A phenomenon called Mehmood

A phenomenon called Mehmood
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 14:46 IST
On the 10th death anniversary of comic genius Mehmood, we offer a tribute

He danced, he sang and he acted... but no matter what he did, this great comedian ended up making his audience double up in laughter each time, and on some occasions, soon after he had made his appearance in a scene.

In spite of rarely playing the lead role, he was a superstar alright. His name helped producers sell more tickets and his picture on the poster ensured that scores turned up at the theatres. Such was the effect of this young, funny man and his self-effacing easy humour that it is said that some male stars of his time were insecure about sharing screen space with him.


Helen and Mehmood in Gumnaam (1965)

The sixties belonged to this mad, mad man who was so effortless that sometimes it'd seem like he had forgotten that he was in front of the camera. There was a time when his presence in films was imperative for the film to do well at the box office.


Shammi Kapoor and Mehmood in Dil Tera Diwana (1962)

He must be one of the few comedians who managed to deliver box-office hits with some films riding solely on his shoulders. A case in point is Do Phool where he played the double role of Chuttan and Phuttan with much aplomb.


Dhumal with the actor in Ziddi (1964)

Mehmood was not just a laugh-a-minute comedian. This intelligent man went on to make some sensitive films like Ginni Aur Johnny and Kunwara Baap. We speak to some new-age comedians to tell us about their impression of this one-time phenomenon...


Mehmood

Sorabh Pant

Quote unquote:
"How can anyone forget the scenes from Padosan? This great actor represented the prototype of the comedy genre. I have watched this film at least 30 times and that guy was insane. You could see that there is this really funny man who seemed to be totally enjoying himself. He clearly was having a blast on screen and that was infectious. He had this wicked twinkle in his eyes.

He starred in two of the funniest films made in Hindi: Padosan and Andaz Apna Apna. I remember about nine years ago when I was writing the script for The Great Indian Show on television, most of our references would come from Mehmood's scenes. To think that even after so many years the man brings a smile to our faces is an amazing achievement. My favourite scene, of course, is the jugalbandi (duet) between him and Kishore Kumar in Padosan. But I also loved one of the other scenes where he is arguing with Kishore Kumar. It was pure comedy gold."

Sunil Grover

Quote unquote:
"One can learn from Mehmood how to be easy, effortless, natural and impactful. He had an amazing connect with the audiences. He believed in what he did. And he did it on his own terms. He will always live on in our hearts. I loved his comic timing, especially the scene where he narrates a ghost story to Om Prakash in the film, Pyar Kiye Jaa."

Sajid Khan

Quote unquote:
"He was called the king of comedy by the media and that was so well-deserved. He had this one-to-one connection with the audiences. He would give them the feeling that he was one of them; people would watch films just to catch his comedy track. So many of his movies have classic comedy scenes that will remain funny forever. My favourite scene is the one from Pyar Kiye Jaa, where he is narrating a ghost story to Om Prakash. While Mehmood was obviously brilliant, the reaction from another comic genius, Om Prakash, just made that scene magical.

My first film, Hey Baby, was hugely inspired from his film, Kunwara Baap. It was a classic film that married comedy with pathos. One minute you are smiling and the next minute, you have tears in your eyes. His specialty was that he cracked a lot of impromptu jokes and that brought the audiences closer to him. He was truly a genius."
Varun Dhawan Unveils First Poster of 'Nain Matakka' Featuring Keerthy Suresh!

Varun Dhawan's upcoming film Baby John is already creating waves in the entertainment world. The latest buzz surrounds the highly anticipated track "Nain Matakka," and the excitement reached new heights when Varun shared the

Friday, November 22, 2024
'Agni' Trailer Unveiled: A Tribute to Firefighters' Bravery and Sacrifice!

The much-anticipated trailer for Agni, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, was released on Thursday, offering a gripping look into the world of firefighters, their bravery, and the sacrifices they make to protect

Friday, November 22, 2024
Sara Ali Khan Shares Fun BTS Moments from Ad Shoot, Invites Fans to Let Their Spirits Soar!

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan recently took to Instagram to share a delightful behind-the-scenes (BTS) glimpse from her latest advertisement shoot, revealing her cheerful mood and creative spirit. In a playful and heartwarming post, Sara shared a video

Friday, November 22, 2024
Kartik Aaryan Enjoys Quality Time with 'Sea, Sand, and Sun' at IFFI Goa!

Bollywood heartthrob Kartik Aaryan, who is currently in Goa for the prestigious International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and Filmazaar, took a moment to unwind and connect with nature. The actor shared a series of serene pictures on his Instagram, showcasing

Friday, November 22, 2024
Shehnaaz Gill Starts Shooting for Punjabi Film: A New Journey Begins!

Actress and social media sensation Shehnaaz Gill is all set to embark on a new chapter in her career, as she commences shooting for her upcoming Punjabi film. The actress shared her excitement with her fans on Instagram, marking this milestone

Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT