on this day

Veteran film journalist and author of Screen, the weekly, Ali Peter John passed away on this day in 2022.

Image credit:  https://www.loksatta.com/

One of the most influential playwrights of Urdu and Hindi literature, Habib Tanvir passed away on 8 June, 2009. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan Awardee, his style of Brechtian theatre and knowledge of various folk idioms and practices made him a unique literary personality. He is most famously known for the play Charandas Chor and his work with the Naya Theatre Group in Chattisgarh. Born as Habib Ahmed Khan, he moved to Mumbai in 1945 to work at All India Radio and became a member of the IPTA and PWA. But he wrote most of his major works after moving to Delhi in 1954. His first notable work was Agra Bazaar which involved folk artistes from Okhla in its production. He became influenced by Brecht during a stay in Europe. Upon his return he sought to incorporate Brechtian principles in his work in Naya Theatre which he founded in 1959 where he experimented with various folk performing traditions like Pandavani.

His most famous work Charandas Chor was adapted by Shyam Benegal. He also acted in several films like Gandhi (1982), Yeh Woh Manzil to Nahin (1987), Prahaar (1991) among others. He remains an immensely influential figure in modern Indian theatre and an inspiration for a generations of theatre artistes. 

Image courtesy: nayatheatre.com

Remembering the impeccable music arranger and music director Dattaram Wadkar who passed away on 8 June, 2007. Born in 1929 in Goa, he went on to assist music directors Shankar-Jaikishan for more than four decades. Raj Kapoor was impressed by Dattaram's tabla performances, and the latter went on to play the tabla in songs such as Mud mud ke na dekh and Ramayyaa vastaavayyaa (Shri 420, 1955) and Aaja sanam madhur chandni mein hum and Jahan main jati hoon wahi chale aate ho from Chori Chori (1956). In fact, as he was a master of thekka (beat), it became known as Dattu's thekka. Dattaram also played the duff in the songs Dil ka haal sune dilwala and Mera naam raju gharana. As arranger for Shankar-Jakishan, along with his other Goan colleague Sebastian, he used to arrange for percussion-based songs. Raj Kapoor also enabled Dattaram’s transition as an independent music director entrusting the music of Ab Dilli Door Nahi (1957) to him. Other films that Dattaram composed for include Qaidi No. 911 (1959), Shrimaan Satyavadi (1960), Kala Aadmi (1960), Zindagi Aur Khwaab (1961), and Jab Se Tumhe Dekha Hai (1963).

Pandit Madhur not only wrote lyrics, screenplays and dialogues in cinema, but was also a renowned playwright in Parsi theatre. It was P C Barua who had convinced him to write the lyrics for Jawab (1940) which proved to be a big success. He passed away on 8 June, 1988.

Happy birthday to Dimple Kapadia! From the nation's heartthrob post the release of Bobby (1973) to becoming a mature performer known for her sensitive portrayals of emotionally complex characters, she has had a storied career.

A popular child artiste in the 60s, Baby Farida made her debut in the Ek do teen char aur panch song from Kagaz Ke Phool (1959) which in turn led to a prominent role in Sujata (1959). She was born on 8 June, 1952 in Mumbai.

Image: Beete Hue Din

Remembering the popular comic actor Rajendra Nath who was born on 8 June, 1931. The brother of yesteryear hero and villain Prem Nath, it was his role as Popatlal in Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai (1961) that got him widespread fame. After that he became familiar face in Hindi cinema. 

K S R Das also known as K S R Doss, was known for his talent as a hitmaker. He made several blockbusters with Krishna, NTR and Vishnuvardhan, including the iconic western Mosagallaku Mosagadu (1971). He passed away on 8 June, 2012.

Cinemaazi wishes the "Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai" man, gifted comedian Tiku Talsania a very Happy Birthday. Born this day, 7 June in 1954, his work as an actor in films and television as well as stage has been highly appreciated. Whether it was playing the highly strung boss in Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi (1984), Raja Saheb in the satirical comedy series Yeh Duniya Ghazab Ki (1992-1993), the endearing bank manager Gaitonde in Ishq (1997), the hilarious police inspector in Andaz Apna Apna (1994), the chuckle-inspiring tenant Brij Mohan in the teleserial Ek Se Badh Kar Ek (1995), or Dhanwantrilal Dhyanchand Dholakia aka 3D, the man against love marriage in the sitcom Golmaal Hai Bhai Sab Golmaal Hai (2012), Talsania is always a delight to watch onscreen. Incidentally, "Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai" is a famous dialogue which he has delivered in most of his performances. Talsania made his debut in films with Rajeev Mehra's Pyaar Ke Do Pal (1986), and went on to play mainly comic roles in films such as Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin (1991), Bol Radha Bol (1992), Jodi No.1 (2001), and Partner (2007). He has also featured in Devdas (2002), and Special 26 (2013).

