Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Basu Chatterjee
He was Tailor Master. That is what members of the industry called him out of affection. It is a name he got because of his profession from his early years,but it stayed even after A K Hangal had done scores of films,following his debut in Basu Bhattacharyas Teesri Kasam in 1966.
After Bhattacharya gave him a break,several veteran filmmakers such as K A Abbas and Hrishikesh Mukherjee worked with him. He was largely viewed as an actor apt for emotional roles. People consider Shaukeen,which I directed,a film that re-established his image. It showed him in a comic role,an old man who with his two friends is enamoured by a young girl. But I always thought he was extremely versatile.
Before Shaukeen in 1982,I had cast him as a small-time crook in Manzil 1979. Over the years,I worked with him on four other films Sara Akash 1979,Chitchor 1976,Tumhare Liye 1978 and Pasand Apni Apni 1983.
One has lost count of the films he did throughout his film career that spanned over 40 years; and I suppose he was eager to work till the end. But Hangals first love was the stage. He wanted to do more theatre,which is where he started his acting career with Indian Peoples Theatre Association.
His greatest strength as an actor,in fact,is something he imbibed from his years on stage.
He had the knack of modulating his voice,which helped give him the versatility,and he worked on it to improve himself as an actor. How else would an actor make a debut in films at the age of 50 and remain active and relevant till his last breath?
As told to Dipti Nagpaul DSouza
