(Late) Shri Dharam Kumar Tolani
[Late] Shri Dharam Kumar Tolani, popularly known as Deepak Asha, was born on 26 November 1919 in Tando Adam, Sind [Pakistan]. After Partition, he settled in a refugee camp at Mulund, Mumbai, where he worked selflessly to uplift the displaced Sindhi community through patriotic and inspirational songs, earning widespread love and popularity.
He later entered the film industry and achieved notable success in both Sindhi and Hindi cinema. Producing several Sindhi films, including the popular Abana and Jhulelal, he gained recognition for socially and culturally meaningful cinema and was honored with many felicitations as a beloved public figure.
Key Facts
- Birth Date: 26-11-1919
- Place of Birth: Tando Adam Sind (Pakistan)
- Academic Attainments: III Std.
- Permanent Address: Mumbai, India.
Significant Literary Achievements / Contributions
Film Career:
His first and foremost contribution was the production and direction of number of Sindhi films particularly after partition. The focus was on healing the wounds of the shattered Sindhi community, consequent to the unfortunate partition of the country as also to preserve the Sindhi language and its rich culture. Deepak Asha's most popular films were:
- Abana [Ancestors], 1958.
- Insaf Kithe Aa [Where is justice?], 1960.
- Jhulelal [Patron God of Sindhis], 1964.
- Shal Dheeyar Na-Jaman [Let daughter not be Born], 1969.
- Anja ta Maan Nadhiri Ahiyaan [I am still young], 1970.
Music Party:
Deepak formed Music Party like Prof. Ram Panjwani, and traveled all over the country wherever Sindhis had settled down and captivated their hearts by rendering Sindhi folk songs and ‘Soofi’ kalams. Attempt was to momentarily mitigate their sufferings and bring sunshine in their lives.
Rehabilitation of Sindhis:
Deepak always lived in Sindhi Refugee Camps, basically to project Sindhi community's problems for which he started a Sindhi weekly magazine called 'Sindhi Sansar'.
He expired on 28th July 1993.
Finale
After unfortunate partition of the country, Deepak Asha settled in a Refugee Camp at Mulund and shared sorrows and joys of the forlorn Sindhi community. To relieve them from the pain of partition and bring cheer to them in an hour of despair, he started a singing squad, collected young people of both sexes, composed patriotic and inspiring songs, set them to tune and sung them to the audiences in Refugee Camps in Mumbai and around. He became very popular to the people at large.
Deepak Asha had a great fascination for the world of glamour. Some how he managed to enter the film industry. He achieved great success, both in Hindi and Sindhi cinema. He produced over half dozen of Sindhi films. 'Abana' with patriotic theme and 'Jhulelal' with religious mythological theme were box office hits. Other films were socially oriented with overtones of social reform and awakening among the women. His name in film industry floated high. He was offered to direct some Hindi films with success, which earned him praise in filmdom.
He received many Manpatras and felicitations and became beloved of the people.