on this day

Regarded as one of the finest method actors in Marathi cinema, Vikram Gokhale is also known for his performances on stage, television, and in Hindi films. Winner of the National Film Award for Best Actor for his performance in the Marathi film Anumati (2013), he has other powerful performances to his credit in Marathi films such as Nilkanth Master (2015), 702 Dixits (2016), Vazir (1994), Aaghaat (2010), Natsamrat (2016), and Khopa (2017). Hindi films which saw him leave a mark include Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro (1989), Balwaan (1992), Andolan (1995), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), De Dana Dan (2009), and Ab Tak Chhappan 2 (2015).

An important figure in the history of the Marathi identity, Bhalji Pendharkar strove to establish the autonomy of Marathi cinema. He was born in Kolhapur in 1898 to King Shahu's physician. His elder brother was the legendary actor Baburao Pendharkar. Drawn to politics from a young age, he was the founder of the Kolhapur branch of Hindu Mahasabha. He started the film journal Cinema Samachar. Active in theatre he wrote Sangeet Kaydebhang and acted in Krantikarak. He made his film debut as an actor in Prithvi Ballabh (1924). He was the writer of V Shantaram's (also his cousin) early films like Udaykal (1930),Khooni Khanjar (1930), Zulm (1931) and Sairandhri (1933). He later left Prabhat for Kolhapur Cinetone, before founding his own studio Arun Pictures in 1939. A prolific director and writer, he is primarily known for his historicals, usually drawing from tales of Maratha history. Vande Maataram Ashram (1926) was banned by the British. He continued tk work till the late 80s with Akash Ganga (1989) being his last film. Some of his notable films are Bajirao Mastani (1925), Rani Rupmati (1931), Shyam Sundar (1932), Kaliya Mardan (1935), Kanhopatra (1937), Raja Gopichand (1938), Thoratanchi Kamla (1941), Bhakta Damani (1942), Maharathi Karna (1944), Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952), Majhi Zameen (1953), Ye Re Majhya Maglya (1955) among others. Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary.

A talented actress known for her simple charm and sensitive portrayals, Chand Usmani passed away on this day in 1989.

One half of popular music composer duo Sonik-Omi, Manohar Lal Sonik was born on this day in 1923. Together they created memorable songs for films like Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), Aabroo (1968), Mahua (1969), Sawan Bhadon (1970) and many others.

A National- and State-level award-winning director, Raja Thakur was born this day in 1923. Primarily working in the Marathi film industry, he is memorable for praise-worthy films such as Me Tulas Tujhya Angani (1960), Rangalya Ratree Ashya (1962), Ektee (1968), Mumbaicha Jawai (1970), Gharkul (1971) and Jawai Vikat Ghene Aahe (1972). Starting his career as assistant to Master Vinayak and Raja Paranjape, Thakur also produced films under his Nav Chitra banner. While his Rangalya Ratree Ashya was a musical about a talented drummer who falls in love with a courtesan, Mumbaicha Jawai portrayed life in a crowded chawl and went on to be released in the Soviet Union, also being later adapted by Basu Chatterjee as Piya Ka Ghar (1972). Thakur’s first Hindi film, Zakhmee (1975), had a star cast comprising Sunil Dutt, Rakesh Roshan and Asha Parekh, while he second Hindi film Raeeszada (1976) starred Vikram, Zarina Wahab, and Rakesh Roshan. He had also directed an English film, Birbal My Brother (1972). Raja Thakur passed away in 1975.

Cinemaazi remembers erstwhile cinematographer Mukund Pathare on his birth anniversary. Some of his notable films are Amarsingh Rathod (1957) directed by Jaswant Jhaveri, Baaje Ghungroo (1962) directed by S Srivastava,  Shyam Tere Kitne Naam (1977) and Naga Mohini (1983) both directed by Shantilal Soni.

One of the most influential cinematographers of all time, V K Murthy brought Guru Dutt's visions to stunning realisation. He was born on this day in 1922. 

The year 1931. Silent Era. Indian cinema was in the first flush of its romance with the movies. So too Kannada moviedom. The film His Love Affair turned out to be a fortuitous one for a young B Jayamma, who got to romance the producer and father figure of Kannada theatre, Gubbi Veeranna. She also soon became his real-life consort. So much for real-life mimicking reel life, life imitating art.

