AVTAR MOTA
It is a well-known fact that Artisans , shawl weavers Carpet weavers , unskilled labourers from Kashmir started moving to plains of the country since 18th and 19th century in search of better employment avenues and essentially to save their lives from frequent droughts, cholera epidemics and poverty in Kashmir valley . Some were also sought by Nawabs to train local artisans . As per Dr B N Sharga (a noted writer and scholar from lucknow ) :
“Groups of Shias came to Lucknow from Kashmir at the invitation of Hakim Mehndi who was the Prime Minster in the court of Nawab of Oudh.. In Lucknow they started living in Maqbara Alia, a locality that still exist in the Golaganj ward of the old city. Some residents of Lucknow believe that their forefathers came to the seat of Nawabs to preach Islam.
Another group of Kashmiri Muslims who moved to Lucknow during the period of Nawabs was that of Kashmiri Bhands – folk theatre performers. The first group of Bhands reached Lucknow in 1795 when Nawab Asif ud Daula (1775-1797) invited them to entertain his royal guests on the occasion of the marriage of his son Wazir Ali. They settled down in the localities Shahganj and Pir Bukhara (old Lucknow). The last performing Kashmiri Muslim Bhand in Lucknow was Jahangir. He lived in Shahganj. UP Sangeet Natak Academy was kind enough to provide him a regular stipend. He died a few years back.”
Nawab Kashmiri belonged to migrant Kashmiri shias settled in Lucknow . He was a talented actor during the silent era and later during the sound track Era of Indian cinema.Dilip Kumar m Mukri ,Jayant , Johny walker can be called his contemporaries though he was senior to them. He had a spacious Bunglow in colaba Mumbai. He was the only son of Syed Mufti Azam kashmiri from Bara imam Bara Lucknow. He had three children. Anwar kashmiri ( Deceased ) and the ebullient youngest Munawar kashmiri ( Manu ) were his sons apart from a daughter named Akhtar .Nawab was a cousin of Agha Jaani Kashmiri ( 1908-1998 ) noted screen writer of Indian cinema .
Nawab’s last movie was Naujawan(1951).This movie was directed by Mahesh kaul .The song “ Thandi Havaayein Lehara ke Aayein” written by Sahir and set to music by SD Burman for this movie , broke all records of popularity.
What Manto writes about Nawab Kashmiri ( in a typical manto style ) in the book ‘ Dastaaweiz ‘ compiled by Balraj Menra and Sharad Datt Published By Rajkamal Publishers Private limited 1 B Neta Ji Subash Marg New Delhi.
“ Nawab kashmiri is dead .He was a king of his artistic world. No Wazir can tell you about the greatness of this king. Ask any labourer who has seen his films by buying ticket for four annas from hard earned money. These people can tell you the magic of Nawab’s acting skills .
I met this great artist in a Mumbai Studio through his close relative Khan Kashmiri . Khan also worked in Mumbai Film Industry .Nawab once listened to a story that I had written. Once the story reading session was over , I found Nawab’s eyes moist. He wanted to know the name of the film company for which the story had been written by me . He wanted to perform the role of Badwaa himself should some producer make a film based on my story.
“No producer is ready to take this story .” I clarified to Nawab
“ Hell with these producers .” Nawab said
Nawab kashmiri was a kashmiri from Lucknow . He was a shia muslim .Helpful to kashmiris who came in his contact. Nawab had carved a niche for himself with his acting performance in “ Yahoodi ki Ladki ” . Rattan Bai was the heroine in this movie. Some other popular movies of this actor were Ziddi , Naujawan , Mukti , Devdas , Maya etc.. His co-stars were Praan , K l Sehgal and KK ( Kuldeep Kaur ).
Nawab started his career from Theatre. He was a popular star with IMPERIAL THEATERICAL COMPANY and his plays namely ‘Khoobsoorat Balaa”, ‘Noor e Wattan “and “Baag e Iran ” were very popular . Seth sukh Lal karnani was owner of Alfred Theatre Bombay and Nawab was his salaried employee . later Nawab Joined New Theatres owned by B N Sircar.In fact sircar was a great fan of Nawab’s acting.
I have my little grievance with Nawab Kashmiri.I am a kashmiri . I loveKkashmiris but I do not like those kashmiris who ill treat their wives if the women can not bear them a child. I am also a great fan of acting skills of Nawab kashmiri . I consider him a great artist but whenever I see him on screen , I cannot help smelling kerosene around. “
With his sarcastic writing style, Manto has not spared any person in the essays Published in in the book “DASTAAVEIZ “ and compiled by Balraj Menra and Sharad Datt. . Not even , Agha Hashr Kashmiri , Praan ,Ashok kumar, Nargis, Naseem Bano, Neena Devi , Paro Devi, Rafiq Gazanavi Noor Jahaan, Sitara , D N Madhok , Kishore Sahu , KK ( Actress Kuldeep Kaur ) , Babu Rao Patel ( Editor Filmindia ) and so many other well-known names from Hindi Cinema .
In this Book Dastaavez, Quite often , Manto’s comments appear as Mudslinging on Great Personalities but then Manto is Manto .
Manto’s writing apart , Nawab kashmiri shall always remain a Great actor and a legend of Indian Cinema. In his personal life , he Remained a devoted family man ; A loving father and affectionate and a caring husband .
Avtar Mota is a bloger and writes for local and national papers and magazines