Rangeela

The serious and intense expressions belie a career full of mirth, irony, humor, and some would add an unspoiled, spontaneous cheekiness. There are some of the traits that made versatile film personality Rangeela, a huge and impermeable star for almost 40 years. Born Hafiz Mohammed Saeed khan, Rangeela’s entry into films was somewhat circuitous but resonated of that old Hollywood clichéd story of the naïve ingénue being “discovered” at the soda pop shop. One can only imagine how the former movie hoardings painter from Lahore, after painting so many filmi billboards might have had dreams of his own, of one day joining the ranks of films greats. Hafiz Khan was given this opportunity by director M.J Rana who offered him a bit ‘extra’ part in 1956’s Jatti (village belle), the title role played to perfection by buxom Musarrat Nazir. For a while this level of work was the only type offered to the fledgling actor.

One of the fortuitous ‘breaks’ for Rangeela came in the form of his pairing with Munawwar Zarif which included such hilarious flicks as Pardey Mein Rehney Do; Sacha Jhoota; and the self-nomenclature Rangeela aur Munawwar Zarif with Sofia Bano. From 1956 till 1967 Rangeela worked in dozen of films, most of them with a comedic edge. One of the most successful of these was the Muhammad Ali, Shamim Ara starrer Hum Raaz which was directed by Khwaja Khursheed Anwar. In 1969 Rangeela made his own entrance into film direction. But he went a few steps further when he wrote, produced acted and sang in this directional debut, Diya Aur Toofan starring Habib, Ejaz and Naghma which resonated with the famous ditty, Ga mere manwa gata ja rey. The following year Rangeela again wrote, produced, acted in and directed the eponymous titled Rangeela (1970) with Nisho and Aqil (who later became Madame Noor Jehan’s son-in-law when he married Zille Huma). In 1971 Rangeela co starred in the poignant, Dil aur Duniya with Habib and Aasiya, who played the role of a blind girl. However, with all these successes came some failures, some so huge that they caused life-altering circumstances. One of these was Kobra Ashiq, which was a copy of  The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Anthony Quinn, in which Rangeela copied Qunin’s powerful role. The film, despite its promising theme was an unmitigated flop perhaps because of its literary, highbrow theme or because it didn’t translate well into Pakistani cinema.

Rangeela had also produced and directed the film and had invested a large sum of money in the project. The losses were too great and Rangeela attempted suicide, but survived. Despite this failure, Rangeela went on to direct in all 22 films under the aegis of Rangeela productions. These included 1974’s Purdah Na Uthao with Shahid and Nisho, where Rangeela plays three roles, that of a grandfather, a father, a side hero, as well as lending his visage to the torso of a pre-pubescent boy! Another unusual Rangeela directed film was the outlandish, gender-bending, Amazonian themed cult-classic, Aurat Raj (1979) starring Rani and Waheed Murad, in which Rangeela simultaneously played four roles. The film was controversial and provocative because of its content; female revenge themed male rape! A more sober and much more successful offering was the tragic Sona Chandi starring Ali Ejaz, Nana, Sangeeta and Rani. Noor Jehan’s melodious and poignant songs are one the main highlights of the film. Rangeela’s last film as a director was 1993’s Khubsoorat Shetaan starring Rangeela’s own son, Salman and Nisho progeny, Sabiha. Rangeela also acted in this lukewarm film. Rangeela’s last acting role was singer Sajjad Ali’s 1999 film Ek Aur Love Story, a film that did moderately well, perhaps because of the curiosity factor of Ali directing as old thespian like Rangeela. If Rangeela has not been too busy of late on either the silver or mini screen, this cannot be said about his private life. Married four times, Rangeela is the proud father of a brood of fifteen. This must kept him busy, and as his name suggests; his life, happy, content, and full of fun!