Theatre legend Abdulsab passes away

HUBBALLI: In 1963, ‘Junglee’ was being screened at Koppal. At Gavisiddeshwar Jatra, where thousands of devotees from North Karnataka districts had gathered, the play ‘Taayi Karulu’ was scheduled. Hundreds of people wanted to watch the play even after midnight. They were eager to see a character called Mahantesh in the play.
The number of people in the cinema hall that night didn’t even cross double digits.The next day, the talkies owner complained to taluk authorities that dramas were being staged after midnight. The authorities cancelled the play’s permit. The jatra crowd initiated a protest throughout the taluk. When news reached the then Koppal MP Agadi Sanganna, a drama enthusiast, told authorities to issue the permit. As it happened, Mahantesh was played by Abdulsab Mardansab Annigeri alias Dhalayath, who passed away in Hubballi on Monday at 76.
Abdulsab, from Mulgund village in Gadag district, was passionate about classical music and theatre. Though the Dhalayat family depended on agriculture for its livelihood, Abdulsab was attached to his mother’s home in Annigeri where plays would be staged. His grandfather Husensab Allabaksh was an owner and actor of a drama company called Khudavand. His stage debut was at 16 in Annigeri in 1954. At the beginning of the play, he’d sing the vachana ‘Kalyanavemba Panatiyalli’ by Basavanna.
He acted in thousands of shows in prestigious professional theatre companies like Gubbi Veeranna, Doddawad Siddayya, Mrudadev Gavayi, Appuraj Bailhongal, VS Patil, Sullad Desai.
His wife Pushpamala Annigeri alias Mumtaz Begum said: “His acting was appreciated by Bollywood icons like Dilip Kumar and Mahendra Kapoor. After some riots, he didn’t go back to Mumbai, else he may have become something else.”
His brother MM Dhalayath said: “I’m not sad about losing a brother, but deeply saddened at losing a versatile actor like Abdulsab. He was loved by people for his mythological and spiritual roles. He ran a grocery shop for some time but business was not his cup of tea.”
Cinema link
Abdulsab acted in Bollywood movies like Dastan-e-Laila Majnu, Jung, Ishwar Allah Tere Naam and Main Chup Rahungi. He sang with Mohammed Rafi and Mahendra Kapoor for some films. In Kannada, he acted in around eight movies like Pratima, Baduku Bangaravaayitu, Allah Neene Ishwar Neene, Atmashakti, Ganayogi Panchakshara Gavaayi, Gulabi Talkies.
‘Na ghar hai…’
Though Abdulsab played kings and emperors in plays, he didn’t have a house of his own. His family lives in hut-like rented place in Ganesh Pet, Hubballi. His wife Pushpamala, who still acts in mythological plays, said he never thought of buying a house. “It doesn’t mean that he had bad habits but he never thought of remuneration or salary after acting in plays. Acting was his passion,” she added. His on Mohammed Ismail is working in a call centre and daughter Vajeerabi is a married homemaker.