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1-50 of 72
- Music Artist
- Actor
- Music Department
Engelbert Humperdinck was born on 2 May 1936 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India [now Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India]. He is a music artist and actor, known for Game Night (2018), You Were Never Really Here (2017) and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996). He was previously married to Patricia Healey.- Mary Hignett was born on 31 March 1916 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. She was an actress, known for Doomwatch (1970), Jane Eyre (1956) and All Creatures Great & Small (1978). She was married to Michael Brennan. She died on 6 July 1980 in Chichester, Sussex, England, UK.
- Actress
- Music Department
Waheeda Rehmaan combined the classic Tamil-Islamic beauty with an extraordinary grace, talent and a truly transcendent appeal that ranked her among the pantheon of Bollywood's elite actresses. And few could dance better than she could!
She was born into a traditional Tamil Urdu speaking Muslim family on 3 February 1938, in Chengalpattu,Tamil Nadu. Growing up, she was trained in dancing, especially the Bharatnatyam dance. Her first films were Jayasimha (1955) and Rojulu Marayi (1955), both in Telegu and Kalam Mari Pochu in Tamil. These films became a huge success and established her as a hit-heroine, but it was a song Eruvaaka Sagaroranno Chinnanna in the Rojulu Marayi that got Rehman recognition in South. During success party of Rojulu Marayi, Guru Dutt noticed her and cast her in CID. The result was one of the most stunning debuts ever made in a Hindi film. As a mysterious woman named Kamini, she added a thrill to the whole film and it remains one of the most seductive and memorable roles of her career.
Amazed (and enraptured) by her beauty and talent, Guru Dutt cast her in 5 films. Thus, Rehman gave a mesmerizing performance in Thirst (1957) as Gulab, the prostitute with a heart of gold, and she stole the hearts of audiences as Jameela, a shy Muslim girl in the romance Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960). But by then she was involved in an affair with Guru Dutt and this affair led to the disintegration of Dutt's marriage - and soon the two of them broke apart after their last collaboration, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962).
Moving on after Guru Dutt, Rehman worked with the acclaimed director Satyajit Ray in The Expedition (1962) and consolidated her position as a top Bollywood star with her commercial successes Bees Saal Baad (1962) and _Kohra (1964)_. With Devanand she did 7 films and 5 were super-hits. Then she did _Guide (1965/I)_ - a film that took her to the peak of her career. In the conservative 1960s, Rosie was a daring role for Waheeda to play, and yet the gamble paid off - her performance as Rosie, a woman who leaves her husband for her lover, is ranked as her best ever! And to think that when she did the film, she was certain she would never, ever be able to do another film again!
She had commercial films like Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Patthar Ke Sanam (1967) proved to be huge successes and had 4 hits with Sunil Dutt in 60's Ek Phool Char Kaante, Mujhe Jeene Do, Meri Bhabhi and Darpan but her offbeat films Teesri Kasam (1966) and Reshma Aur Shera (1971) bombed, in spite of her critically acclaimed performances in those films. Her 3 films with Rajendra Kumar though critically acclaimed became box-office flops and her films with Dharmendra between 1967-1973 bombed. Then she acted in Khamoshi opposite Rajesh Khanna which became her career's biggest hit.In 1974, Rehman married Kamaljit, her hero in Shagoon(1964) a businessman who had earlier tried to make it in films and moved to Bangalore.
After her marriage she cut down acting assignments, preferring to market her own brand of breakfast cereal and lead a contented life in a Bangalore farmhouse. She turned to supporting roles and did 24 films as supporting actress from 1976-1994. After her husband's death in 2000, she again started appearing in 9 films as elderly woman.- Music Artist
- Composer
- Music Department
Born and brought up in an obscure village near Kambam in Southern Tamil Nadu, Ilayaraja became the first Asian to score a symphony for the London Philharmonic Orchestra, besides scoring over 1000 feature films in a period of 38 years. Raja, as he is popularly known and affectionately called, comes from a family of musicians. His mother, a huge repository of Tamil folk songs, seems to be a very strong influence in his music. He learned to play the harmonium, the typical musical instrument used in street performances. The team of the brothers, the eldest being Pavalar Varadharajan, a poet, worked as a group of musicians traveling across the state, accompanying theater artists. Raja picked up most of his acumen for audience tastes during this period.
