on this day

Veteran character actor Satish Kaul has approximately 300 Punjabi and Hindi films to his credit. He became a household name after playing the role of Lord Indra in the TV show Mahabharat. Among the films he featured in are Janam Janam (1988), Sheetla Mata (1981), Karma (1986), Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha (1998), Aunty No 1 (1998), Zanjeer (1973), Yaraana (1981), and Ram Lakhan (1989). He also acted in the TV serials Vikram Aur Betaal, Circus and Manoranjan. He was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at PTC Punjabi Film Awards in 2011.

 

 

Beginning her career in the 1920s, Mehtab caught everyone's eye in Chitralekha (1941). She went on to play Jhansi Ki Rani in her husband Sohrab Modi's spectacular 1953 film. Today is her death anniversary. 

Mahesh Kaul wrote, assisted and even acted in films before he got his chance as a director. He went on to make acclaimed films like Talaq (1958) and Sautela Bhai (1962). Today is his birth anniversary. 

One of the directors who defined the mainstream romance in the 60s and early 70s, Shakti Samanta passed away on this day in 2009. Though primarily associated with the Rajesh Khanna blockbusters, he started making films from the mid-50s, giving hits like Bahu (1955), Howrah Bridge (1958), China Town (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) and An Evening In Paris (1967).

Cinemaazi wishes Jaya Bhaduri a very happy birthday. She was the face that changed the way the Hindi film heroine looked, her simplicity and formidable talent overshadowing heroines who relied on glamour. She acted in back-to-back hits from 1971 to 1975. 

 

Jaddanbai wore many hats as a singer, actor, producer and director of early India cinema. She recorded several songs with Columbia Gramophone Company and acted in films like Raja Gopichand (1933), Prem Pariksha (1934) and Seva Sadan (1935). Cinemaazi remembers her on her death anniversary. 

Pandit Husnlal formed one half of the first music duo Husnlal Bhagatram of Hindi cinema. Born on this day in 1920 in Jalandhar, Punjab, Husnlal was an accomplished violinist. He along with his brother left an indelible mark on the soundscape of Hindi cinema. Cinemaazi remembers the maestro on his birth anniversary.

One of the most influential writers of modern Bengali literature, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee passed away on this day in 1894. Making significant contributions to the development of the modern Bengali novel, he was a key figure of the Bengali renaissance. His writings had an immense impact on the early nationalist movement, proclaiming the spiritual superiority of India over the west. Alongside his huge influence on literature, he remains one of the most adapted authors in cinema.
The earliest Bankim Chandra adaptation was Madan Theatres' Bishabrikkha (1922) directed by Jyotish Bannerjee. Madan's strategy of adapting classic Bengali literature meant they would produce several more adaptations. Jyotish Bannerjee and Priyanath Ganguly helmed several of these projects, often starring Durgadas Bannerjee. Some of these were Krishnakanter Will (1926), Durgesh Nandini (1927), Kapal Kundala (1929) and Rajsingha (1930). Debaki Bose made Chandrasekhar in 1947 while Nitin Bose's Mashal (1950) was based on Rajani. Hemen Gupta made his Hindi film debut with an adaptation of Anandmath in 1952. Suchitra Sen gave a memorable performance in 1974's Debi Choudhurani (1974). Dinen Gupta adapted Rajani in 1978. One of the more recent adaptations was Raja Sen's Krishnakanter Will (2007) which won the National Award for Best Costume Design.