on this day

Today we remember literary and film legend, Madhusudan Kalelkar who passed away on 17 December, 1985. Born on 22 March, 1924, Kalelkar went on to become famous not only as a Marathi playwright, storyteller and poet but also as a lyricist and screenwriter in Marathi and Hindi films. Kalelkar wrote a total of 29 plays and 111 films in Marathi including 34 in Hindi. He wrote across genres, dealing with serious social issues as well as light humorous topics. Among his key Hindi films are Baat Ek Raat Ki(1962),Bluff Master (1963), Jhumroo (1961), Farar (1975), Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye (1977), Akhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se (1978), Geet Gaata Chal(1975), Baarish (1957), Abodh (1984), Naughty Boy(1962), and Joru Ka Ghulam (1972). Kalelkar won the Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye. He was awarded 9 times by the Maharashtra State Marathi Film Festival for Best Story, Screenplay and Dialogue. His Marathi film Ha Mazha Marg Ekla (1963) also won the President's Award. The Gujarat government also posthumously awarded him the Best Story award for his film Janmadata.


Image Courtesy: Madhughat 2.0 - Madhusudan Kalelkar Biography

Music composer Shankarrao Vyas passed away this day in 1956. Born on 23 January, 1898 in Kolhapur, Vyas learnt music from Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Adept in the tradition of old masters, Vyas was a musicologist of modern outlook, which is seen in his compositions in film music. He amply proved that classical music could well serve the needs of cinema. He experimented with new styles based in the classical tradition, pioneering the trend of using indigenous music idioms for films. He also systematically experimented with orchestration in Indian music. Between 1937 and 1954, he composed music for approximately 32 Hindi films, five Marathi films and three Gujarati films. Some of the Hindi films he composed for include Poornima (1938),Ek Hi Bhool (1940), Bharat Milap (1942), Vikramaditya (1948), Ram Vivah (1949), Jivan Nauka (1952), and Ganga Maiyya (1955). Vyas’s compositions are a blend of poetry, melody and rhythm.

Image courtesy: Cinestaan

Cinemaazi wishes Suresh Oberoi a happy birthday. Well known for his roles as police inspectors, he started his career in radio shows where his deep voice served him well, before having a successful modeling career. 

Becoming a cinema icon for only a handful of scenes is no easy task, yet Viju Khote achieved just that when he appeared as Kaalia in Sholay (1975). Over the next few decades, he distinguished himself as one of the most reliable character actors in the industry, playing every role with equal panache. Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.

Ramchandra Thakur, the esteemed filmmaker-writer, was born in Chitroda, Gujrat on this day in 1908. Initially, he worked as a publicity officer in Sagar Movietone and got the opportunity to learn the ropes of filmmaking while assisting Hiren Bose andC M Luhar. In 1938, he made his directorial debut with Gramaphone Singer. He collaborated with cinematographer Keki Mistry for the film and they revolutionised filmmaking in India by introducing back-projection instead of the depending on optical superimpositions. He later continued his association with Sagar Movietone’s successor National Film Studios amidst other renowned collaborators such as R S Choudhury, Mehboob and Zia Sarhadi. Later as a part of Ranjit studios, he wrote Gujarati scripts such as Nanand Bhojai (1948), Mangalfera (1949), Gadano Bel (1950). He was also a polyglot, a Pali scholar and a journalist at Mouj Majah. He is also credited with writing two novels and several short stories like Amrapali which was adapted on screen by Nandlal Jaswantalal in 1945. Some of his notable films are Civil Marriage (1940), Apna Paraya(1942), Nand Bhojai (1948),  Ghayal (1951) and Jai Mahadev. Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.

Acknowledged as the first woman Qawwal of India, Shakeela Bano Bhopali’s qawwali was widely popular among the class of aristocrats and connoisseurs as well as the common man on the street. A legendary singer hailing from Bhopal, she transformed the face of qawaali with her flamboyant and uninhibited singing style. Born in 1942 in Bhopal, she moved to Bombay in the 1950s to explore a career in films, where she went on to leave her mark in numerous films such as Jungle Princess (1958), Dastak (1970), Shradhanjali (1981), Rocket Tarzan (1963), Badshah (1964) and Raaka (1965).

One of the stalwarts in this field in Hindi cinema was Fali Mistry. Born in a Parsi family in 1917, Fali and his younger brother Jal Mistry contributed immensely to the art of cinematography in Indian cinema. His grandfather owned a theatre and ran a theatrical company in Mumbai. His uncle M L MIstry used to be an importer of DuPont film, and reportedly imported the sound equipment used to make the first talkie of Indian cinema, Alam Ara (1931).

Born in Sialkot in 1896, Pandit Sudarshan shifted to Kolkata in 1932, soon becoming a reputed screenwriter and lyricist for Bharat Laxmi Pictures and later New Theatres. One of his most significant achivements was penning the songs for the first film to use playback singing - Dhoop Chhaon (1935). He later worked extensively in Mumbai, including the Sohrab Modi superhit Sikandar (1941). He passed away on this day in 1967. 

The iconic looks of films like Nayakan (1987), Thalapathi (1991), Roja(1992), Kadhalan (1994), both lyrical yet realistic, defined the 90’s in Indian cinema. The man behind the striking set designs of these films was the acclaimed painter Thota Tharani. Though these films gained him recognition across the country, he has been active in the industry since the late 70’s, having worked in over 200 films in his long career. 

Image credit:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thota_Tharani

Born on this day in 1912, A Subba Rao became a hugely successful director in Telugu cinema, known for films like Thodi Kodallu (1957), Mangalya Balam (1958), Doctor Chakravarthy (1964), Ellam Unakkaga (1961), Tene Manasulu (1965) and many more. Cinemaazi remembers him for his contributions.

