S. Narinder Singh
It was really unimaginable that the first meeting I had with the legendary film-maker would grow into a formidable relationship lasting decades and surviving quite a few long separations.
Ramanand Sagar, the doyen who had emerged as one of the T.V giants apart from a most credible film maker in course of time our chance meeting took place in 1973 when he visited Jammu to survey the possibility of setting up a paper industry. He was the state guest and I was deputed by the Government as his conducting officer. Project did not materialise but an everlasting friendship had its birth. It was again in 1983, that this bond got further strengthened after my posting as PRO of the Jammu and Kashmir Government in Mumbai. By that time the world of art and film had realised and appreciated the in-born artistic capability of the legendary film-maker.
I called up Ramanand Sagar from my Mumbai office and before introducing myself, he gave me a pleasant shock when he recognised my voice and invited over dinner that evening.
On reaching his residence, I was overwhelmed by his gesture of hosting a small party of close friends including rage of that period Poonam Dhillon”s and her parents. It was a great moment for me to get introduced to his family for a long lasting bond that continues even now. During our long conversation in the renewed first meeting in the tinsel town, the deep sense of humour of the legendary filmmaker dawned on me when he cautioned me with a big laugh and in lighter vein not to praise woman in front of her as that could go to her head. He was pointing to my praise to the charming actress. However, he was quick in endorsing my views, adding that Poonam was the most talented artist. The incident highlighted Ramanand Sagar’s humility and presence of mind of a man who struggled hard in achieving his aim of life.
Ramanand Sagar had faced trials and tribulations right from early days of his life. Being thrown out of the house by his maternal parents who had adopted him and deprived of the affection of parents, the great artist had to find himself at the mercy of the hostile circumstances in life. Here is a man who started life with this humble background and rose to be a successful story writer, film maker and director, acquiring international recognitions.
I am reminded of a big occasion on 19 Feb 1983 when Sagar Sahib had organised a reception in honour of the then J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah at his Residence, Sagar Villa Juhu Parle. A galaxy of film stars, writers, directors, businessmen, politicians including Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasant Dadda Patil and his wife Shalni besides a number of Cabinet Ministers were present. The Chief Guest Dr Farooq Abdullah got unexpectedly late. Ramanand Sagar got slightly perturbed and asked me to enquire about his arrival.
When Dr Farooq arrived, there was lot of excitement. In the meantime, I had a long interaction with Dharmahendra, Rajinder kumar and Salma Aga as also the producer-directors of repute, B.R Chopra and Yash Chopra . It proved a golden opportunity for me get closer to the big names of the film world, thanks to Sagar Sahib and his unflnching faith in my friendship. It would not be out a place to mention that these contacts resulted in my nomination as a delegate to international features film and documentary film festivals in Mumbai during 1980 and 1990 respectively. Sagar Sahib believed in the invincibility in true friendship based on mutual understanding and trust. His Sence of humour was always timely but never sarcastic
Having spent quite some time with Sagar Sahib, I felt really bad when I was shifted to Srinagar in June 1986 after the closure of our Mumbai office by the then J&k Governor Mr Jaghmohan. The only comment that came from that great soul was as childlike and sincere. He said: ” I will miss you”. How true !
It was my good fortune to be re-posted to Mumbai in November 1989. The relationship got revived in the real sense of the term. It was the revival of love and affection which knew no bounds. At that time Sagar Sahib had turned a television giant, after the launching of the most successful serial ‘RAMAYAN’ that had already overtaken the nation.
The serial had caught the imagination the world around and Sagar Sahib was a real hero now. During one of our meetings, I had a humours a dig at his direction for some unrealistic shots like beheading of Ravana without spilling even a drop of blood. When I referred to Sugreev and Bali supporting long tails while their wives bedecked with beautiful sarees, he had a big laugh and thumping my shoulder, he said: “Don’t spoil my business, please”.
Born on 29th Dec 1917 in a village Asal Guru Ke near Lahore in one of the most aristocratic and the wealthiest families of Kashmir, he was adopted by his childless maternal parents, which gave him the name Ramanand.
He adopted a pen name ‘Sagar’ which gave him all the fame and fortune. His childhood, full of agony, led him to a creative genius producing all the master pieces that he did. But the most important imprint on his mind was the evil of dowry that he abhorred for the simple reason that he was thrown out of house by the adopted parents. Thereafter he had to struggle as truck cleaner, soap vendor and an inferior functionary. All the time he did keep himself in touch with regular studies. He had a brief stint as a news paper man moving from reporter to News Editor of Daily Milap, a paper published from Punjab.
Thereafter Ramanand made significant literary contribution with 32 short stories, stage plays for Prithlvi Theatre and a few novels.
It was in 1942, as an advanced T.B patient, Ramanand Sagar fighting death in a sanatorium at Tangmarg Kashmir that he wrote a subjective column’A Diary of T.B Patient’, which got wide acclamation from the literary world including the famous writer Krishan Chander. After escaping from the jaws of death, he returned as a famous writer to Lahore but migrated penniless to Bombay after partition in 1947 with memories of the holocaust which gave birth to the widely acclaimed novel Aur Inshan Margaya .
The film career of Ramanand Sagar started as clapper boy in 1936 in Lahore with silent movie “Raiders of the rail road “. His entry into the film world as writer began with super hit Barsat of Raj Kapoor in 1949 which was the beginning of an instant success with heaps of awards piled on him. As an independent writer he wrote about 29 film script and established his own film production company in 1950 called “Sagar Arts” with the film Mahman . As a writer of memorable films, we remember him for Insaniyat, Koh-e-noor and as a producer and director for Goonghat, Zindigi followed by suprerhits of Sagar Arts Arzoo and Ankhen etc.
It is significant that Sagar Saheb begin producing T.V serials from 1985 after he had an instructive experience in France when he found the friendly family watching T.V together as a source of entertainment. As a visionary he foresaw the bright future of this medium which has already surpassed the big screen.
Ramanand got the title of Padma Shri in 2001 and Jammu University conferred Honorary degree of D.Lit on him.
My last conversation with the noble soul took place in Oct 2005 when Mumbai was hit by destructive floods.
The legend is over. Sagar Saheb breathed his last on 12 Dec 2005, leaving the country in tears. Ironically the State of Jammu and Kashmir, to which he belonged has never recognized the greatness of the son of the soil.
(The author is former Director Information)
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