Legendary Marathi stage and film actor Kashinath Ghanekar passed away on this day in 1986. Born in Chiplun in 1930, he went on to act in a number of significant Marathi plays and films. His performance as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete was a major breakthrough. He is widely credited with rejuvenating Marathi theatre with his powerhouse performances. Some of his notable films were Laxmi Aali Ghara (1952), Maratha Tituka...
One of the most well-remembered comedians of his time, Keshto Mukherjee also played a number of character roles in his lifetime. He is widely remembered for the role of the drunkard that he mastered to hilarious effects. Today is his death anniversary.
Early cinema singer-actor-composer Rafiq Ghaznavi was born in 1907 in Rawalpindi, British India. He was trained in music from Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Lahore and emerged to be a popular Ghazal singer in the Sindh province. Going with the trend, he used orchestra pieces in his compositions too, but his most striking songs like O chand, tu bata de, Mere manka panchi, Man dhire dhire made use of single instruments like sitar, clarinet, been or pia...
Cinemaazi wishes a very happy birthday to Anandji Virji Shah, one of the legendary Kalyanji Anandji duo. Born on this day in 1933 to Kutchi trader Virji Shah, the two brothers grew interested in music when their family shifted to Mumbai. It was Kalyanji who first bought the clavioline which would go on to play the iconic snake charmer's sound in Nagin (1954). Though that film was a hit, offers for independently composing music only came in 19...
Unforgettable as nightclub dancer Sylvie in Chetan Anand’s Taxi Driver (1954), Sheila Ramani was born on 2 March, 1932 in Karachi. Winner of beauty pageants, she went on to make her debut in Hindi films with Badnam (1952), playing the femme fatale. After a string of films such as Anand Math (1952) and Surang (1953), she hit bullseye playing the dancer who saves the day in the urban crime drama, Taxi Driver. With four solo songs filmed on he...
Offered her first role at just 16 years of age, Purnima went on to have a long innings in the film industry, from the 40s till the 80s. Today is her birth anniversary.
Image source: Beete Hue Din
Remembering Ranjan, the very famous actor of yesteryear in Tamil and Hindi cinema, a brilliant dancer, playwright, journalist, critic, scholar, aviator and athlete, a competent painter and, to crown it all, a magician, on his 102nd birth anniversary (2 March 1918). Superhit movie of Dev Anand and Nalini Jaywant ‘Munimji’ was written by him.
He was born as Ramanarayana Venkataramana Sarma in Srirangam, near Trichi in Tamilnadu. He hel...
On Zero Discrimination Day (1 March), Cinemaazi recalls Indian cinema‘s celluloid statements on the significant social issue of discrimination. India is the most complex culture/society in the world, in terms of religion, language, community, caste and tribe. Caste is a unique institution of Indian subcontinent which has now become a medium to assert the identity. Bollywood films have, from time to time, raised issues related to caste...
Manmohan Desai is memorable for films such as Chhalia (1960), Sachcha Jhootha (1970), Bhai Ho Toh Aisa (1972), Rampur Ka Lakshman (1972), Aa Gale Lag Ja (1973), Roti (1974), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Chacha Bhatija (1977), Dharam Veer (1977), Parvarish (1977), Suhaag (1979), Naseeb (1981), Coolie (1983), and Mard (1985).
The multi-faceted Amit Khanna is a producer, director, poet, lyricist, author, and media and entertainment guru. He has won the National Film Award on three occasions for Best Lyrics for the film Bhairavi (1996), Best Urdu Film for Sardari Begum (1996), and Best Hindi Film for Gudia (1997).
Remembered for her performances in Dharmputra (1961), Haqeeqat (1964), Mere Lal (1966) and Aakhri Khat (1966), Indrani Mukherjee was a popular character actress of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Cinemaazi wishes her a happy birthday!
One of the most popular film stars of Malayalam cinema in the 60s and 70s, Adoor Bhasi was born on this day in 1927. He was born in Adoor, Travancore to renowned writer E V Krishna Pillai. Initially a textile technologist, he started acting in theatre while staying in Trivandrum. He also managed T N Gopinathan Nair's P K Memorial Press for some time. He became interested in cinema after moving to Madras and worked as a production manager in T...
G Kale, the ace cinematographer was born on this day in 1923 in Kolhapur. He worked in Hindi and Marathi films predominantly. Some of his popular works are Kuber (1947), Nirala (1950), Holiday In Bombay (1963), and Jai Jwala (1972). Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.
Remembering actor-director Jayshankar Danve, who was born this day, 1 March in 1911 in Pune. He is known for films such as Kanhopatra (1937), and Jai Bhawani (1947). Gifted with a deep voice, and passionate about theatre and films, he was noticed by Bhalji Pendharkar, who invited him to be part of Rustum Modi’s Subodh Natak Company. Danve later went on to start his own company, Natya Nishan in association with Mr Benjamin, producing and dir...
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