indian cinema heritage foundation

on this day

14April
14 Apr 2013

Cinemaazi remembers P B Sreenivas on his death anniversary

Renowned singer P B Sreenivas passed away on this day in 2013. Other than Kannada he also sang in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Tulu and Konkani. Born in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, he took inspiration from his mother who was a singer herself. Growing up, Mohammed Rafi was his favourite singer. He got his first chance to sing in a play at the age of 12. His film debut came in Mr Sampat (1952). He would go on to become the voice of the Kannada...
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14 Apr 1986

Cinemaazi remembers Nitin Bose on his death anniversary

One of the most influential directors of all time, Nitin Bose's films were known for their technical polish and deftly handled narratives. From making some New Theatres's greatest hits to being a mentor figure to Dilip Kumar, he had a stellar and storied career.
14 Apr 1922

Cinemaazi remembers Ustad Ali Akbar Khan on his birth anniversary

Today marks the birth anniversary of Padma Vibhushan-awardee Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. Noted music composer, sarod player, and teacher, he presented classical Indian music to the West. Born 14 April, 1922, he received his training from his father, maestro Alauddin Khan. Performing from the age of 13, he went on to become the court musician to the maharaja of Jodhpur for seven years. Conferred the title Ustad or master musician by the state, his fame...
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14 Apr 1921

Cinemaazi commemorates Subodh Mukherjee on his birth annversary

Cinemaazi remembers the veteran film maker Subodh Mukherjee, on his birth anniversary (14/04). He raised the Hindi film industry to new heights in the 1960s-70s with the melodious music in his box office hits like Junglee (1961), Love Marriage (1959), April Fool (1964), Shagird (1967), Mr. Romeo (1974) and Sharmeelee (1971).  He got his first break as a director with Paying Guest(1957) but left the film midway to direct Munimji (1955), wh...
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14 Apr 1919

Cinemaazi remembers Shamshad Begum on her birth anniversary

Cinemaazi celebrates Shamshad Begum, one of the first female playback singers in Hindi cinema, on her birth anniversary. She was in great demand throughout the 1940s and remained popular even as Lata Mangeshkar became the dominant playback singer 1950s onwards.  Shamshad Begum was born on April 14, 1919 in Lahore. One of 12 children of orthodox Muslim parents, she displayed a talent for singing at an early age. Ghulam Haider gave her a br...
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14 Apr 1914

Cinemaazi remembers Shanta Hublikar on her birth anniversary.

Cinemaazi remembers Shanta Hublikar, the legendary Hindi and Marathi actress, on her birth anniversary.  Shanta Hublikar was born on 14 April 1914 in a village near Hubli. She debuted in Bhedi Rajkumar/ Thaksen Rajputra (1934) in a minor role. Her first role of import was in the film Kanhopatra (1937). She achieved the heights of stardom with her appearance in Shantaram’s Aadmi (1939). Her acting prowess as well as the songs of...
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14 Apr 1914

Cinemaazi remembers Khursheed Bano on her birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the actress-singer Khursheed Bano on her birth anniversary. Khursheed was the heroine of several superhit films produced by Ranjit Movietone. She also acted and sang opposite K L Saigal in two films. Khursheed migrated to Karachi in Pakistan after the Partition with her husband Yusuf Bhaimia, an entrepreneur. Previously, she had been married to her manager Lala Yakub, who also dabbled in acting. He was a cruel man, and foll...
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14 Apr 1891

Cinemaazi pays tribute to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary

On the occassion of #AmbedkarJayanti2021 Cinemaazi pays tribute to the most important political figure of independent India, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar whose life and work continue to inspire anti-caste movements across the world. Like all significant political figures, there have been several film adaptations of Dr Ambedkar's life, both fiction and non-fiction. We can look back to A V Bhashyam's Films Division documentary Babasaheb...
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13April
13 Apr 2021

Cinemaazi remembers Vira Sathidar on his death anniversary

Vira Sathidar, the anti-caste activist who played the lead role in Chaitanya Tamhane's National Award winning film Court (2015) passed away on 13 April 2021.    
13 Apr 1990

Cinemaazi remembers S Balachander on his death anniversary

Child artiste, veena virtuoso, filmmaker, music composer, actor and poet, Sundaram Balachander was also awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1982 for his contribution to the music industry. Starting as a child artiste in Tamil films in the 1930s, he went on to compose music, as well as produce and direct films. A child prodigy who taught himself to play the veena, he became one of southern India's foremost veena players, besides establishing a steady...
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13 Apr 1973

Cinemaazi remembers Balraj Sahni on his death anniversary

Cinemaazi honours Balraj Sahni, one of the most noted actors and writers of his time, on his forty-seventh death anniversary. Known for his appearances in acclaimed films like Dharti Ke Lal (1946), Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Anuradha (1960), Kabuliwala (1961) and Garm Hava (1973), among many others, Balraj Sahni was an avowed Marxist all his life. The song Aye meri zohra zabeen from the 1965 release Waqt, picturized on Balraj Sahni, is still rem...
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13 Apr 1956

