on this day

Today marks the death anniversary of renowned flautist and music composer, Raghunath Seth, who passed away this day in 2014. Born in Gwalior in 1931, he is remembered for his evocative melodies rendered on the bamboo flute, and his versatility as a performer and composer. Known for his appealing interpretation of ragas via the bansuri, he transported listeners to great heights. He also scored the music for both short films as well as feature films including Phir Bhi (1971), Ek Baar Phir (1980), Yeh Nazdeekiyan (1982), Damul (1985), Mrityudand (1997), and others. Honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1994, Pandit Raghunath Seth’s name remains etched among the legendary instrumentalists of the country.

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In a six decade long career, Manorama was everything from a child actor, heroine, villain and comic actor. Today is her death anniversary. 

Noted film publicist, journalist and writer Bunny Reuben passed away on this day in 2007. He was the writer of several books on the stars of Hindi cinema, most notably on Raj Kapoor, Pran, Dilip Kumar and Mehboob Khan. Working as a journalist for Movie Times, The Sunday Standard, Filmfare, Star & Style, he was also the founder editor of Cine Blitz. He also published a collection of short stories called Monkey on the Hill of God and a novel called You, I and Her.

Image credit:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOJtHuv5iEw

Remembered for his roles in Saeed Mirza's Arvind Desai Ki Ajeeb Dastan (1978) and Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai (1980) and the teleseries Nukkad, Dilip Dhawan became a household name in the 80s. Today is his 20th death anniversary. 

Remembering accomplished classical singer, music director, and actor Sureshbabu Mane, on the occasion of his death anniversary. The first child of Abdul Karim Khan and Tarabai, he was born Abdul Rehman in 1902. He trained under his father and uncle Abdul Waheed Khan, rising to become a key Hindustani classical music singer of the Kirana Gharana. Proficient in Khyal, Thumri, Marathi Natya Sangeet and Bhajan forms of singing, he also played the tabla and harmonium. Sureshbabu also acted on stage, as well as in films such as Amrit Manthan (1934), Chandrasena (1935), and Rajput Ramani (1936). He scored the music for films such as Savitri (1936), Sach Hai (1939) and Devyani (1940). Among his disciples were Hirabai Badodekar and Dr Prabha Atre, while he also guided Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and Dr Vasantrao Deshpande, among others. Sureshbabu Mane passed away on 15 February, 1953.

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Cinemaazi wishes a very happy birthday to Randhir Kapoor! Son of Raj Kapoor, he starred in a number of successful films in the 70s, eventually turning director as well.

On 15 February, 1869, Mirza Ghalib (born on 27 December 1797), arguably the greatest Urdu poet in history passed away in Delhi. The tremendous influence of Ghalib on later Urdu poets and lyricists cannot be underestimated. Like the sphere of literature, cinema too has been enriched by his poetry. His poems have been adapted into songs in films like Yahudi Ki Ladki (1933), Chaurangi (1942), Apna Desh (1949) and most notably in Sohrab Modi's biopic on him - Mirza Ghalib (1954). Bharat Bhushan had essayed the role of the poet in the film. A Pakistani film was also made on him in 1961. In 1988, Gulzar directed a television series on his life in which Naseeruddin Shah played the eponymous role. The ghazals for the show were composed by Jagjit and Chitra Singh. 

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Javed Khan Amrohi (24 March 1949 – 14 February 2023), worked in more than 150 films, he is prominently rememberd for Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Chak De! India (2007), Phir Hera Pheri (2006) , etc

On this day in 1931, New Delhi was inaugurated as the new capital of undivided India, completing the transfer of administrative power from Calcutta. Although it was announced in 1911 itself, it took 20 years for the construction of the new capital to be completed. It is interesting to revisit the many films that have been set in this historical city on this occasion. One of the more interesting ones was Mohan Segal's classic New Delhi (1956). What is your favourite film set in the capital?

