Johnny Walker.... still going strong

Bus conductor number B96, named Badruddin J. Kazi, who worked for two years in the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking is today a fine comedian named Johnny Walker and wins "Filmfare's" citation in this series for his brilliant satirical portrayal of a Marwari in "Railway Platform." For variety of characterization marks this actor's work.

"I've been an imitation drunkard too long!" he sighed, rubbing his chin ruefully. "It's got so bad that people take it for granted that I'm one in real life!"
 
Scores of fan letters pour into Johnny's home to this effect, and the actor has had enough of it!
 

"A comedian is really a more subtle character-artiste you know," Johnny explains.

For the only difference between straight drama and satire is that in the one the characters are presented in their true qualities, while in the latter these self-same qualities are accentuated, possibly burlesqued, in order to bring out the laughs which lie below the surface of life.
 

"Besides being a screen drunkard, I've done a good many other character roles." Johnny points out. "Only, the drunk roles were more spectacular. No one remembered the others!"

Of the imposing array of films in which Johnny Walker has featured during his meteoric career, many have given him scope for comedy characterizations. In his very first movie, "Akhri Paigam," made about five years ago (his name was not in the credit lines), Johnny played the villain's side-kick. In "Jaal", he played an Arab 'straight." In "Aar Paar", he did an amusing take-off on Parsi. In "Baraati", he had a cranky villager's role. In "Railway Platform", he played a Marwari, while in "Musafirkhana", he is seen as a Goan.

Among his past films, which include "Akhri Paigam", "Aandhiyan", "Thokar", "Jaal", "Munna", "Taxi Driver", "Aar Paar", "Baraati", "Railway Platform", "Milap", "Jashan", "Baaz", "Lalpari" and "Joru Ka Bhai" and those to come "Society", "Musafirkhana", "Jawab", "Mast Kalandar", "Miss Coco Cola", "Shrimati 420", "Marine Drive" and "Bahu", only a handful have him as a drunk.

Among them are "Aandhiyan", "Thokar", "Munna", "Taxi Driver", "Lalpari" and "Baaz". Yet Johnny can thank his ability to portray drunks in their pathetic as well amusing aspects for earning him a name on the screen.

"In my life", Johnny further observed, "There isn't a thing I haven't sold. I have sold bus tickets, ice-fruits, vegetables, fruit, fish, mutton, tin cans, old newspapers, bottles, cutlery, attar: everything except cloth - and liquor!"
 
Since his coming to Bombay in 1942, Johnny has worked at a variety of trades, from pushing an ice-fruit cart on the streets to working in a tannery at Dharavi! This shuttling about from trade to trade would normally be bad for anyone. But with Badruddin, the years spent thus were not wasted.

The jobs were a useful training-ground, bringing him in contact with all kinds of people, and unconsciously he assimilated a great variety of eccentricities and mannerisms and learnt ways of walking, talking, behaviour and styles as a film artiste. Johnny will hear any person speak just once and be able to imitate him to perfection.

This then is the ebullient Johnny Walker, who capped his reputation for fun by announcing his marriage on April 1 this year. April Fool Day came and went, and Johnny wasn't married.

The joke was probably on the invitees - if any!


This article was published in Filmfare magazine’s 13 May, 1953  edition as a part of 'Filmfare Reviews'.