A unique combination of circumstances led to him landing in Bombay soon after the Partition and being tasked with directing a film, though his cinematic experience was limited to being a film journalist. He even managed to rope in a top actor – and on the very first day, questioned his rendition of a crucial scene.
Recalling the episode decades later, veteran Hindi film director and producer B.R. Chopra revealed that Ashok Kumar, who had somehow agreed to act in the film despite his misgivings at its totally green director, was taken aback.
“He then suggested that he would do the shot again in the way I suggested, and prints of both this and the way he had done, should be made, and he would check them the next day to see which was better,” he told Bollywood personality and chronicler Shashi Ranjan in an interview.
As a nervous Chopra arrived...
Recalling the episode decades later, veteran Hindi film director and producer B.R. Chopra revealed that Ashok Kumar, who had somehow agreed to act in the film despite his misgivings at its totally green director, was taken aback.
“He then suggested that he would do the shot again in the way I suggested, and prints of both this and the way he had done, should be made, and he would check them the next day to see which was better,” he told Bollywood personality and chronicler Shashi Ranjan in an interview.
As a nervous Chopra arrived...
- 4/22/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Notorious for terrorising at least two generations of top heroes – in reel life – with just his trademark glare, steely voice, and facial expressions ranging from ferocious to sneering, he especially stood out for his film relations with Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, whom he once bested onscreen with two words.
In one standard of the lost-and-found potboiler genre, Amitabh, with his role’s habitual insouciance, asks a stern-looking, impeccably-dressed character: “Aap kaun hai mai-baap?”. Pat came the terse reply: “Tumhara baap”.
This was “Amar Akbar Anthony” (1977) – one of the 11 that Pran, born on this day (February 12) in 1920 – did with the Big B, playing with his father two times more or a reluctant ally. Of these, at least 9 are intrinsic to the Bachchan legend, including “Zanjeer” (1973), “Don” (1978), “Naseeb” (1981), “Kaalia” (1981), “Sharaabi” (1984), and “Shahenshah” (1988)
Pran also had a major part in launching the Big B’s path to stardom as it was he – and...
In one standard of the lost-and-found potboiler genre, Amitabh, with his role’s habitual insouciance, asks a stern-looking, impeccably-dressed character: “Aap kaun hai mai-baap?”. Pat came the terse reply: “Tumhara baap”.
This was “Amar Akbar Anthony” (1977) – one of the 11 that Pran, born on this day (February 12) in 1920 – did with the Big B, playing with his father two times more or a reluctant ally. Of these, at least 9 are intrinsic to the Bachchan legend, including “Zanjeer” (1973), “Don” (1978), “Naseeb” (1981), “Kaalia” (1981), “Sharaabi” (1984), and “Shahenshah” (1988)
Pran also had a major part in launching the Big B’s path to stardom as it was he – and...
- 2/12/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Music composer Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, of Laxmikant-Pyarelal fame, has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Bhushan, not only as a celebration of his musical prowess, but also in acknowledgment of his role in defining the golden era of Hindi film music.
The octogenarian learnt the basics of music from his father, the renowned trumpeteer of his time, Ramprasad ‘Babaji’ Sharma. He then aced the violin under the guidance of the Goan musician Anthony Gonsalves, whom he went on to immortalise in the song ‘My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves’, which was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan (who also contributed to the vocals) in the 1977 film ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’.
Pyarelal teamed up with Laxmikant Kudalkar and they worked in more than 750 Hindi films between 1963 to 1998. They collaborated with the biggest names of the industry, including Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shakti Samanta, Manmohan Desai and Yash Chopra.
The duo, whose partnership spanned over three decades,...
The octogenarian learnt the basics of music from his father, the renowned trumpeteer of his time, Ramprasad ‘Babaji’ Sharma. He then aced the violin under the guidance of the Goan musician Anthony Gonsalves, whom he went on to immortalise in the song ‘My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves’, which was picturised on Amitabh Bachchan (who also contributed to the vocals) in the 1977 film ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’.
Pyarelal teamed up with Laxmikant Kudalkar and they worked in more than 750 Hindi films between 1963 to 1998. They collaborated with the biggest names of the industry, including Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Shakti Samanta, Manmohan Desai and Yash Chopra.
The duo, whose partnership spanned over three decades,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
There was one occasion when Dev Anand, forced to quit a blue-collar job he depended on for sustenance, ripped his elder brother Chetan Anand of Rs (the then) princely sum of Rs 5,000 to launch a less than moral venture, and if this was not enough, began wooing the girl his younger brother Vijay ‘Goldie’ Anand fancied, and eventually in luring her away.
