Santosh Kumar whose real name was Syed Musa Raza, son of Syed Daud Musa, successfully graduated with higher grades, from Usmania University, Hyderabad Deccan, India, before the partition.

 

Moreover, he also passed the I.C.S. examination in flying colors, which is a pre-requisite for higher civil service.

 

In reality, he had been impatiently waiting for his appointment in the government service, when a friend encouraged him to try his luck in films.

 

In fact, Santosh looked like a typical prince of a romantic movie. He possessed all the qualities required of a film hero: Superb facial cuts, ,more than average height, authority on Urdu and English vocabulary, quick wit, ingenious with God-gifted wisdom and praise-worthy etiquette.

 

'Ahensa' was the first film of Santosh as a hero, which was released in 1948, under the banner of Kashmir films.

 

In 1948, he also appeared as a side hero in his second movie, 'Meri Kahani' which was released in 1949 at Nishat cinema, Karachi.

 

Munawwar Sultana and Surender played the lead roles.

 

After independence, Santosh migrated to Lahore, Pakistan, along with his family.

 

'Beli' was his first film as a hero, which was picturised and released in Pakistan ('Beli': 1949, screen writer: Sa'adat Hasan Munto, director:

 

Masood Pervez, who also assisted W.Z. Ahmed as his special advisor, composer: Rasheed Attray, lead actress: Shaheena, daughter of renowned composer-actor Rafiq Ghaznavi, also included were M.Ismail, Shahnawaz, Anwar Adha and Sabiha Khanum ('Beli' was Sabiha's debut film)

 

In 1949, director Anwar Kamal Pasha, son of Hakeem Ahmed Shuja Pasha, established his film studio, 'Naubahar films' and started the location shooting of the film 'Dou Aansoo', which was based on a novel, 'Baap ka gunah', penned by his father.

 

'Dou Aansoo' was released in April 1950, in Jubilee cinema, Karachi, and it was also the first silver jubilee film of Pakistan. (Director: Anwar Kamal Pasha, assistant director: Murtaza Jeelani, who also co-ordinated with director Nazeer in his movie, 'Sacchai' in which Santosh performed the role of 'Aslam' opposite two lead actresses, Sabiha and Gulshan Ara. Other performers were Shamim Banu, Himaliya Wala, Shahnawaz, Ajmal, Fazal Shah, Azad, Alauddin, Ghazala and a new comer, comedian , Asif Jah.

 

'Dou Aansoo' not only gave a vintage quality to the performance of the entire film crew, but also proved to be a milestone in each and every participant's career.

 

From 1950 onwards, Santosh became the necessity for the films and his movie career consistently went up:

 

Film: 'Shammi': Director: Munshi Dal, hero: Santosh,heroine:

 

Shamshad, who later achieved fame as Shammi.

Noor Jehan's film 'Chanway', hero: Santosh, lead actress: Noor Jehan.
Film: 'Akelee', director: M.M. Mehra, hero: Santosh, lead actress:

Raagni.

Film: 'Ghabro' (punjabi), director: Anwar Kamal Pasha, stars: Santosh, Shamim Banu.

Film: 'Raat ki baat, director: Anwar Kamal Pasha, songwriter: Saif Uddin Saif, cast: Santosh, Sabiha, Gulshan Ara.

Film: 'Aaghosh', director: Murtaza Jeelani, starring: Santosh, Sabiha, Gulshan Ara.

Film: 'Aawaaz', director: Khadim Mohiuddin, stars: Santosh, Gulshan Ara.

Film: 'Shehri Babu' (punjabi) director: Nazeer, stars: Santosh, Sauranlata.

 

Listed here below are the super hit movies of Santosh - Sabiha:

 

Film: Ghulam: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Qatil: Santosh -Sabiha.

Film: Inteqaam: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Sarfarosh: Santosh -Sabiha.

Film: Ishq-e- Laila: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Hameeda: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Saath Lakh: Santosh -Sabiha.

Film: Wada: Santosh -Sabiha.

Film: Sawaal: Santosh -Sabiha.

Film: Mukhra: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Sardar: Santosh - Sabiha.

Film: Saltanat: Santosh -Sabiha.

 

During the location shooting of the film 'Wada', Santosh-Sabiha had developed tremendous understanding. Hence they decided to marry and became hero-heroine in their real life, too !

 

Santosh Kumar's first wife, Jameela, was an highly educated, gorgeous, enlightened and a realistic lady and both Sabiha and Jameela lost no time to nurture close relationship which continues to this day.

 

Mega hit movies of Santosh brought more name, fame and money for him, as he labored his way up.

 

Let us have a look at his ascendency to stardom through movies like:

 
Mausiqaar, Daman, Pak Daman, Dewar Bhabi, Sham Dhalay, Shahen Shah Jehangir, Mohabbat, Anjuman, Hasrat and Ishrat.

 

In the films 'Naila' 'Chingari' and 'Majboor', Shamim Ara was the lead lady.

 

In the films 'Lori' which was a brilliant movie and a commercial success, Santosh played the lead role opposite Talat Siddiqui and Zeba.

 

In composer Khwaja Khursheed Anwar's mega hit film 'Ghoonghat, which is a resplendent example of great team work, Santosh was the hero opposite Nayyar Sultana in this film.

 

In 'Sufaid Khoon', Santosh was cast opposite Rani.

 

In'Lahu Pukaray ga' Santosh was the hero opposite Firdous.

 

Remarkably enough, the first Nigar award in the history of the Pakistan film industry was presented to Santosh for best actor for the film 'Wada'.

 

Afterwards, he bagged two more Nigar awards for best actor for the films 'Ghoonghat' and 'Daman'.

 

Essentially, Santosh was a principle, articulate and a sober person with his eyes always on the future. In addition, he always kept himself abreast of the situation around him.

 

One commercially successful movie after another kept its grip on his imagination and he worked relentlessly to pursue realistic goals.

 

Considering the changing time and trend in the 1960s film circle, he joined hands with a reputable international organization as the sales director, alongside he contributed to the Pakistani cinema as a producer and an actor, as well.

 

Furthermore, film 'Shaam Dhalay' was the only movie in his film career, which he produced, directed and played the lead role, as well.

 

Over and above, in Pakistan television's popular quiz show, 'Neelam Ghar', Santosh won the car by answering the required number of questions through his exceptionally high I.Q. and his immense general knowledge.

 

Santosh left for the eternal journey on June 11, 1982.

 

Today, Santosh Kumar is no longer with us, but his significant moral character, wisdom and humility ignited a fire in the countless cine-goers that never did go out and never will.
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