In 1969, Raja migrated to the city of Madras, the Southern Movie capital, when he was 25 years old, looking for a break into music making for the public. He studied under Dhanraj Master, playing the guitar and piano in the Western style. Ilayaraja's break into music for films came with Annakili in 1976. The film dealt with a village story, to which Ilayaraja composed great melodies. The songs offered simplicity and musicality typical of Tamil folk in an authentic way, and they offered new sounds--rich orchestration typical of Western music. The songs became an instant hit, the most popular being "Machchana Partheengala" sung by a female voice, S. Janaki. This was followed by a series of films that portrayed contemporary Tamil villages in an authentic way, against stylistic shallow portrayals before. For all of these films Raja created memorable songs. Most popular were the songs "Senthoorappove" and "Aatukkutti Mutaiyittu" from Pathinaru Vayathinile (1977), and "Samakkozhi" and "Oram Po" from Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu (1979).
Raja soon proved his abilities in other styles as well. classical Karnatic melodies were used in Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandhai (1978) (Rag Mohanam), Mayile Mayile (Ragam Hamsadhwani), and Chinna Kannan Azhaikiran (Reethi Gowlai). Raja's grasp of Western classical structure became evident with his masterful use of the piano, guitar, and string ensembles. Some of the numbers that show his orchestral genius are "Pon malai Pozhudu" and "Poongadhave" from Nizhalgal (1980), Kanmaniye Kadhal from Aarilirindhu Aruvathu Varai (1979), "Ramanin Mohanam" from Netri Kann (1981), "En Iniya Pon nilave from Moodu Pani (1980), "Paruvame Pudhiya" from Nenjathai Killathe (1980), and "Edho Moham" from Kozhi Koovuthu (1982). These songs could literally be heard coming from every doorstep in Tamil Nadu state every day for at least a year after being released. Raja composed film music prolifically for the next fifteen years, at a rate of as many as three new songs a day. After a few years as a film composer, he could write all the parts to a score as they came to him, and his assistants would make fair copies, which would be recorded immediately.
Once during a trip to Europe, he visited places where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Ludwig van Beethoven lived. They were his Manasika Gurus or non-physical teachers, he wrote once. He also met contemporary composers and arrangers including Paul Mauriat. His listeners were awestruck by the quality and quantity of his musical output. He also scored a few films abroad. Ilayaraja's image grew to be a unique one in the history of Tamil cinema: stories, themes, and casts would be changed to fit his music, which swept away the minds of millions of Indians in hundreds of films.
Ilayaraja also recorded non-film albums, such as "How to Name It" and "Nothing But Wind," which were well-received in India and abroad. In 1993, he wrote a symphony for the London Philharmonic Orchestra in an amazing one-month span. To many people who know him, Raja represents more than his music. He is usually referred to by the title Isaignani (English: Musical Genius), or as The Maestro. ilaiyaraaja is a gold medalist in classical guitar from Trinity College of Music, London. He is a mark of great achievement that is possible by hard work, yet he is seen in most of his interviews as talking very philosophically. He is very much attracted by the philosophy of Ramana Maharishi of Thiruvanna Malai, who lived in the early 20th Century. Raja once referred to Ramana as "our Zen master."- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Dr. Rajkumar was born in 1929 in Gajanur and brought up in a poor family. He only studied up to 3rd standard before he dropped out of school. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a traveling actor who performed in various villages. He joined the Gubbi Veeranna drama company to play drama. There he met people like T.R. Narasimharaju, Nandamuri Balakrishna and G.V. Iyer, who co-starred with him in his first film, Bedara Kannappa (1954).
His three sons--Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Puneeth Rajkumar--are all Kannada film actors. His other films have included Havina Hede (1981), Dashavtara (1960), Yarivanu? (1984), Kamana Billu (1983) and he had the lead role in Odahuttidavaru (1969). His last film was Shabdavedi (2000). After this movie he declared that he was about to act in another film, "Bhakta Ambareesha", but he suffered a mild heart attack, and decided to retire from acting altogether.- Actress
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Vyjayanthimala was born to actress and dancer Vasundhara Devi in a Tamil-speaking family in Chennai, India, on August 13, 1933.
