Cinemaazi On-This-Day

15 Oct 2025

Cinemaazi remembers Madhumati on her death anniversary

Madhumati worked in many films, including Hindi and regional cinema across Marathi, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and South Indian languages. She is best known for her performances in films such as Tower House (1962), Shikari (1963), Mujhe Jeene Do (1963), and Ankhen (1968).

15 Oct 2025

Cinemaazi remembers Pankaj Dheer on his death anniversary

Pankaj Dheer was known for his great role of Karna in the television series Mahabharat and roles in Chandrakanta, The Great Maratha, Yug and Badho Bahu. He appeared in several Hindi films in small roles, including Sadak, Soldier, Baadshah and Taarzan: The Wonder Car. Credits: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0223532/mediaviewer/rm2522482688/?ref_=nm_ov_ph

15 Oct 2020

Cinemaazi remembers Bhanu Athaiya on her death anniversary

One of the most prolific costume designers in Indian cinematic history, Bhanu Athaiya is renowned as the first Indian to win an Academy Award for her work in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982).

15 Oct 2017

Cinemaazi remembers Lekh Tandon on his death anniversary

Lekh Tandon was a hugely successful director from the 60s and 70s, primarily known for films likeProfessor(1962), Amrapali (1966) and Prince(1969). Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary.

15 Oct 2007

Cinemaazi remembers Meera Dev Burman on her death anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers the eminent singer and lyricist Meera Dev Burman, wife of music director-singer S D Burman on her death anniversary. Born in Comilla, Bangladesh in March 1923, she settled in Calcutta and trained in music at Rabindranath Tagore’s Vishwa Bharti in Shantiniketan. Her meeting with S D Burman at the All India Music Conference in Allahabad and marrying him shortly after marked her professional association with music. A s...

15 Oct 1985

Cinemaazi remembers Mangesh Desai on his death anniversary.

An almost ubiquitous name in cinema from the 50s to the 80s, Mangesh Desaiwas one of those whose behind-the-scenes labour are an indispensable part of the filmmaking process. For years he was Hindi cinema's go to guy for sound mixing and re-recording. Cinemaazi celebrates his work on his death anniversary.

15 Oct 1977

Cinemaazi remembers Jayanta Hazarika on his death anniversary

Jayanta Hazarika, also known as Rana da with love, is an Assamese cultural icon. He was the younger brother of DrBhupen Hazarika who started his musical journey by assisting his older brother. He is attributed to the fusion of western classical, rock and roll, jazz sound with Assamese traditional music that gave a new sound to the music from the region. In his short span of life, he had also been involved in several Assamese films in the role of...

15 Oct 1957

Cinemaazi wishes Mira Nair a Happy Birthday

Cinemaazi wishes filmmaker Mira Nair a happy birthday. Known for her acclaimed films like Salaam Bombay! (1988), Mississippi Masala (1991), Monsoon Wedding (2001) and The Namesake (2006), she was actually more interested in theatre in her younger years. She began her filmmaking journey by producing a black and white documentary called Jama Masjid Street Journal. She set up the Salaam Balak Trust with profits from Salaam Bombay! and also founded a...

15 Oct 1942

Cinemaazi remembers Imtiaz Khan on his birth anniversary

Not many get to share a birthday with their father. But such is the case for Imtiaz Khan who was born on the same day as his father Jayant. He worked as an actor and director in Hindi cinema. Cinemaazi remembers his contributions on his birth anniversary

15 Oct 1940

Bharat Kapoor

Cinemaazi remembers Bharat Kapoor on his birth anniversary who was born on this day in 1940.

15 Oct 1922

Cinemaazi remembers Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi on his birth anniversary

One half of the Shankar-Jaikishan duo, Shankar Singh Raghuvanshi was a supremely talented musician in his own right. He learnt the tabla from Baba Nasir Khansahib and later trained under Khawaja Khurshid Anwar. He worked with Prithvi Theatres before striking up his immortal partnership with Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal. He worked primarily with Shailendra and was behind the duo's more soulful compositions. He composed solo for some time af...

15 Oct 1921

Cinemaazi remembers Dilip Dholakia on his birth anniversary.

Cinemaazi remembers the multifaceted musician Dilip Dholakia on his birth anniversary. Born in Junagadh, he was exposed to music since the young age of seven, when he accompanied his father and grandfather who sang Bhajans in temples and played the Pakhwaj. He was trained in Hindustani classical music. Often credited as D. Dilip or Diliprai in Hindi films, Dilip Dholakia remained all of a singer, music director, music arranger and at times a lyri...

15 Oct 1915

Cinemaazi remembers Jayant on his birth anniversary.

