Remembering Shammi Kapoor

( 21st Oct 1938 to 14th Aug 2011 )

'तुम मुझे युं भुलाना पाओगे '

​Yes, Shammiji, never, we will never forget you...

If you conduct a survey about  which films  the college students watched again and again between 1965 to late 70s at matinee by bunking their afternoon college classes,   you will most probably  end up with  following answers : तीसरी मंझील, काश्मीर कि कली, जंगली, प्रोफेसर,  तुमसा नही देखा, An evening in Paris,Prince, जानवर, ब्रह्मचारी, उजाला, राजकुमार and so on ....... all films of Shammi Kapoor.. He was indeed  the Hero of Collegians....

He made a debut in 1953 in the film Jeevan Jyoti.  He had a hard time initially as his first 15 films flopped. The towering presence of the great trinity ( Raj- Dilip-Dev ) restricted his success . But when he created his separate personality  as a  light hearted and stylish Play boy from the film '  तुमसा नही देखा' in 1957 ​and 'दिल देके देखो ' in 1959 success started following him ......

Shammi Kapoor's popularity can be attributed to his zestfulness on the screen &  unique body jerking and shaking dancing style he developed. Elevated to the status of  only dancing hero in 60s, Shammi Kapoor  used to compose his own dancing steps without the choreographer ! Rajesh Khanna, the Superstar used to say ' My inspirations include Dilip Kumar's intensity, Raj Kapoor's sponteneity, Dev Anand's style and Shammi Kapoor's rhythm....​

In early 70s Shammi Kapoor's increasing  weight problem compelled him to switch to character roles. But this second innings he also played well and his performance in Zameer, Vidhata, Hero, Premgranth and Parvareesh were well received.He also bagged the Film fare award for best supporting actor for his role in ' Vidhata' in 1982. He turned to direction in mid 70s directing ' Manoranjan ' and ' Bundalbaz ' starring Rajesh Khanna.

Shammi Kapoor's era is long over but to me and millions of his fans it does not make any difference. I'll bet that no one will change the channel if Shammi  is going in a full swing on TV in ' Tarif karu kya Uski ' or Aaja Aaja main hoon pyar tera '..He is still crowned as the ' Most Entertaining Hero of the Bollywood '.............