If these sordid revelations shock you, do not think too badly of Dev Anand. For all this did not happen in real life, but in reel life, in the social romantic comedy “Kala Bazaar” (1960), which has several distinctions to its credit but chiefly stands out for being the only film in which all the three Anand brothers acted together.
While Chetan Anand had directed the early Dev Anand films, he had sought to branch out on his own after “Taxi Driver” (1954) to indulge in his own creativity, and...
If these sordid revelations shock you, do not think too badly of Dev Anand. For all this did not happen in real life, but in reel life, in the social romantic comedy “Kala Bazaar” (1960), which has several distinctions to its credit but chiefly stands out for being the only film in which all the three Anand brothers acted together.
While Chetan Anand had directed the early Dev Anand films, he had sought to branch out on his own after “Taxi Driver” (1954) to indulge in his own creativity, and...
- 9/25/2023
- by Agency News Desk
There was one occasion when Dev Anand, forced to quit a blue-collar job he depended on for sustenance, ripped his elder brother Chetan Anand of Rs (the then) princely sum of Rs 5,000 to launch a less than moral venture, and if this was not enough, began wooing the girl his younger brother Vijay ‘Goldie’ Anand fancied, and eventually in luring her away.
If these sordid revelations shock you, do not think too badly of Dev Anand. For all this did not happen in real life, but in reel life, in the social romantic comedy “Kala Bazaar” (1960), which has several distinctions to its credit but chiefly stands out for being the only film in which all the three Anand brothers acted together.
While Chetan Anand had directed the early Dev Anand films, he had sought to branch out on his own after “Taxi Driver” (1954) to indulge in his own creativity, and...
If these sordid revelations shock you, do not think too badly of Dev Anand. For all this did not happen in real life, but in reel life, in the social romantic comedy “Kala Bazaar” (1960), which has several distinctions to its credit but chiefly stands out for being the only film in which all the three Anand brothers acted together.
While Chetan Anand had directed the early Dev Anand films, he had sought to branch out on his own after “Taxi Driver” (1954) to indulge in his own creativity, and...
- 9/25/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
He did not need any appurtenances to portray his evil nature onscreen – just a glare from his remarkable eyes, along with his steely voice, and a sneer – where enough.
Pran, however, sought to imbue each performance – whether as villain or supporting actor – with something different, be it mannerisms, make-up, and proper accents. Remember his outings as a Pathan, a Nepali, a Bhopali, and a Goan, or the ones in which he modelled his appearance on Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Abraham Lincoln, or Sam Pitroda?
Born on this day (February 12) in Delhi in 1920, Pran may not have been a "method actor" but he had natural talent and acute powers of observation of different types of people that he artfully incorporated into his performances.
In the process, he transformed the Hindi film villain from a stereotype to a well-delineated character, who did not even require the willing suspension of disbelief needed for most cinematic performances.
Pran, however, sought to imbue each performance – whether as villain or supporting actor – with something different, be it mannerisms, make-up, and proper accents. Remember his outings as a Pathan, a Nepali, a Bhopali, and a Goan, or the ones in which he modelled his appearance on Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Abraham Lincoln, or Sam Pitroda?
Born on this day (February 12) in Delhi in 1920, Pran may not have been a "method actor" but he had natural talent and acute powers of observation of different types of people that he artfully incorporated into his performances.
In the process, he transformed the Hindi film villain from a stereotype to a well-delineated character, who did not even require the willing suspension of disbelief needed for most cinematic performances.
- 2/12/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
Over his vibrantly colourful career, which has crossed the half-century mark and is still going strong, Amitabh Bachchan was paired with several generations of heroines and held his own against many male peers, as well as older and younger generations spanning Dilip Kumar to Shah Rukh Khan. His real test, however, was to maintain the upper hand when facing accomplished character actors, ranging from dastardly villains to steadfast friends, and even long-lost parents.
There are many such actors playing key roles in some of Bachchan’s iconic films – would Inspector Vijay Khanna been successful in tackling crime without the tip-offs from an anonymous drunk or proved his mettle against a lesser villain than Teja, would “(the fake) Don” have worked without the acumen of Dsp D’Silva or found himself in travails without the machinations of Vardhaman, or Sikandar found his ‘muqaddar’ without the advice of Dervish Baba.
But while stalwarts like Ajit,...
