indian cinema heritage foundation

Kedar Kapoor

Director
  • Born: 2 September, 1927 (Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India)
  • Died: 5 June, 1987 (Bombay)
  • Primary Cinema: Hindi
  • Children: Madhu Kapoor
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Born on 2 September, 1927 in Peshawar, filmmaker Kedar Kapoor directed several films in the course of his career and also has a few productions to his name. His career started from the 50s and lasted until the 80s. Among the earliest films he directed were Lal Pari (1954), Miss Coca Cola (1955), and Chenghiz Khan (1957). Other films he directed over the decades include Milan (1958), Commander (1959), Darasingh: Ironman (1964), Rustom-E-Hind (1965), Sunehra Jaal (1966), Farishta (1968), Toofan (1975), Do Hawaldar (1979), Manokaamnaa (1980), and Bekhabar (1983). He directed close to 40 films in the course of his career. He also produced Sapne Suhane (1961), Patanga (1971), and Chattan Singh (1974).

His debut directorial Lal Pari which released in 1954 starred Mahipal, Shakila, B M Vyas, Helen, and Johnny Walker, while his Miss Coca Cola which released the following year was a romantic thriller. The film was an early example of a brand (Coca Cola) being used in a film title. It was a commercial success at the box office, with Johnny Walker and Helen providing comic interest as native Spanish lovers. His Darasingh: Ironman, starring Dara Singh and Nishi, revolved around a woodcutter’s encounter with a palace dancer which proves costly for him and his family since they are hunted and tortured by the palace authorities for no reason. He directed Dara Singh again along with Mumtaz in Rustom-E-Hind. Kapoor’s Alibaba Marjinaa (1977) starred Prem Krishen as Alibaba and Tamanna as Marjina. 

Patanga was a drama which starred Shashi Kapoor, Vimi and Ajit. The music was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan. The film was a moderate success at the box office. His last production, Chattan Singh, starred Premnath in the title role, along with Vinod Mehra, Yogeeta Bali, and Aruna Irani with music by Kalyanji-Anandji.

He was the father of actress Madhu Kapoor, who made her debut in Rajshri production’s Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin (1979). 

Kedar Kapoor passed away on 5 June, 1987 in Bombay.