Thursday 20 June 2013

Mehmood

Mehmood Ali (29 September 1932 – 23 July 2004), popularly known simply as Mehmood, was an Indian actor, director and producer best known for playing comic roles in Hindi films. During his career of more than four decades, he worked in over 300 Hindi films.

Early life

Mehmood was one of eight children born to Latifunnisa and film and stage actor-cum-dancer Mumtaz Ali, who was a huge star of the 40's and 50's cinema, in Mumbai, India.[1] Mehmood had an elder sister and six younger siblings. His sister, Minoo Mumtaz, was also a successful dancer and character actress in Bollywood movies. His youngest brother, Anwar Ali too is a actor and producer of movies like Khud-daar and Kaash. He started acting reluctantly as a child in Bombay talkie films like Kismet. Some of his early jobs before he concentrated only on acting were driving, doing odd jobs, and selling poultry. He worked as driver of director P. L. Santoshi. Later, Santoshi's son Rajkumar Santoshi cast Mehmood in his venture Andaz Apna Apna. He was hired to teach table tennis to Meena Kumari. He later married her sister Madhu.

Career

Early career

After getting married and becoming a father, he decided to act to earn a better living. He got a small break as a killer in the film C.I.D. He started off by doing small, unnoticed roles in films like the peanut seller in Do Bigha Zameen and Pyaasa. He later went on to act in lead roles, but he was appreciated for his comedy, some of which was in the Hyderabad region's Urdu accent.

Critical and commercial success

His first break as both a director and an actor was Bhoot Bangla with actress Tanuja. The movie paved the way for Mehmood to succeed Johnny Walker as the most successful Bollywood comedian. He followed his successes with superhit comic roles in films like Padosan (as a Tamil Brahmin music teacher — one of his greatest roles), Love in Tokyo, Aankhen, Johar-Mehmood in Goa, Bombay to Goa and Pyaar Kiye Jaa. He became a sterling director of Hindi films — Kunwara Baap being a prime example.
Mehmood was riding on his success from 1965 to 1975 when he was considered one of the more successful movie artists. In the early 60s, he formed a popular pair with actor Dhumal and actress Shubha Khote. Amitabh Bachchan was a tenant at the Mehmood Home from 1967 to 1968 (11 months) and again from 1972 to 1973 (4 months). In 1972, Mehmood directed the movie Bombay to Goa in which Bachchan got his break as a lead actor for the first time while Mehmood played a key role of the bus conductor.

Later career

Towards the end of the 70s, Mehmood's popularity began to decline as other comedy actors like Jagdeep, Asrani, Paintal and Kader Khan shot to prominence. Between 1989 to 1999, he made a handful of movies, but most of them were either shelved or made no impression. He acted as Johnny in Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna — his last hit film as an actor.
On 23 July 2004, Mehmood died in his sleep in Pennsylvania, US, where he had gone for treatment of heart disease after suffering poor health for several years.[1] His fans were able to pay homage to him at Mehboob Studio in Bandra, Mumbai, India.[2]

Legacy

One of his sons, Lucky Ali (Maqsood Ali) is a singer and composer who has acted in films.

The Ali Family in the Movies

  • Mumtaz Ali (Father of Mehmood)
He was famous as a dancer and character-artist in films from the 40's era. He even had his own dance troupe "Mumtaz Ali Nites" which performed all over India. His career slumped due to his excessive drinking & his family fell into hard times, leading to his son Mehmood to work as a child artist & daughter Meenu Mumtaz to work as dancer in his stage shows & later movies. He was last seen in the 1974 Hindi movie Kunwara Baap directed/ starred by Mehmood himself in the song "Saj Rahi Gali Meri Maa".
She was re-christened as Meenu by none other than Meena Kumari who as the sister-in-law of Mehmood.She started off as a stage dancer and later as dancer many films of the 50s and 60s with her first film "Sakhi Hateem". She also played the lead role opposite Balraj Sahni in Black Cat (1959). She can be seen in the song "Boojh Mera Kya Naam Re" from the movie C.I.D..
He made his debut in the movie Sadhu Aur Shaitaan. His first major role was in the movie Saat Hindustani which was also the debut movie for Amitabh Bacchan. He also played the memorable role of Driver "Rajesh" in movie Bombay to Goa where Mehmood played the role of conductor "Khanna".
Mehmood and all his six sons acted together in the 1978 movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete[3]
  • Masood Ali aka Pucky Ali (Son of Mehmood and Madhu)
The eldest born played a role in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete & also Hamare Tumhare which was also the debut movie for Anil Kapoor.
  • Maqsood Mehmood Ali aka Lucky Ali (Son of Mehmood and Madhu)
He started his movie career as adult in Yehi Hai Zindagi. Today he has ventured out to be a famous singer songwriter, composer.
  • Maqdoom Ali aka Macky Ali (Son of Mehmood and Madhu)[4]
He played the role of a disabled child in Mehmood's 1974 movie Kunwara Baap as he was in real life affected by polio. He too acted in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete. He later made a music album enacted by Macky himself in the music video Yaaron sab dua karo and later in Tirchi topiwale, sung by Altaf Raja.
  • Masoom Ali (Son of Mehmood and Madhu)
Produced the movie Dushman Duniya Ka. He too had acted in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete.
  • Tracy Ali (Wife of Mehmood)
Had played the role of the American wife in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete.
  • Mansoor Ali (Son of Mehmood and Tracy Ali)
He had acted in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete.
  • Manzoor Ali (Son of Mehmood and Tracy Ali)
Debuted played the lead role of drug addicted youth in the movie Dushman Duniya Ka. He too had earlier acted in the movie Ek Baap Chhe Bete.
  • Jeanie aka Latifunnisa aka Ginny Ali (Daughter of Mehmood and Tracy Ali)
She played the child actor role in Ginny Aur Johnny.

Selected filmography

Awards

Read Also

  • Mehmood Ali Family
  • Mumtaz Ali
  • Lucky Ali
  • List of Hindi film clans

References

  1. ^ a b "Indian comedian Mehmood dead". Daily Times. 2004-07-24. Retrieved 2 January 2009.
  2. ^ Mumbai bids emotional farewell to Mehmood The Times of India, July 28, 2004.
  3. ^ "Ek Baap Chhe Bete". Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  4. ^ "rediff.com: Movies: Macky Ali was a star in his own right". Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  • "Legendary Comedian Mehmood Dead, Burial at Bangalore", INDOlink, 24 July 2004
  • "Indian comedy actor Mehmood dies", BBC, 23 July 2004
  • "Man who made nation laugh is no more", Indian Express, 24 July 2004
  • "Comedian Mehmood is no more", The Times of India, 23 July 2004

Further reading

  • Zaveri, Hanif. Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods, Popular Prakashan, 2005. ISBN 81-7991-213-2

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