on this day

Film and television actor Kushal Punjabi passed away on 26 December 2019 at the age of 42 allegedly committing suicide by hanging.

Image credit:  https://m.rediff.com/news/commentary/2019/dec/27/actor-kushal-punjabi-dead/535cba665a88f23f4568845b1602372f

One of the Kumara Thrayaru or Kumar Triumvirate of Kannada cinema, Udayakumar was also a prolific writer besides being an actor of repute. A multifaceted man, he authored several plays and books and was admired by his fans in the various roles of playwright, lyricist, novelist, music composer, producer and director.     Image courtesy: Chiloka.com

Amongst the highest paid actresses of her time, Sadhana Shivdasani had around 30 box office successes to her credit. These include Hum Dono (1961), Mere Mehboob (1963), Woh Kaun Thi (1964), Rajkumar (1964), Waqt (1965), Mera Saaya (1966), Anita (1967), Sachaai (1969), and Ek Phool Do Mali (1969).

Though his name is associated primarily with the all-time classic Sholay(1975), G P Sippy produced many more hits like Brahmachari (1968), Andaz(1971), Seeta Aur Geeta(1972) among others. He passed away on this day in 2007. 

Ghulam Ahmed Chishti also known as G A Chishti and Baba Chishti   (17 August 1905-25 December 1994) excelled at Punjabi compositions and was apt at weaving the design of influences around Punjabi music. With almost 5,000 tunes to his credit, he composed scores for 140 – 150 films and was the first musician to reach the 100 films threshold in newly independent Pakistan after 1947.Being a poet, he had written lyrics for 12 of the most popular Pakistani film songs besides writing hundreds of other film songs during his career.

Credits:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghulam_Ahmed_Chishti, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUprpchgKNI

Comedian, actor and politician Raju Srivastava, born 25 December 1963 in Kanpur, acted in Baazigar, Bombay to Goa, Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya among others. He earned the title "The Comedy King".

 

Legendary for his role as Ram in Ram Rajya (1943), Prem Adib passed away on this day in 1959. 

Mani Kaul caused quite a stir with his films in the 70s, breaking the traditional rules of cinematic time and space and becoming the most hotly debated filmmaker from the Indian New Wave. His films continue to inspire young filmmakers to defy the conventions of mainstream cinema. Cinemaazi remembers him on his birth anniversary.

Naushad Ali was an Indian composer for Hindi films. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest and foremost music directors of the Hindi film industry. He is respectfully remembered as "Moseeqar-e-azam" (The great musician) in the Hindi film industry. He is particularly known for popularising the use of classical music in films.

Credit:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naushad

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)

M G Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, he left an unparalleled legacy in the spheres of both cinema and politics. From the late 40s till the 70s, he was the undisputed numero uno star of the Tamil film industry, delivering some of its biggest hits in history.

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.