Jailer \|
rowspan=1\|1952 \|{{Lang\|bn-latn\|Badnam}} \| \|
rowspan=5\|1953 \|Akash \| \|
Rahi \|Doctor \|
{{Lang\|hi-latn\|Do Bigha Zamin}} \|Shambhu Maheto \|
Chalis Baba Ek Chor \| \|
Bhagyawan \| \|
rowspan=4\|1954 \|Majboori \| \|
Aulad \| \|
Naukari \| \|
Bazooband \|Surajmal \|
rowspan=5\|1955 \|Tangewali \| \|
Seema \|Ashok "Babuji" \|
Joru Ka Bhai \| \|
Jawab \|Dayal \|
Garam Coat \|Girdharilal "Girdhari" \|
rowspan=2\|1956 \|Taksaal \|Jatin Mukherjee \|
Era Bator Sur \| \| Assamese film
rowspan=7\|1957 \|Krishna Sudama \| \|
Pardesi \|Sakharam \|
Mai Baap \|Chandan \|
Lal Batti \| \|
Kath Putli \|Loknath \|
Do Roti \|Shyam / Masterji \|
Bhabhi \|Ratan \|
rowspan=7\|1958 \|Sone Ki Chidiya \|Shrikant \|
Naya Kadam \| \|
Lajwanti \|Nirmal Kumar \|
Khazanchi \|Radhe Mohan \|
Ghar Sansar \|Kailash \|
Ghar Grihasti \| \|
Devar Bhabhi \| \|
rowspan=6\|1959 \|Chand \|Mr. Kapoor \|
Black Cat \|Agent Rajan \|
Satta Bazaar \|Ramesh \|
Heera Moti \|Dhuri \|
Chhoti Bahen \|Rajendra \|
C.I.D. Girl \|Mohan \|
rowspan=4\|1960 \|Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere \|Panchu Dada \|
Anuradha \|Dr. Nirmal Chaudhary \|
Nai Maa \| \|
Bindya \|Devraj \|
rowspan=4\|1961 \|Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan \|Shyam \|
Sapne Suhane \|Shankar \|
Suhag Sindoor \|Ramu \|
Kabuliwala \|Abdul Rehman Khan \|
rowspan=2\|1962 \|Shaadi \|Ratan R. Malhotra \|
Anpadh \|Choudhary Shambhunath \|
1963 \|Akela \| \|
rowspan=4\|1964 \|Satluj De Kande \|Ram Praksh Malhotra \|Punjabi Film
Haqeeqat \|Major Ranjit Singh \|
Main Bhi Ladki Hoon \|Ganga \|
Punar Milan \|Dr. Mohan / Ram \|
rowspan=3\|1965 \|Dak Ghar \|Andhe Baba \|
Waqt \|Lala Kedarnath \|
Faraar \|Detective Officer \|
rowspan=5\|1966 \|Aaye Din Bahar Ke \|Shukla \|
Pinjre Ke Panchhi \|Yaseen Khan \|
Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare \|Khan Bahadur \|
Laadla \|Barrister Brij Mohan \|
Aasra \|Surendranath Kumar \|
rowspan=4\|1967 \|Hamraaz \|Police Inspector Ashok \|
Naunihaal \|Principal \|
Ghar Ka Chirag \| \|
Aman \|Gautamdas' dad \|
rowspan=4\|1968 \|Izzat \|Thakur Pratap Singh \|
Sunghursh \|Ganeshi Prasad \|
Neel Kamal \|Mr. Raichand \|
Duniya \|Public Prosecutor Ramnath Sharma \|
rowspan=5\|1969 \|Ek Phool Do Mali \|Kailashnath Kaushal \|
Do Raaste \|Navendu Gupta \|
Talash \|Ranjit Rai \|
Nanha Farishta \|Dr. Ramnath \|
Hum Ek Hain \| \|
rowspan=8\|1970 \|Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar \|Subedar Varyam Singh \|
Holi Ayee Re \|Thakur Mangal Singh \|
Mere Humsafar \|Ashok \|
Pehchan \|Ex-Firefighter \|
Pavitra Paapi \|Pannalal \|
Naya Raasta \|Bansi \|
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani \|Shankarnath \|
Dharti \|Inspector General Chandrashekhar (Bharat's Father) \|
rowspan=2\|1971 \|Paraya Dhan \|Govindram \|
Jawan Mohabbat \|Dr. Sareen \|
rowspan=4\|1972 \|{{Lang\|hi-latn\|Jawani Diwani}} \|Ravi Anand \|
Jangal Mein Mangal \|Thomas \|
Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor \|Ghulam Ahmed Mahjoor \|
Mangetar \| \|
rowspan=6\|1973 \|Chimni Ka Dhuan \| \|
Pyaar Ka Rishta \|Ashok \|
Hindustan Ki Kasam \| \|
Hanste Zakhm \|S.P. Dinanath Mahendru \|
Daman Aur Aag \|Shanker \|
Garam Hava \|Salim Mirza \|
rowspan=2\|1977 \|Amaanat \|Suresh \|
Jallian Wala Bagh \|Udham Singh \|(final film role)

class="wikitable"

Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

rowspan=3|1946

|{{Lang|hi-latn|Dharti Ke Lal}}

Door Chalen

Badnami

1947

|Gudia

1948

|Gunjan

1950

|{{Lang|hi-latn|Dharti Ke Lal}}

rowspan=3|1951

|Maaldar

Hum Log

|Raj

Hulchul

|The Jailer

rowspan=1|1952

|{{Lang|bn-latn|Badnam}}

rowspan=5|1953

|Akash

Rahi

|Doctor

|Shambhu Maheto

Chalis Baba Ek Chor

Bhagyawan

rowspan=4|1954

|Majboori

Aulad

Naukari

Bazooband

|Surajmal

rowspan=5|1955

|Tangewali

Seema

|Ashok "Babuji"

Joru Ka Bhai

Jawab

|Dayal

Garam Coat

|Girdharilal "Girdhari"

rowspan=2|1956

|Taksaal

|Jatin Mukherjee

Era Bator Sur

| Assamese film

rowspan=7|1957

|Krishna Sudama

Pardesi

|Sakharam

Mai Baap

|Chandan

Lal Batti

Kath Putli

|Loknath

Do Roti

|Shyam / Masterji

Bhabhi

|Ratan

rowspan=7|1958

|Sone Ki Chidiya

|Shrikant

Naya Kadam

Lajwanti

|Nirmal Kumar

Khazanchi

|Radhe Mohan

Ghar Sansar

|Kailash

Ghar Grihasti

Devar Bhabhi

rowspan=6|1959

|Chand

|Mr. Kapoor

Black Cat

|Agent Rajan

Satta Bazaar

|Ramesh

Heera Moti

|Dhuri

Chhoti Bahen

|Rajendra

C.I.D. Girl

|Mohan

rowspan=4|1960

|Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere

|Panchu Dada

Anuradha

|Dr. Nirmal Chaudhary

Nai Maa

Bindya

|Devraj

rowspan=4|1961

|Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan

|Shyam

Sapne Suhane

|Shankar

Suhag Sindoor

|Ramu

Kabuliwala

|Abdul Rehman Khan

rowspan=2|1962

|Shaadi

|Ratan R. Malhotra

Anpadh

|Choudhary Shambhunath

1963

|Akela

rowspan=4|1964

|Satluj De Kande

|Ram Praksh Malhotra

|Punjabi Film

Haqeeqat

|Major Ranjit Singh

Main Bhi Ladki Hoon

|Ganga

Punar Milan

|Dr. Mohan / Ram

rowspan=3|1965

|Dak Ghar

|Andhe Baba

Waqt

|Lala Kedarnath

Faraar

|Detective Officer

rowspan=5|1966

|Aaye Din Bahar Ke

|Shukla

Pinjre Ke Panchhi

|Yaseen Khan

Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare

|Khan Bahadur

Laadla

|Barrister Brij Mohan

Aasra

|Surendranath Kumar

rowspan=4|1967

|Hamraaz

|Police Inspector Ashok

Naunihaal

|Principal

Ghar Ka Chirag

Aman

|Gautamdas' dad

rowspan=4|1968

|Izzat

|Thakur Pratap Singh

Sunghursh

|Ganeshi Prasad

Neel Kamal

|Mr. Raichand

Duniya

|Public Prosecutor Ramnath Sharma

rowspan=5|1969

|Ek Phool Do Mali

|Kailashnath Kaushal

Do Raaste

|Navendu Gupta

Talash

|Ranjit Rai

Nanha Farishta

|Dr. Ramnath

Hum Ek Hain

rowspan=8|1970

|Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar

|Subedar Varyam Singh

Holi Ayee Re

|Thakur Mangal Singh

Mere Humsafar

|Ashok

Pehchan

|Ex-Firefighter

Pavitra Paapi

|Pannalal

Naya Raasta

|Bansi

Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani

|Shankarnath

Dharti

|Inspector General Chandrashekhar (Bharat's Father)

rowspan=2|1971

|Paraya Dhan

|Govindram

Jawan Mohabbat

|Dr. Sareen

rowspan=4|1972

|{{Lang|hi-latn|Jawani Diwani}}

|Ravi Anand

Jangal Mein Mangal

|Thomas

Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor

|Ghulam Ahmed Mahjoor

Mangetar

rowspan=6|1973

|Chimni Ka Dhuan

Pyaar Ka Rishta

|Ashok

Hindustan Ki Kasam

Hanste Zakhm

|S.P. Dinanath Mahendru

Daman Aur Aag

|Shanker

Garam Hava

|Salim Mirza

rowspan=2|1977

|Amaanat

|Suresh

Jallian Wala Bagh

|Udham Singh

|(final film role)

Works

Balraj Sahni: An Autobiography, by Balraj Sahni. Published by Hind Pocket Books. [Meri Filmi Aatmakatha in Hindi]
Mera Pakistani Safarnama (Punjabi), 1960.
Mera Russi Safarnama (Punjabi), 1969.
Kamey (Labourers) (Punjabi)
Ek Safar Ek Daastaan (Punjabi)
Gair Jazbaati Diary (Punjabi)

References

External links

{{IMDb name|id=0756379|name=Balraj Sahni}}
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180710042834/http://www.thebhopalpost.com/index.php/2010/07/balraj-sahni-speaking-his-heart-out Balraj Sahni's Convocation Address]}} at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1972

Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts

Category:1913 births

Category:1973 deaths

Category:Indian male film actors

Category:Indian male stage actors

Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema

Category:BBC newsreaders and journalists

Category:Punjabi-language writers

Category:Indian autobiographers

Category:Indian travel writers

Category:Academic staff of Visva-Bharati University

Category:People from Rawalpindi