In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor were the greatest Bollywood stars who had given blockbusters, super hits and created an identity of Indian films in the western world. But their closest competitors were Bharat Bhushan and Pradeep Kumar who gave hits after hits and gave huge revenue to Bollywood industry.
Starting with Bharat Bhushan, the records will take that their films had huge box office like the films of Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor. In 1952, Bharat Bhushan’s film Baiju Bawra was the 2nd biggest blockbuster film after Dilip Kumar’s Aan. Composer Naushad Ali received
filmfare award for the best music director only 1 time, and that was for Bharat Bhushan’s Baiju Bawra. The brilliant songs of Rafisahab like “o duniya ke rakhwale”, “man tarapata hari darshanko aaj” were some of the landmark songs which established Rafisahab as the uncrowned playback king of Bollywood.In 1954, Bharat Bhushan’s Mirza Ghalib was the 4th biggest super hit film. Suraiya acted opposite Bharat Bhushan. Sohrab Modi directed the film. Ghulam Mohammad composed music of the film. Talat Mehmood and Suryaiya song “dil e nadan tujhe hua kya hai” became a big hit. It did more business than Guru Dutt’s Aar Paar and Raj Kapoor’s Boot Polish.
In 1956, Bharat Bhushan’s Basant Bahar was 4th biggest hit film after Dev Anand’s CID and Raj Kapoor’s Chori Chori. Basant Bahar was directed by Raja Nawathe. Music was composed by Shankar Jaikishan. Landmark songs of Manna Dey, Bhimsen Joshi “ketaki ghulab juhi”, Rafisahab’s “duniya na bhaye”, Manna sahab’s “sur na saje” had become milestones of Indian music.
In 1958, Bharat Bhushan’s Phagun was 6th biggest hit film of the year. Madhubala acted opposite him. The music was composed by OP Nayyar. Rafisahb Ashaji’s song “mai soya ankhiyan meeche” was a big hit.
In 1960, Bharat Bhushan’s Barsaat Ki Raat was 2nd biggest blockbuster after Dilip Kumar’s Mughal – I –Azam. It was directed by PL Santoshi. Roshanlal Nagrath composed the music of the film. Roshan composed the greatest qawalli of the decade with Manna Dey, Rafisahab, Sudha Malhotra, Ashaji all contributing “na to karwanki talash hai, na humsafar ki talash hai”. Rafisahab’s “zindagi bhar nahi bhulegi wo barsaat ki raat” had become a cult song.
In respect of Pradeep Kumar his records speak about his success.
In the year 1953, his film Anarkali was the biggest blockbuster. It was directed by Nandlal Jaswatlal . C Ramchandran composed the music of the film. Hemant Kumar and Lataji song “yeh zindagi usi ki hai,” became big hit. Audience accepted the pair of Beena Roy and Pradeep Kumar. The film did greater business than Dilip Kumar’s Shikast and Raj Kapoor’s Aah released in the same year.
In 1964, Bharat Bhushan’s Jahan Ara did moderate business. Mala Sinha acted opposite him. Madanmohan Kohli composed the music of the film. Rafisahab and Suman Kalyanpur’s song “baad muddat key eh ghari ayi”, “kisi ki yaad me apnako hai bhulaye hue”, Talatji’s song “phir wohi sham wohi gham wohi tanhayi hai” are legendary ghazals, not forgotten by music lovers even today. In that year Raj Kapoor’s Sangam was the biggest blockbuster.
From the mid-60s, Bharat Bhushan’s films did less business and Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal and Taqdeer in 1967 were last successful films.
In the year 1954, his film Nagin became the greatest blockbuster of the year. Composer Hemant Kumar received filmfare award for the best music director only once in his lifetime. It was due to Pradeep
Kumar’s Nagin. It was a launching pad for successful actress Vaijayantimala also. Kalyanji played the bin for Hemant Kumar’s tune “man dole” song.In 1956, Pradeep Kumar’s film Rajhath was the 6th biggest hit film. Madhubala acted opposite Pradeep Kumar. Shankar Jaikishan’s music was hit with Rafisahab’s famous song “aye bahar banke lubhakar chale gaye”.
In 1962, Pradeep Kumar’s film Aarti was the 8th biggest hit. Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar acted opposite him. Roshan composed the tunes. Rafisahab’s songs “ab kya misaal doon”, “aapne yaad dilaya” had become cult songs. Biswajeet Chatterjee’s Bees Saal Baad was biggest blockbuster of 1962.
In 1963, Pradeep Kumar’s Taj Mahal was the 3rd biggest blockbuster. M Sadiq directed the film. Pradeep Kumar and Bina Roy were accepted as Shahjahan and Mumtaz Mahal by the audience. Roshan’s tunes and Rafisahab’s songs “jo wada kiya wo”, “payon chu lene do”, etc., showed the royal style of music in Mughal durbars. Rajender Kumar’s Mere Mehboob was the biggest blockbuster of 1963.
Pradeep Kumar’s Chitralekha in 1964, Bheegi Raat in 1965 and Bahu Begum in 1967, opposite Meena Kumari and Ashok Kumar did moderate business, but the songs of the films composed by Roshanlal Nagrath, still haunt the listeners. Rafisahab’s songs “man re tu kahe na dheer dhare”, “dil jo na keh saka”, “hum intezer karenge tera qayamat tak” were some of the best songs created in royal form of Hindustani songs. After that his box office got moderate and he switched to character roles in early 1970s.
The span of career of Bharat Bhushan and Pradeep Kumar did not continue for more than 30 years like Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, but the record says that their films were in close competition with Showman and Tragedy King. One of the reasons of both the actors getting less recognition was due to playing historical and mythological characters in 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
But it was a great achievement for both Bharat Bhushan and Pradeep Kumar, that during most part of their career, their box office was more than the box office of other giants of that period including Guru Dutt, Sunil Dutt, Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee, Biswajeet and others. The songs of the films of both the dignified stars are rich assets of Indian film history. Both Pradeep Kumar and Bharat Bhushan gave lips in at least 50 best songs of Rafisahab, Mukeshji, Manna Dey Sahab and Talat Mehmood sahab. So after Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, if other actors deserve respect, honour, Bharat Bhushan and Pradeep Kumar were some of the best of 1940s, 1950s, 1960s.