Born Khursheed Akhtar in 1935 in Lahore, she started off in films as a child artist. She worked in minor roles in several films before she featured as a heroine in Shrimatiji (1952). She went on to enjoy a golden run with hits such as Aar Paar (1954) with Guru Dutt, the romantic musical Barsat Ki Rat (1960), and the Raj Kapoor-Meena Kumari starrer Sharada (1957) for which she received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress award.

Popularly known as the mother of the 90s superstar Govinda, Nirmala Devi was an accomplished singer and actor of Hindi cinema. 

Cinemaazi remembers the filmmaker K A Abbas on his birth anniversary. K.A. Abbas was born in Panipat on 7 June 1914. A member of the Indian People’s Theatre Association, he entered the world of cinema in earnest when he wrote the screenplay for Naya Sansar (1941) and sold it to Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani of New Theatres. 

Saeed Sabri passed away on Sunday, 6 June 2021. The famous Qawwali singer was the father of Farid and Ameen Sabri, the famous Sabri brothers. He had recorded the song Der na ho jaye kahin with Lata Mangeshkar for Henna (1991).

Poet, lyricist, and writer Shanta Shelke passed away this day, 6 June, 2002. Making a considerable contribution to Marathi literature via poems, stories, novels, character sketches, interviews, and critiques, she also penned songs for several films. She made her debut as a lyricist with the film Ram Ram Pavna (1950), which instantly won favour with audiences. She penned songs such as the laavni Reshmachya reghanni rendered by Asha Bhosle, Je ved majala lagale, and Pavner ga mayela karoo. Other memorable songs that she wrote lyrics for are Kaanta rute kunala, Kalyanche divas phulanchya raati, Aaj avelich kashi saanj zhaali, Mala vatate ga nava janma gheu, and Sampale swapna te shodhisi ka punha. Music composer Kaushal Inamdar composed an album of her songs titled Shubhra Kalya Moothbhar, which featured various singers such as Sadhana Sargam, Rishikesh Kamerkar, and others. She was awarded the Soor Singaar award for her song Mage ubha mangesh and an award from the Government of India for her lyrics for the film Bhujang (1982).

Today we remember supporting actress Chandrima Bhaduri who passed away this day, 6 June in 1997. She acted in several films over the course of her career such as Hulchul (1971), Ranga Khush (1975) and Chor Machaye Shor (1974). Among her early films were Umeed (1962), and Bandini (1963) in which she played the head warden. She was mainly seen in mother’s roles in films such as Zindagi Aur Maut (1965), Teesra Kaun (1965), Lal Patthar (1971), Hulchul (1971), Gomti Ke Kinare (1972), Do Bachche Dus Haath (1972), and Tyaag (1977). She was the mother of actress Rita Bhaduri.

Remembering prolific filmmaker, studio owner and politician Daggubati Rama Naidu who was born this day, 6 June in 1936. Recipient of the Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke awards, he produced films in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Oriya, Punjabi, Bengali as well as in English. Founding his company Suresh Productions in 1963, he went on to produce more than 130 films in a career spanning approximately five decades. He holds the record for producing the highest number of films by an individual. His hit films include Srikrishna Tulabharam (1966), Prem Nagar (1974), Ahana Pellanta (1987), Indrudu Chandrudu (1989) starring Kamal Haasan, Bobbili Raja (1990) which starred his son Venkatesh, and Malliswari (2004) starring Venkatesh and Katrina Kaif. His successful Hindi films include Tohfa (1984), Anari (1993), and Aaghaz (2000). He also set up the state-of-the-art Ramanaidu Film Studio in Hyderabad, and another studio in Visakhapatnam. Joining the Telugu Desam Party and representing Bapatla Lok Sabha constituency, he stayed away from politics thereafter. Father of leading producer Suresh Babu and successful hero Venkatesh, his grandson Rana Daggubati is also a successful actor. D Rama Naidu passed away in 2015.

Sunil Dutt wore many hats during his lifetime and excelled in all of them - as actor, director, producer and politican. Cinemaazi pays tribute to one of the most beloved actors of Hindi cinema history on his birth anniversary.

Attracted to poetry from a young age, Rajinder Krishan attended an all-India mushaira which ultimately facilitated his arrival in Bombay. After he wrote his first screenplay for Janta (1947), he first tasted success with Badi Behen (1949). He wrote countless memorable songs over the years. He was born on 6 June, 1919.

A versatile Urdu poet, who not only penned songs for B films and big banner films from the 1950s but also made a mark during the disco wave of the 80s, Farooq Kaiser was born on 6 June, 1922.