on this day

One of the foremost directors of Bengali cinema, Tapan Sinha passed away on this day in 2009. The films of Tapan Sinha have not received the attention that his more celebrated contemporaries Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak have.

Image source: Times of India

Known for playing character roles in successful films such as Dilli Ka Thug (1958), Oonche Log (1965), Maha Sati Savitri (1973), Dhoop Chhaon (1977), and Sadak (1991), today is the death anniversary of Kumud Tripathi. Known for mostly playing comic roles, he featured in approximately 73 films in the course of his career. Among these are Sangram (1955), Apradhi Kaun? (1957), Shama (1961), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Hungama (1971), Dus Numbri (1976), Angaare (1977), Chunaoti (1980), Sanam Teri Kasam (1982), Pasand Apni Apni (1983), Joshilaay (1989), Jurm (1990), and Humse Badhkar Kaun: The Entertainer (1998). He also acted in the teleseries Nukkad (1986-1987). Kumud Tripathi passed away on 15 January, 2001.

Happy Birthday, Bhanupriya! Born as Mangabhanu on this day in 1967, Bhanupriya established herself in the Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi film industries in the 1980-90s. Some of her popular films are Anveshana (1985), Swarnakamalam (1988), Aararo Aariraro (1989), Kasam Vardi Ki (1989), Azhagan (1991), Rajashilpi (1992), Rasika (1995), Azhakiya Ravanan (1996), Anantha Poongathe (1999), and People's Protector (2005). She also dabbles in Kuchipudi dance and voiceover work.

 

 

Known for composing evergreen songs such as Chashm-e-Buddoor, Kahan se aaye badra, Kaali ghodi dwaar khadi, Saawan ko aane do, Chand jaise mukhde pe, and Taqdeer se koi, music director Raj Kamal was born this day in 1921. A well-known Indian composer, Raj Kamal scored for films such as Dost Aur Dushman (1971), Payal Ki Jhankaar (1980), Chashme Buddoor (1981), Kanoon Meri Mutthi Mein (1984), Pratima (1985), and 7 Saal Baad (1987). He also composed music for successful teleserials such as Mahabharat (1988), Bahadur Shah Zafar, Vishnu Puran, and Ma Shakti. Raj Kamal passed away on 1 September, 2005.


Image credit:  https://www.facebook.com/wisemoviereview/posts/-death-anniversary-raj-kamal-a-tribute-%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C-%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2-raj-kamal-january-15-1921-septemb/367210484198577/

Born in a middle-class family in Jaipur on 15 January 1921, Sajjan Purohit was the youngest in a family of three brothers and one sister. One of his brothers was a Congress worker. The young Sajjan, however, had his heart set on a career in films. He died on 17 May 2000.

Today is the birth anniversary of actor Jagdish Sethi, who was born 15 January, 1903. He acted in umpteen films right from the 30s up until the 70s. Some of his films include Alam Ara (1931), Draupadi (1931), Shikari (1932), Anokha Prem (1934), Bhole Bhale (1936), Badi Bahen (1937), Dushman (1938), Jawani Ki Reet (1939), Ghar Ki Laaj (1941), Maa Baap (1944), Azaadi Ki Raah Par (1948), Ilzaam (1954), Kanhaiya (1959), Batwara (1961), Awara Badal (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), Sikandar-E-Azam (1965), Rahul (1964), and Hum Tum Aur Woh (1971). Known for his character roles, he also turned director, helming films Insaan (1952), Jaggu (1952) and Do Dil (1947).

National Award winning director Nabyendu Chatterjee passed away on this day in 2009. Initially starting off as an actor, he later became an assistant to Aravind Mukherjee. He made his debut as a director with Naya Rasta (1967). He later became a well known director in Bengali cinema, known for his unconventional choices in texts to adapt. Some of his renowned films are Adwitiya (1968), Ranur Pratham Bhag (1972), Aaj Kal Parshur Galpa (1981), Chopper (1985), Sarisreep (1987), Parashuramer Kuthar (1989) for which Sreelekha Mukherji won the National Award for Best Actress, the National Award winning Atmaja (1990), and Shilpi (1994). His style sometimes mirrored Mrinal Sen's experimental approach from the early 70s. He left his film Sanskar incomplete when he passed away in 2009.

Image source: www.imdb.com

 

 

He went on to become the assistant of the legendary composer, S.N. Tripathi, who mentored him and secured him a break as an independent music director. Chitragupta made his debut in the film Fighting Hero (1946). This was followed by several mythological, period, stunt and action films – the staple of the B-grade movie industry. Despite the tight budget, his calibre and talent shone through.