Cinemaazi remembers Madhubala on her birth anniversary. Born as Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi on 14 Feb 1933, she adopted the screen name Madhubala suggested by Devika Rani. While she first appeared in Basant (1942) when she was only 9 years old, her first lead role, at 14, was in Neel Kamal (1947). She achieved stardom with Mahal (1949). The rest, as they say, is history. She bewitched her fans with that billion dollar smile on screen. Her movies like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Mughal-e Azam, and Barsaat Ki Raat continue to haunt her admirers even today.

Remembering music director and actor, Arun Kumar Mukherjee who was born this day, 14 February, in 1912. Initially a businessman, he wanted to join the film industry after the success of his cousin Ashok Kumar. He started his stint in Bombay Talkies as a singer with Nirmala (1938). His breakthrough film was Bandhan (1940) for which he sang memorable songs. went on to compose music for films such as Parineeta (1953), Shamsheer (1953), Samaj (1954), Teen Bhai (1955), Hatimtai (1947), and Pratima (1945). He had also acted in Jwar Bhata (1944), Anjaan (1941), Beti (1941), Naya Sansar (1941), Azad (1940), Bandhan (1940) and Kangan (1939), and rendered playback for Maa (1952), Andolan (1951), Mashaal (1950), Muqaddar (1950), Sangram (1950), Grah Laxmi (1949), Sehra (1948), Mulaqat (1947), Samaj Ko Badal Dalo (1947), Pratima (1945), Bhanwara (1944), Caravan (1944), Andhera (1943), and Hamari Baat (1943), among other films. Arun Kumar passed away in Ashok Kumar’s arms while they were returning from the screening of the trial show of the Ashok Kumar starrer-Bandish (1955). Arun Kumar had suffered a massive heart attack and died before they could reach the hospital on 6 December, 1955.

Noted academician and Urdu poet Akhlaq Mohammed Khan better known as Shahryar passed away on this day in 2012. Born in Aonla, Bareilly, he originally wished to be an athlete. Later he came under the influence of the poet Khaleel-ur-Rehman Azmi and his interest grew in Urdu literature. He later joined the Aligarh Muslim University, initially as a student, then later as lecturer. He ultimately rose to be the chair of the Urdu department. he published several acclaimed volumes of poetry and won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Khwab ke dar bandh hai. In cinema, he wrote mostly for his friend Muzaffar Ali's films, most notably for Gaman (1978), Umrao Jaan (1981), and Anjuman (1986). He also wrote for Yash Chopra's Faasle (1985). The songs for Umrao Jaan remain unforgettable till this day. He was the recipient of the Jnanpith Award in 2008.

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Rajendranath created his own niche as a comic actor in Hindi cinema, despite Mehmood's overwhelming popularity. But at one point he was so cavalier about his career, that his brother Prem Nath had ordered him to leave his house! Today is his death anniversary.

Starting off as a dialogue writer and scenarist, Hunsur Krishnamurthy went on to direct some landmark films in Kannada cinema. Today is his death anniversary.

Remembering Dhumal (29 March 1914 – 13 February 1987), a finest actor and funniest comedian of Hindi cinema's Golden era, on his death anniversary. He was an actor par excellence, known for his amazing sense of timing in front of camera. He was active from the mid 1940s till the late 1980s. He started his acting career from Marathi theatre, which paved way for Marathi cinema. Later, he moved to Hindi cinema, where he mostly played comedy and character roles. He worked in notable films such as Howrah Bridge (1958), Bambai Ka Babu (1960), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), Gumnaam (1965), Do Badan (1966), Love in Tokyo (1966) and Benaam (1974).

A master director-producer, Y V Rao made some of Tamil and Kannada cinema's milestone films, including the first Kannada talkie Sati Sulochana and the superhit Chintamani (1937). Cinemaazi remembers him on his death anniversary. 

A popular face in Hindi cinema of the 70's, Vinod Mehra was born on this day in 1945.

‪Cinemaazi remembers Lekh Tandon. He was born on 13.2.1929 as Lekh Faqeer Chand Tandon. An entertainer, he directed many popular films such as Professor, Amrapali, Prince, Jhuk Gaya Aasman, Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye, Agar Tum Na Hote & many more. He died on 15.10.2017