Today is the birth anniversary of Jamal Sen who was born on 26 November, 1904 in Churu, Rajasthan. A composer who created stunning scores for films such as Shokhiyan (1951) and Daera (1953), unfortunately, his brilliance went unrecognised. Hailing from a family whose musical traditions harked back to Tansen, Jamal Sen learnt to play the dholak, table and pakhawaj. Singing on AIR Calcutta, he learnt Rabindra sangeet and joined Pankaj Mullick in composing music for Kasturi (1954). While in Lahore, his 12-year association with Ghulam Haider began, wherein his knowledge of classical and folk music along with his mastery of the dholak made him an asset to the latter in films like Khazanchi (1941) and Majboor (1948). Post Partition, he bagged the opportunity to compose music in Kidar Sharma’s Shokhiyan (1951), proving his virtuosity in this film itself. His work in Daera is especially remembered for the bhajan, Devta tum ho mera sahara by Rafi and Mubarak Begum. He proved he could also compose Western tunes such as Sun sun meri kahani for Rangeela (1953). Unable to be manipulative, he remained on the side lines, his talent wasted on mediocre films. Jamal Sen passed away on April 12, 1979.

Today marks the sixth death anniversary of Nritya Samrajni Sitara Devi who passed away in 2014. One of the most acclaimed dancers in history, she also acted and sang in numerous films.

The father of Indian film music, R C Boral / Raichand Boral passed away on this day in 1981. His fusion of musical styles from north and east India established a tradition of classical but accessible music in Indian cinema. 

Image courtesy: medium.com

Having passed away on 25 November, 1975, today is the death anniversary of Chandulal Shah, that rare early film financier who not only put crores of rupees into filmmaking, but also learnt the technique and art of making films, direction, building organisations of producers, developing political connections and more. Shah built his film production company, Ranjit Movietone, into a force to recon with. Hailing from Jamnagar, Gujarat, he was born on 13 April, 1898. From trading in cotton, to working at the Bombay Stock Exchange, he moved into film direction. With his films hitting bull’s eye at the box office, he and partner, actress Gauhar Jan Mamajiwala set up Ranjit Movies, making 39 silent films over three years. With a penchant for doing things king-sized, he established Ranjit Studios with four large sound stages and an army of popular actors, writers, directors, music directors and technicians. With five to six films being made simultaneously at the studio, he had around 700 people employed at Ranjit. The tide turned in 1944, when he lost a whopping one crore twenty-five lakh rupees in cotton betting. He could not save his studio from ruin. His later attempts at direction were unsuccessful as well, his last directorial being Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963). The man who had created an empire passed away in penury.

Celebrated as the Nightingale of Punjab, Surinder Kaur was born this day, 25 November in 1929 in Lahore. Famous for popularising the Punjabi folk song genre, she also sang songs for some Hindi movies as playback singer, between 1948 and 1952. Introduced to playback singing by Ghulam Haider, she sang three songs in Shaheed(1948), including Badnam na ho jaye, Aanaa hai toh aajaao and Taqdeer ki aandhi. She sang 58 songs in 22 films in Hindi, her first being Mehendi (1947) and the last – Aandhiyan (1952). Her true interest however lay in stage performances and reviving Punjabi folk songs, which saw her move back to Delhi in 1952. She recorded no less than 2,000 songs, including duets with Asa Singh Mastana, Karnail Gill, Harcharan Grewel, Rangila Jatt, and Didar Sandhu. She also sang in numerous Punjabi films like Madari, Mutiyar(both 1950), Balo (1951) and Satluj De Kandhe (1964). Conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Punjabi Folk Music in 1984, the Padma Shri award in 2006 for her contribution in Arts, and a doctorate by the Guru Nanak Dev University, Surinder Kaur passed away on 15 June, 2006.

The legendary Debaki Bose, whose birth anniversary falls today, was known to be a tough taskmaster, but also gracious in his appreciation of others. A teetotaller and always dressed in white, he directed some of early cinema's most significant films. 

