on this day

Leaving his mark in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi cinema, A VIncent was an acclaimed cinematographer and director. A Filmfare Award winner as a cinematographer, he has also directed many successful Malayalam films.

Founder of the legendary Vijaya Vauhini studios, B Nagi Reddy played a pioneering role in the foundation of the film industry in Chennai. Along with Aluri Chakrapani, he took over Vauhini Studios and merged it with his Vijaya Pictures. Known for producing elaborate melodramas, the studio produced several of L V Prasad and K V Reddy's films. Some of the notable films are Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Pelli Chesi Chhodu (1952), Missamma (1955), Mayabazar (1957), Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1959), Gundamma Katha (1959) and many more. Also making a foray in Hindi cinema, he produced Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970), Julie (1975), Swarg Narak (1978), Swayamvar (1980) among others. Hunsur Krishnamurthy's Madhuve Madi Nodu (1965) won the national Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada. He also served twice as the President of the Film Federation of India in the 60s. Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary.

Image courtesy:  https://m.sakshi.com/tags/b-nagi-reddy

Remembering actor Manhar Desai on the occasion of his death anniversary. Hailing from a Gujarati Christian family of Ahmedabad, he was born Malcom Alfredo Desai on 3 August, 1917 in Bombay. Eager to pursue a career in films, his first brush with acting was less than satisfactory: he played the stunt double for the hero in riding sequences. Returning to college disillusioned, he pursued several jobs after graduating, till he landed lead acting roles. From Toofani Sawar (1947) to the Gujarati hit Gunsundari (1948), it was the start of a successful innings. Other hits in his kitty include Naseebdar (1950) and Gadano Bel (1950). He made his Hindi film debut with the Wadias’ Madhosh (1951) opposite Meena Kumari. Among his most popular films are Naya Rasta (1953), Anand Bhuvan (1953), Hazaar Raaten (1953), Nag Panchami (1953), Chandramukhi (1960), Madhosh (1951) and Banjarin (1960). Manhar Desai passed away on 25 February, 1992.

A writer of many hit songs, yet sadly under-appreciated, S H Bihari passed away on this day in 1987. 

Touted as the next Sridevi of Indian cinema, Divya Bharti achieved a great deal of success in a short period of time, before her life was tragically cut short.

Be it a classy villain, a character with shades of grey or a positive role, Danny Denzongpa excelled in all. Cinemaazi wishes him a very happy birthday! 

Starting off as a child artiste and then as a heroine, Lalita Pawar's career as a lead was tragically cut short due to an accident. Undeterred by this turn of events, she went on to become arguably the greatest villainous matriarch of Hindi cinema. Today is her death anniversary.

Today we remember music director Sanmukh Babu Upadhyay on the occasion of his death anniversary. Born in Surat, Gujarat in 1920, he went on to become a disciple of Pandit Omkarnath Thakur. An expert violin and jaltarang player, he along with his elder brother, would compose music for Gujrati plays. Moving to Bombay in 1942, he worked at All India Radio Bombay for a few years before joining Avinash Vyas as an assistant. Starting with the film Lalkar (1956), he went on to compose music for Amar Singh Rathaur (1957), Naag Padmini (1957), Sati Pariksha (1957), Raaj Pratigya (1958), Amar Prem (1960) and Hameer Hath (1964), which was the last film he scored music for. Working mainly in the realm of historicals and devotional films, his songs were rendered by singers such as Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle, Suman Kalyanpur, and Mubarak Begum. While he was not engaged by the bigger banners, he nevertheless scored music that was melodious and appreciated. Sanmukh Babu Upadhyay passed away on 24 February, 1984.

Image courtesy:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__z4sxvolJc

A trailblazing singer-actress of her times, Shanta Apte even led a hunger strike outside the gates of Prabhat when the company withheld her pay. Today is her death anniversary.

Few individuals can claim to be as iconic in the cultural and political history of a state as Jayalalitha. On her birth anniversary look back on her career here.

Cinemaazi remembers the original ‘Chocolate Boy’ of Hindi cinema, Joy Mukherjee, on his birthday (24 February 1939). Son of producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, Joy charmed the country with his handsome looks in romantic comedies and soon came to be compared with Hollywood’s golden-era “heartthrob” Rock Hudson. 

