JOHNNY WALKER
MEMORIES…..
Let’s recall a scene from the iconic Hrishikesk Mukherjee Film ‘Anand’.
Rajesh Khanna follows a stranger and addresses him as ‘Murari Lal’. Perplexed stranger Johnny Walker listens to him and replies his gag in equal fervour and calls him ‘JaiChand’, not contradicting him. When Amitabh Bachchan as lanky Dr Bannerjee, intervenes and corrects the stranger for calling Khanna as JaiChand, the stranger amusingly tells him that he too, is not ‘Murari Lal’, but ‘Isa Bhai’.
That remains the most poignant, soul-stirring and unforgettable cameo in the Bollywood history. That particular Johnny Walker’s performance is a perfect example that a true actor can make even a small character great in shortest of screen time. I have seen ‘Anand’ umpteen times, but every time this scene makes me laugh and the last line delivered from ‘Isa Bhai’ brings tears to my eyes.
‘Jaate jaate Chela Guru ko sikha gaya.’
A slender man with pencil-thin moustaches, squeaky, tad womanly voice and nothing extraordinary about his personality, earned himself the tag of the most loved comedian on the silver screen. Talent knows no hindrance. The witty actor has played roles that are immortal. I love Johnny Walker and can’t forget many of the characters that he lived.
Born as Badruddi Jamaluddin Kazi to a mill worker in Indore, British India on 11 November 1926, Johnny Walker acted in more than 300 films.
After his father was made redundant, the family moved to Bombay. There, he took various jobs as the sole breadwinner for the family. He became a bus conductor with B.E.S.T.
Actor Balraj Sahni spotted him at Dadar bus Depot. Badruddin Kazi used to work there and entertain the passengers with his antics. He had an amazing knack of inventing humour and sending people into frantic laughter. Balraj Sahni was writing ‘Baazi’ for the legendary actor Gurudatt at that time. Sahni introduced Kazi to Gurudatt. Impressed by Kazi’s act posing as a drunkard, Gurudatt took him in ‘Baazi’. That’s how Badruddin became an actor that would ever remain alive in the hearts of film lovers.
He christened himself after the famous Scotch whisky; Johnny Walker had the ability to draw the crowd to the theatres same as the leading men of the era had.
More than his comic acting, I liked the way he acted in songs. He made some ordinary songs unforgettable by the fine synchronicity of his funny facial expressions and lyrics. To me, Johnny Walker was unmatched in delivering a song. To me, this uncanny skill defined his and helped almost all the roles he played etched on the hearts of millions of us.
Here is my list of Johnny Walker songs that are still popular-
1 1. Ai Dil Hai Mushkil Jeena Yahan.wmv - CID (1956)
2. Sar Jo Tera Chakraye - Pyaasa (1957)
3. Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya Ji - Mr. and Mrs. 55 (1955)
4. Suno Suno Miss Chatterjee - Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966)
5. Maine Kahan Tha Aana Sunday Ko - Ustaadon Ke Ustad (1963)
6. Mera Yaar Bana Hain Dulha - Chaudhavin Ka Chand (1960)
7. Yeh Duniya Gol Hain - Chaudhavin Ka Chand (1960)
8. Hum Tum Jise Kahta Hai - Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)
What are your favourite memories of this great comic artist?
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Thanks for your invaluable perception.