"Happy Birthday Rekha ji "

Diva, queen, superstar...50 years on Rekha Ganeshan has outlived them all. Her performances her on and off screen have contributed to the mystique. Her ascent began with films in the 70s like Do Anjaane and Ghar. 1980 was an impressive year with almost 10 releases. And she slayed biggies from manmohan desai to prakash mehra. Raj kapoor to Raj khosla.

1981 had a record 11 releases for Rekha including saajan ki Saheli, kalyug, mangalsutra , daasi, silsila, Basera and ek hi bhool. She was the queen bee and #ek hi bhool consolidated her position. Her dialogue in muqaddar ka sikandar is masterful. Here was classic Rekha. Give her an opportunity and she would seize it.

This same decisiveness she showed in Shyam Benegal's adaptation of Mahabharata. A reflection of her free spiritedness showed in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Khoobsurat! Which also won her her first ever Filmfare award .

From a spirited young wife, to a married woman, to a stepmother, to a wife in denial, Rekha could do it all show all the way. Like her south melodramas like Judaai, Ek hi bhool, Maang Bharo Sajna, Asha Jyoti and Prem Tapasya

Meanwhile her face launched glossy magazine covers. There were the notable performances in Khoon Bhari Maang besides fetching her the Filmfare award. Song and dance where her trump cards. Be it mujras or the romantic numbers she burnt up the charts. Yet another great turn in Umrao Jaan.. Desolation never felt more poetic

Gulzar saab captured this same desolation in a railway station in Ijaazat. And memories keep coming back. Of that desolate waiting in a station room of Ijaazat. With her, you cannot separate the craft from the artiste.

Happy birthday to a woman of style substance and more importantly elegance. She has embellished our lives for the last 50 years. The one and only Rekhaji.

By Jitesh Pillai (10th Oct-2019)