Cinemaazi remembers Naqsh Lyallpuri, born as Jaswant Rai Sharma, on his birth anniversary (24 February, 1928). In his career spanning over five decades, he worked with around 140 music composers leaving behind a small but meaningful legacy.
Though he got his first break in 1952 with the film Jaggu as a song writer, real success eluded him till the early 1970’s. After getting appreciation for his songs in the films like Madhu (1959) and Teri Talaash Mein  (1968), His songs in the film Chetna (1970) composed by Sapan Jagmohan and sung by Mukesh were his first colour hit. His second hit was the ghazal ‘Rasme ulfat ko nibhayen…’ in the film Dil ki Raahein (1973) sung by Lata Mangeshkar. This song gave him the standing he deserved in the industry and led him to sign many films.
His other popular songs are: “Pyar Ka Dard Hai” (Dard, 1981), “Chitthiye Ni” (Henna, 1991), “Maana Teri Nazar Mein Tera Pyar Hum Nahi” (Ahista Ahista, 1981), “Yeh Wahi Geet Hai Jisko Maine” (Man Jaiye, 1972), “Har Janam Mein Hamara Milan (Kagaz Ki Naao, 1975), “Tumhein Dekhti Hoon” (Tumhare Liye, 1978), “Yeh Mulakaat Ik Bahana Hai” (Khandaan, 1979), “Chori Chori Koi Aaye” (Noorie, 1979), “Na Jane Kya Hua Jo Tu Ne Chhoo Liya” (Dard, 1981), “Ulfat Mein Zamane Ki” (Call Girl, 1974), “Apni Aankhon Mein Basaa Kar” (Thokar, 1974), “Tumhein Ho Na Ho” (Gharonda, 1977), “Chandni Raat Mein” (Dil-E-Nadan, 1982) and “Teri Talash Mein” (Teri Talash Mein, 1968). Due to the strong competition, he was relegated to ‘B-grade’ films and, later, Punjabi cinema.

At the age of 88 years, he had a fall which resulted in a hip-bone fracture. He never recovered from that and passed away a year later on 22 January 2017.
His life journey was beset with hurdles but he faced them bravely. According to Naqsh Lyallpuri his life could be summed up in this line:
‘Main woh diya hoon jise aandhiyon ne pala hai…bujha na paaoge ae waqt ki hawaaon mujhko’

Composer S Mohinder had a fascinating journey in cinema, experiencing both great highs and lows. A National Award winning composer, he worked primarily in the 50s and 60s. He was born on this day in 1925 in Silwala.

Known popularly as the Shahenshah-e-Ghazal (King of Ghazals) of Hindi cinema, Talat Mahmood is still remembered for his remarkably velvety, soulful voice. For his scores of fans, some of them even international, his voice with its distinct quiver continues to resound in the immortal melodies of many of the best composers of his day. 
    

Cinemaazi remembers the eminent thespian-filmmaker Keshav Narayan Kale (Keshav Narayan Kale) on his birth anniversary. As a journalist, he often commented upon the Marathi literary and theatre world. He co-founded the theatre group Natyamanwantar. A man who dabbled in many forays of filmmaking, he joined cinema as an actor, then moved to Prabhat as a scenarist, wrote the dialogues and lyrics in Dharmatma (1935), Chadrasena (1935), and Amar Jyoti (1936). As a director, he is credited with films such as Mazha Mulga (1938), Lapandav (1940), and Ammaldar (1953).  He also contributed to the discipline of film theory in India. He was the first appointed professor for the Film Appreciation course in the Film and Television Institute of India in the early 1960s.

He remains the original rock star director of Indian cinema. Goldie Vijay Anand, the younger sibling of Chetan Anand and Dev Anand, died on this day (23 Feb 2004). He remains an inspiration for every director in any given era of Indian cinema.

"The Biggest Star in the World – and she's not in Beverly Hills"—thus was Madhubala described in the August 1952 issue of American magazine, Theatre Arts. Such was Madhubala's legendary beauty that her acting ability was often overlooked. Arguably the most iconic actress of Hindi cinema of all time, she passed away on this day in 1969.

Cinemaazi wishes Bhagyashree a very Happy Birthday