on this day

Born as Ravi Shankar Sharma on the 3rd of March 1926 in Old Delhi to Pt Kanhaiyalal Sharma and Taravati Sharma, Ravi has contributed to Indian cinema with some of its most memorable songs. Growing up, he was the sole person in his family who was musically inclined.

He passed away on 7 March 2012 in Mumbai. 

Director, writer and producer Anil Sharma is known for films such as Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001) which is a milestone in his career, as well as Apne (2007), Hukumat (1987), and Veer (2010).

Cinemaazi wishes Happy birthday to Anupam Kher. After his stellar performance in Saaransh (1984) he established himself as one of the most versatile character actors in the industry.

One of the most popular dancer-actresses of her time, Rehana nevertheless had to contend with moralist and elitist attitudes throughout her career. Born on this day in 1931 in Lucknow, she was a trained Kathak dancer who was spotted by Kajjan's troupe. She was soon doing small dancing roles in films like Tadbir (1945). Her big break came in Hum Ek Hain (1946). She continued to work in many films with P L Santoshi after that. Her roles in Shehnai (1947) and Sajan (1947) made her a star. Her sensual dancing made her a key attraction in many films following this. 

Throughout her career, Rehana struggled with the perceived lewdness of her dancing. Shin Shinaki Boobla Boo (1952) even ran into trouble with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. After a decline in her career post 1952, she migrated to Pakistan. But there too success eluded her, as Raat Ke Rahi (1960) was her only hit. She retired from cinema post 1963. In 2010, she filed a case against the makers of Once Upon A Time In Mumbai claiming Kangana Ranaut's character was based on her. She passed away in 2013.

A beloved face in 50's Hindi cinema, Shammi, popularly known as Shammi Aunty impressed Sheikh Mukhtar with her fearless personality which led to her debut in Ustad Pedro (1951). She passed away on 5 March, 2018.

Image source: Beete Hue Din

Cinemaazi remembers Hafeez Khan, popularly known as Khan Mastana, a prominent playback singer and a composer in the 1940s, on his death anniversary (6 March 1972).

Hafeez Khan was born in Agra in November, 1917 where he spent most of his childhood. He started learning music at the age of 10 from his father, a sitar player. He was later sent to Calcutta to his uncle for further training. K.L. Saigal, K.C. Dey and Pankaj Mullick were renowned stars in Calcutta, and whenever he listened to their songs, he would hum along.

As time passed, Khan started devoting more time to singing than to his training as a sitar player. When he informed his father of his wish to go to Bombay and sing for movies, his father was incensed. He started singing for the radio with the help of a close friend, but did not disclose his name publicly to avoid the wrath of his father.

Once he had earned a small income from his five or six programmes on the radio, he moved to Bombay to pursue his dream.

In Bombay, the young Hafeez got his first break in the film Bahadur Kisan (1938), with music composed by Mir Saheb. He sang the song Balam gaye pardes ri, sajni kahe nir bahaye for the film. Mir Saheb enjoyed his fun attitude so much that he dubbed him “Khan Mastana”, and the name stuck.

Impressed with his capabilities, Mir Saheb took him to Minerva Movietone and helped him to secure a three-year contract with the company. Under this banner, Khan Mastana lent his voice to the songs Kaaya ret gharonda hai in Jailor (1938) and Panghat pe ek chhail chhabili in Main Haari (1940). Sohrab Modi noticed his burgeoning talent and offered him the chance to compose music for his film Vaseeyat (1940). From 1937 onwards, Khan Mastana also started freelancing. Along with directing music in Mere Sajana (1941), Circus Ki Sundari (1941) and Raja Rani (1942), he also continued to sing for these films.

Later, he sang for films like Salma (1943), Laila Majnu (1945), Humayun (1945) and Bairam Khan (1946).
When he was called by his father to teach music to the Begums of Nawab Saheb in Hyderabad, he also got married in the city. On his return to Bombay, he recorded a popular patriotic song for the blockbuster film Shaheed (1948) with Mohammed Rafi. He also sang the song Khushi ki aas rahi dil ko for Sawan Aya Re (1949) under the direction of the legendary composer Khemchand Prakash. However, his father called him back to Hyderabad soon, and he returned to stay for a longer period. While he was there, he received frantic calls from producers: they were incurring huge losses due to his absence. Enraged by his continued absence, these producers refused to give him work when he came back to Bombay. Due to these troubles, Khan Mastana stopped receiving assignments after 1952.

Seven years later, Khan Mastana recorded his last song Hogi har mushkil aasaan for the film Nek Khatoon (1959). By this time, he had been reduced to penury, and when the composer Naushad saw him suffering, he gave him some money.

Sadly, Khan Mastana passed away in poverty in locality of Mahim, Bombay on 6 March 1972.