At the age of 4, she got the rare chance of performing a dance before the Pope. Then at the age of 15, while in her final year at school, she was signed-up by family friend, M.V. Raman, for a role in a Tamil film 'Vazhkai'. This movie was successful at the box office and was re-made in Hindi during 1951 and released as 'Bahaar'.
Since her entry into films from 1949, this actress, who is also proficient in Bharat Natyam, has appeared in approximately 62 movies, the majority of them in the Hindi language. Her career spanned from 1949 through to 1989. She has received a total of five awards for her performances in 'Devdas', 'Sadhna', 'Ganga Jamuna', and 'Sangam', as well as a lifetime achievement award during 1995.
Her dance numbers, such as 'Hothon Pe Aisi Baat Main Dabake Chali Aai...', 'Man Doley Mera Tan Doley...'; 'Chad Gaiyo Paapi Bichua...'; 'Main Ka Karu Ram Mujhey Buddha Mil Gaya' continue to be popular even today. She made waves when she appeared in a fire red swimsuit in 'Sangam'. She also paved the way for other South Indian actresses, like Hema Malini, Rekha, Sridevi, etc. to make a transition to Bollywood. Her career was managed by her grandmother, Yadugiri Devi.
She married Raj Kapoor's personal physician, Dr. Chamanlal Bali after he divorced his first wife and re-located to Chennai, where she gave birth to a son, actor Suchindra Bali.
After quitting films, Vyjantimala took up shrimp farming, opened up a dance academy, even took an active interest in politics, and with the backing of Indira Gandhi's Congress Party was elected Member of Parliament during the 1980s. She chose to quit politics due to principled differences during 1999.
After the passing of her husband, she now resides in Chennai, with her son, who is an aspiring actor in his own right, and has removed herself completely from Bollywood, in particular, and movies in general, though she could have easily continued on for another decade.
One of her hits 'Naya Daur', originally in Black & White, has now been colorized, and re-released.
In 2007, she published her autobiography titled "Bonding," where she revealed that she didn't have an affair with Raj Kapoor, her leading man and director from "Sangam" (1964).
In 2011, her son Suchindra and daughter-in-law Nandini presented her with a grandchild named Swara.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Tamil superstar from a poor family in Tamil Nadu, India. His father worked on the railways.
On the day of his birth his father, Chiniah Pillai, follower of Mahatma Gandhi, was jailed for participating in the Independence movement in Nellikuppam (Tamil Nadu, India). He was frequently in and out of jail, and was raised by his mother, Rajamani Ammal.
He joined theatre groups when he was young. He earned his screen name 'Sivaji' after acting in C.N. Annadurai's play 'Sivaji Kanda Indhu Rajyam', a historical play on the Maratha Emperor Shivaji.
He made his film debut in Parasakthi (1952) as Gunasekharan. He became an icon of the DMK party who made DMK films (founded by C.M. Annadurai).
He entered politics in the mid-50s where he joined the Congress party and then defected to support the opposition Janata Dal.
He is most well know for his mythological and patriotic portrayals, like in his most famous films like Karnan(mythological) and Veerapandiya Kattabomman (patriotic).
