Beema Life Insurance Policy
Posted on: May 15, 2012
This article is written by Raja, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a regular contributor to this blog.
It is with great pleasure that I write this tribute today to Johnny Walker, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) comedy actors we have seen in Hindi cinema. Today happens to be his 89th birth anniversary and it is as good an occasion as any to remember him and thank him for all the wonderful memories he has left us with.
I’ve always liked trivia about how various actors got into the Hindi film industry – there’s a story behind many actors in this respect. And the story of Johnny Walker is one of the best – it is worthy of a film script in itself.
Johnny Walker (or Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi as he was then known) was a conductor in Bombay’s BEST bus service in the late 40s. He used to entertain passengers with his jokes and antics – something that caught the eye of Balraj Sahni when he was travelling by that bus once. Balraj Sahni was writing the script for Guru Dutt’s Baazi and introduced Johnny Walker to Guru Dutt. A screen test followed for Badruddin Kazi – that of a drunkard (though he did not drink!). Guru Dutt was hugely impressed and changed his name to Johnny Walker, after the famous whisky label – and that pretty much was Johnny Walker’s entry into the industry.
I am sure I speak for millions when I say I am SO thankful to Balraj Sahni that he travelled by that particular bus that day, and did what he did. Otherwise who knows, we might never have seen Badruddin Kazi on screen – and what a loss that would have been for movie lovers and for the industry!!! With no disrespect, it would surely have been fairly easy to find another bus conductor for BEST, but to find another Johnny Walker for Hindi films? Now, THAT would have been quite a challenge.
Johnny Walker was a natural – his unique voice, his unique walk, his dialogue delivery, his smile – these are imprinted in the minds of movie fans of yesteryear and have instant recall. Not for nothing did he reign over Hindi film comedy through the 50s and 60s. He was SO popular that songs were written with him in mind – and he even had a film named after him.
Johnny Walker is one of thos actors who could light up the screen by his sheer presence, even in the most serious of films. Perhaps the best example of this is “sar jo tera chakraaye” from Pyaasa (1957). As the comedy element in an otherwise serious film, Johnny Walker comes up with one of my favourite on-screen portrayals of a song – it is sheer joy to see him lip-synching to one of my all-time favourite songs by Rafi saab.
This was a Guru Dutt film – and Johnny Walker had done this earlier too for Guru Dutt. In fact, he and Guru Dutt were very close and Guru Dutt often not just cast Johnny Walker, but ensured he got a song in the film too. Thus we have had the pleasure of enjoying Johnny Walker in songs like “jaane kahan mera jigar gaya ji” (Mr. and Mrs. 55), “aye dil hai mushqil jeena yahaan” (CID), “mera yaar bana hai dulha” and “ye duniya gol hai” (Chaudhvin Ka Chand), “hum tum jo kehta hai shaadi” (Kaagaz Ke Phool) – and of course the Pyaasa song mentioned earlier. Each of these is remembered even today with a lot of fondness. And while Rafi saab’s voice has a lot to do with it, a lot of the credit needs to go to Johnny Walker also for his wonderful portrayal of the songs on-screen.
Johnny Walker even acted in a lead role in a few films, most notably Chhoo Mantar (1956), which has some lovely songs like “tumhi ne dard diya hai, tumhi dawa dena”. But he is best-known for comedy – and he was just outstanding in this respect.
Speaking for myself, I’ve always been a very big fan of Johnny Walker. Whenever I see his name in the credits of a film, my eyes light up. I know that whoever is in the lead roles (male or female), I am assured of a lot of fun and some laughs during the film. And he has NEVER disappointed me.
I have spent hours and hours watching Johnny Walker clips on youtube – everytime I discover a song I hadn’t seen before, I am absolutely thrilled. One such song I discovered this way (it also happened to be a childhood song of mine, I wrote it up for this blog) was the picnic song “chhedo dhun matwaalon ki” from Ghar Sansar (1958). What a fun song it is – with Johnny Walker’s trademark style!
But there are many many more.
For instance, who can forget “jungle mein, mor naacha kisi ne na dekha” from Madhumati? I remember the first time I saw Madhumati was when I was very young. I couldn’t understand head or tail of the story at that time. But, even at that age, what I came away with from the movie was Johnny Walker and this song!