Cinemaazi remembers Satish Kaushik on his birth anniversary

Satish Kaushik started his career as an assistant director to Shekhar Kapoor with the film Masoom (1983). Incidentally, he also acted in the film. The same year, he also acted, as well as penned the dialogue and served as assistant director on the film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983). He made his directorial debut with Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993), followed by Prem (1995). Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999) was his first hit director...
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13 Apr 1925

Cinemaazi remembers Verma Malik on his birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the noted lyricist Verma Malik on his 95th birth anniversary. Verma Malik passed away in 2009. He wrote many hit songs like Do bechaare in Victoria No. 203 (1972) and Haye haye ye majboori in Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (1974). Born in Ferozepur (now in Pakistan), he moved to India after the Partition. Ek taara bole in Yaadgar (1970) was his first song for a Hindi film. Prior to this, he wrote for Punjabi films. His forte was...
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13 Apr 1921

Cinemaazi remembers Parshuram Haldipur on his birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the iconic mandolin player in Hindi film music, Parshuram Haldipur on his birth anniversary. Haldipur contributed to many popular songs of the era with his skilled playing. Some of the songs he arranged music for include Ghadi ghadi mora dil dhadke from Madhumati (1958), Sajan re jhooth mat bolo in Teesri Kasam (1966), Be imaan balma in Hum Sab Chor Hain (1956), Lehron pe lehar in Chhabili (1960), Bechain nazar in Yasmin (1955...
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13 Apr 1890

Cinemaazi remembers Dadasaheb Torney aka Ramachandra Gopal Torney on his birth centenary

Cinemaazi remembers Ramachandra Gopal Torney, also known as DadasahebTorney, on his birth centenary. Ramachandra Gopal Torney was born on April 13, 1880, and was a contemporary of Dadasaheb Phalke. A self-taught filmmaker, he was instrumental in the making of the first story-film Pundalik in 1912.   
12April
12 Apr 2011

Cinemaazi remembers Sachin Bhowmick on his death anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the master storyteller Sachin Bhowmick on his death anniversary. He wrote for nearly 100 films in a career spanning more than four decades.  Bhowmick started his career in Hindi cinema with Lajwanti (1958), starring Balraj Sahni and Nargis. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Anuradha (1960) was based on a short story written by Bhowmick, first published in the Bengali magazine Desh. According to Bhowmick’s autobiography,...
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12 Apr 2006

Cinemaazi remembers Rajkumar on his death anniverary

Reigning over Kannada cinema for decades as the undisputed top star, Rajkumar (popularly known as Dr Rajkumar) came to be identified with everything about Kannada culture. Along with Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar, he formed the Kumara Thrayaru of Kannada cinema. He also became a leading force of the Gokak movement. Winner of eight Filmfare Awards (South) and eleven Karnataka State Film Awards, he was felicitated with the Dadashaheb Phalke Award...
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12 Apr 1979

Cinemaazi commemorates Jamal Sen on his death anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers Jamal Sen, the unsung music composer of Hindi cinema over the 50s and 60s, on his 41st death anniversary. He composed music for films like Daaera (1953), Patit Pawan (1955), Amar Shaheed (1959), Aalha Udal (1962) and Manchali (1962).  Jamal Sen’s forefather Kesarji was said to be a disciple of Tansen. His father Jeevan was a court singer and an acknowledged Ustad. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan fondly refer...
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12 Apr 1978

Cinemaazi remembers Taj Bhopali on his death anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the unsung lyricist Taj Bhopali on his death anniversary. Taj Bhopali was named Mohammad Ali Taj at birth. He is known for his work in films like Ansoo Ban Gaye Phool(1969), Mohabbat Aur Jung (1967) and Chhaila Babu (1967) among others. 
12 Apr 1937

Cinemaazi remembers Gulshan Bawra on his birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the great lyricist Gulshan Bawra on his birth anniversary. Responsible for penning many unforgettable Hindi songs in a career spanning nearly five decades, Gulshan Bawra rose to become one of the industry’s most popular and prolific songwriters. Some accounts suggest he was born on April 13.  He was born Gulshan Mehta in Sheikhpura near Lahore before the independence of India. He witnessed his parents being killed...
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12 Apr 1910

Cinemaazi remembers Kidar Sharma on his birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the veteran writer, producer, director, lyricist, singer and actor Kidar Sharma on his 110th birth anniversary (12/04). Kidar Sharma started his film career at New Theatres in Calcutta, where he befriended stalwarts of the film world like KL Saigal and Prithviraj Kapoor. He wrote the dialogue and lyrics for Devdas(1935) starring KL Saigal. He also directed films like Neel Kamal (1947), Suhaag Raat(1947) and Bawre Nain (1950)....
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