on this day

Cinemaazi remembers Nalini Jaywant on her 10th death anniversary. An immensely popular actress in the 50s, she started acting when she was only 15 years old in Mehboob Khan's Bahen (1941)

Remembering P Bhanumathi Ramakrishna, acknowledged as Telugu cinema’s first female superstar, on the occasion of her death anniversary. Born on 7 September, 1924 she was also director, music director, singer, producer, novelist and lyricist. Entering the film industry in 1939, she acted in over 200 films in Telugu and Tamil. Some of her key films include Swargaseema (1945), Laila Majnu (1949), Prema/ Kathal (1952), Chandirani (1953), Chakrapani (1954), Malaikallan (1954), Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum (1955) and Madurai Veeran (1956). A talented writer, she won the Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy as best short story writer, served as Director and Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, and was also well-known for her work in philanthropy, being associated with a number of social service organisations. Awarded the Padma Bhushan for her contribution to Indian cinema, she was also honoured among "women in cinema" at the 30th International Film Festival of India. Awarded the Rashtrapati Award in acting for Annai (1962), Antastulu (1965) and Palnati Yuddham ( 1966), she was also conferred the government National Award for Best Writer for the book Nalo Nenu, an autobiography. P Bhanumathi passed away on 24 December, 2005.

Image: P Bhanumathi with Gemini Ganeshan in Pattathu Rani (1967)

Cinemaazi wishes Anil Kapoor a very happy birthday! The 'ek dum jhakaas' actor rose to prominence in the mid-80s, going on to star in acclaimed films like Mashaal (1984), Mr India (1987), Tezaab (1988), Parinda (1989), 1942: A Love Story (1994) and Pukar (2000). He later transitioned into becoming a noted character actor.

Arguably the greatest male playback singer in Hindi cinema history, Mohammed Rafi was born on this day in 1924. Cinemaazi salutes the legend on his birth anniversary.

Urdu poet and lyricist Qateel Shifai, hailing from Pakistan, was born Muhammad Aurangzeb this day in 1919. Working as assistant editor of the literary magazine Adab-e-Latif, he was assigned the writing of the songs for the film Teri Yaad (1948), which was the first feature film released in the Pakistani film industry. Assisting some of the famous poets and lyricists of the time between 1948 and 1955, Qateel went on to become a successful film lyricist of Pakistan, winning several awards for his film song lyrics. He wrote songs for more than 200 Pakistani and Indian films, such as Qatil (1955), Shaheed (1962), Haveli (1964), Shireen Farhad (1975), Phir Teri Kahani Yaad Aayee (1993), Naaraz (1994), Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan (1999), and Bade Dilwala (1999). Among the honours he was conferred are the Pride of Performance Award in 1994 for his contribution to literature by the Government of Pakistan, Adamjee Literary Award, Naqoosh Award, Abbasin Arts Council Award in Pakistan and the Special Millennium Nigar Award for his lifetime contribution to the Pakistan film industry, as well as the prestigious Amir Khusro Award in India. Qateel Shifai died on 11 July, 2001 in Lahore, Pakistan.

One of the most striking figures to appear in Indian cinema, Sheikh Mukhtar was born on this day in 1914. Cinemaazi remembers the actor on his birth anniversary. 

Today marks the death anniversary of ‘Iyakkunar Sigaram’ or ‘Director Paramount’, as he was respectfully titled by fans. And rightfully so—K Balachander’s unconventional style of filmmaking, coupled with his penchant for unusual themes and contemporary subjects, and key portrayal of women, marked him out as director supreme. Beginning as a screenwriter and graduating to directing with Neerkumizhi (1965), K Balachander worked on approximately 100 films over the course of 50 years, winning 9 National Film Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards. He was also conferred the Padma Shri and the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinematic award. He also made films under his production house, Kavithalaya Productions. Active in Tamil cinema, he also made films in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi, besides directing a few TV serials and making a few film appearances as well. Known for nurturing talents such as Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, Jayaprada, Sridevi, Prakash Raj, and Ramesh Aravind among others, he is memorable for his many films including Aval Oru Thodarkadhai (1974), Apoorva Raagangal (1976), Avargal (1977), Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu (1980), Ek Duje Ke Liye (1981), Achamillai Achamillai (1984), Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), and Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal (1990). K Balachander had passed away on 23 December, 2014.

Image Credit: Indianexpress

Hindi film writer, director and producer Jainendra Jain had passed away this day in 2007. Born on 4 October, 1939, Jain started off working as a journalist for The Times of India, for more than a decade. He made his debut writing the dialogues of Raj Kapoor’s Rishi Kapoor-Dimple Kapadia starrer Bobby (1973), which became a smash hit; the second top grossing hit of the 1970s. Jain wrote for more hits such as Judaai (1997), Kalicharan (1976) which was Subhash Ghai’s directorial debut, Henna (1991), Daag: The Fire (1999), Hum Aapke Dil Mein Rehte Hain (1999), the Salman Khan-starrer Tere Naam (2003), Woh Saat Din (1983), Prem Rog (1982), Dhai Akshar Prem Ke (2000), and Andaaz (2003) which was the screen debut of both Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra. Working often with filmmakers such as Bapu, K. Vishwanath,  Satish Kaushik and Raj Kanwar, Jain was responsible for writing dialogues for the first lead roles for Jaya Prada, Khushboo, Padmini Kolhapure and Anil Kapoor. He also produced and directed Jaanoo (1985). Jainendra Jain passed away on 23 December, 2007 in Mumbai.

Today is the death anniversary of film director Raman B Desai. He passed away on 22 December, 1997 in Mumbai. Born on 28 April, 1918, Desai has films such as Grihalakshmi (1959), Chandi Pooja (1957),Mohini (1957), Naag Mani (1957), Ram Navami (1956),Navratri(1955), Waman Avtar (1955), Chakradhari (1954), Hari Darshan(1953),Naag Panchami(1953), and Raja Harishchandra (1952) to his credit. Chakradhari, coming at a time when the Registration of Marriages Act was introduced in free India, explored the theme of a man's love for his wife, his spiritual awakening in his wife's home as he marries daughters of the same household, and the presence of the divine in this world.

Bringing in folk and classical influences in folk music, Vasant Desai had a fruitful career, beginning from Prabhat Film Studios to his long collaboration with V Shantaram. He passed away on this day in 1975.