Contentment is a rare blessing. But actress Shyama was blessed with it in abundance and hence remained ‘beautiful’ throughout her life. Else, who would shun the arc lights when the Hindi film industry still pursued her with acting assignments way beyond her sixties! And it was her characteristic composure that never allowed her to drown in pessimism or abandon laughter when she lost her love at the prime age of forty four.
This inner equanimity explains the fabulous glow that Shyama retained till her death a few days back. Bestowed with a jazzy sense of humour and a feisty outlook that belied her era, she adapted to changes of health and fortune as daringly as she had opted for a film career without the permission of her elders at a very tender age. Unlike many who are unable to adjust to the vagaries of the star system, Shyama’s transition to retirement was graceful since she had the wisdom to accept the changing status of popularity.
In a rare television interview sometime ago, Shyama had confessed that she loved the camera and reviewing her performances, it’s apparent that she was remarkably uninhibited on screen since “acting was gift of the Gods to her”. Poise and aura she possessed from day one or else why would a seasoned director like Shaukat Hussein Rizvi pick her up for a qawwali scene for the Noorjahan- starrer “Ziddi” in 1943 when Shyama (then Khurshid Akhtar) had gone to the Lahore film sets for a stray visit with her classmates. Taken in by the beauty of the young girl, Rizvi promptly offered her a part in the qawwali “Aahein Na Bhari Shikwe Na Qiye” and was equally astounded when the child shot back “of course, why not?”
Working with newcomers
This bravado characterised her career choices and, even at the zenith of her career, Shyama never flinched from accepting roles with rank newcomers or raw directors. Hence, from Guru Dutt, Ashok Kumar, Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar to Om Prakash, Johnny Walker and the utterly unknown Jawahar Kaul, she had no qualms in sharing the screen space with anyone as long as the story gave her scope to stamp her identity. Her spontaneity made her a natural ally of Johnny Walker. The two featured in many films including “Chhoo Mantar” and “Johnny Walker”.
Be it “Tarana”, “Do Behne”, “Bhai-Bhai”, “Bhabhi”, “Mirza Sahiba”, “Char Paise”, “Aar Paar”, “Barsaat Ki Raat” or “Sharada”, for which she was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress, her buoyant spirit coupled with a deft command over Urdu language made her enact several shades from romantic to vampish and comic to motherly with conviction. But it is in the song sequences that she really blossomed in to her own with her mischievous smile. Watch “Sun Sun Zaalima” or “Ye Lo Main Haari Piya” (both “Aar Paar”), “Pyaas Kuch Aur Bhi” (“Lala Rukh”) and the evergreen “Ye Ishq Ishq Hai” (“Barsaat Ki Raat”) or for that matter “Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De” (“Bhai Bhai”) and it is visible that she exuded something special for the lyrical beats just as she was equally at ease with comic interactions. Geeta Dutt’s voice suited her vivacious appeal on screen.
Like every sportsperson, not every actor or actress achieves spectacular heights of glory. But those that work with sincerity and complement the whole are worth their weight in gold. Shyama may not have set the screens on fire but she always proved a worthy teammate who carried out the assigned role with remarkable efficiency. Just as she loved the camera, the camera too had a special affinity for her and her husband Fali Mistry, a renowned cameraman of his time, once said that Shyama was a camera’s delight since her persona had no flaws. While this may have been an expression for her regal cinematic presence, there is little doubt that their admiration was mutual. The romance that had been kindled through the camera lenses, carried on with extreme focus on love and devotion even after marriage. And though Fali died too young, Shyama carried on in contentment since, in her words, “Fali gave so much love that it fulfilled me forever”. What she left unsaid was echoed by friend and colleague Waheeda Rehman who felt “Shyama deserved appreciation for being a warm and affectionate person at all times”.