Today is the birth anniversary of the singer with the baritone that conveyed myriad emotions - Shyamal Mitra. Born on 14 January, 1929, he is one of the most significant music personalities of the golden era of Bengali music. Besides Bengali songs and film songs, Mitra worked with other forms of Bengali music including Rabindrasangeet, Nazrul Geeti, Chotoder Gaan, and Atul Prasadi. In the Bengali industry, he composed music for films such as Joy Maa Kali Boarding (1955), Jamalaye Jibonto Manush (1958), Bhranti Bilash (1963), Trishna (1965), Hotath Dekha (1967), Samantaral (1970), and many more. He also rendered popular playback songs including Phire chol phire chol, and Ki naam deke bolbo tomake. Joining Salil Chowdhury in Bombay, he worked on Hindi films such as Musafir (1957), Biraj Bahu (1954), and Naukri 91954). He also worked in films like Amanush (1975), Anand Ashram (1977), Bandi (1957), Safed Jhoot (1977), and Mamta (1966). He turned producer with Deya Neya (1963), followed by other productions such as Rajkanya (1965), Kheya (1967), Ami Se O Sakha (1975), and Garh Nasimpur (1968), which he also distributed. Mitra also acted in the Bengali films Sharey Chuattar (1953) and Saapmochan (1955). He passed away on 15 November, 1987.

Image source: www.facebook.com

Today we celebrate the birth anniversary of one of 20th century's greatest Urdu poets and lyricists Kaifi Azmi. His poignant verses enthralled film audiences in countless films.

Born on this day in 1905, Durga Khote had a magnificent career spanning nearly 50 years, in which she stared in influential films like Ayodhecha Raja (1932), Sairandhri (1933) and Amar Jyoti (1935).

Appearing in over 400 films in her career, Anjali Devi remains one of the most popular and influential figures in Tamil cinema. She also achieved success in Telugu, Kannada and Hindi cinema. Today is her death anniversary. 

Today we remember music composer, Shambhu Sen, on the occasion of his death anniversary. He scored the music as well as wrote the lyrics for the film Mrig Trishna (1975), and Banno (1987). His songs for Mrig Trishna were rendered by leading singers such as Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, and Asha Bhosle. Sun man ke meet more prem geet was sung by Lata, while Nav kalpanaa nav rup se rachanaa rachi jab naar ki was sung by Rafi. Nain thake was again a Lata rendition, while Aas ka jhoota was sung by Mehdi Hassan. Asha Bhosle rendered Saajan saajan mai karu while Madan Sen sang Kehi kaaran sundar hath jariyo. Sen passed away on 13 January, 1998.

Birthday wishes going out to popular screenwriter, dialogue writer and playwright, Javed Siddiqui, who was born this day in 1942. With more than 50 works to his credit, Siddiqui has worked across genres in critically acclaimed films like Umrao Jaan (1981), Mammo (1994), Fiza (2000), Zubeidaa (2001) and Tehzeeb (2003); as well as commercial blockbusters including Baazigar (1993), Darr (1993), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Raja Hindustani (1996), Pardes (1997), Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001) and Koi... Mil Gaya (2003). He has been winner of awards such as the Filmfare Award for Baazigar for Best Screenplay, the Filmfare Award for Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge for Best Dialogues, and the Screen Award for Raja Hindustani for Best Screenplay. Having worked with a range of directors such as Satyajit Ray, Yash Chopra, Shyam Benegal and Subhash Ghai, he has also been a keen contributor to theatre, serving as IPTA National Vice-President, contributing to the establishing of Marathi IPTA, as well as penning successful plays such as Tumhari Amrita, Saalgirah, Andhe Choohe, 1857: Ek Safarnama, and Begum Jaan.
Image credit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z474N8p4Xyc

Hailing from Jammu, he is renowned for making the folk instrument, the santoor, a popular classical instrument. Born this day in 1938, he started learning the santoor at the age of 13, and gave his first public performance in Bombay in 1955. Five years later, he recorded his first solo album. A music composer as well, he scored the background music for a scene in V Shantaram's Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1956). In collaboration with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia—they went by the name Shiv-Hari—he composed music for films such as Silsila (1980), Faasle (1985), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991), and Darr (1993), which are memorable musical hits. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma has been honoured with several national and international awards, such as an honorary citizenship of the city of Baltimore, USA, the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986, the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001.

Image credit:  https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2022/may/10/34378/composer-and-santoor-maestro-pandit-shivkumar-sharma-dies-at-84

A talented music composer whose career never reached the heights it could have, Sardar Malik was born on this day in 1930. Leaving home to pursue his dream of music, he gave music for a number of films over 30years, attaining particular popularity for his work in Saranga (1960). 

Image Source: Beete Hue Din

Born on this day in 1926, Shakti Samanta played an instrumental role in creating the Rajesh Khanna phenomenon, with films like Aradhana (1969), Kati Patang (1970) and Amar Prem (1971) taking the nation by storm.