There are many such actors playing key roles in some of Bachchan’s iconic films – would Inspector Vijay Khanna been successful in tackling crime without the tip-offs from an anonymous drunk or proved his mettle against a lesser villain than Teja, would “(the fake) Don” have worked without the acumen of Dsp D’Silva or found himself in travails without the machinations of Vardhaman, or Sikandar found his ‘muqaddar’ without the advice of Dervish Baba.
But while stalwarts like Ajit,...
- 10/10/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
As India celebrates 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday, it is time for a musical rewind, the Bollywood way.
There are a countless classics that spring to mind. We look at a few that continue to resonate with the youth today, for the way they capture various moods of India.
Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo
The definitive Republic Day song, it was sung live by Lata Mangeshkar on January 26, 1963, as a tribute to Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The song is written by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra. The first rendition of Mangeshkar, a live rendition at National Stadium in New Delhi, happened with President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the audience.
Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon
Sung by Shanti Mathur for the 1962 film "Son Of India", this song has long been associated with Republic Day and Independence Day, especially at schools where students perform to its beat.
There are a countless classics that spring to mind. We look at a few that continue to resonate with the youth today, for the way they capture various moods of India.
Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo
The definitive Republic Day song, it was sung live by Lata Mangeshkar on January 26, 1963, as a tribute to Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War of 1962. The song is written by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra. The first rendition of Mangeshkar, a live rendition at National Stadium in New Delhi, happened with President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the audience.
Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon
Sung by Shanti Mathur for the 1962 film "Son Of India", this song has long been associated with Republic Day and Independence Day, especially at schools where students perform to its beat.
- 1/26/2021
- by Glamsham Editorial
- GlamSham
Close-Up is a feature that spotlights films now playing on Mubi. Raja Nawathe's Gumnaam (1965) is now showing in the series A Journey into Indian Cinema.In front of a quaint hotel in an undisclosed location, a man gets run over. The mastermind behind the murder hides in shadows and smokes a cigarette before paying off the assassin. Cryptic phone conversations about a will follow before this man, too, is killed. He is shot by a man in a trench coat and a hat. We only see his shadow while a hanging telephone handset gets soaked in blood.Raja Nawathe started out his career in the Hindi film industry by assisting superstar-filmmaker Raj Kapoor and in 1965, he decided to make an unauthorized adaptation of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, but with his usual romance melodrama tropes intact. The result was Gumnaam (meaning “anonymous”), produced by Kapoor’s Prithvi Pictures.
- 7/15/2020
- MUBI
CinemaThe remake of 'Haathi Mere Saathi' will release in three languages.Digital NativeDigital NativeThe second schedule of Rana Daggubati’s upcoming Bollywoof flick, which drew inspiration from the Hindi film Haathi Mere Saathi, was wrapped up recently and the team announced the title of the film in three languages. While the title Haathi Mere Saathi has been retained for the original version, its Telugu version has been titled Aranya and its Tamil version is Kaadan. Rana, who enjoys a large fan base across India, will be seen in all the three versions of the film donning the main lead role and along with him will be Zoya Hussain and Kalki Kanmani. While Pulkit Samrat will be seen playing a pivotal role in the Hindi version, Vishnu Vishal has been roped in for the Tamil and Telugu versions. According to reports, Haathi Mere Saathi / Aranya / Kaadan, will be out as a Deepavali release with the makers planning to release all the three versions at the same time. The original version of Haathi Mere Saathi was released in the year 1971 and turned out to be a blockbuster. Directed by M. A. Thirumugam, the film starred Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja as the lead pair with K. N. Singh, Madan Puri and Mehmood Junior in supporting roles. Besides Haathi Mere Saathi, Rana Daggubati has a number of films lined up for release this year. His bilingual in Tamil and Telugu Madai Thiranthu / 1945 is being directed by Sathya Siva and stars Regina Cassandra as the heroine. Veteran actors Sathyaraj and Nasser play crucial roles in this flick which is being bankrolled by Sn Rajarajan. Rana also has the Gautham Menon directorial Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta which is lined up for release this year. He is sharing screen space with Dhanush in this romantic thriller entertainer. With films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi all set for release this year, Rana will be foraying into the Malayalam film industry as well with Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma:The King of Travancore in which he will be playing the title role. The film will be helmed by K Madhu. (Content provided by Digital Native) Also read: From thundu to 'Kaala' sunglasses: Rajini's style props over the years...
