Happy Birthday Raaj Kumar

By Omair Alavi Before there was Amitabh Bachchan, there was Raaj Kumar who with his unique style of dialogue delivery, his ability to blast the opponents with his glance and unorthodox film picturization ruled the screen from the early 50s until the early 90s. For 4 decades, Raaj Kumar was on top his game and...

SAMAA | Omair Alavi - Posted: Oct 8, 2017 | Last Updated: 4 years ago

By Omair Alavi

Before there was Amitabh Bachchan, there was Raaj Kumar who with his unique style of dialogue delivery, his ability to blast the opponents with his glance and unorthodox film picturization ruled the screen from the early 50s until the early 90s. For 4 decades, Raaj Kumar was on top his game and today, on what would have been his 91st Birthday, we go through his performances and pay tribute to him.

Neele Gagan Kay Talay ΓÇô (Humraaz, 1967)

Mahendra Kapoor won a Filmfare for this song that was filmed on Raaj Kumar; he doesnΓÇÖt lip sync here but keeps the audience involved with his romanticism, something that he used to his advantage in many films.

Aaj Is Darja Pila Do (Vaasna ΓÇô 1968)

Raaj Kumar was needed to look anything but sober in what turned out to be a melancholic song sung by Mohammad Rafi and penned by the great Sahir Ludhianvi. Raaj Kumar excelled here with his emotions, expressions, and ability to involve the audience with his body language.

Yeh Duniya Yeh Mehfil (Heer Ranjha ΓÇô 1970)

Raaj Kumar played Raanjha in this Mohammad Rafi song that has been one of the most quoted songs in the history of Bollywood. Whenever one feels let down by the world, he or she quotes these lines and most of the time, things eventually get better.

Chalo Dildar Chalo (Pakeezah ΓÇô 1972)

Raaj Kumar was an unusual choice of a lover to Meena KumariΓÇÖs Pakeezah but he turned out to be the best one. His dialogue delivery (more on that later) and his acting was exactly what was required in PakeezahΓÇÖs lover.

Aaj Faisla Hojayega (Karmayogi ΓÇô 1978)

https://youtu.be/nJfYQ4alBss

Here Raaj Kumar is in an aggressive mode as he tries to defend RekhaΓÇÖs character from AjitΓÇÖs, musically. He turns violent only at the end of the song but the way he balances the voices of Kishore Kumar (for two lines) and Mohammad Rafi (for the entire song) is nothing short of brilliant.

Pakeezah ΓÇÿFeetΓÇÖ Dialogue

Perhaps the most famous of Raaj KumarΓÇÖs dialogues ΓÇô whenever a beautiful foot is found, people still deliver this dialogue.

WaqtΓÇÖs ΓÇÿThreateningΓÇÖ Dialogue

https://youtu.be/FthFJqu8XPU

In this scene, Madan PuriΓÇÖs character threatens Raaj KumarΓÇÖs against his bossΓÇÖs wishes; Raaj Kumar has the perfect advice-cum-answer for the goon.

Humko Mita Sakay Dialogue

https://youtu.be/4Zaw8FflJO4

Kader Khan threatens Raaj Kumar in the presence of his employer played by Danny, and Raaj Kumar delivers a masterstroke … wait for it!

SaudagarΓÇÖs Dilip ΓÇô Raaj Showdown

They came together after 3 decades in a film and ignited the screen with their fiery dialogues, their enormous presence, and extreme expressions. Check the showdown and you will feel that tension is in the air!

Raaj KumarΓÇÖs Betaaj Threat

There was a reason why Raaj Kumar was worshipped in India; he had the bharam of a superstar which not even the great Dilip Kumar could match. Check the video for his classic dialogue to a man who got injured on his estate, in Betaaj Baadshah, one of his final films.