Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Dara Singh 1928 - 2012


Dammit, this week has sucked.

Just days after I reported on the sad passing of Dolphy comes the news that Indian stunt film legend Dara Singh has also left us. No eulogy this time; I'll just let the sheer volume of verbiage I've devoted to this man over the past years testify to my affection. Suffice it to say that I am very sad.

King Kong (1962) [at Teleport City]
Awara Abdulla (1963)
Faulad (1963)
Aaya Toofan (1964)
Hercules (1964)
Samson (1964)
Boxer (1965)
Tarzan Comes to Delhi (1965)
Tarzan & King Kong (1965)
Lootera (1965)
Trip to Moon (1967) [at Teleport City]
The Thief of Baghdad (1968)
Chalbaaz (1969)
Ram Bharose (1977)

I also suggest you check out some of the fine writing my friends Memsaab and Tars Tarkas have done about Dara, as well as the episode of The Infernal Brains podcast that Tars and I devoted to him back in May of lasts year.

Rest in peace, big guy.

7 comments:

memsaab said...

It makes me hope there is a heaven and that I've been a good enough person that I can meet up with him and Shammi for a drink and some yummy Punjabi food up there.

Anonymous said...

Todd
Just happened on your blog on this sad day for Dara Singh fans.
I have only seen Hercules 30 yrs ago. But I must've seen his mythological character movies numerous times. Have you ever sampled Mahabharat or Jai Shiv Shankar. I attach their youtube links. Hope you like em.

http://youtu.be/QURSm4PKSf0

http://youtu.be/UaBmv16Inu8

Todd said...

Thanks, Anonymous. I have seen Mahabharat and enjoyed it immensely. Jai Shiv Shankar I'll have to check out.

Memsaab: Now that's a version of the afterlife I could sign on for.

Rahul said...

A great legend, a great Indian hero and a great wrestler has left us. We all Indians are sad today. Indian wrestling world will never be complete without Dara Singh. India has lost a great personality .He was a real hero of the world. We all Indian will always remember him as of our hero. Let’s all pray for the great soul’s journey in peace and heaven.

Anonymous said...

There was no malice, no cynicism in him.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dara-singhs-passing-is-a-loss-to-humanity...-he-was-a-very-good-man/973645/0

Last lines in Hindi mean "lots of people come, lots of people go but when good people go, you feel really bad.

Mr. Cavin said...

I am happy that I came to know of his work over the last couple of years (thanks, in part, to this site)--at least just enough to feel sad about his passing now, to understand that an era has passed. Hats off; and thank you Dara Singh.

Unknown said...

wonderful information, I had come to know about your blog from my friend nandu , hyderabad,i have read atleast 7 posts of yours by now, and let me tell you, your website gives the best and the most interesting information. This is just the kind of information that i had been looking for, i'm already your rss reader now and i would regularly watch out for the new posts, once again hats off to you! Thanks a ton once again, Regards, dara singh