on this day

Singer-music director Ajit Merchant passed away this day, 18 March in 2011. Born in 1925, he started off as a drama artiste, before he found his calling in music. He went on to compose the music for Hindi films such as Refugee (1948), Raj Kumari (1955), Indra Leela (1956), Chandi Pooja (1957), Ram Bhakta Vibhishan (1958), Sapera (1961), Challenge (1964), Lady Killer (1968), as well as Gujarati films like Kariyavar (1948), Divadandi (1950), Lagna Mandap (1950), and Bahuroopi (1969). His break as a music director on All India Radio came by a stroke of luck—when the designated music director was not available for the day. Merchant’s compositions for the radio feature were appreciated, and there was no looking back. Working as an assistant to Ashok Ghosh composing music for a Ranjit Movietone film, Merchant got his first independent break as music director with Refugee (1948), followed by the Gujarati film Kariyawar (1948). Among his well-known songs are Roop tumhara aankhon se pi lun, Ujadi hui ishq ki duniya tere bagair, and Panchhi gaane lage prabhati. Ajit Merchant was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award by Maharashtra Rajya Gujarati Sahitya Akademi. 

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The famed actress-singer Rajkumari Dubey, also known as Rajkumari Banaraswali passed away on this day in 2000. Known for her dulcet voice, she starred in several successful films of the 30s, before deciding to focus solely on playback singing. 

This week is the birth (18 March) and death (19 March) anniversaries of Navin Nischol, an actor who starred in several hits. An underrated actor, Navin had a very good voice and flawless diction both of which are rare. He brightened the cinema of 1970s with films such as, Parwana (1971), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Dhund (1973) and Hanste Zakhm (1973) - a film that was the great breakthrough of his career.

Nischol played the lead in Parwana, while Amitabh Bachchan was cast as the villain. Zanjeer was yet to arrive.

Nischol always had some wonderful songs to sing on screen - Raat Kali Ek Khwab Men Aai and Bhali Bhali Si Ek Surat (Buddha Mil Gaya), Dekha Main Ne Dekha (Victoria No. 203), Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho, To Yeh Lagta Hai, Ke Jahaan Mil Gaya and Yeh Maana Meri Jaan, Mohabbat Saza Hai (Hanste Zakhm), are just some examples.

His performance in Lekh Tandon's Ek Baar Kaho is gentle, sophisticated and memorable.

He used to often reminisce about his overnight stardom and the cruelty with which it was snatched away.

The enigmatic and ever charming actor of Indian cinema, Shashi Kapoor (born on 18 March 1938) was considered as the epitome of grace and an era in himself altogether. Starring in around 160 Indian and Foreign films in a three decade long career, he left an indelible mark for himself in the history of cinema. He breatehd his last on 4 December 2017.

Cinemaazi remembers documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Fali Bilimoria on the occasion of his birth anniversary – 18 March, 1923. Bombay-born son of a lawyer, Fali quit his medical studies in 1946 to move to politics. A documentary director and producer since the late 40s, he partnered with other makers like P V Pathy and Paul Zils, before starting his own Fali Bilimoria Productions in 1959. Among his well-known documentary films are The House That Ananda Built, A Village in Travancore, The Weavers, Four Families, and Coir Worker. He explored topics such as agricultural technology, co- operative movements in handloom, fisheries, housing, etc. His clients included Shell, British Transport, Deutsche Condor, the USIS and private American sponsors. Bilimoria blurred the line between documentary and fiction narrative in many of his works, by introducing professional actors. This is evinced in his documentary on malaria, titled A Tiny Thing Brings Death, which starred Sombhu Mitra. He also made documentaries on the Congress Sessions of 1947 and 1948. Retiring in 1987, Fali Bilimoria passed away in 2001. 

In image: A still from the House That Ananda Built (1968). Courtesy: Mubi

Remembering writer-director Jyoti Swaroop on the occasion of his death anniversary, 17 March, 1991. Starting his career as assistant director with Talaaq (1958), he debuted as director with Miya Bibi Razi (1960), starring Mehmood, Manorama, and David Abraham. Among the films he went on to direct are Bin Badal Barsaat (1963), Padosan (1968), Parwana (1971), and Naya Zaher (1991). Making his debut as screenplay writer with the Sanjay Khan, Parveen Babi, and Rakesh Roshan-starrer Trimurti (1974), he also worked on the screenplays of hits such as Satte Pe Satta (1982), Sweekar Kiya Maine (1983), Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), and Sarphira (1992).

Best remembered for his last work, the evergreen tunes of Pakeezah (1972), Ghulam Mohammed had been involved in theatre from a young age, been an assistant to Naushad and composed for films since the 40s. Today is his death anniversary.

Best remembered for his passionate performance as Shankar in Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Anil Chatterjee was one of the few actors to have featured in the films of almost all the great masters of Bengali cinema, including Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak, Tapan Sinha, Asit Sen and others. Acting in over 200 films, he also earned acclaim for his performance as Deshbandhu Chittaranjan. Today is his 25th death anniversary.

Sreekumaran Thampi is a versatile artist who has achieved success in all of his endeavors as a lyricist, poet, novelist, film and television director, producer, and music director. Born on this day in 1940, he was trained as an engineer and worked in the Kerala town planning for two years. In 1966, Thampi entered the film world as a lyricist for P Subramaniam’s Kaattumallika. Most famously known as a lyricist, his words were filled with observations on the nature of life. As a filmmaker, his stories often explored the inner and external life of his characters, navigating the tumultuous relationships with family and love. Some of his noteworthy films are Chandrakantham (1976), Maalika Paniyunnavar (1979), Venalil Oru Mazha (1979), Gaanam (1982) Yuvajanolsavam (1986), and Ammakkoru Tharattu (2015). Lending agency to his female characters and sensitivity and vulnerability to his male characters, Thampi distinguished himself from his predecessors who were more engaged in political cinema and a way back to the rural life. His films were from a modernist and rationalist standpoint while being concerned with the question of love and relationships. Also a celebrated author and poet, Thampi has been honoured with several prestigious awards for his contribution to the film and literary cultural heritage of Kerala. Cinemaazi wishes him on his birthday!

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Remembering music composer and academic Bhaskar Chandavarkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary - 16 March, 1939. Working across film industries, he scored music for more than 40 films in different languages. Teaching Applied Music and serving as the resident music composer of FTII, Pune, he went on to compose music for many New Wave films in the 80s. His skill stands out in his compositions for films such as Girish Karnad's Ondanondu Kaladalli (1978), Mrinal Sen's Khandahaar (1983), Aparna Sen's Paroma (1984), Vijaya Mehta's Rao Saheb (1986) and Sandeep Sawant's Shwaas (2004). He also created critically acclaimed scores for stage productions such as Vijay Tendulkar’s Ghashiram Kotwal directed by Jabbar Patel in 1972, as well as P L Deshpande's Teen Paishacha Tamasha. A multi-faceted talent, he was trained in sitar by greats like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Umashankar Misra, as well as in Hindustani vocal music, and contemporary western traditions. Among the honours he received were the Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contribution to music, and the National Award for music direction in Kranti Kanade's Chaitra (2002). Chandavarkar passed away in 2009.

Cinemaazi remembers actor Daya Kishan Sapru, known as Sapru, on his birth anniversary (16 March 1916). In his career spanning over 40 years, he acted in more than 350 films, starting as a lead hero then shifting to roles as a villain and character actor.