Sunil Dutt, Nargis and Mother India

Sunil Dutt is dead. May his soul rest in peace.

The first thing that struck me was he died within weeks of her death anniversary, May 3rd. It’s a special day in my family so I remember the day she died too.

He married her breaking every taboo in a time not many had the courage to. She was older, eminently more successful and to top it all, a Muslim. Not that it was a big deal, but for one who was a victim of partition, that monstrosity that made us “independent,”
It was a step of humanity not many of us are capable of, even when not victims of the same order. Needless to say, I admire him.

Nargis was the star of many movies, the most important of which was Mother India, where Sunil Dutt played her son, who turns to “the dark side” and only a mother would understand that anguish. He saved her life from a fire on the set and asked her to marry him in return. Nargis, in a futile relationship with Raj Kapoor, which threatened his marriage, with Krishna having moved out of home, married Sunil Dutt. She married him simply, with none of the splendor stars displayed...

My favorite Nargis film is “Raat aur Din” where she plays the woman who leads a double life... The following song still plays in my mind.

“Dil ki girah khol do, chup na baitho
Koi geet gao
Mehfil mein ab kaun hai ajnabee, tum mere paas aao”

(Untie the knots of my heart,
Don’t be silent
Sing any song

There are no strangers in this audience
You can come close to me)

PS I think that’s not a good translation, but it is close…


For this couple, who were about the love beyond human differences, my heart says a silent prayer...