The book on Nargis and Sunil Dutt was released more than a decade ago, but everytime I read it my eyes with tears. Published by Roli Mr & Mrs Dutt: Our Parents is a beautifully produced book with rare pictures and memories of the family. The 200 odd pages are divided into ten chapters, and the children diligently analyze the similarities and the contrasting qualities of their parents.
Both Nargis and Sunil Dutt were born in the year 1929. Nargis as Fatima in Calcutta to a Muslim mother Jaddanbai, a thumri singer and father Uttamchand Mohanchand, a Mohyal Brahmin. Sunil Dutt was born as Balraj Dutt in Khurd, Jhelum to landlord Devan Raghunath and his wife Kulwant Devi, both Mohyal Brahmins.
While Sunil Dutt faced a troubled childhood after his father passed away and his widowed mother had to endure many hardships to raise her three children, Nargis was raised in the lap of luxury and blessed with easy success. Both were unusually responsible from a very young age. If Nargis carried her personal staff, driver Kasam bhai and maid Ameena bai to her marital home and whom her children addressed as nana-nani, Sunil Dutt did everything in his ability to settle his younger siblings.
To be continued
Beautiful .