The ironic romantic movie Aradhana is the first I saw starring Rajesh Khanna. Skipping school, I watched it at the Lido cinema with two classmates, Rabindra and Neomal. The movie touched many a nerve among the young in tropical Sri Lanka. I was mesmerised by Rajesh Khanna’s acting and his stylish mannerisms. I fell in love with Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna’s love in the movie. It was a tragic story; Rajesh Khanna died in a plane crash, and Sharmila was devastated. So was I. My newfound hero was dead, so I cried listening to the song, Saphal Hogi Teri Aradhana, sung by S. D. Burman, the ace music director. Even today, more than fifty years later, this song evokes sad feelings when I listen to it. It gives me goosebumps.
Aradhna was shown continuously for more than a year. It broke all previous records in Sri Lanka. The movie was so big in the country that a massive billboard for Aradhna with Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore was next to the Central train station in Colombo. I was so fascinated with Aradhana and its romantic songs that I saw the movie twice, paying with my hard-earned pocket money.
Rajesh Khanna became a cult figure with the sky-high popularity of Aradhana in many countries. It was an epic movie.
Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna’s female lead in Aradhna, came from an artistic family. Her grandfather was Rabindranath Tagore, the ace writer and poet, a Nobel prize winner — another interesting dimension for me as a young Hindi movie fan.
Kishore Kumar, the male singer, was the voice playback for Rajesh Khanna. I became Kishore’s music fan after this movie. His songs were played on Radio Ceylon and All India Radio continuously. I listened to Kishore Kumar’s music every night until I fell asleep. I am his fan forever.
Another Rajesh Khanna movie that I saw with my classmate Stanley Motha at the Navah cinema in Colombo. I dodged school to see the film. Rajesh Khanna, an orphan, grows up with elephants. He meets Tanuja, his romantic love. The movie features many elephants and animals. The film ran for nearly two years in cinemas in Colombo.
By now, I was addicted to Rajesh Khanna movies, just like many Colombo lads. This is my third movie with Rajesh Khanna. Again, it was a massive hit. Rajesh Khanna starred opposite Asha Parekh. I watched Aan Milo Sajna with my classmates Carlyle and Quintus at the Impala Theatre in Rajagiriya s suburb of Colombo.
All of Rajesh Khanna’s movies were of the romantic genre. Rajesh Khanna was like a God to many by now.
An innocent countryman (Rajesh Khanna) comes to the city to earn money for his sister’s marriage. But he gets mistaken for a deadly criminal (also Rajesh Khanna) who uses the other innocent countryman as a pawn to fool the police so he can carry out his criminal deeds without interruptions. Mumtaz and Vinod Khanna co-starred with Rajesh Khanna in this action-packed movie.
The song by Kishore Kumar, Dil Sachaa Aur Chehra Jhutha, from the movie became popular in Sri Lanka. I saw this movie at the Lido cinema.
I saw Safar at the Ritz cinema in Colombo with my classmate Kingsley. This is, again, a romantic but tragic movie. Rajesh Khanna falls in love with Sharmila Tagore, his co-actor of Aradhana. But he cannot express his love because he wants to conceal his terminal cancer from her. So he dies in the end. Safar was a sad and poignant movie that mesmerised a teenage schoolboy. The film ran for months in cinemas.
Safar also starred another great actor, Feroz Khan, whom Denzil met a few years later in Dubai.
In this romantic movie, Rajesh Khanna stars with Tanuja, his co-star in Haathi Mere Saathi. I saw this movie with Kingsley at the Impala Theatre. I liked the movie so much that I saw it again at the same theatre with my good friend from my hometown, Hamlet.
Another great movie by Shakti Samanta, the director of Aradhana, starring Asha Parekh with Rajesh Khanna. The most popular song was Pyaar Deewana Hota Hai by Kishore Kumar, which always played on the radio. I saw the movie at the Lido cinema.
Rajesh Khanna acted with my favourite Indian female actor Mumtaz as his romantic opposite in this movie. I thrice saw Apna Desh at the Crown Cinema in Maradana, Colombo. Yes, on three different occasions. I saw it with my friend Hamlet, my kid brother (who was just eight years old), my classmates Keerthi and Jayampathi and finally, alone. I must have genuinely taken up with Rajesh Khanna’s acting in Apna Desh to watch it thrice. It had fabulous music and songs. Mumtaz was fantastic, as always. I fell in love with her.
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In an era long before this age of instant connections to mobile phones and the internet, Rajesh Khanna was the man who sparked a frenzy never seen before. The rest of the Indian actors paled into significance to his romantic appeal.
Rajesh Khanna’s very name spelt magic in the 1970s. He sparked hysteria, particularly amongst legions of women fans, who would line the road for a glimpse, chant his name, and even write him letters in blood. They got married to his photograph. When Rajesh Khanna got married in 1973 to Dimple Kapadia, he broke many young girls' hearts. Rajesh Khanna was a significant influencer to many young boys back in the day. I was one of them.
There was a rumour that Rajesh Khanna would fly in for the “Apna Desh” premiere in Colombo. I had set myself to be at the premiere, invitation or not. Sadly my dream of seeing my idol never came to pass. I became the butt of jokes among my pals when my dream was a big disappointment.
As with everything in life, Rajesh Khanna lost his allure and appeal a few years later. A new bunch of Hindi actor heroes emerged, with Amitabh Bachchan as the action hero who took over the title of superstar from Rajesh Khanna. After that, a young Rishi Kapoor took over the romantic superhero title.
I was so fascinated by the Bollywood stars that I regularly bought Indian magazines, Filmfare, Star and Style and Star Dust and the Screen newspaper from newsstands in Colombo. I loved how Bombay journos wrote; their storytelling improved my English and vocabulary. There was another use of the magazines; I aped the stars’ latest fashion styles. My tailor stitched in-vogue jackets and pants, copying them from the film magazine Centrefolds. Thanks to my Bollywood heroes, I acter in my hometown.
Bollywood produced a bevy of Bollywood actresses in the mid-seventies, with Zeenat Aman, Parveen Babi, and Neetu Singh leading the pack. I was mesmerised by Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi, their liberated lifestyles, fashion, bold statements and interviews.
When I started working in the only telecom company, I loved looking after the Bombay to Colombo data circuit, the only gateway to India from Sri Lanka. So when the traffic volume was low, I exchanged chat messages with the Bombay (now Mumbai) operators. The chats centred around movies and movie stars. My Mumbai counterparts were surprised that a lad from Colombo knew so much about their Bollywood stars.
By the mid-seventies, I was so taken up with Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor that I watched “Amar Akbar Anthony”, starring both of them, on the first day I arrived in Dubai at the Deira cinema. Out of everything else, that was the biggest priority for a twenty-something lad on his first day in a new country, seeing a Hindi movie ranked on top. Rightfully so.
These historical records were taken from Denzil’s journals, a habit that has provided him lifelong value.
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta” is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka. The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships. However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
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