- 6/5/2018
- by Monalisa
- The News Minute
The first look of the much talked about remake of yesteryear hit film ‘Ittefaq’ is here and if you go by the posters, the remake promises a spine thrilling experience for the audiences. Infact, in a very interesting manner, the actors of the film have shared the posters of the film combining a clue with their tweets to raise the inquisitiveness among the audiences. The lead actress of the film, Sonakshi Sinha tweeted: Sidharth Malhotra, the lead actor shared the poster with this tweet: Karan Johar, who is the producer of the film also shared a clue with Akshaye Khanna’s poster: ‘Ittefaq’ is the adaptation of Yash Chopra’s 1969 hit film by the same name which had a strong start cast including Late actor Rajesh Khanna, Nanda and Madan Puri. It will be interesting to see, how new age actors do justice with the epic film.
- 10/4/2017
- FilmiPop
“If you start with a hero’s role, that’s all you’ll remain. You’ll never become an actor”
Even after 37 years of “Sholay”, it is very unlikely that one can forget the character actor A. K. Hangal who played the notable role of “Rahim Chacha” in the film with his famous one liner, “Itna sannata kyon hai, bhai”. Hangal, who passed away on August 26, in his last interview, given two months ago to Niilesh A Raje and Rajesh Subramanian:
“In Sholay, I was given the character role of a blind man and to get this character right I used psycho-technique to get the feeling of blindness,” revealed the veteran actor, when we met him at his modest apartment at Santacruz.
“I must admit that I got many fantastic roles. The length of the role never mattered to me; what mattered was the character”, added the nonagenarian who once advised actor Sanjeev Kumar,...
Even after 37 years of “Sholay”, it is very unlikely that one can forget the character actor A. K. Hangal who played the notable role of “Rahim Chacha” in the film with his famous one liner, “Itna sannata kyon hai, bhai”. Hangal, who passed away on August 26, in his last interview, given two months ago to Niilesh A Raje and Rajesh Subramanian:
“In Sholay, I was given the character role of a blind man and to get this character right I used psycho-technique to get the feeling of blindness,” revealed the veteran actor, when we met him at his modest apartment at Santacruz.
“I must admit that I got many fantastic roles. The length of the role never mattered to me; what mattered was the character”, added the nonagenarian who once advised actor Sanjeev Kumar,...
- 9/1/2012
- by Niilesh A Raje and Rajesh Subramanian
- DearCinema.com
Pran Kishan Sikand
Pran Kishan Sikand dreamt of becoming a professional photographer. Little did he know that a measly, humble ‘paan’ (betel leaf) would change his life and set him on his destined path. It was 1939 or thereabouts. Pran was at a ‘paan’ shop at Lahore, enjoying a munch with his friends when a stranger approached him and asked whether he wanted to act in films. Pran was amused and asked his name. Stranger introduced himself as Muhammad Walli, a renowned film maker in the flourishing film district of Lahore. He said he was making a Punjabi film and Pran looked a perfect fit for the role of a villain in the film. Pran just brushed him off. Walli kept insisting that he pay a visit to the studio, and pushed a piece of paper with his address into Pran’s hands. The film was Yamla Jat (1940), a runaway hit that year.
Pran Kishan Sikand dreamt of becoming a professional photographer. Little did he know that a measly, humble ‘paan’ (betel leaf) would change his life and set him on his destined path. It was 1939 or thereabouts. Pran was at a ‘paan’ shop at Lahore, enjoying a munch with his friends when a stranger approached him and asked whether he wanted to act in films. Pran was amused and asked his name. Stranger introduced himself as Muhammad Walli, a renowned film maker in the flourishing film district of Lahore. He said he was making a Punjabi film and Pran looked a perfect fit for the role of a villain in the film. Pran just brushed him off. Walli kept insisting that he pay a visit to the studio, and pushed a piece of paper with his address into Pran’s hands. The film was Yamla Jat (1940), a runaway hit that year.
- 7/26/2012
- by Amborish Roychoudhury
- DearCinema.com
It is the 5th death anniversary of veteran actor Amrish Puri. Immortal for a variety of performances in over 400 films, the actor continues to enthrall and entertain with his body of work. Here's a look at his personal and professional journey... Kith and kinAmrish Lal Puri was born on June 22, 1932 in district Nawanshehar near Jalandhar in Punjab and died on this day in 2005. His parents were Lala Nihal Chand and Ved Kaur. He had four siblings, elder brothers Chaman Puri and Madan Puri elder sister Chandrakanta, and a younger brother, Harish Puri. He ...
- 1/11/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
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