One of the most beloved and familiar figures of Indian cinema, Jayant was known for his powerful performances. Cinemaazi remembers the legendary actor on his birth anniversary.

14 Oct 1974

Cinemaazi remembers Wazir Mohammad Khan on his death anniversary.

Wazir Mohammed Khan was a stage actor who performed in several silent films in minor roles. His voice has made history in Indian cinema as he sang the famous song Dil De Khuda Ke Naam Par Pyare in our first talkie Alam Ara (1931) where he played the role of a fakir. He later rendered the same song in the consequent remakes of the films in 1955 and 1973. He worked with some of the most renowned filmmakers of Hindi cinema such as Mehboob Khan, Dins...

14 Oct 1969

Cinemaazi remembers Ardeshir Irani on his death anniversary.

Remembering director Ardeshir Irani, who directed the first Indian talkie film Alam Ara (1931), on his death anniversary.

14 Oct 1927

Cinemaazi remembers Daan Singh on his birth anniversary

Cinemaazi remembers music composer Daan Singh on his birth anniversary. A student of Khemchand Prakash, he is known for films like Bhool Na Jana (1965), Toofan (1969) and My Love (1970). Some of his popular songs were Gham-e-dil kisse kahoon and Woh tere pyar ka gham. He is one of the many artists who never received their proper dues.

14 Oct 1924

Cinemaazi remembers Raja Nawathe on his birth anniversary.

Raja Nawathe, producer-director of the 50s and 60s, was born on this day in 1924 in Bombay Presidency in British India. He started his career as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor in a few projects such as Aag(1948), Barsaat(1949) and Awaara(1951). In 1953, he made his directorial debut under R K Films banner with Aah starring the showman, Raj Kapoor, alongside Nargis. His second feature Basant Bahar (1956)’s music was very well received b...

14 Oct 1919

Cinemaazi remembers Radhu Karmakar on his birth anniversary

Raj Kapoor's go to cinematographer, Radhu Karmakar shot some of the most iconic sequences in Hindi cinema history. Today is his birth anniversary.

14 Oct 1892

Cinemaazi salutes Vishnupant Govind Damle on his birth anniversary

A significant figure in the history of Marathi cinema, Vishnupant Govind Damle was one of the founding members of both Maharashtra Film Company and Prabhat Studios. With S Fattelal, he made the landmark Sant Tukaram (1936). Cinemaazi salutes him on his birth anniversary. Image credit: https://x.com/cinemaazi/status/1713106503706800350

13 Oct 2020

Cinemaazi remembers Kaumudi Munshi on her death anniversay

Celebrated as the ‘Nightingale of Gujarat’ – Kaumudi Munshi was born in 1929 in Uttar Pradesh, into a family that originally hailed from Vadnagar, Gujarat. Famed for her Sugam Sangeet or light music, she trained in Thumri, Gazals, Chaiti, Hori and Zoola under famous Indian Classical singer Siddheshwari Devi. Kaumudi started her career singing Hindi and Rajasthani Geets. After moving to Bombay at the age of 21, she started singin...

13 Oct 2004

Cinemaazi remembers Nirupa Roy on her death anniversary

Often called the Queen of Misery for her iconic portrayals of tragic characters, Nirupa Roy is a legend of the Hindi film screen. Cinemaazi remembers the respected performer on her death anniversary.

13 Oct 1987

Cinemaazi remembers Kishore Kumar on his death anniversary

One of the most successful playback singers of Hindi cinema, the iconic Kishore Kumar started his career as a chorus singer with Bombay Talkies in 1946. Many decades later, he continues to be a listeners’ favourite, with fans old and young from across the world accessing his music on the internet. His rise to the top of India’s cache of playback singers was nothing short of extraordinary.

13 Oct 1968

Cinemaazi remembers Vasant Prabhu on his death anniversary

Music composer Vasant Prabhu is known for films such as Gharbaar (1953), Putra Vhawa Aaisa (1961), Baycocha Bhavu (1962), and Nandayela Jate (1969). Known also for his Marathi Bhavgeet, he was also a choreographer, and dancer. His two non-film Hindi bhajans rendered by Lata Mangeshkar are fairly well-known, namely Dil dharawe so ik nyaaraa hai and Mainyaa morii main nahiin maakhan khaayo. In the period from 1950 to 1968 he scored music...

13 Oct 1911

Cinemaazi remembers Ashok Kumar on his birth anniversary

Ashok Kumar became an actor by chance. Bombay Talkies was all set to launch the film Jeevan Naiya (1936) starring Devika Rani and Najam-ul-Hussain. Devika Rani eloped with the hero. She was discovered and pardoned but Najam-ul-Hussain was replaced by Ashok Kumar. After that he proved himself to be a stellar figure in acting.

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