Jagatrai Pesumal Advani

Born in Hyderabad in 1903, Jagatrai Pesumal Advani became a noted director during the early talkies era, particularly renowned for his women-centric films. He studied filmmaking in Germany in the 20s. After returning to India, he became Mohan Dayaram Bhavnani’s assistant. He made his directorial debut with Heer Ranjha (1931) for Krishnatone. Moving on to Saroj Movietone, he directed Sardar Akhtar in several films like Gafil Musafir (1934), Tilasmi Talwar(1934), and Sham Behram (1935). Other films were Afghan Abla(1934), Bahar e Sulemani (1935), Elaan-e-Jung (1936), Sipahsalaar (1936), Insaaf (1937), Dekha Jayega (1939), Dharma Bandhan (1940), Shehzadi(1941), Suhagan(1942) and Sassi Punnu (1946). Elaan-e-Jung and Sipasalar starred Khursheed, while he made Farebi Duniya (1935) with Sardar Akhtar for Karachi based Golden Eagle Company. Sassi Punnu was a Punabi/Hindi bilingual. He made the Anil Biswas composed musicalsVeena (1948), Laadli(1949) and Lajawaab(1950).  His last film was the P Jairaj and Durga Khote starrer Hasina (1955).