There are so many songs I can think of, I cannot list them all out here. “Main Hoon Mister Johnny (Mai Baap-1957), Tirchhi nazar se yunh na dekh (Ek Phool Char Kaante-1960), Beta darr mat (Bhai Bahen – 1959), Zara ruk ja (Sitaron Se Aage – 1958), Suno suno Miss Chatterjee (Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi – 1966), Tu hi meri Laxmi (Duniya-1968)…..and so many more.
Most of his songs were sung by Rafi saab – and so well that you almost felt like Johnny Walker was singing in his own voice. Very rarely there’d be another singer used, like Mahendra Kapoor for “yaaron ki tamanna hai” (Kahin Din Kahin Raat-1968) or Kishore Kumar for “ek do teen chaar” (Sanjog-1971).But otherwise it was Rafi saab pretty much all the way.
But Johnny Walker was much bigger than just the songs. His comedy was clean comedy and the audience (including myself) used to smile and laugh at his scenes, everytime he appeared on screen. I remember many of his scenes – as the shaayar in Mere Mehboob (1963), as the simpleton in Shikar (1968). And many more. He even played a serious role in Anand (1971).
Among the many clips of Johnny Walker on youtube, I’ve also managed to catch a few interviews with him. And I really liked his philosophy towards life – in one interview, he said he had had a big family to take care of (about 12 persons or more), he said he took care of all of them – and after that, he did not feel the need to keep on earning more and more money. He was a contented man, who lived life on his own terms, not chasing money or fame. How many stars can say that about themselves?
Now, about the song for today.
This is a song that I came across purely by chance a few days ago while looking for something else on youtube. Very often I look for something – and I stumble upon something else. Not that I’m complaining – usually my find is a gem in itself.
Anyway, I stumbled upon this song which I’d never heard before. It is trademark Johnny Walker –and, as usual, it is in Rafi saab’s voice. I fell in love with it the very first time I heard it (not unusual for Rafi saab songs on Johnny Walker). Luckily there was this birth anniversary coming up, so I thought I would save it for this occasion.
Presenting “Babu, insurance kara lo” from Kala Aadmi (1960). I have not seen this movie and I have no clue what it is about. From this song, it appears that Johnny Walker is a life insurance agent and he is trying to sell insurance policies to prospective customers. Hopefully one of our knowledgeable readers will be able to tell us more about the storyline of this film. (Atul has posted one song from this film before – “dil dhoondhta hai sahare sahare” – but that post does not contain any info about the storyline of this movie).
Anyway, the lyrics are by Hasrat Jaipuri, the music is by Dattaram.
I hope you like this song too. If you are Johnny Walker fan like me, you will agree with me when I say it is difficult NOT to like a Johnny Walker song.
So here it is – enjoy!
Audio
Video
Song-Beema life insurance policy (Kaala Aadmi)(1960) Singer-Rafi, Lyrics-Hasrat Jaipuri, MD-Dattaram
Lyrics
Beema life beema policy!
Babu insurance kara lo
Mister insurance kara lo
Jitna paisa daalo tum
Us se dugna paalo tum
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo bhai
Babu insurance kara lo
Mister insurance kara lo
Jitna paisa daalo tum
Arrey us se dugna paalo tum
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo
Babu insurance kara lo
Mister insurance kara lo
Kal ko hogi shaadi
To honge barah bache
Kal ko hogi shaadi
To honge barah bache
Bachon ka kya hoga
Din honge kaise ache
Kal ko hogi shaadi
To honge barah bache
Bachon ka kya hoga
Din honge kaise achhe
Biwi bachon ke khaatir
Apna maal bata lo tum
Jitna paisa daalo tum
Us se dugna paalo tum
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo
Arrey babu insurance kara lo
Madam insurance kara lo
Lakhon faayde hain
Lo keh gaye das jamoora
Hare Ram Ram Ram Ram
Lakhon faayde hain
Lo keh gaye das jamoora
Mar jaao to roti
Aur jee lo to khaao sheera
Lakhon faayde hain
Lo keh gaye das jamoora
Mar jaao to roti
Aur jee lo to khaao sheera
Paanchon ungli ghee mein hongin
Form ko bharwaa lo tum
Jitna paisa daalo tum
Us se dugna paalo tum
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo
Arrey ab to insurance kara lo bhai
Babu insurance kara lo
Mister insurance kara lo
Jitna paisa daalo tum
Us se dugna paalo tum
Insurance kara lo
Insurance kara lo
Arrey babu insurance kara lo
Mister insurance kara lo
10 Responses to "Beema Life Insurance Policy"
May 15, 2012 at 10:23 am
Who can forget Johny Walker in ANAND (1970). The role was brief and a bit serious but he is still remembered for this role. His personality was that of a ‘zinda dil’. I think his presence on the sets must be sending the positive vibes among all those present on the sets.