An influential director of his times, Amiya Chakravarty delivered many successful films in his career. He played an instrumental role in introducing Dilip Kumar. His films mostly followed the Bombay Talkies style. Today is his death anniversary. 

Cinemaazi wishes a happy birthday to Raj Sippy, maker of classic action films like Satte Pe Satta (1982), Qayamat (1983), Boxer (1984), Shiva Ka Insaf (1985), Jeeva (1986), Mahaadev (1989), Thanedaar (1990), Saugandh (1991) and many more. His debut film Inkaar won the National Award for Best Editing. He followed it up with hits like Satte Pe Satta, Boxer and Baazi (1984). Shiva Ka Insaf featured Jackie Shroff as a Zorro-like vigilante figure. Satyamev Jayate (1987) was Vinod Khanna's return to cinema. Saugandh was Akshay Kumar's debut film. His action spectacles were great hits in the 80s but could not replicate the same success later on.

An official school record error named Pilliarchetty Bhakthavatsalam Naidy Rajeevalochana to Rajasulochana, the veteran actress adored by Indian film audiences. Trained in Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and Kathakali in her childhood, she often performed on stage. H L N Simha gave her the first break on screen in the Kannada film Gunasagari (1953).
Her performance and dance in the costume drama Pennarasi (1955) attracted a lot of attention from the audience and industry personals. Thai Pirandhal Vazhi Pirakkum (1958) starring S S Rajendran is considered as one of her major success in her filmography. It was also remade in Telugu as Manchi Manasuku Manchi Rojulu (1958) by her husband, the filmmaker C S Rao. She established herself successfully in Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi film industry and acted alongside stars such as M G Ramachandram, N T Rama Rao, Rajkumar, Sivaji Ganesan and Raj Kapoor. Some of her noteworthy films are Mangalyam (1954), Rangoon Radha (1956), Jayabheri (1959), Chori Chori (1956) and Santhi Nivasam (1960. In 1961, she established the dance school Pushpanjali Nritya Kala Kendra in Chennai. The graceful actress passed away on this day in Chennai in 2013. Cinemaazi remembers her on her death anniversary.

Image credit:  https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/the-queen-of-the-screen/article4478600.ece

Remembering K Shankar, prolific director, editor and screenplay writer, on the occasion of his death anniversary today. Born Kannan Shankar on 17 March, 1926 in Madras, he began his career in 1939 as assistant editor with Central Studios, Coimbatore. Moving on to Pakshiraja Studios, and then to AVM, he served as a successful editor before he made his debut as director. Directing films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu and Kannada, he also helmed Hindi films such as Jhoola (1962), Bharosa (1963), Rajkumar (1964), Sachaai (1969), Parde Ke Peechey (1971), Bandagi (1972), Shehzada (1972), Chhote Sarkar (1974), and Raja (1975). The bulk of his work was in the South film industries, where he directed innumerable movies such as Thambi Thanga Kambi (1988), Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal (1989), and Meenatchi Thiruvilaiyadal (1989), going back to his earlier films such as Adiperaku (1952), Kairasi (1960), Patha Kaanikkai (1962), Adimai Pen (1969), and Naan Yen Pirandhen (1972). K Shankar passed away on 5 March, 2006.

Image courtesy: veethi.com

Remember the lad who played Prince Salim on screen in Mughal-E-Azam (1960), who would later be essayed by Dilip Kumar? It was Jalal Agha, making his debut as a child artiste. Son of popular comic actor Agha, he was born on 11 July, 1945. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Jalal Agha went on to make his debut in Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1967) directed by K A Abbas. Acting in a slew of supporting roles from the late 60s to the early 90s, he is memorable for essaying the musician in the song Mehbooba o mehbooba in Sholay (1975), and for his outings in Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970), Julie (1975), Thodi Si Bewafai (1980), and Dil Akhir Dil Hai (1982). While he featured in English films such as Bombay Talkie (1970), Gandhi (1982), Kim (1984) and The Deceivers (1988), he also wrote and directed the Hindi film Goonj (1989), a Joy Augustine production starring Kumar Gaurav and Juhi Chawla. Jalal Agha passed away due to a heart attack this day, 5 March, 1995.

A noted character actor, Sunder (Sunder Singh) distinguished himself with his great comic timing. He acted in over 400 Hindi and Punjabi films over his career. Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary. 

Pithapuram Nageswara Rao ran away from home at a young age to Madras and was singing in films by the age of 16. Born on 5 May, 1930 in Pithapuram, he had a knack for acting and singing from his childhood. He went on to carve a niche for himself in comedic songs and had a hugely prolific career over four decades. Today is his death anniversary.

Born on 5 March, 1902 in Delhi as Nissar Ali Mohammed Ali, he is stated to be the first superstar of the talkie era, even before K.L. Saigal. In later years, Master Nissar fell on hard times and died in tragic circumstances.