Waheeda Rahman's Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Better Late than Never
By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
28 September 2023
The news
of Waheeda Rahman getting this year's Dadasaheb Phalke Award has gladdened her
countless fans. She ought to have received it years ago. Conferring this award
upon her at the ripe age of 85 seems to be a political move under the current
government's carrot and stick policy towards the minorities.
Nevertheless, she finally got it. An effortless actress,
Waheeda could essay any role with a consummate ease. Mind you, she stood out
among a galaxy of great actresses like Nargis, Meena Kumari, Madhubala and
Nutan. It was never a cake-walk for her.
Waheeda Rahman
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The great thespian Soumitra Chatterjee recalled that once
his mentor and the legendary auteur Satyajit Ray told him, "Acting is all
about not acting. You shouldn't appear to be acting on the celluloid. Rather,
you must appear to live the character as you live your own self in real
life." Waheeda lived all the characters on the marquee as if she was
living them in her real life. Her films, "Guide," "Kaaghaz Ke
Phool," "Kaala Bazar", "Chaudhvin Ka Chaand", "Mujhe
Jeene Do", "Majboor,"
"Kohra", "Bees Saal Baad", "Neelkamal,"
"Aadmi", "Ram Aur Shyam" to name but a few assert her
acting prowess and screen presence.
Her ageless beauty lent grace and elegance to her acting.
Her expressive face reminds you of Mazhar Imam's famous Msra, "Shakl
Aisi Ke Na Bhi Baat Kare Toh Yun Laga Ke Baat Kare" (So emotive that
even if she says nothing, it appears as if she's speaking).
Waheeda was a director's delight. She was always very quick
on the uptake and grasped her role in no time. Her natural ability to emote
without resorting to over-acting distinguished her from others. She never
rested on her laurels and believed that she could have done better.
When she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award
during the Mumbai Film Festival in 2012, she told a premier English daily that
though she tries “to live in the present”, she does believe she “could have
done better”. She called 'Guide' her “favourite” but added: “I could
have worked on the dance movements, done them better.”
Despite achieving name, fame and recognition, she always
remained down to earth and never behaved in
haughtily supercilious manner. You approach her for an autograph and
she'll gladly oblige. No airs and arrogance ever touched her. Congratulations
once again to Waheeda Rahman on getting the prestigious award, albeit quite
late in life. But it's better late than never as they say in Persian, "Der
Aayad, Durust Aayad."
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a
researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has
contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages
including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-society/waheeda-rahman-dadasaheb-phalke-award/d/130771
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