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Prem Adib Even though many actors like Shahu Modak, Mahipal, Trilok Kapoor, Abhi Bhattacharya, Manhar Desai, Anant Kumar, Baalakraam and Chandrakant enacted the role of Raam, when the role of Raam is mentioned, only one image comes to people's mind, that of Prem Adib. (After T.V. Series Raamayan, to some extent Arun Govil can stake a claim to this position, but that is another story) Famous as cineworld's Raam, Premnaaraayan (Adib) was born on 10th August, 1917 in a Kashmiri Brahmin family in Sultanpur(Audh, Andhra Pradesh). His father Pandit Ramprasad was a lawyer. Ramprasad's forefathers were known in the field of Literature. Impressed by his Literateur personality, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah had conferred him with the title of 'Adib'(meaning Pandit-Vidwaan). In future, this title became their family name (surname). At the age of 13 years, after watching a silent film ANAARBALA, Prem decided to join films. After matriculating from Jodhpur in 1932, he studied for 2 years in college, but the passion for films had not reduced. So in 1934 he gave up studies and headed straight to Calcutta. For 8 months he went to different studios there, but with no luck. From there he went to Lahore. After failing to get work in Lahore also, he arrived in Mumbai. Finally his wish was fulfilled and he got a job in Raaputaana Films. Director Mohan Sinha (father of Vidya Sinha) gave Premnaaraayan a small role in the film ROMANTIC INDIA and gave him his film-name: Prem Aadib. In this film another young kashmiri man O. K. Dar also played a role, who later became famous as Jeevan. After this start, Prem also got some small roles in Dariani Productions films like : PRATIMA (Premmurti), FIDA-E-VATAN (Tasveer-e-wafa) and INSAAF (1937). He also acted in Minerva Movietone's social films like KHAN BAHADUR (1937) and TALAAQ (1938). His first film as a hero opposite Shobhana Samarth was NIRALA HINDUSTAN(Industrial India). This film had 3 music directors. Naushad was an assistant to one of those three, Mushtaq Hussain. He appeared once again as a hero in GHUNGHATWAALI, Sagar Movietone's BHOLBHOLE and SADHANA (1939). In SAUBHAGYA (1940), again as a hero with Shobhana Samarth, Prem Adib also sang the songs. In this way, from 1936 to 1940, there were 11 films released with acting by Prem Adib. In terms of popularity, the decade of the 1940s was his career's best phase. In that decade, besides acting in 28 films, he also produced 3 films. These were: DEHAATI, KASAM (1947) and RAAMVIVAAH (1949). He was also the director of RAAMVIVAAH. In the early 40s, Prem Adib joined the prestigious organisation(sa.nstha) Prakash Pictures. This organisation formed by Shankar Bhatt and Vijay Bhatt also had famous names like Jayant, Shobhana Samarth, Sardar Akhtar, Shirin Banu(Mahesh Bhatt's mother), Ratnamala, Umakant Desai and Durga Khote. Prem Adib's starting salary was fixed at Rs 700 per month. Prakash Pictures films in which Prem Adib acted were: DARSHAN, BHARAT MILAP, CHUDIYAAN, STATION MASTER, RAAMRAJYA, POLICE, VIKRAMADITYA and RAAM-BAAN. Pleased with Prem Adib's performance in BHARAT MILAP(BHARAT-BHENT in Marathi), his salary per month was increased by Rs 300. BHARAT MILAP was the creation of well known Marathi author Vishnupant Aundhkar. When he insisted that Prem Adib play the role of Raam, Adib was upset. His argument was: "How can Raam be the hero of Bharat Milap story". After lot of explaining from Aundhkar, Prem Adib accepted the role and that became the most memorable role of his career. Even intellectuals like Dr. Radhakrishnan were pleased on seeing the film. When the film was awarded gold medal in Calcutta, Kanhaiyalal Munshi was also present at the ceremony. He suggested Vijay Bhatt to make LUV KUSH. Gandhiji was heading the independence struggle for the country and he repeatedly said that the independent India of his dream would be like Raam-Rajya. Keeping in mind Kanhaiyalal Munshi's suggestion, Vijay Bhatt did make the movie about Luv Kush but instead of calling it LUV KUSH, he named it RAAM RAJYA. Released at Super Cinema in Mumbai this film scaled the peaks of popularity. It ran continuously for 108 weeks. People started worshipping Prem Adib as Raam after BHARAT MILAAP and RAM RAJYA. He was showered with Raam roles. Tired of crazy fan Prem Adib used to explain to them that he was just an ordinary man like them and that they should not worship him and insult Lord Raam, but it had no effect on people. Believing that Raam's visit would get rid of their sorrows, many people would insist on inviting him to their homes. In a village near Udaipur, the idol of Raam for a newly built Raam Temple was made to look like the Raam of RAAM RAJYA. On seeing the publicity vehicles that had posters of RAM RAJYA, people would worship and offer gifts to the images of Raam(Prem Adib) and Sita(Shobhana Samarth). Even though Prem Adib used to smoke cigarettes and eat on-vegetarian food in real life, he gave them up while filming RAAM RAJYA. During the shooting he also read Raamayan every day. Gandhiji, who had talked about Raamrajya, had never ever watched even one movie. Snce the Art Director of Vijay Bhatt's films, Kanu Desai, was a Gandhian and as a result of his efforts Gandhiji agreed to see RAAM RAJYA. There is also a story that the editor of 'Vande Mataram' daily, ShamaLdas Gandhi, wrote two editorials persuading Gandhiji to watch the film RAAM RAJYA. He wrote that Gandhiji should watch the film atleast for the lyricist Ramesh Gupta's song: bhaarat ki ek sannari ki ham katha sunaate hain. Once when Gandhiji had come to Bombay to rest because of illness, his Doctor Sushila Nair gave him permission to watch the film for only 40 min. After this time was over, when the doctor asked that the film be stopped, Gandhiji signalled that the film be continued and saw the whole film. That day being his Maunwaar(Monday, when he would not talk to anyone) he could not vocalize his impressions. There are different opinions about his impression of the movie, but that he saw the film was important for all those who were associated with the film. During that time, Prem Adib got married to a leading citizen RaiSaheb Rajeshwarnath Kaul's daughter Krishnakumari(alias Pratima) on 26th February, 1943 in Lahore. In the year 1944, it was the 2000th year of Vikram Sanvat. The Maharaja of Gwalior was the chairman of the committee established to celebrate this occasion. He requested Mr. Vijay Bhatt to make a film on King Vikram. Vijay Bhatt did make the film VIKRAMADITYA with Prem Adib, but it did not get the expected success. Prem Adib also formed his own production company and made the film. He suffered losses in this adventure. In the 50s, Prem Adib had 28 film releases. Most of them were religious films. ANGULIMAL in 1960 was his liast film. His film RAAMBHAKTI(1958) was censored again as BHAKTRAAJ and released in 1960. Prakash Pictures also compiled(put together) scenes from its own earlier films BHARAT MILAAP, RAAMRAAJYA and RAAMBAAN and made a film RAAMAYAN in 1954. On 25th December, 1959 Prem Adib had gone to a party with his wife Pratima. During the day he was healthy and fine, but after coming back he had an attack of brain hemorrage due to high blood pressure. His wife fainted at his untimely and unexpected death. His last rites were taken over and completed by his relatives present at that time. When his fans came to know they complained that if they had been informed they would have given him a farewell befitting Raam.
