Shabana Azmi on her favourite actor Balraj Sahni: His performance in Garm Hava is one of the finest in Indian cinema – Times of India

At a time when shrieking and ranting were considered great acting (they still are) Balraj Sahni chose to underplay all his characters even in heavy melodramas like Ghar Grihasti, Devar Bhabhi, Ghar Sansar, Bhabhi (a big hit), Choti Bahen and Shaadi.
Some feel Balraj Sahni gave his best performance in MS Sathyu’s Garm Hava. While several fans feel the performance in Do Bigha Zamin is every bit as honest as Garm Hawa. Initially Balraj was hesitant about doing the role in Garm Hava of a Muslim patriarch divided between India and Pakistan. He asked his colleague from IPTA Shaukat Kaifi if he would be able to pull off the role. Shaukat assured him that only he could do it.

Reveing more about Sahni’s brilliance, Shabana Azmi says, “He was a fabulous actor who lived the part whether it was Do Bigha Zamin, Haqeeqat or Garm Hava. He used to be a member of the communist party and his strong empathy with marginalised communities gave him the bandwidth to inhabit the world of the characters he played with conviction.”

Recalling Balraj Sahani in his best role, Shabana says, “When Garm Hava was offered to him he lived with a modest family in Bhiwandi for ten days. Even sleeping on a charpai for research of his character. As a member of IPTA (Indian People’s Theatre Association) he braved lathi charges in demonstrations against the government. Bas Bahut baat thi unmein (there was something about him). His portrayal as Salim Mirza in Garm Hava is in my opinion one of the finest in Indian cinema.”

Intersting fact: Balraj Sahni died the day after he finished dubbing for Garm Hava. When he had finished his dubbing for Ms Sathyu’s film, he wasn’t satisfied with one line. He called director Sathyu over to re-dub that line at Raj Kamal Studios. Sathyu went there at lunch time and re-recorded the one dialogue.