REDISCOVERY: Johnny Walker

THE 'CHAMPI' GUY

Funny when you think about it, the song Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan, that has become an anthem of the city, was picturized on Johnny Walker. He of the squeaky voice, comical dialogue delivery, flexible neck,  toothbrush moustache and lurching walk.He never needed to use exaggerated body language, vulgar gestures or double meaning lines to raise laughs.  He just had to stumble into the frame and people would start laughing. Today, you just have to say the words 'Johnny Walker' to bring a smile to a Hindi movie fan’s lips.

Bhopal-born Badruddin Kazi, son of a mill worker, sold vegetables on the streets of Mumbai and also worked as a bus conductor before getting a miraculous break in films. Movielore has it that Balraj Sahni, who had seen him clowning on a bus and found him hilarious,  recommended him to Guru Dutt who was at the time directing Dev Anand's Baazi.  Renamed Johnny Walker after the famed whiskey, because he did the drunken act a lot in his early films,  the comedian became a part of Guru Dutt’s team and was included in all his films.

But, the other story is that he used to hang out at the studios in his spare time and had done a walk on part in one of Balraj Sahni’s films and so impressed him that he urged Guru Dutt to sign him for Baazi when the film was almost complete.  There was one filler scene left, and Guru Dutt left it to him to improvise and do his own thing. He did such a great job of that tiny part that his career was launched.

In those days, the comedian usually played the hero’s sidekick and nobody thought of actually writing a proper role or lines for the comedian.  It was Walker’s own wit,  and funky sense of humour that got him through so many films.  In his time, no film would be complete without Johnny Walker’s comedy.  He complemented leading men like Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Guru Dutt.

He also played lead roles in some B –films and had the honour of a film named after him.  Some of his memorable films are Jaal,  Aar Paar, Taxi Driver, Railway Platform, Chori Chori, CID, Kagaz Ke Phool, Choudhvin Ka Chand, Ek Phool Char Kante, Mere Mehboob. The last great role he played was in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anand in the role of a theatre director who matches wits with the hero Rajesh Khanna, who has stopped him in the street to pull his leg. Impressed by his repartee Anand befriends him.

His career dragged on for a few years, but when comedy started getting cheap, Johnny Walker gracefully withdrew from the scene. He tried his hand at filmmaking but failed. He was seldom lured out of retirement except for an occasional TV interview or to share his memories of Guru Dutt.  He said in an interview that he could not take the new work culture that was disrespectful of seniors and in spite of sporadic offers to return he chose to stay away. (His son Nazir is a popular VJ and television actor.)

On screen, Johnny Walker sang two songs which have made him immportal: the recently remixed (for Road, Movie)  Sar Jo Tera Chakraye and, of course, Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan.   

Comments

[Geeta Bhagat]

How could one forget that his character in Madhumati, so easily swayed by alcohol, is the plot lynchpin? Because he is drunk, he is not at hand to watch over Madhumati and the rest we all know.
He was also seen in the '80s -- Rishtaa Kaagaz Kaa.
Eternal favourites like Gareeb Jaanke Humko na tum bhula denaa, Jaane kahaan mera jigar...always bring him to mind.

[Deepa Gahlot]

Oh yes.. he deserves a book to himself.

Thanks for the comment.

[thequark]

i thought he was named after Guru Dutt's favorite brand.