One of the most talented music composers, Ajit Verman is known for his musical scores in films such as Aakrosh (1980), Vijeta (1982), Ardh Satya (1983), Saaransh (1984), and Yeh Aashiqui Meri (1998). Among the other films he worked on are Vijeta (1982), Misaal (1985), Janam (1985, TV film), Andhaa Yudh (1987), Karm Yodha (1992), Imtihaan (1995, TV show), and Mohini (1995, background score). He was known for his classical based tunes, which struck a soft contrast within films that dealt with gritty topics like war and conflict. Composing for approximately 25 films, Verman had a relatively small but memorable body of work. His inability to lobby unfortunately saw him largely ignored by mainstream filmmakers. 

Image credit:  https://scroll.in/reel/973044/music-and-lyrics-composer-ajit-varman-was-a-meteor-in-the-firmament-of-hindi-cinema

Today, 15 December, is the death anniversary of Nazir Kashmiri, a character actor who featured in over 100 Hindi films. Going on to enjoy a long innings in films, he starting his career in Lahore, where he appeared in several productions there. Making the shift to Bombay, as part of Noor Jehan’s production company, he appeared in the playback singer and actress’s Indian films such as Zeenat (1945) and Jugnu (1947). Kashmiri was seen in a range of character roles especially in the 50s and 60s. He featured in many Dev Anand, Guru Dutt and I. S. Johar films. Being a regular with B R Chopra and Yash Chopra, he featured in a majority of their films from Ek Hi Raasta (1956), to Kaala Patthar (1979). Among his other notable films are Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), Return of Mr. Superman (1960) and Saat Samundar Paar (1965).

A true renaissance man, Nabendu Ghosh was an accomplished writer, screenwriter, director and dancer. An acclaimed Bengali writer during the 40's, he later shifted to Bombay with Bimal Roy. Principally known for his work in Roy's seminal films, he was also a National Award winning director himself. He passed away on this day in 2007.

Director of landmark Kannada hits like Mayor Muthanna (1969), Bangarada Manushya (1972) and Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu (1974), S Siddalingaiah was born on this day in 1936.

Cinemaazi wishes  Usha Mangeshkar a very happy 85th birthday. With more than 600 songs she has rightfully earned her place amongst the female singers of repute. Born on 15th December 1935, at Sangli, Usha is the 4th and the youngest sister of Mangeshkars. Belonging to a musically inclined family, apart from singing,she was equally passionate and  interested in painting,and  took lessons from the famous painter,M.R.Achrekar alongside learning music from Pt.Tulsidas Sharma, K. Mahavir and Sushant Maharaj.
At the age of 19 Usha decided to earn herself by singing in films and C.Ramchandra gave her a break with the  song Bhabhi Aayee from Subah ka Tara (1954). Her very first song became so popular that she was flooded with children's song offers. Her next popular song was Aplam chaplam from  the film Azaad (1955). Initially singing duets with her elder sistersLata Mangeshkar andAsha Bhonsle, in 1975,came the biggest hit of her career with Main to aarti utaru re from the film Jai Santoshi Maa (1975). Written byKavi Pradeep , songs of this film shot Usha Mangeshkar’s career to new heights. The success of this film brought accolades to her, through  Best Playback Singer award from Bengal Film Journalists Association, along with a Filmfare nomination.Her foray into Marathi films set a new milestone. She was a favourite of Dada Kondke for all his Jubilee films. She went on to sing at least 200 songs in Marathi, out of which the most popular were Dhagala Lagli Kala and Tumhawar Keli Me Marji Bahar from the film Pinjra (1972). 
Although most of Usha Mangeshkar’s career remained in the shadow of her star sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsle, music directors and enthusiasts have credited her voice to be different, attractive and sharp. Some of her most famous songs include Mungda from Inkaar(1978), Goro Ki Naa Kalo Ki from Disco Dancer (1982), Saare Niyam Tod Do fromKhoobsurat (1980), Mujhe Pyaar Ka Tohfa Deke from Kaala Pathar (1979) among others. Usha Mangeshkar is credited for singing songs in Gujrati, Assamese, Bengali, Tamil, Telegu among many other Indian languages.

Image courtesy: Bhaskar.com

The veteran actor-dancer Heera Sawant made her debut as the second lead with Hua Savera (1948). Some of her other notable films are Sunehra Din (1949), Har Har Mahadev (1950), Nakhre (1951), Chakradhari (1954) and Musafir (1957). 

Padma Shri award winning director Sattiraju Lakshminarayana or Bapu, as he was better known, was also a well-known artist and cartoonist. His directorials are renowned for their “aesthetic sensibility, simplicity, keen observation of life, subtle humour and authentic representation of Indian and Telugu culture and values”. He made his directorial debut in 1967 with the path-breaking Telugu film, Saakshi. Shot completely outdoors, it was screened at the Tashkent Film Festival (1968).

One of the unsung music directors of Hindi cinema, Ramlal Choudhury started his career as an assistant to Ram Ganguly at Prithvi Theatres. A skilled flautist and shehnai player, he was involved in the songs of Aag (1948). He also played on the songs of Navrang (1959) and Mughal-e-Azam (1960). His first job as an independent music composer came in P L Santoshi's Tangawala. Unfortunately the film was never released. His second film Husnbano (1952) was successful. He worked in a few films like Nag Lok (1957) but they were unsuccessful. His true breakthrough came with V Shantaram's Sehra (1963). Working with Shantaram again in Geet Gaya Pattharon Ne (1965), he delivered another set of memorable songs. Despite these successes, he could not establish himself in the industry. He tried to produce a film called Tyagi under his own banner, but his partner deserted him. He did not work in anymore films after that. Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.

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One of the most versatile actors to grace Hindi cinema, Kanhaiyalal was born on this day in 1938.