Known by several sobriquets - Mandayada Gandu, Rebel Star, Kaliyuga Karna, Malavalli Huchche Gowda Amarnath aka Ambarish (his screen moniker) was born on 29^th May 1952 to Huchche Gowda and Padmamma, in Doddarasinakere Village, Mandya district, the sixth of seven children. With a grand-uncle, infamous violinist Chowdiah, the young Ambarish, after schooling in Mandya, moved to Saraswathipuram in Mysore, for higher studies.

Alongside thespian Dr Rajkumar and his dear friend and contemporary Vishnuvardhan, who debuted at the same time, he was considered part of the triumvirate of celebrated actors, each with their own fan following. That Ambarish also turned politician, is a three-time MP from his home district of Mandya, is another chapter.

The first Paro of the Indian talkies, leading actress Jamuna Barua had passed away this day, 24 November in 2005. Born 10 October, 1919 in Agra, and residing in Calcutta, a major film hub at the time, she first appeared in a small role in Mohabbat Ki Kasauti (1934), the Hindi version of Rooplekha (Bengali), directed by P C Barua. She made a splash when she was cast in Barua’s Devdas (1936), playing the female lead, Parvati or Paro. She played the same role in the Hindi version as well, gaining significance as an actress. Jamuna has many memorable films to her credit in Assamese, Bengali and Hindi. Some of these include Amiri (1945), Pehchan (1946), Iran Ki Ek Raat (1949), Mukti (1936), Adhikar (1939) and Sesh Uttar (1942). Married to the legendary actor and filmmaker, P C Barua, she starred in several films directed by him including Grihadaha (1936), Maya (1936), Adhikar (1939), Uttarayan (1941), Shesh Uttar (1942), Chander Kalanka (1944) and the respective Hindi versions of each film. Following Barua’s death in 1951, she quit films to take care of their three minor children and wage a legal battle with the powerful Gauripur estate to ensure her children’s rights.

Before she became one of the most popular comedians of all time, Uma Devi (Tun Tun) was also an accomplished singer who was chosen by Naushad to sing in Dard (1947). Cinemaazi remembers TunTun on her death anniversary 

Emerging as the everyman hero in the time of larger than life action figures, Amol Palekar was a star like no other. Cinemaazi wishes him a happy birthday.

Cinemaazi wishes Salim Khan a happy birthday. As one half of the Salim-Javed writer duo, he was responsible for revolutionising the image of the Hindi film hero in the 70s. Before making it big as a screenwriter, he came to Bombay hoping to be a hero. He used to act under the name of Prince Salim, but was mostly relegated to playing minor roles. He transitioned to writing in the late 1960s, even working as Abrar Alvi's assistant at one point. His meeting with Javed Akhtar on the sets of Sarhadi Lootera, and their subsequent collaborations changed the course of Hindi cinema. The duo received their first big break from Rajesh Khanna, working on the script of Haathi Mere Saathi (1971). The rest, as they say, is history. The incredible success of films like Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973), Zanjeer (1973), Sholay (1975), Deewaar (1975), Don (1978), Trishul (1978), Dostana (1980), Kranti (1981), Shakti (1982), and Mr India (1987) cemented their names in film history. They also changed the perception of scriptwriters in the industry. After their split, he wrote the script for films like Naam (1986), Angaaray (1986), Kabza (1988), Toofan (1989), Jurm (1990), Patthar Ke Phool (1991) among others.


Image courtesy: Cinestaan

The legendary comic actor Rabi Ghosh was born on this day in 1931. Initially a theatre actor he made the transition to films in the 50s. His roles in films like Kapurush Mahapurush (1965), Galpo Holeo Shatti (1966), Balika Badhu (1967), Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1968), Aranyer Din Ratri (1970), Marjina Abdulla (1973), Basanta Bilap (1973), Mouchak (1974), Jana Aranya (1976), Hirok Rajar Deshe (1980), Goopy Bagha Phire Elo (1991), Padma Nadir Majhi (1993) immortalised him for audiences. He also directed the film  Nidhiram Sardar (1976) starring Uttam Kumar and Aparna Sen. Known for his intense dedication to the craft, he remains an iconic of Bengali cinema.