on this day

Hindustani classical singer extraordinaire and Bharat Ratna, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi has left his mark on the Kirana Gharana with his spontaneity and quick taans or tempo musical notes, which bore witness to his outstanding voice training and control.

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When V Shantaram heard the young Parshuram Laxman Sonis sing, he immediately handed him a five-year contract with Prabhat. Today is the actor-singer's death anniversary.

Today marks the birthday of singer Rekha Bhardwaj (wife of filmaker and music composer Vishal Bhardwaj) who was born on this day in 1964.

Image credit:  https://blackhattalent.com/talent/book-rekha-bhardwaj/

Cinemaazi wishes happy birthday to one of the most successful hit-makers of Hindi cinema, Subhash Ghai.

One of the most successful producer-directors of the 60s and 70s, J Om Prakash always had his finger on the pulse of what film audiences wanted. Today is his birth anniversary.

Singer Shankar Dasgupta passed away this day in 1992. Born in 1927 in Bengal, he started singing from a very young age. A trained singer, he received his first break with Milan (1946). The film had music by Anil Biswas. Dasgupta rendered the song Upar hai badariya kari, which became very popular. He went on to sing for films such as Rambaan (1948), Adhikar (1954), Aahuti (1950), Jeet (1949), Anjana (1948), Didi (1959) and Do Raha (1952). Shankar Dasgupta sang around 63 songs over the approximately 39 films he rendered playback for. As a music director, he scored music for four films, namely Sadma (1954), Sheeshe Ki Deewar (1954), Hotel (1956) and Pehli Mulaaqaat (1957). Besides assisting music directors such as Anil Biswas and Jaidev over several years, Dasgupta also worked on television. Settling in England post retirement, he continued to be involved with TV there. Shankar Dasgupta passed away following a tragic rail accident in Bombay on one of his routine visits to India.

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Cinemaazi remembers the veteran actor and action director M B Shetty, whose name has become synonymous with 1970's action cinema, on his death anniversary.

A very happy birthday to Ramesh Sippy, who gave Hindi cinema its defining film of the 70s with the blockbuster Sholay (1975). Though the rest of his career remained in the shadow of this monumental achievement, he gave filmgoers other gems like Andaz (1971), Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Shaan (1980), Shakti (1982) and Saagar (1985) as well.

Pandit Shankarrao Vyas deftly blended different classical and folk music traditions in his music, giving the film music of his times a different flavour. Today is his birth anniversary.

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Often called the Midnight Singer (also the name of his biography), owing to his popularity at jagrans or all-night devotional vigils, Narendra Chanchal gave devotional music popular appeal. His name was synonymous with jagrans and bhajans in praise of Mata (goddess).

Naqsh Lyallpuri was born in the Chak No. 118 village in Lyallpur (renamed Faisalabad), West Punjab (present-day Pakistan) on 24 February 1928. An engineer who worked in the power house, his father remarried when he was ten months old and his mother passed away.

Happy Birthday, Namrata Shirodkar! One interesting fact about this successful beauty pageant winner, and model turned actress: She had first appeared on screen as a child in the Shatrughan Sinha-starrer Shirdi Ke Sai Baba (1977). Born 22 January, 1972, she has delivered a few noteworthy performances in films such as Vaastav: The Reality (1999), and Astitva (2000). She also bagged a nomination for IIFA Best Supporting Actor Award for Pukar (2000). Making her debut in the Salman Khan and Twinkle Khanna starrer Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), she went on to feature in films like Kachche Dhaage (1999), and Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (2002). She also featured in the Gurinder Chadha-directed crossover film, Bride and Prejudice (2004), which was an adaptation of Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice. Namrata also acted in the Kannada film Chora Chittha Chora (1999), the Malayalam film Ezhupunna Tharakan (1999), and the Telugu films Vamsee (2000) and Anji (2003). Married to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu, the couple has a son and a daughter.

 

Vijay Anand gave filmgoers some iconic hits like Tere Ghar Ke Samne (1963), Guide (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970). The panache and flair of his films came to define an era. Today is his birth anniversary.

Director Satyen Bose gave some of the biggest hits of his time with Barjatri (1951), Jagriti (1954), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958) and Dosti (1964). Today is his birth anniversary.