His main rival was MGR (M.G. Ramachandran) and together they dominated the Tamil film industry in the 1960s and 70s.- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Manorama is a veteran Tamil actress who has acted in more than 1500 films, 1000 stage performances, and a few television serials.She started her acting career as a drama artist, which was more popular those days. She slowly migrated from dramas to cinemas just as most actors did those days. During her initial days in the cine field, she concentrated more on comedy. She was given equally challenging roles alongside the well known comedian Nagesh. They made an excellent pair and received many praiseworthy comedies. Her role in Thillana Mohanambal was much appreciated and noticed even with the presence of great stalwarts like Sivaji Ganesan and Natiya Peroli (Danseuse) Padmini in the movie. Ever since, she was provided with more scope in varied roles in addition to comedy. She took each responsibility with such an ease which made the Tamil industry recognize her immense talent. She has the distinction of having acted with five chief ministers of South India. She was the female lead in the stage plays written, directed and acted by Mr C. N. Annadurai, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She has also acted in stage plays with another Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr M Karunanidhi. She has acted in films with Dr M G Ramachandran and Dr Jayalalitha Jayaram who both became Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu later. She has also acted in Telugu films with Dr N T Rama Rao, who became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Krishna was born to Veeraraghavayya Chowdhary and Nagaratnamma Ghattamaneni in a remote village called Burripallem, near Tenali in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was the eldest of the five children from a middle income agrarian family. He could not afford to have convent education, so he attended the school in his village to get his primary education before moving to Tenali and Narsapur to do his S.S.C and Intermediate. Impressed by his scholastic achievements, his father raised money to send his son to the prestigious C.R.R. college in Eluru. There, he shared a room with two aspiring actors, Shoban Babu and Murali Mohan, who later became stars in their own right. Krishna played an active role in various cultural events organized by his college. His performance in the play "Cheesina Paapam Kaasiki Velleena" brought him critical acclaim, thus encouraging him to pursue acting more seriously. After he graduated from college, he married Indira Devi on November 1, 1962. She provided him emotional support during his salad days. In 1965, she gave birth to their first child Ramesh Babu Ghattamaneni about the same time when Krishna made his feature film debut with "Tenemanasulu", which became a big hit and made him an overnight star. He soon developed a reputation as a trend-setter by starring in the first Telugu detective film "Gudachari 116." He was the hero of the first Telugu cowboy film in "Mosagallkau Mosagadu." He played a James Bond type in "Agent Gopi" and became known as "Andhra James Bond" during that time. He also starred in "Alluri Sitarama Raju," which is the first color scope film. He later starred in the first 70 MM film that he also produced and directed titled "Simhasanam." "Simhasanam" was the first of 17 feature films he directed.
In 1968, Krishna's daughter Padmavathi was born. In 1969, Krishna married his frequent leading lady Vijaya Nirmala and this created fodder for the gossip columns as they were still married to their respective spouses with children. Krishna continues to be married to his first wife Indira Devi and would have three more children with her: Manjula Ghattamaneni in 1970, Mahesh Babu in 1975, and Priyadarshini in 1979. He never had children with Vijaya Nirmala but he apparently raised her son Naresh from her first marriage as his own. He also supported Vijaya Nirmala's directorial aspirations by starring in the films she directed and was later proud when she made the Guinness Book of Records as the most prolific female director in 2002. Krishna established the prestigious "Padmalaya Studios" with his brothers in 1983 and has won respect for donning several hats as actor, producer, director, distributor and exhibitor. He also acted in many political targeted movies. During Rajiv Gandhi times, he was inclined towards Congress and even won from the Eluru constituency. After the death of Rajiv Gandhi, Krishna quit politics and has continued to be involved in films and supporting his son Mahesh Babu's success as an actor.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
K. Balachander was born on 9 July 1930 in Nannilam, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a writer and director, known for Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), Thaneer Thaneer (1981) and Apoorva Raagangal (1975). He was married to Rajam. He died on 23 December 2014 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Kanchana was born on 16 August 1939 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. She is an actress, known for Arjun Reddy (2017), Daana Veera Soora Karna (1977) and Alakh Niranjan (1975).
- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Sujatha was born on 3 May 1935 in Triplicane, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a writer and producer, known for Enthiran (2010), Dil Se.. (1998) and Vikram (1986). He died on 27 February 2008 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Kota Srinivasa Rao is an Indian film actor, known for his works primarily in Telugu cinema and Telugu theatre. He has also starred in few films in Tamil, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam.
