on this day

Veteran filmmaker Arjun Hingorani had passed away this day, 5 May in 2018. The 1926-born Hingorani is credited with launching the career of popular star Dharmendra with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere in 1960. He had also directed actress Sadhana’s debut film, Abana (1958), which was India’s first major Sindhi-language production. Over the course of a career spanning 30 years, Hingorani collaborated with Dharmendra in several films including Kab? Kyun? Aur Kahaan? (1970), Kahani Kismat Ki (1973), Khel Khilari Ka (1977), Katilon Ke Kaatil (1981) and Kaun Kare Kurbanie (1991). Besides directing, he wrote, acted in, and also produced some of his films, such as Kahani Kismat Ki, and Katilon Ke Katil, and Sultanat (1986). Seen to have a penchant for featuring the letter ‘K’ in the titles of his films, Hingorani’s last produced film was Kaise Kahoon Ke...Pyaar Hai (2003). He had also penned the self-help book How To Be Happy and Realise Your Dreams in 2005.

Image courtesy: The Indian Express

Cinemaazi remembers veteran film writer and director Govind Moonis on the occasion of his death anniversary. He developed a passion for writing after publishing a story in a Kanpur newspaper as a young man. Known for his work in the Hindi and Bhojpuri film industry, he was associated with cinema for approximately six decades. A short story writer, he started off in films assisting filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, followed by Satyen Bose in Bombay. He established himself as a dialogue writer for successful films such as Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Dosti (1964) and Raat Aur Din (1967). He had also contributed to the lyrics of several films. He went on to make his mark as a successful director with Nadiya Ke Paar (1982), Babul (1986) and Bandhan Baahon Ka (1988). He had directed a Bhojpuri film called Mitwa (1966) before this. He also received the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue for Dosti. His work in television includes writing the screenplay of the teleseries Do Akele and Ramleela. Govind Moonis passed away on 5 May, 2010.

Over a career spanning nearly seven decades, Naushad brought a sophistication to Hindi film music rarely seen afterwards. Beginning as an assistant to various composers, he achieved the first big success of his career with Rattan (1944). Classic after classic followed, and his unforgettable tunes have become ingrained in public memory. Today is the maestro's death anniversary.

Remembering cinematographer Yusuf Mulji on the occasion of his birth anniversary today. Active in films from the 1930s to the 1950s, he has several films to his credit. Among them are P C Barua’s iconic Devdas (1935), the Prafulla Roy-directed social Pujarin (1936), Debaki Bose’s Bidyapati (1937), the reformist film about widow remarriage Anath Ashram (1937), P C Barua’s social drama Adhikar (1938), Debaki Bose’s musical love story Sapera (1939), Hemchandra Chunder’s Parajay (1939), Jawani Ki Reet (1939) starring Kanan Devi, Phani Majumdar’s Doctor (1940), New Theatres’ Hindi-Bengali bilingual Nartaki (1940), Savithri (1941), Hamara Sansar (1945), Azadi Ki Raah Par (1948), the documentary Our India (1950) and the romantic comedy Ladki (1953) directed by M V Raman.

Cinemaazi remembers the prolific music composer Naushad on his death anniversary. According to an article by the lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, his music was so evocative that it stirred an unconscious child out of a coma. 

Yash Chopra’s Trishul (1978) was released on May 05, 42 years ago. The film was one of the highest grossers at the box office that year. It was also the debut film of Poonam Dhillon. 

Shot mainly in Delhi, Trishul holds a special place in the heart of Delhiites, with lovely shots of Lodhi Garden, Golf Club, Purana Qila, Lutyens Delhi, Odeon theatre, and the climax at Pragati Maidan. 

 

Cinemaazi remembers the filmmaker Arjun Hingorani on his 2nd death anniversary. He is credited for launching Dharmendra in Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere (1960). He produced numerous blockbusters, including Kab? Kyoon?Aur Kahan? (1970), Kahani Kismat Ki(1973), Katilon Ke Kaatil (1981), Karishma Kudrat Kaa(1985) and Khel Khilari Ka (1977).


 

Cinemaazi honours the veteran director, lyricist, screenwriter and dialogue writer Govind Moonis on his 10th death anniversary. Govind Moonis enjoyed an illustrious film career that lasted over five decades. 
Moonis started his career as an assistant to Ritwik Ghatak. He later assisted Satyen Bose in a few films before he started working as an independent director with films like Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Babul(1986). 

 

Cinemaazi remembers director, screenwriter and producer D.D. Kashyap on his 32nd death anniversary. He made his directorial debut with Nai Kahani(1943). He went on to direct films like Do Sitare (1951), Aan Baan (1956) and Halaku (1956). 

 

Accomplished director and screenwriter, D D Kashyap, known for films like Nai Kahani (1943), Nargis (1946), Kamal Ka Phool (1950), Do Sitare (1951), Aaram (1951) and Halaku (1956), passed away on this day in 1988.

D O Bhansali, the celebrated sound recordist of Hindi cinema passed away on 4 May 2020 at the age of 95. Bhansali hailed from Jumnagar, Gujarat and started his long career by assisting Minoo Katrak. He reigned as the chief sound recordist after Katrak retired, working with music composers like S D Burman, R D Burman, O P Nayyar, Shankar Jaikishan, Kalyanji ANandji and Laxmikant Pyarelal. Bhansali worked in Famous Studio, Tardeo which was one of the five major recording studios at the time. He recorded the songs for a majority of R K films productions. As a sound recordist, he played an integral role in some of Hindi cinema’s evergreeen songs such as Piya tu aab to aaja from Caravan (1971), Tere mere milan ki yeh raina from Abhimaan (1973) and Sun sahiba sun from Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1967). Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary.

