on this day

Born in Kolkata in 1931, Manohari Singh grew up in a musical atmosphere, as his father and uncle were both in brass bands. After joining the brass band at Bata Shoe Company himself, he later played with the HMV Orchestra. A multi-instrumentalist, he soon got an opportunity to play at Firpo's. He learnt the saxophone to be able to play at nightclubs. Later Salil Chowdhury urged him to try his luck in Mumbai where he first worked with S D Burman, before becoming assistant and arranger for R D Burman. The saxophone player in the industry before him - Ram Singh, had passed away, which put him in high demand. With increasing influence of jazz in Hindi soundtracks, the stage was set for the saxophone to play a major role. He worked on the soundtracks of several memorable films like Guide (1965), Yeh Raat Phir Na Ayegi (1966), Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1967), Ram Aur Shyam (1967), Aradhana (1969), Sholay (1975) and many more. He also worked with Lakshmikant Pyarelal a lot. Working well into the recent times, his playing can be heard in films like Chalte Chalte (2003) and Veer Zaara (2004). 
He passed away on 13 July, 2010.

One of the most renowned actors of the Marathi stage, Nilu Phule passed away on 13 July, 2009. But his early interest was in gardening, and he wished to start his own nursery. He wrote his first play Udyan based on a Tagore novel. His folk-play, Yeraa Gabalache Kam Nohe was a political satire which gained some popularity. But it was the play Sakharam Binder which proved to be his breakthrough. He made his film debut in Ek Gaav Bara Bhanagadi (1968). He gained great notoriety for his prowess in playing villainous roles, leading to him being typecast in Marathi and Hindi films. Despite he delivered some memorable performances in films like Mukkam Post Dhebewadi (1969), Pinjra (1972), Samna (1975), Choricha Mamla (1975), Sinhasan (1980), Saaransh (1984) and many more. His discomfort with the Hindi dialect meant that he did more Marathi dramas and films. He was particularly adept at playing corrupt politicians, essaying some truly despicable ones in his career.

In image: Nilu Phule in Sinhasan (1980). Courtesy: Film History Pics

K K Mahajan was the go to cinematographer for the directors of the New Wave, where he could craft spell binding frames even while working on shoestring budgets. He passed away on 13 July, 2007. 

Image source: scroll.in, medium.com

Master Nissar joined Madan Theatres at the recommendation of Agha Hasr Kashmiri and make his debut in Shirin Farhad (1931). The film's success made him an overnight star and he formed a formidable box office pairing with Kajjan. Despite his early success, he later fell on hard times, spending his last days playing minor roles in films. He passed away on 13 July, 1980.

After directing a few successful films in the beginning of his directorial career, Prakash Mehra spotted the potential in Salim-Javed's unconventional script. He initially wanted to cast Dharmendra as the lead, but upon Salim-Javed's insistence went with Amitabh Bachchan instead. The resultant film was Zanjeer (1973) which changed the face of Hindi cinema. Prakash Mehra delivered many more blockbusters with Bachchan after that. He was born on 13 July, 1939 in Bijapur. 

Image source: Bollywood Direct

Any discussion on Indian theatre will mention the name of Satyadev Dubey for his immense contribution to the field. He was born on 13 July, 1936 in Madhya Pradesh. Although he moved to Bombay to pursue a life as a cricketer, he found himself amidst the theatre circle as a member of the Theatre Unit. Eventually, he headed the group and backed some of the most prolific plays in Indian theatre. Amongst his production were Girish Karnad’s Yayatti, Hayavadana, Chandrashekara Kambara’s Aur Tota Bola, Mohan Rakesh’s Aashe Adhure, and Vijay Tendulkar’s A Raincoat For All Seasons. He directed the acclaimed Marathi film Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1971), that was an adaptation of Vijay Tendulkar’s play. Some other noteworthy films that he wrote for are Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Bhumika (1977), Aakrosh (1980), Mandi (1983), and Party (1984). He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2011. Cinemaazi remembers the legend on his birth anniversary.