He starred in over six hundred and fifty feature films. He has received nine state Nandi Awards as best character, villain and supporting actor. In 2015, he received India's fourth highest civilian honor Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cinema.- Actress
- Music Department
- Director
Bhanumathi Ramakrishna was born on 7 September 1925 in Doddavaram, Madras Presidency, British India. She was an actress and director, known for Laila Majnu (1949), Chandirani (1953) and Chandirani (1953). She was married to P.S. Ramakrishna Rao. She died on 24 December 2005 in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.- Writer
- Actor
- Director
J. Mahendran was born on 25 July 1939 in Ilaiyangudi, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a writer and actor, known for Mullum Malarum (1978), Nenjathai Killathe (1980) and Uthiri Pookkal (1979). He died on 2 April 2019 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Actor
- Producer
Vijayakumar was born on 29 August 1943 in Nattuchalai village, Madras Presidency, British India. He is an actor and producer, known for Kizhakku Seemayile (1993), Anthimanthaarai (1996) and Cheran Pandian (1991). He is married to Manjula. He was previously married to Manjula Vijayakumar.- Actor
- Music Department
- Director
Nadeem Baig is a Pakistani actor, who has acted in Plaza SquareJln films, television films,TV serials and TV drama. He also anchored a quiz show on Ary Digital TV channel and has played leading roles in more than 200 films in Pakistan.
Nadeem, along with artists _Talat Hussain (I)_, M. Zaheer Khan, Aftab Azeem, Saleem Jafry, and TV producer Iqbal Haider, were all discovered at the Islamia Club,Karachi, Pakistan. He and his friends, Ameer Ahmed Khan and Qasim Siddiqui, won Ambon Plaza SquareJln music award. At one of his musical kit presentations, he was noticed by the then famous singer _Firdousi Begum_. She was impressed by his singing talent and encouraged him to try playback singing in Dhaka 's film industry. Because of his singing talent, he sang a song for an Urdu film called Sehra , the music was composed by _Nisar Bazmi_ . Unfortunately, the film was never released. Nadeem traveled to Dhaka for a cultural trip, organized by the Islamia Club,Karachi, where he got a chance to sing a song in Captain Ehtisham's new film Chakori (1967) . Captain was making a low budget black and white film, because his previous color film, Sagar ,had flopped at the box-office. At the time of casting, he chose Shabana as the heroine and an East Pakistani ( Bengali ) film actor Azeem as the hero. But Azeem refused to work in the film because he was offered a very small amount of money to act in the film. So _Ehtesham (I)_ decided to cast Nadeem in his film as the hero, which was contrary to his brother Mustafeez's will. The film was released on May 19, 1967, in both East and West Pakistan and became a hit partly due to its superb music by _Robin Ghosh_.
Nadeem's film career spans more than 40 years. He started his career in 1967 and appeared in his first film Chakori (1967) in a lead role opposite actress Shabana. The film was produced and directed by Captain Ehtesham, who, in real life, became his father-in-law in 1968. The film did well in both circuits of Pakistani film industry, i.e; West Pakistan and East Pakistan. He won the prestigious Nigar Award in the best actor's category for film Chakori (1967) . With consecutive hit films, like Chotay Sahab and Sangdil , he became one of the leading film actors of Pakistan. Nadeem's commercially successful films include Nadan (1973), Anari , Pehchan (1976) , Talash (1976), Aina (1977), Hum Dono (1980), Lajawab, Qurbani (1981), Sangdil (1982), and Dehleez (1983) . In 1980, an Indian film, Noor Jahan, was granted special permission for an exhibition in Pakistan which turned into a challenge for Pakistani Film industry. Well-known Pakistani film director _Pervez Malik_accepted that challenge and produced film Hum Dono (1980) , presenting Nadeem in a double role. The film did well in Pakistani cinemas. Besides acting, Nadeem has sung many songs for films, in fact he started his career by singing a song for a West Pakistani film, but the song got canceled by the director and later was sung by Mehdi Hassan. His first song was a duet with Firdousi Begum "Kahan ho tum ko dhoond rahin hain" in his first film Chakori (1967) .- Actress
Sandhya, born "Vedavalli" in 1924 in Srirangam, Madras Presidency, British India, was an actress, known for Maya Bazaar (1957) and Krishna Leelalu (1959). When Sandhya was widowed, she followed the footsteps of her sister, Ambujavalli, into acting. She subsequently encouraged her daughter, Jayalalitha J., to become an actress as well. Jayalalitha became extremely successful, both in her acting career and later in politics.- Actress
- Producer
Anjali Devi, a veteran actress and producer in Telugu and Tamil cinema, is widely recognized for her iconic portrayal of Sita in "Lava Kusha" and her remarkable roles in films like "Suvarna Sundari" and "Anarkali." In Hindi cinema, she left an indelible mark with performances in movies such as 'Devta,' where she starred opposite Gemini Ganeshan, 'Sati Savitri' alongside Mahipal, and 'Bhakta Prahlad.' The timeless songs picturized on her, including 'Tum gagan ke chandrama ho,' 'jeevan dor tumhi sang bandhi,' and 'kabhi to miloge, jeevan sathi' from 'Sati Savitri,' continue to enjoy popularity.
