Remembering legendary actor Kanhaiyalal 1910-82

Kanhaiyalal acted in 105 films in his career, primarily in Hindi films.
Born in 1910 in Varanasi, his father Pandit Bhairodutt Choube, popularly known as Choubheji, was the proprietor of the Sanatan Dharm Natak Samaj in Varanasi. He was fond of plays and came to Mumbai to find a space on stage. He staged his own written play Pandrah August in Mumbai. Later he tried his luck in films.
Getting frustrated at drawing a blank, he returned home to Varanasi. When he returned to Bombay, it was with the understanding that he would help Virendra Desai (son of Sagar Movietone boss, Chimanlal Desai). He rewrote the dialogue of ‘Sanskar’ as also its lyrics but it came to naught.
In the 1939 film Ek Hi Raasta as Banke he got a break in Hindi films and in 1940 he got a role of moneylender (Sahukar) in a Mehboob Khan's film Aurat as Sukhilala. After that he later acted in many films as a character artist. When Mehboob Khan directed his film Mother India, he again picked Kanhaiya Lal to act as Sukkhi Lala, a character that came alive with his natural acting.
After that Kanhaiya Lal played same type of roles in Ganga Jamuna, Gopi, Upkar, Apna Desh. His other notable movies are Dushman, Bandhan, Bharosa, Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke, Hum Paanch, Bhookh (1947).

He is known for his roles in Mother India, Gunga Jumna, Upkar etc. His memorable roles include those as villainous scheming moneylender in the films Mother India and Upkaar.
Telescoped into the stereotype that bears his signature, early in his career he experimented much more than in his later years. In Mehboob’s film ‘Bahen,’ (1941) he played the role of a good-natured pickpocket. In National Studios’ ‘Radhika,’ (1941) directed by K. B. Lall he played a temple priest and in ‘Lal Haveli,’ (1944, again by Lall) he played the comic role of a Pandit.
In Gunga Jumna (1961) he again excelled as a ‘munim’. He also did well in Mahesh Kaul’s ‘Sautela Bhai’ (1962) but the film tanked.
Gemini’s ‘Grahasti,’ (1962) in which he played a station master gave him immense satisfaction.
The trouble monger continued his winning streak with Upkar, Ram aur Shyam (both 1967), Jeevan Mrityu (1970), Apna Desh (1972), Karmayogi (1978) and Hum Paanch (1980).
After completing a century of roles in Bollywood, Hathkadi (1982) became his swan song as his histrionics breathed their last on 14 Aug 1982. He was 72.