In image: (L-R) Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, D O Bhansali and Pyarelal.

Image courtesy: India West.

Cinemaazi remembers the unsung hero of Indian cinema, Anthony ‘Tony’ Lazarus, known as Krishna Kumar to most, on his 102nd birth anniversary. Krishna Kumar served as a dance number in a majority of films in 1940-1950. 

Though Tony Lazarus was an orphan, he was trained by the accomplished film dancer Azurie. He appeared onscreen in a number of films and directed the film Kaneez (1949). His brother Robert Lazarus, known popularly as Surya Kumar, was also a dancer and choreographer trained by Azurie. Krishna Kumar died around 1950-51. Some sources claim that he was murdered on 7 July 1951. 






Image courtesy: PradhyapakSurjit Singh’s book on Azurie. Information on the two brothers is provided by Arun Kumar Dekhmukh. Cinemaazi is grateful to them for keeping the memories of these artistes alive. 

 

Cinemaazi pays tribute to one of the greatest sound recordists of the Golden Era of Indian cinema, Shri Dhirajlal Occhavlal Bhansali (D.O. Bhansali), who passed away on May 04 2020, at the age of 95. His demise was announced by the Shankar Jaikishan Music Foundation. 

During the early 50s, Bhansali along with Minoo Katrak started music and song recording at the Famous Laboratory in Tardeo, Bombay. Reputed music directors including R.D. Burman, S.D. Burman, Kalyanji-Anandji, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Madan Mohan and Ravindra Jain came to Famous Laboratory to have their music recorded. The music composer duo Shankar-Jaikishan, in particular, insisted that all their recordings be done at Famous, Tardeo. 

Equipped with limited recording facilities, Bhansali still brought exceptional results to the songs. His outstanding attention to his work shines through in Tere bina aag yeh chandni, picturised as a dream sequence in Awara (1951). 

 

Cinemaazi celebrates the Leela Chitnis-Ashok Kumar hit film Azad (1940) on the completion of 80 years from the date of its release. 

Cinemaazi remembers Nargis on her death anniversary. The premiere actress of her time in Hindi cinema, she wowed audiences with her powerful performances in countless classics.

Nasir Khan acted in several Hindi films of the late 40s before shifting to Pakistan to star in their first feature film Teri Yaad (1948). Dilip Kumar's younger brother shifted back to India in the 50s and was part of several successful films. He also appeared as Jumna opposite Dilip Kumar in Gunga Jumna (1961). Today is his death anniversary.

Cinemaazi expresses heartfelt condolences for the family and loved ones of Geeta Behl who passed away due to Covid-19 related complications. She was a popular face from the cinema of late 70s and 80s, making her debut in Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). May she rest in peace.

Image courtesy: Cinestaan

Cinemaazi celebrates Bhalji Pendharkar on his 123rd birth anniversary. One of the early pioneers of Indian cinema, Pendharkar worked as a director, producer, writer and actor in Marathi and Hindi cinema. He is considered one of the most avid chroniclers of the Marathi hero Chhatrapati Shivaji. Some believe that his films depict the warrior king’s entire biography. 

Bhalji started his career in the era of silent films. He was associated with Prabhat Film Company’s earliest talkies, and also worked with other studios in Kolhapur. Later, he acquired his own studio, titled Jayaprabha Studio. Under this banner, he made primarily social and historical films. For his contribution to Indian cinema, Bhalji was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1991. 

 

Cinemaazi remembers actor Nasir Khan, on his 46th death anniversary. The brother of the legendary Dilip Kumar, Nasir Khan started his career with Nitin Bose’s Mazdoor (1945). For some time after the Partition, Nasir Khan shifted to Lahore. He starred in the Pakistani films Teri Yaad (1948) and Shahida (1949). He returned to India later and acted in several films throughout the 1950s. 

In the film Gunga Jamuna (1961), Dilip Kumar played the brothers Gunga and Jamuna onscreen as well. 

Nasir Khan passed away on 3 May 1974 in New Delhi at the age of 50. 

 

Cinemaazi remembers Achala Sachdev on her birth centenary. In a career spanning over six decades, she acted in 181 Hindi films, 3 Punjabi films and 1 Gujarati film, in addition to 1 incomplete Bengali film. She also acted in a few English-language movies like Nine Hours to Rama (1963) and Merchant Ivory’s The Householder (1963).

 

Cinemaazi remembers the actress Nargis, born as Fatima Rashid, on her 39th death anniversary. Amongst the most celebrated actors to grace the Indian screen, Nargis delivered many memorable roles in a career spanning over two decades from the 1940s to the 1960s. 

The daughter of the singer-composer-actress Jaddanbai, Nargis made her debut as a child artist in Talash-E-Haq (1935). She formally began her career as an actress with the movie Tamanna (1942). 

Nargis appeared in a number of critically and commercially successful movies throughout her career, including Taqdeer (1943),Awara(1951) and Shree 420 (1955) among others. She is perhaps best remembered for her iconic role as Radha in the classic Mother India (1957). Her performance as Radha won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1958. 
Nargis passed away in 1981 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, a few days before her son Sanjay Dutt made his debut as a Hindi film actor in Rocky(1981).