Born as Anjani Kumar in Peddapuram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India, she later settled in Chennai. Initially named Anjani Kumari during her theater days, director C. Pullaiah bestowed upon her the name Anjali Devi. Her journey in the film industry began with a minor role in "Raja Harishchandra" in 1936, followed by her debut as Mohini in "Gollabhama" in 1947, a film that propelled her to stardom. Her first venture as a heroine was in L. V. Prasad's 'Kashtajeevi,' though the film was abandoned after three reels.
Anjali Devi's cinematic career spanned over 350 Telugu films and a handful of Tamil and Kannada films. She married music director P. Adinarayana Rao in 1940, and together, they produced numerous Telugu films under the banner of Anjali Pictures. The iconic milestone in her career was the role of Sita in "Lava Kusha," the first color film in the Telugu industry in 1963.
Aside from her diverse roles as a damsel, angel, dancer, demon, goddess, and traditional woman, she gracefully transitioned into portraying motherly roles in later years. Anjali Devi's granddaughter, Saila Rao, also followed in her footsteps as an actress.
In 1955, she took on the role of a producer with the film "Anarkali," where she played the lead character opposite Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Salim. Over her career, she produced 27 films, including noteworthy ones like "Bhakta Tukaram" and "Chandipriya," featuring Bollywood and Tollywood actress Jayapradha.
Anjali Devi's illustrious career came to a close with films like "Brundavanam" (1992), "Anna Vadina" (1993), and "Police Alludu" (1994), where she shared the screen with Brahmanandam. Her impact on Indian cinema, spanning mythological roles to modern characters, remains a cherished legacy.- Producer
- Actress
- Set Decorator
Devika Rani Chaudhuri, usually known as Devika Rani (30 March 1908 - 9 March 1994), was an actress in Indian films who was active during the 1930s and 1940s. Widely acknowledged as the first lady of Indian cinema, Devika Rani had a successful film career that spanned 10 years.
Born into a wealthy, anglicized Indian family, Devika Rani was sent to boarding school in England at age nine and grew up in that country. In 1928, she met Himanshu Rai, an Indian film-producer, and married him the following year. She assisted in costume design and art direction for Rai's experimental silent film A Throw of Dice (1929). Both of them then went to Germany and received training in film-making at UFA Studios in Berlin.The couple returned to India in 1934, where Himanshu Rai along with Rajnarayan Dube established a production studio, Bombay Talkies, in partnership with certain other people. The studio produced several successful films over the next 5-6 years, and Devika Rani played the lead role in many of them. Her on-screen pairing with Ashok Kumar became popular in India.
Following Rai's death in 1940, Rajnarayan Dube gave the charge and responsibility of the studio to Devika Rani as she produced some more films with her late husband's associates, namely her manager Sashadhar Mukherjee and Ashok Kumar. As mentioned in the book written by KM Srivastava, Sashadhar Mukherjee questioned the character of Devika Rani and used to pass insulting comments on her. Following these events of baseless accusations by her manager Sashadhar Mukherjee and several conflicts with him, In 1945, disappointed Devika Rani retired from films, married the Russian painter Svetoslav Roerich and moved to his estate on the outskirts of Bangalore, thereafter leading a very reclusive life for the next five decades. Her persona, no less than her film roles, were considered socially unconventional. Her awards include the Padma Shri (1958), Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1970) and the Soviet Land Nehru Award (1990).
