on this day

Though modern day audiences might remember her best as Baa from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, Sudha Shivpuri was a Sangeet Natak Akademi award winning theatre and film actress, who appeared in films like Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastan (1978), The Burning Train (1980), Insaf Ka Tarazu (1980), Hamari Bahu Alka (1982), Vidhaata (1982), Maya Memsaab (1993) and many more. Today is her death anniversary.

Popularly known as Chhote Master ji, Hansraj Behl crafted a wonderful repertoire of music across Hindi and Punjabi cinema in his career. Beginning his career as an independent music composer with Pujari (1946), he went on to create some unforgettable melodies, especially with Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. He passed away on this day in 1984.

It was witnessing David Lean shoot The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) when he was in sixth grade, that inspired Balu Mahendra to become a filmmaker. After his graduation from FTII, he got an opportunity to work with Ramu Kariat in Nellu (1971) which won him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Cinematography. After building a stellar resume as a cinematographer, he made his directorial debut with the Kannada language Kokila (1977). He made his debut in Tamil cinema with Mullum Malarum (1978). Known for his naturalistic treatment, Mahendra's cinema ushered in wide-ranging changes in Tamil cinema, making him one of the most influential auteuers of his generation. With films like Moondram Pirai (1982) later remade as Sadma (1983), Olangal (1982), Yathra (1985), Veedu (1988), Sandhya Raagam (1989), he enchanted a generation of film-goers. He has often credited Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali (1955) as one of his key influences. He had recently made a comeback with Thalaimuraigal (2013). Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.

Raj Mehra worked in more than 300 Hindi films as a character artiste. He is prominantly known for his role as a father of many popular actores.

Winner of two Filmfare Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Nana Palshikar was one of the most respected actors of his time. Renowned for his roles in films like Kanoon (1960) and Shehar Aur Sapna (1964), he was born on this day in 1908.

Cinemaazi remembers the celebrated playwright and script writer Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar on his 12th death anniversary.
 
In a career spanning four decades, Tendulkar left behind a rich body of work, including more than 30 plays, seven collections of one-act plays, six collections of children’s plays, four collections of short stories and scripts of many award-winning films. Tendulkar often collaborated with luminaries of Indian arthouse cinema like Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and Jabbar Patel. His work with Benegal in Nishant(1975) and Manthan (1976) was widely appreciated, and Manthan went on to win the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. 
Tendulkar wrote the script for Nihalani’s acclaimed films Aakrosh (1980), Ardh Satya (1983) and Aghaat (1985). Aakrosh won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1980. Though he had written a different ending for Ardh Satya, he accepted an alternate ending suggested by Nihalani once they had watched the film together. As Nihalani recalls, Tendulkar always had an open mind. The two had a history of working together from Nihalani’s big break onwards, when he got the chance to shoot the Marathi language Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1971), based on Tendulkar’s eponymous play.
Vijay Tendulkar worked mainly on Marathi films like Saamna (1974) and Umbartha (1982) with Jabbar Patel.
 
His daughter, Priya Tendulkar, was a famous television actress. Her demise, close on the heels of the death of his wife Nirmala and his son, the cinematographer Raju, left him shattered. 
Though Vijay Tendulkar primarily wrote in Marathi, his extensive work across genres, media and languages ensured that he developed a following both internationally and across the country. 

 

Known for his bravura performances and influential plays, Sombhu Mitra also participated in some of Indian cinema's most significant productions. The icon of Bengali group theatre passed away on this day in 1997. 

Intense and passionate, Rabindra Dharmaraj had to spend years struggling before making his dream project, an adaptation of Jaywant Dalvi's Chakra. His untimely death surely robbed Indian cinema of a prodigious talent. Today is his birth anniversary.

A groundbreaking playwright of modern Indian theatre, Girish Karnad also made major contributions towards Kannada and Hindi cinema. A National Award winning director, he distingusihed himself in the fields of screenplay writing and acting as well. Cinemaazi pays tribute to him on his birth anniversary.

Madhubala Jhaveri (19 May 1935 - 11 September 2013) who sang popular songs in films like Apni Izzat (1952), Jaggu (1952), Dost (1954), Boot Polish (1954), was born on this day.

Bringing alive the hills and their way of life like few others, Ruskin Bond has endeared himself to generations of young readers. Born in Kasauli on this day in 1936, the author of classics like The Room on the Roof, A Flight of Pigeons, Angry River, The Blue Umbrella, Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra is celebrating his birthday today.

An immensely visual storyteller, it is no wonder that directors like Shyam Benegal and Vishal Bhardwaj have found his stories rich mines of narratives. Shyam Benegal's Junoon (1978) was based on his A Flight of Pigeons. Bhardwaj has adapted two of his works - The Blue Umbrella (2005) and 7 Khoon Maaf (2011) which was based on Susanna's Seven Husbands and also featured Bond in a special appearance. His stories have been the subject of the televsion series Ek Tha Rusty, seasons and 3 of which were presented by Bond himself.

Though mostly remembered for playing mothers onscreen, Reema Lagoo strayed away from the conventional mould of the character. Earlier it was her mother Mandakini Bhadbhade and the veteran actress Durga Khote who had inspired her to become an actor. Cinemaazi remembers her on her death anniversary.