Man, woman and doctor (Dil Ek Mandir)

It's not for nothing that Raj Kumar received a Best Supporting Actor Filmfare award for his portrayal of Ram in C V Sridhar's emotional drama Dil Ek Mandir. For, here is a man who despite being diagnosed with lung cancer and waiting on the brink of desolation and doom, is buoyant, pragmatic and jocund all the time. He is not afraid of death and he has no qualms in securing a stable and safe future for his wife after his death. He relaxes the tension in the plot with his amiable repartee and is a foil to the otherwise morose and dejected doctor who is suffering from the pangs of unrequited love. If you ask me, Ram is one of the main reasons why I was able to complete the film.

There is one scene in this 1963 popular classic where Sita (Meena Kumari) implores Dharmesh (Rajendra Kumar), her former lover who she has to disappoint in love for some dire reason, to give up memories and move on. She tells him that since she is married to someone else now, Dharmesh brooding over her with the help on one sole picture is not decent and commendable. All this is eavesdropped by Ram. He knows now that there was a relation between his wife and this doctor and initially he was really hurt after learning so. But now he hears his wife almost begging Dharmesh to settle down and forget her. In the end, a tearful Dharmesh relents and tears the picture quite dramatically. Sita returns to her husband's ward and finds Ram sleeping. She wipes her eyes and walks out slowly. The camera focuses on Ram's face while he looks up and smiles. Yes, he is satisfied that his wife, as believed by him, is totally in love with him and is faithful to him. I guess a dying man does wish for this much during the last days of his life.

Ram's love for his wife is deep. The moment he realises that he just might not make it after the crucial operation, he extracts a promise from Dr Dharmesh, who he now holds as a dear friend, that his wife be duly remarried and not let to wither away as a weeping widow. I wonder why Dharmesh squeals hearing this. In fact, he should be happy that the husband is clearing the path for him!And if this is not all, Ram later goes on to take an oath from his wife that she will marry Dharmesh if anything happens to him. Isn't it absolutely selfless of him to do so? When his wife complains, he reasons with her saying that it is only practical that she marry again and live a complete life. After all, she is young and beautiful and would would come of her spending her years in loneliness and woe. After all, he knows that no one else will love and care for his beloved Sita as Dharmesh. He knows in the heart of heart that Dharmesh is a dejected soul because Sita disappeared from his life. He is putting matters right because it was because of him that the two lovers could not unite. His unintended entry into Sita's life brought gloom in Dharmesh's world. Sita does love him dearly but perhaps she does have a dead part in her for doing what she did to Dharmesh involuntarily.

There is another reason why I absolutely loved Ram's character in Dil Ek Mandir. He is forever upbeat despite knowing that these might the last few days of his life with Sita. He is immensely thankful to God for whatever he has got and makes the most of his breathing days. He jokes and chats up Sita, even though she is always worrying and apprehensive about what's in store. He never cribs about his disease and suffering and wants his wife to laugh always. He behaves normally; not like a patient. He wants his wife to sing to him and entertain him because he loves her crooning. How lovely is the emotion when he tells his wife that he wants to see her dressed up as his bride just the night before his operation. He wants to relive those magical memories. Here is a soul that is forever happy and buoyant.

Raj Kumar's first appears in the film wearing a suit. He looks really dapper in that. And there's something about all his attires in the film that's so smart and dishy. Moreover, I love his pairing with Meena Kumari. They look so good together. A prime instance is Pakeezah. One look at how Sita is taking care of Ram in the hospital and how she showers her undiluted attention on him, and you'd hardly know that this is reel life.
From what I made out, Ram's character in the film is a stark contrast to Dharmesh's persona. One man is forever fond of life and is ready to take all problems in his stride. Another man is incapable and unwilling to move on and live better. Dharmesh sometimes appears a bit too melodramatic and soppy. Rajendra Kumar looks good but I would love it if his character was a bit more steady. But I liked the concept of the doctor proving that he is way above killing a patient to get even with Sita. That part was well done.

Meena Kumari is weepy but very good. She looks lovely and is such a great wife to Ram. Loved every bit of her here. A dutiful wife, a pained lover who is trying to reason with her ex-lover and a wife who wants nothing else but her husband to get well. She suffers from superstitions but is not beyond reasoning.
Wish they built more on the comic sub plot of Mehmood and Shobha Khote. Lallulal is funny but Mainabansi is not fleshed out properly. These two make such an awesome couple on screen.

Another stellar part in the film is the stunning music by Shankar Jaikishan. They are on a melodious roll here. Every song is fantastic especially, Yahaan koi nahin tere mere siva, Ruk ja raat and Hum tere pyar mein. Seriously, what just happened to such beautiful melodies. Why don't we get these from the youngsters now!