Talent, Thy Name Was Kanhaiyalal

Authored by Lalit Berry

Name any cinemagoer who has not heard about late Kanhaiya Lal Ji, one of the versatile actors of Indian Cinema. Even after four decades of his demise, the entire tinsel-town holds him in high esteem simply because of his talent as well as his sober lifestyle. 

Pandit Ji for Cineworld, Babu Ji for near & dear ones and Kanhaiya Lal for cinemagoers was a highly reputed matinee idol who took birth in Varanasi on 15 December, 1910. His full name was Pandit Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi. Multifaceted and owner of high-level calibre in various fields, Pandit Ji was a down to earth person in real life. His calibre was not confined to acting in movies  only. He contributed his art of writing as lyricist in many films. He was a reputed stage actor and also had expertise in set designing.
 
Pandit Ji marked his presence with magnificence in films. He possessed unique knack of performing roles of negative shades as well as positive shades. Films like Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke, Dushman, Meri Surat Teri Aankhen, Satyam Shivam Sundaram are live examples of his stunning performance in positive roles. Cinemagoers normally recognise him playing negative shade roles mostly of a cunning moneylender. He enlivened the role of Sukhi Lala in Mehboob Khan's cult cinema entitled Mother India, the very first Indian film getting nomination for Oscars. It's worth mentioning that Mother India (1956) was remake of Aurat (1940). In both films Pandit Kanhaiyalal Ji played the character of Sukhi Lala. 

Top notch filmmakers opted for him as he was a natural and spontaneous actor. Although he left for heavenly abode on 14 August 1982 yet he is alive in memories of his hardcore fans. 
Hemaa Singh, daughter of Bollywood Thespian Kanhaiyalal is a person of multifarious merits. She is IMPPA registered film producer under the umbrella of Kanhaiyalal Productions.  She produced a docu -film entitled 'Naam Tha Kanhaiyalal' on his legendary father who ruled the hearts of cinemagoers, filmmakers and film critics for five decades. The docu -film is running successfully on MX Player.

Also wearing the shoes of an author, she is penning biography of revered Kanhaiyalal Ji. She has also been playing the role of a philanthropist  by founding and running Abhinay Ratna Pandit Kanhaiya Lal Memorial Trust which is solely & selflessly dedicated to women empowerment, women self- dependence and helping the poverty stricken old people.

 Obviously who else other than Hemaa Singh can do it. Most appreciable feat of Hemaa Singh is that the planning, working and making of docu- film got started with enthusiasm when Corona onslaught was at its peak. Corona could not deter Hemaa Singh, hence proving her one of the best daughters on Earth. 

An unspoken regret on the face of Hemaa Singh can be read. Not only she but also every fan of Pandit Ji has the regret of keeping him deprived of honours like Padma Awards or Dada Saheb Phalke Award. It seems authorities never paid proper heed to him.

Anyways he was above the awards. He still lives in our hearts. May Almighty God strengthen Hemaa Singh more to keep on sending us memoirs of Pandit Kanhaiyalal Ji.