Bollywood For Beginners: Part 18
Note: This series was originally posted to my Bollywood blogspot blog and represents the cumulation of the wisdom of a decade or so spent in the Bollywood trenches. It would have last been edited in about 2014.
KNOW YOUR HEROES:
1990s and 2000s: SANJAY DUTT
To say that Sanjay Dutt has undergone some image changes in his career is an understatement. Along with some youthful indiscretions that had him on trial for terrorism charges (he was acquitted), through the 1980s and 1990s Sanjay Dutt was as well known for his drug use and association with gangsters as much as he was known for breaking the box office. Today, he is a big teddy bear: Sanju-baba, a new father of twins whose latest scandal came from offering to give the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh a jadoo ki jhappi (magic hug.)
Sanjay Dutt is an industry son but that doesn’t mean he has led a charmed life. His parents were famous Bollywood actor Sunil Dutt and actress Nargis* and Sanjay made his debut with the well-received Rocky in 1981. Sadly, Sanjay’s beloved mother died right before the film released and Sanjay spiraled into drug addiction even as his career was taking off. He cleaned up, married a nice girl, and then was arrested for illegally possessing firearms.** His wife dies of brain cancer; he goes to jail; he remarries (twice); he starts a film production company; he runs for political office... and all this time Sanjay Dutt is still making films.
Fairly or not, Sanjay Dutt is not known for his acting skills these days as much as he is known for his persona from one film—the film that turned him from a scary, cokehead, illegal gun possessing friend of gangsters into a man that Bollywood viewers would invite in for tea—Munnabhai M.B.B.S. Munna-bhai*** is a simple man, tough but goodhearted; he’s street smart not book smart. And while he may be physically intimidating, Munna-bhai is always on the side of the common man. Munnabhai M.B.B.S. tells the story of Munna-bhai, a street thug who pretends to be doctor whenever his parents come to town in order to protect them from his true life. Of course, they find out and Munna decides to go to medical school in order to make them proud and earn back their trust. The film is hilarious, touching, and, yes, earnest. It was a hit.
These days, Sanjay mostly plays on his gangster image but at 51, even if he doesn’t have the vitality he used to, he can still intimidate with the best of them, not to mention sweeping a lady off her feet and landing a comic punch line. While he doesn’t always bring his A-game (or any game) to a film role, when Sanjay Dutt is on, he makes the whole screen light up.
Where to begin:
Parineeta (2006) - If you are completely new to Bollywood but a frequent viewer of “world cinema,” this lovely period film based on an old Bengali novel is just the place to start with Sanjay Dutt. You will fall in love with him as the kind-hearted older man who falls in love with the cash-strapped but generous girl at the center of the film. Technically, it’s a supporting role but I think it shows off enough of his talent that it’s worth mentioning here.
Vaastav: The Reality (1999) - In my opinion, this is Sanjay Dutt’s best work. He essentially plays out the narrative of his Hero persona over the course of the film, from happy go lucky youth to drug-addled gangster. It’s a riveting performance and while some viewers used to muted Hollywood sentiment may find the melodrama a bit loud a first, give it a chance and let it work Sanju-baba work his magic. Even the songs are gritty in Vaastav, including one of my favorite picturizations of all time "Chota Kad", a rollicking number about dreaming big sung around a small food stall.
Munnabhai M.B.B.S. (2003) - Sanjay Dutt wins hearts and minds in this charming fish out of water story about a gangster who decides to go to medical school in order to win back the affection of his parents. As a nice touch, Sanjay’s real father Sunil Dutt plays Munna’s father in the film.
While much of Sanjay Dutt’s best loved work is from the 1980s and 1990s, I would strong caution against watching those unless you are prepared for some full-on high-volume masala. If you can handle lurid sets, loud acting, and plenty of casual violence without your camp goggles on, then I will suggest this:
Khal Nayak (1993) - Sanjay Dutt plays—surprise!—a gangster who is being tracked by a police lady who goes undercover as a prostitute in order to clear the name of her policeman boyfriend. Will the gangster and cop fall in love?! You have to watch to find out! And if you don’t think you are ready for full on masala, at least check out the most famous song from the film: “Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai” (loosely translates to ‘What’s under my blouse?’)
* You might know them from Mother India. Sunil played Nargis’s son, although they were about the same age. There is a great story that goes with this that I will discuss later when I talk about the 1950s era actors.
** I don’t want to get into the specifics of the case, since I can’t really speak with authority on them, but I want to stress that Sanjay Dutt was NOT convicted of terrorism and his reasons for having the weapons are actually pretty sympathetic and go into some of India’s tense religious politics. The 1993 Black Friday Bombings, which were what Sanjay Dutt was supposed to have been associated with, were horrific and still linger on in public memory but Sanjay has always claimed that he had the weapons to protect himself and his family from the riots that swept Mumbai in 1992-early 1993 over the location of the now-destroyed Babri Mosque.
*** The “bhai” suffix roughly translates to “brother” and is used with respect.