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May 15, 2012 at 2:12 pm
On the Wiki page of Johnny Walker, two different birth dates are mentioned: November 11 and May 15.
Other sites also seem to be confused with the birth year – 1923 or 1926.
Is it really, May 15th, 1923?
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May 15, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Raja ji,
As usual your write up is excellent.Like you and many others,JW was also my pet comedian.His date of birth,according to himself was 11-11-1926.he acted in about 300 films.
A fact which hardly anyone knows-All people know how he got work thru Balraj Sahani and how Guru Dutt gave him a chance in Baazi,but hardly anyone knows that Johnny Walker had already worked in ‘AAKHARI PAIGHAM’-1948.
KALA AADMI-1960 was an average film having nothing special about it at all.It was a Natraj Prodn. film,produced and directed by the pair of Ved-Madan.The redeeming factor was it had music by Dattaram who was assisted by Sebastian and Pyarelal in this film.
Indira(Shyama) is a beautiful girl whose parents had died.In his will,her father had put a condition that if she marries before 15th March,then only she will get his hugh property,or else it will go to charity.Many people vie with each other to marry her.Mohan(Mehmood) is a young but vagabond man,Chamanlal(JW) is an Insurance Agent and Madan is a Painting Artist who really loves Indira.Her guardian Kunwar Saab(Raj Mehra) does not approve anybody,but Indira declares that she will marry Madan(Ashok kumar).A date is also fixed,but Madan meets with a car accident and loses his eyesight.Madan knows that this was an attempt to murder him.With the help of Chaman and Indira he finds out the Girl Vimala(Niloufer) who had colloided with him before the accident,but he is captured,tied up and kept on the Railway Tracks to die in an ‘accident’.
Luckily,Chaman,Indira and Vimala fid him in right time and he is saved.
finally,it is revealed that the murdere is Kunwar Saab and Madan is Not blind.All is well that ends well and Madan and Indira get married just before 15th march !
-AD
350
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Thank you for your detailed and informative comment, as usual, Arunji.
If his birthday is 11th Nov and not 15th May, I wonder how 15th May got in there. Does not matter – let us then treat this post as not a birthday tribute but still a tribute to him. 🙂
One does not need to wait for a specific day of the year to pay a tribute to Johnny Walker. He is worthy of a tribute any day of the year. 🙂
Also, gives us an opportunity now to post a tribute song on the 11th of November. 😉
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May 16, 2012 at 6:08 am
Arunji,
Congratulations on 350th post/info/write up. Thanks for all your time and devotion for all the music lovers. Someone with true passion only can reach to this height.
Wish I could find all your past posts which I have missed before I joined this blog in November 2011.
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May 16, 2012 at 9:56 am
Khyati ji,
Thank you for your ack and congrats.It feels nice to know that someone is noticing and appreciating the efforts.
Your wish to locate my earlier and actually ALL reviews is being attended to……
-AD
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May 16, 2012 at 11:44 am
Nice Synopsis, Arun ji. The film kind of sounds interesting, better than most stuff that is trotted out these days.
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May 16, 2012 at 11:42 am
Oh, I missed this post. Excellent write-up Raja. I have not heard this song, and cant right now 😦 This evening surely I will listen to it. Needless to say, I love Johnny Walker too. I love that song he sang for Chori Chori (?) All line clear, aage badho aage badho choti si ye altan paltan fauj he mere ghar ki, saath hamare top ka gola baat nahi hai darr ki.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
May 15, 2012 at 10:03 am
Johnny Walker’s wife was Noor, the sister of Shakila. His humour was always very clean! I’ll always miss him!
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