on this day

One of the most influential cinematographers in Hindi film history, V K Murthy's visionary genius was a key aspect of Guru Dutt's poetic melodramas. Today is his death anniversary.

Remembering Sadashiv J Row Kavi on the occasion of his death anniversary. The producer-director had passed away this day, 7 April in 1974. He is known for producing films such as Didi (1959), Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke (1957), and Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961). His directorials include Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan, and Begaana (1963). While Begaana featured Dharmendra and Supriya Choudhary in the lead roles, Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan starred Meena Kumari. The film, a sentimental melodrama, helped established Kumari’s image as the Queen of Tragedy. Hum Panchi Ek Daal Ke, starring Romi, Satish Vyas, Mohan Choti, Daisy Irani and Jagdeep in lead roles, won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film.

Cinemaazi wishes Rahul Rawail a very happy birthday. The trendsetting director of films like Betaab (1983), Arjun (1985), Dacait (1987), is known for introducing Sunny Deol, Amrita Singh, Annu Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Kajol in his films.

Cinemaazi wishes Jeetendra a very happy birthday! From his Jumping Jack avatar to essaying serious roles in Gulzar's films, he has done it all. After making his debut in V Shantaram's Navrang (1959), his career received a shot in the arm in Ravikant Nagaich's Farz (1967), which turned him into a trendsetter. 

Born as Abdul Kadir on 7 April, 1926, Prem Nazir went on to become the biggest superstar in Malayalam cinema's history. His star aura was instrumental for the success of Udaya and Merryland studios, putting Malayalam cinema on a firm footing. He was known chiefly for his romantic roles, drawing from the tradition of pastoral poetry of Changampuzha and G Sankara Kurup. Fortunes of great Malayalam songwriters like O N V Kurup, P Bhaskaran and Vyalar Rama Varma were intertwined with Nazir's rise to stardom. Making his debut with Marumakal (1952), he carried over the acting chops he gained as a theatre performer in his college days. This lent itself well to the mythologicals and romantic melodramas he usually starred in. 
Some of his notable performances came in Padatha Paingili (1957), Unniyarcha (1961), Bhargavi Nilayam (1964), Iruttinte Athmavu (1967), Thurakkatha Vathil (1970), Maya (1972), Aromalunni (1972), Kannappanunni (1977) and many others. He enjoyed tremendous chemistry with actors like Sheela, Adoor Bhasi and Jayabharathi. He reigned as the undisputed top star of the industry from the mid-50s till 70s, and later transitioned to character roles. Combining elements of fantasy and realism, his films were considered more accessible than his contempraries'. He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1983 and the Prem Nazir Award was instituted in his memory. Cinemaazi remembers him for his immense contributions on his birth anniversary.

Character actress Mumtaz Begum was born this day, 7 April in 1923. Starting her career in the 1950s, she featured in films over approximately three decades. Some of her films include Dahej (1950), Deewana (1952), Jagriti (1954), Yasmin (1955), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), New Delhi (1956), Lajwanti (1958), Kala Bazar (1960), Barsaat Ki Raat (1960), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Dil Tera Diwana (1962), Anpadh (1962), Mere Mehboob (1963), Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Neel Kamal (1968), Gambler (1971), Dil Diwana (1974), Bhola Bhala (1978), and Aatish (1979). Besides Hindi, Mumtaz Begum also acted in Punjabi language cinema, featuring in films such as Takkra (1976), Yamla Jatt (1976), Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar (1970) and Chambe Di Kali (1960).

Arguably the most renowned sitarist in the world, Pandit Ravi Shankar also had a stellar career in films. Initially training to be a dancer, he later trained under Ustad Alllauddin Khan. Neecha Nagar (1946) was his first film as a music director, followed by Dharti Ke Lal (1946), The Apu trilogy, Kabuliwala (1957), Parash Pathar (1958), Anuradha (1960), Meera (1979), Gandhi (1982), Genesis (1986), as well as international films like The Flute and The Arrow and Chappaqua. Today is the maestro's 101st birth anniversary.

Cinemaazi remembers lyricist Maya Govind (17 January 1940 – 6 April 2022) on her death anniversary.


Image credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyPZQS1SarM

Cinemaazi remembers the actor Raj Kishore on his second death anniversary. Often cast in supporting roles, Raj Kishore’s first credited film appearance was in the 1949 release Patanga. Over the years, he played small roles in films like Padosan (1968), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Bombay To Goa (1972) and even the iconic Karan Arjun (1995). Still remembered for his brief appearance in the epic Sholay (1975), where he appeared as one of the prisoners alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra, he was also featured in the Raaj Kumar- Meena Kumari-Nadira starrerDil Apna Aur Preet Parai(1960) in a song voiced by Mohammed Rafi.

Cinemaazi remembers P K Nair (6 April 1933 – 4 March 2016),  film scholar and archivist who was the founder and director of the National Film Archive of India in 1964 on his birth anniversary


Image credit: https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/noted-film-archivist-pk-nair-passes-away/story-WRgBKMlrBjbmz0vAWI6yhI.html

The star who defined an era of Bengali cinema, the ethereal Suchitra Sen was born on this day in 1931.

Trained under Surendra Pai and Pandurang Naik at Prabhat Studios,V Babasaheb (2 January 1918-5 April 2014) went on to become an accomplished cinematographer, renowned for his collaborations with Amiya Chakraborty and J Om Prakash. He passed away on this day in 2014. 

Remembering Patience Cooper, considered by many to be the first Indian film star, on the occasion of her death anniversary. An Anglo-Indian from Calcutta born around 1905, she started off as a dancer in a Eurasian troupe called Bandmann’s Musical Comedy, before she was signed up by Madan’s Corinthian Stage Company. Strikingly beautiful, she went on to play the lead in several Madan Theatres pictures such as Nala Damayanti (1920), Dhruva Charitra (1921), Pati Bhakti (1922), Ratnavali (1922) and Noorjehan (1923). Established in silent films she also successfully made the transition to talkies. With Cooper’s sharp eyes and skin tone, technicians were able to achieve the ‘Hollywood look’, experimenting with eye-level lighting. Playing some of the earliest double roles in Indian films in Patni Pratap (1923), as well as Kashmiri Sundari (1925), Patience starred as leading lady through the 30s. Featuring in Iraada (1944) and Khan Saheb (1946), which were among her last films, she migrated to Pakistan in 1947. Changing her name to Sabra Begum, she adopted and cared for several children. Patience Cooper passed away on 5 April, 1993 in Karachi.

Divya Bharti's promising career was cut short by her untimely death on this day.