on this day

Cinemaazi remembers actress and producer Jaymala Adarsh who passed away on 27 July, 1997. Born on August 21, 1938 in Kasur, Punjab, British India, she acted in films in leading roles and supporting roles. Her filmography includes films such as Mandir (1948), Teerth Yatra (1958), Ramu Dada (1961), Harishchandra Taramati (1963), Jekara Charanva Mein Lagle Paranva (1964), Goswami Tulsidas (1964), Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (1966), Love And Murder (1966), Spy In Rome (1968), Rambhakta Hanuman (1969), Aaj Ka Ye Ghar (1976), Babruvahana (1977), Veer Arjun (1977), Jambo (1981), Private Life (1983), and Ricky (1986). She is also credited as the producer of the films Aaj Ka Ye Ghar, Sampoorna Sant Darshanam (1978), and Private Life, and also rendered playback for Fashionable Wife (1959). Married to producer, director and screenplay writer B K Adarsh, Jaymala Adarsh is the mother of film critic, Taran Adarsh.

“Kitne aadmi the?” is a description enough for the actor who took villains in Hindi Cinema to a status on par with the main hero. Amjad Khan as Gabbar in Ramesh Sippy’s magnum opus Sholay (1975) is still recounted as the most famous villains of the cinema history. Cinemaazi remembers the legend on his death anniversary. He passed away on 27 July, 1992.

Here’s wishing film playback singer and Carnatic musician,cK S Chithra a very Happy Birthday. Born 27 July, 1963, she has recorded innumerable songs in multiple regional and foreign languages in the course of her four decade-long career. Celebrated as a cultural icon of Kerala, she has collaborated extensively with music directors such as A R Rahman, Ilaiyaraja, Hamsalekha, and M M Keeravani. She has rendered several duets with K J Yesudas and S P Balasubramaniyam. Some of her best songs include Chinna kuil paadum paatu ketkudha, Kuzhaloodum kannanukku, Ninnu kori varanam, Paadariyaen padippariyaen, and Kannanule. Among her Hindi film song hits are Saathiya tune kya kiya, Roop suhana lagta hai, O ajnabi, and Jaage hain. Winner of six National Film Awards, eight Filmfare Awards South and 36 various state film awards, Chithra was also awarded the coveted Padma Bhushan in 2021, following the Padma Shri in 2005 for her valuable contribution to music. She also has the distinction of being the first Indian woman to be honored by the House of Commons, British Parliament, UK, and is the only singer from India to be felicitated by the Government of China at the Qinghai International Music and Water Festival.

Remembered for the vast range of characters he played on screen, from star crazy, college going Jomo in Sai Paranjpe’s Chashme Badoor (1981), to the struggling actor, Kumar Bhairav, in Doordarshan TV’s Idhar Udhar (1985), alongside the Pathak sisters, to the photographer Sudhir Mishra in the cult classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983), Ravi Baswani assumed different characters with panache. Hailing originally from Delhi Baswani was highly involved in the Delhi theatre circuit. It was during that time that he met Naseerudin Shah while he was preparing for Sai Paranjpe’s Sparsh (1980) and wanted to be a part of the film as well. He made his debut next year in Paranjpe’s cult comedy Chasme Badoor and thereafter went onto establish himself as a comedy actor and character artist. Baswani worked extensively in television as well but in couldn’t get a lead role that could trump the appreciation he received in his first two films. Baswani was in the process of making his directorial debut and was scouting locations for shoot when he met a tragic death on 27 July, 2010 in Haldwani, as he was on his way back to Delhi from Nanital. Cinemaazi remembers the actor on his death anniversary.

Cinemaazi mourns the death of Parvez Khan after a massive heart attack on 27 July 2020. He was 55. Khan was a stunt director in films such as Andhadhun, Badlapur, Bullett Raja, Fukrey, Ra.One, Dev.D, Gangster, Ab Tak Chhappan.

Cinemaazi expresses heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Jayanthi who passed away today in Bengaluru. One of the top actresses of Kannada cinema, she did over 500 films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi cinemas. Known for her roles in hits like Chandavalliya Thota (1964) and Miss Leelavathi (1965), she was an icon of her times. May she rest in peace. 

 

 

Singer Kumari Kanchan Dinkarrao Mali, better known simply as Kanchan, passed away this day, 26 July in 2004. Born in 1950, she rendered playback for films in the 70s and 80s. Some of her popular songs include Tumko mere dil ne from Rafoo Chakkar (1975), Kya khoob lagti ho from Dharmatma (1975), and Laila main laila from Qurbani (1980). She also won the Filmfare Best Playback Singer (Female) for Laila main laila. Part of the popular musician duo Babla & Kanchan with her husband Laxmichand Virji Shah better known as Babla, they were known for their work in the desi folk and chutney music genres. She is best known for her stage performances along with Babla, who was the younger brother of famous music duo Kalyanji-Anandji. She performed alongside Babla for 40 years until her demise.

