No, these are not mafia dons, nor are they the 'big brothers' of Bengal. They were two icons of films - Bhagwan Dada found fame in Hindi films, and Dada Kondke, in Marathi films.
Both made superhit films and starred in them as heroes-unlikely ones. Not tall, fair or handsome as tradition required heroes to be then..think Dharmendra, or Dilip Kumar. Bhagwan Dada was actually portly, or rotund, and not what you would call handsome in the conventional sense. But he had a charm, and dancing technique and expressions that would put most actors/actresses to shame. He was and is a delight to watch, and it's tough to take your eyes off him in any of the songs from Albela- Geeta Bali (his heroine) adds to the charm in this case. Amitabh is said to have copied some of his dance steps, with success.
Dada Kondke holds the record, I believe, for nine silver jubilee films in a row. In Marathi. Pandu Havaldar onwards, he made a string of superhits, the envy of any film-maker. And starred in the, mostly wearing half-pants and looking like the Village Idiot. He revelled in double entendre, or double-meaning dialogue, and the audiences lapped them up. His songs were also on the same lines, as were the titles of many films. He forayed into Hindi films with Andheri Raat Mein, Diya Tere Haath mein, I think. That gives you the idea.
1 comment:
funny you wrote about Bhagwan. I accidentally watched a few older gen Hindi songs on the new incarnation of Chitrahaar on Youtube and there he was underneath a window of a cheesy set chasing a girl - khidki ke niche seeti bajana chod do - was the musical number I think the movie was Albela
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