 

 

Despite acting in only 28 films, Bina Rai left quite an impression on audiences for her performances in films like Anarkali (1953) and Ghoonghat (1960). She was born on 13 July, 1932 in Lucknow. 

One of the most unique character actors of Bengali cinema, who exuded authority and charisma, overshadowing most heroes with his performances, Chhabi Biswas was born on 13 July, 1900. Though he is most widely remembered for his performances in Kabuliwala (1957) and Jalsaghar (1958), his list of great roles runs much deeper.

You have to be a special kind of villain for parents to be afraid to name their children after you! And yet Pran was so much more than just a villain. He passed away on 12 July, 2013.

A wrestling superstar turned stunt film icon, Dara Singh had initially made a cameo in Pehli Jhalak (1954) in a scene with Om Prakash. His debut as a hero was King Kong (1962) which became a commercial success, thus kickstarting his film career. Dara Singh passed away on 12 July, 2012.

Known as Jubilee Kumar for his tremendous success in the box office,Rajendra Kumar passed away on 12 July, 1999.

Birthday wishes going out to playback singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit, who was born this day, 12 July in 1954. Active in films in the 70s and early 80s, she began her career with Uljhan (1975), followed by films such as Sankoch (1976), Hera Pheri (1976), Apnapan (1977), Khandan (1979), Chehre Pe Chehra (1981), Waqt Ki Deewar (1981), and Dharam Kanta (1982). She worked opposite leading actors of the time such as Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, and Shatrughan Sinha. Hailing from a musically inclined family, Pandit’s singing career began in her childhood when she rendered the popular song Saat samundar paar se in Taqdeer (1967) with Lata Mangeshkar. Some of the films she rendered songs for are Door Ki Rahi (1971), Uljhan (1975), Sankoch (1976), Griha Pravesh (1979), Thodisi Bewafai (1980), Ahistaa Ahistaa (1981) and Saajan Ki Saheli (1981). She also sang in Bengali, Marathi, Oriya and Gujarati. Her ghazal album Jazbaat (HMV) was released in 1980. Singing duets with accomplished names including Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, and Yesudas, she worked with music directors such as Shankar Jaikishan, Laxmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji, and Rajesh Roshan. She also performed in 1986 at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the Festival of Indian Music. She last vocalised the alaap in the song Saagar kinare bhi do dil from Khamoshi (1996), which was composed by her brothers, music director duo Jatin and Lalit.

Poet, lyricist, writer and director, Nakshab Jarchavi was born in Jarcha, Uttar Pradesh on 12 July, 1925. After graduating from Aligarh Muslim University, he moved to Bombay. A poet and lyricist par excellence, he went on to give Hindi cinema many popular songs from the mid-40s till the early 50s. He wrote the lyrics for the qawwali Aahein na bhareen shikway na kiye, kuchh bhi na zaban se kaam liya for the Eastern Pictures film Zeenat (1945). It was rendered by the powerful trio of female singers, Noor Jehan, Zohrabai Ambalewali and Amirbai Karnataki. 

Image courtesy: http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Nakhshab_Jarchavi

One of the most significant Indian filmmakers of the 20th century, Bimal Roy's influence ran deep. He was born on 12 July, 1909 in Suapur. 

A bona fide legend in the world of Hindi literature of India, Bhisham Sahni also left a mark in Indian cinema with the adaptation of his epic Partition novel Tamas by Govind Nihalani. But his connection with cinema does not begin here as he was the brother of the legendary actor Balraj Sahni. 