Giving music in films like Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978), Khandhar (1983), Paroma (1984), Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jayen (1990), Bhaskar Chandavarkar was mostly associated with the Indian New Wave. He passed away on 26 July, 2009.

G.S. Kohli was one of those composers who in spite of having tremendous talent remained unnoticed and largely forgotten by the audiences. An expert tabla and dholak played Kohli worked as an assistant for music composer O P Nayyar for the largest part of his career. By 1960, he had contributed immensely to many of Nayyar’s hit films like CID, Mr and Mrs 55, Hum Sab Chor Hain, Naya Daur, Mujrim and Kashmir ki Kali to name a few. He started his career as an independent composer with the film Lambe Haath (1960). The song Pyaar ki raah dikha duniya ko sung by Mohd Rafi, became the biggest hit of the film. Some of his other famous songs include Kahan chali cham se from the film Miss India (1961), O matware saajna, O anjaane yun na dekho and Yaad teri aayi to mai cham cham royi from Faulad (1963). The influence of O P Nayyar’s style of music was quite evident in his independent compositions as he also frequently took Mohd Rafi and Asha Bhosle to sing his songs; both of who were known to be Nayyar’s favorite. Kohli got the biggest success of his filmography in the form of Shikari (1963), of which almost every song was a hit. The Lata and Usha Mangeshkar duet Tumko piya dil diya kitne naaz se is still remembered as a wonderful composition of changing rhythms and melodious tunes. Though, Kohli could not really shine as an independent composer and was stuck to doing stunt films like Naujawan (1966), Do Matwale (1966), Jang aur Aman (1968), Gunda (1969) and Jaalsaaz (1969). Kohli continued assisting Nayyar till the end of his career in 1969. He passed away on 25 July, 1996. Cinemaazi remembers the veteran composer on his death anniversary.

A brilliant character actor, famous for his roles in cult European horror and sci-fi films, John Saxon passed away on July 25, 2020. Other than acclaimed performances in films like The Appaloosa (1966), he appeared in several classic horror and action titles, working with directors like Dario Argento and Wes Craven. His martial arts prowess also led to him working in the classic Enter The Dragon (1973). His one Indian connection comes in the form of his appearance as Colonel Columbus in Krishna Shah's big budget bomb Shalimar (1978). The film aimed to score big in both domestic and international markets, taking it's cue from many exoticized adventures centered around Eastern countries produced by Hollywood. A hugely expensive production for its time, and completed in just three months, it was shot in both English and Hindi. Unfortunately the film turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. 

In image: John Saxon, Zeenat Aman, Rex Harrison, Dharmendra, O P Ralhan and Shammi Kapoor on the sets of Shalimar (1978). Courtesy: India Today. 

 

 

Cinemaazi remembers art director Deen Dayal Vyas also known as D Vyas. He was born on 25 July, 1921. He worked on films like Kasturi(1954), Vanjara (1954), Hasina (1955), Mr Chakram (1955) among others. 

Cinemaazi remembers choreographer Krishnan Kutty Nair on his birth anniversary. He was born on this day in 1920 in Travancore. Nair was known for his work in films like Leela (1947), Pyar Ki Jeet (1948), Bari Behen (1949), Kali Ghata (1951), Mayurpankh(1954) and Patit Pawan (1955).

Cinemaazi remembers the legendary Marathi music composer and singer, Sudhir Phadke on his birth anniversary. Phadke, who composed the popular "Khush hai zamana aaj pehli tarikh hai", was born on 25 July 1919. 

 Cinemaazi celebrates writer-filmmaker B R Ishara on his death anniversary. He was born as Roshan Lal Sharma and popularly are known as Babu in Himachal Pradesh's Una district. He ran away from home as a teenager to Bombay and started doing odd jobs in film studios. He started his film career as a tea boy and gradually climbed the later to a writer and eventually a director with Insaaf ka Mandir (1969). He assisted Basu Bhattacharya in Teesri Kasam (1966), wrote the dialogues of Dulal Guha's hinterland hit Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (1969) but became a much-discussed and debated figure after writing and directing Chetna (1970), the story of a young man falling in love and marrying a sex worker. Milap (1972) was another bold movie by him. The writer-director gave breaks to a long list of newcomers: Anil Dhawan (Chetna, 1970), Parveen Babi (Charitra, 1973), Reena Roy (Zaroorat, 1972), Raj Kiran (Kaagaz Ki Nao, 1975) and several others. 
In Ek Nazar (1972), he also directed Amitabh Bachchan before the actor found big success. Cricket lovers would also recall Test all-rounder Salim Durrani working for him in Charitra.
He got married in 1984 to Rehana Sultan. Ishara died from tuberculosis on 24 July 2012 in Mumbai.