Madhubala – Unfinished Melody. Review on Madhubala - Mohan Deep

MALLIKA-E-HUSN

We all know Madhubala for her superb acting in the movie Mughal-E-Azam where she sang “Pyar Kiya to darn kya”. But that was her screen image. Her real life story is now available in a book called Madhubala. This book is her only biography and it is written by Mohan Deep.

THE PREDICTION

She received undying love from public and was a darling, a lover, a mother but her life and her destiny had other designs. She lived a life where her own personal existence was constantly under the threat from her ailing heart - a fact that was hidden from all till it was too late. Kishore Kumar who was her last love and eventually her husband - married her despite her illness. A najoomi (soothsayer) had predicted for her fame and name, but a troubled marriage and an early death!! The prediction was made when she was very young and nobody knew about her illness.

ALL HER MEN

The book takes us through the journey of her life. It lets us get a feel of what was going on in her mind when she was searching for real love. She was romantically involved with a number of men. She worked with most of them and some of them were very respectable film personalities. Be it Latif, Mohan Sinha, Kamal Amrohi, Premnath, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Dilip kumar, Pradeep Kumar, Bhartbhushan and finally Kishore Kumar. Men just fell for her beauty and charms. The list can go on and on.

EARLY STRUGGLE FOR FATHER AND DAUGHTER

Her untimely death broke her father who became a gambler and lost all his money. It is said that finally in his last days Dilip Kumar came to his help. It gave Dilip a chace to repent what he did to Madhubala. She was daughter of a Pathan who had lost his job. He had a number of mouths to feed but had no hope. The prospect of his growing daughter becoming a heroine was considered. Those days the films were out of question in his community. He was a desperate man. He took desperate measures.

They moved from Delhi to Bombay for a film career for his daughter. Her childhood sweetheart Latif felt very bad. He loved her. At some time during their playing Madhubla gave a red rose to Latif. He had kept that rose till she died and placed it on her grave 30 years later. He came to Bombay all the way from Delhi for her farewell. Now a retired IAS officer he still goes to her grave on 23 Feb and places a red rose on it.

HUMILATION

Family started in a cow shed in Jogeshwari courtesy of a Bhaiya from UP. Survival meant continuous insults and indifference and smiles from bored watchmen. It also meant dirty leers from many that had to be ignored. Father was often humiliated and was told that he is living off his daughters. It hardened them and made them more determined. She started as a child star. They were paid 50 rupees and then 50 rupees more because the father said he has to accompany her and hence can not do a job.

Despite the first film doing well, no more work came their way and they failed and travelled back to Delhi ticket less.

FIRST RAY OF HOPE

As the luck would have it, Devika Rani saw her small role and called for her to come for her film Jwar Bhata. She was rechristened to Madhubala. Ironically it had also a new comer Dilip Kumar who did not get to act opposite Madhubala.

Punctuality was their (father and daughter) weapon in an otherwise unregulated industry. Her style and beauty made some say she was not the real daughter of Attaullah Khan. They just ignored such comments. Her face and figure were a passport to fame and she knew it.

THE HUMANE SIDE OF MADHUBALA

When her mother was in hospital the big bad Bombay tested them. For her treatment they wanted some money but no one will give them. At last they approached nephew of a film producer, who gave them money without asking any questions. They remembered the generosity of the person who helped them in their hour of need and later she went on to act in his movie free of charge.

Money pushed them to make her a heroine in a hurry. Kidar Sharma became fascinated with her. She helped him come out of his wife’s death and he made her the heroine. He risked his everything to make the movie.

Her attachment for Kidar can be understood by this incident that he was the last person she wrote a letter of farewell. She asked him to reply to the person who took the letter to him to deliver. Kidar replied to her letter and 2 hours later she died.

FIRST BIG FILM - MAHAL

Kamal came on the scene and fell for her. He wanted her to be his heroine in Mahal. When he was questioned about his choice of heroine it is said that Kamal said Agar film banegi to MADHU BALA ke saath nahin to nahin……….

Initially her Screen test failed but it was deliberately done to keep Madhu out. Kamal did not agree and did another test under his hawk eye and she got the role.

Kamal was married and Madhubala will not play second fiddle to anyone- she will not share him with others.

SHE WAS SICK BUT SMILING

She coughed blood. It remained a closely guarded secret. She kept suffering in silence. One thing that she as well as her father always stood by was punctuality. Come what may she always left studio at dot of six.

DILIP KUMAR

To get Dilip interested in her she sent a red rose with a message. Dilip thought it was only for him. He was unaware of her modus operandi. He was furious to find that it was a repeat performance and she had done the same with Premnath not long ago and was going strong with him. He never forgave her for that. Never ever, not even when she was on her death bed.

Not many would know MADHU BALA had charged twice that was paid to Dilipkumar for Mughal e Azam when the movie had gone on the floor. Eventually Dilip got 5 lacs rupees over 9 years but MADHU BALA also got much more than her contract said.

K Asif acted as conduit between Dilip and MADHU BALA. He in the meantime - when Dilip was busy with Madhubala- K Asif managed to hook Dilip’s sister and married her. Dilip never attended that marriage. He never spoke to K Asif after that.

Even Shammi Kapoor helped Dilip in letting him use his room that was connected to next room where MADHU BALA lived during outdoor shooting in Poona.

FINAL DAYS

Suddenly there was hope. She could be flown to London for surgery. But the doctors refused. It was too risky.

Kishore’s parents refused to accept marriage. His marriage to Madhubala was not happy at all. What the book mentions about Kishore - could lift the mask from his face. He was a very different man that we all know as a singing star. The book has more to offer on this subject.

FINALLY

She did some very memorable films although she died rather young at 36!! She was born on 14/02/1933 and died on 23/02/1969 and in that period that she acted she did 70 films. Madhubala will always be remembered for her brief but powerful presence in the Hindi cinema. It seems this book needed some more research because some of the incidents mentioned in the book seem to be hear say. A good effort but could have been polished a bit more. Gives a lot of pictures and a bit of gossip. It is not easy for a writer to write a biography after the person is no more and facts could not be established. Her diary that could speak a lot was buried with her. Her father did not want rumours to continue even after she was gone. Kishore did not waste time in remarrying and her family always kept their silence.