Remembering Qateel Shifai on his death anniversary—the poet and lyricist passed away this day, 11 July in 2001, in Lahore (Pakistan) at the age of 81. Born Muhammad Aurangzeb in 1919, he assumed the name Qateel Shifai as his pseudonym in the world of poetry. Working as assistant editor of the literary magazine Adab-e-Latif, he also penned ghazals. Making his entry in the realm of films, he wrote the lyrics of Teri Yaad (1948) in Pakistan. Assistant to famous lyricists between 1948 and 1955, Shifai went on to become a highly successful film lyricist himself, winning several awards for his film song lyrics penned for Pakistani as well as Indian films. Some of the films he penned lyrics for include Qatil (1955), Intezar (1956), Shaheed (1962), Haveli (1964), Naila (1965), Shireen Farhad (1975), Painter Babu (1983), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993), Sir (1993), Naajayaz (1995), Tamanna (1996), Auzaar (1997), Bade Dilwala (1999), and Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999). His autobiography Ghungroo Toot Gaye made waves in the industry with its revelations.

T R Narasimharaju's gift of comedy made him known as the Hasya Chakravarthy. The great comic artiste passed away on 11 July, 1979. 

Jalal Agha was born on 11 July 1945 to popular comedian-actor Agha and his wife Masoom. He first acted as the child Jahangir in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) on screen. He continued to complete his education and graduated in acting from FTII, Pune. He made his debut as an adult in Bambai Raat Ki Bahon Mein (1967), a crime thriller. Other popular roles include Salim in Yaadon ki Baarat (1973), Julie’s lover Richard in Julie (1975) and, of course, his small yet unforgettable appearance as the enthusiastic rubab player and singer in Mehbooba O Mehbooba in Sholay(1975), alongside Helen. Another popular song picturised on him is Sama hai suhana suhana in Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani(1970). He also ventured into direction and screenplay writing and found his own production house, Maja Films. He started by directing ads and TV serials like Mr Ya Mrs (1987) and  Kahkashan (1991), a serial on six modern Urdu and Islamic poets.  His first feature film, Nirvaan, never saw the light of the day. His second film was Goonj (1989) which portrayed the communal violence that rocked the country in the 1980s. He acted in more than 60 movies and directed two.  After two years of his father's death, Jalal Agha too passed away at the age of 49 due to a heart attack. 

Celebrated as Hindi cinema’s foremost comedienne, Uma Devi Khatri, better known by her screen name Tun Tun, was a popular and well-loved actress and playback singer. She acted in no less than 198 films in Hindi and other languages including Punjabi, in the course of her career that spanned five decades. One of the few women among a league of male comedy actors of her time such as Bhagwan Dada, Agha, Sunder, Mukri, Dhumal, Johnny Walker and Keshto Mukherjee, she broke the existing glass ceiling.

Born on 11 July, 1923 in Delhi, Shoukat Hussain Ali Haidri would go on to be known as Nashad or Shaukat Ali in the world of cinema. A trained flautist, he moved to Bombay in the early 40s. Making his debut under the name of Shaukat Dehalvi in 1947's Dildaar, he would work in several films before Nakshab Jarchavi gave him the name Nashad in Naghma (1953). Na kisi ki aankh ka noor from Toote Taare (1948), Ek nahi do nahi char chand from Char Chand (1953), Milte hi nazar unse from Naghma (1953) Tasveer banata hun tasveer nahin banti from Baradari (1955) were some of his popular numbers.He also composed for Dada (1949), Ram Bharose (1951), Gazab (1951), Darwaza (1954), Subse Bada Rupaiya (1955), Jallad (1956), Bada Bhai (1957), Qatil (1960) and many more. He migrated to Pakistan in 1966. For fifteen years he gave several memorable hits in Pakistani cinema.

One of the most beloved comediennes in Hindi film history, as well as a talented singer, Tun Tun was born on 11 July, 1923.

One of the major stars of early Telugu cinema, Chilakalapudi Seeta Rama Anjaneyulu, better known as CSR Anjaneyulu, became famous for his portrayals of mythological characters like Ram and Krishna. His stardom and characterisations would precede figures like N T Rama Rao and Akkineni Nagheswara Rao. He was born on 11 July, 1907.