Devika Rani was one of the founders of Bombay Talkies along with Himanshu Rai and Rajnarayan Dube. The Bombay Talkies Studios' story is full of magic and color. In the '30s, the movie business was supposed to be a 'dirty business'. People would talk about movies, but many wouldn't even consider going to watch one. This would be similar to people talking about gold prices but seldom buying it. Even though movies did make people curious, its reputation as a professional field was bad. There seemed to be a lack of respect for the profession because it was being considered the domain of undesirable sections of the then Indian society. Due to this lack of respect and understanding for the profession, financiers during those times would face an impossible challenge when it came to getting returns on their investment.
It was during this hunt for financiers that Himanshu Rai came in contact with Abhimanyu Prasad Singh, a close friend of Seth Badriprasad Dube, who was a well-known financier. He introduced Himanshu Rai, a London return actor/ theatre artist to Seth Badriprasad Dube with a dream of making a cinema company but Seth Badriprasad declined the proposal of funding Himanshu Rai because Seth Badriprasad had once financed the first Indian Talkie film Alam Ara which didn't earn him any profit and he made an opinion that only actors and directors get fame but the financier doesn't get profits. During that era, the film business was not considered money earning business. It was more about the passion for cinema and getting fame. Because of this fact, Seth Badriprasad Dube declined the proposal of financing Himanshu Rai.
Abhimanyu Singh spoke next to Seth Badriprasad's son Shri. Rajnarayan Dube. He was a young and dynamic businessman who operated a successful company called Dube Industries, which he had founded in 1929. Shri. Dube was born on 10th October 1910 at Kalighat in Kolkata and was an ardent devotee of Maa Kali. He was influenced by the power of art and creativity at a young age. Both men met at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Colaba, Mumbai (Bombay), and discussed an initial investment amount of Rs. 25 lakhs. However, Himanshu Rai couldn't convince Rajnarayan Dube to invest the amount because of the dismal returns on investment that the Indian movie industry offered. At this point, it would seem that Bombay Talkies would never come to be, but things have a way of working out in unexpected ways.
A few months passed by and Himanshu Rai had grown increasingly despondent because it was becoming impossible to raise investment for his movie company. In his depression, the man attempted suicide but was unsuccessful. Shri. Rajnarayan Dube got wind of this through Abhimanyu Prasad Singh and wondered about this man, one who so completely and wholeheartedly believed in the power of cinema and talking pictures that he did not see fit to continue living if he couldn't follow his dreams. Rajnarayan Dube decided that Himanshu Rai was onto something here and finalized the investment with him soon after. In doing this, Shri. Rajnarayan Dube went deliberately against the advice of his father, Seth Badriprasad Dube, who felt that this would not be a good investment choice. In doing this, Shri. Rajnarayan Dube gave birth to the Indian Film Industry, which has now gone on to become a huge cultural and financial force in the country.
At the very nascent age of the cinema Rajnarayan Dube's Bombay Talkies was born in India when other contemporary film companies of the world such as Warner Bros. Entertainment, Universal Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures were born and brought up to create cinematic magic for the world audience, but Bombay Talkies (under the command of Girish Ghanshyam Dube), is the only premier film company which has made a charismatic comeback and repeating its old pride and glory after sixty-three years of utter darkness.
Cinematic Giant and Pillar of Indian Cinema, Rajnarayan Dube founded the Legendary Film Company, The Bombay Talkies Studios along with its associate companies Bombay Talkies Laboratories and Bombay Talkies Pictures as individual proprietorship companies. At the same time to add more people, he established the first public limited film company of India The Bombay Talkies Limited (ltd.) in 1934, although all companies were commonly known as Bombay Talkies. As Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani were actors they were given some shares of the company as their remuneration. Some films were produced under the banner of The Bombay Talkies Limited also, but most of the films were produced under The Bombay Talkies Studios and Bombay Talkies Pictures. The Bombay Talkies Studios also successfully Distributed, Processed, and Promoted films of other producers and banners other than their own films. All the films were financed by Rajnarayan Dube in his individual capacity as the owner of his proprietorship finance company Dube Industries (Estd. 1929).
On 15 April, 1934, Bombay Talkies began operations. The movie company was named by Shri. Dube's mother, Smt. Gayatri Devi. Though Light of Asia and Karma a concept which Himanshu Rai built during his days in Europe, it was released in 1925 and 1933 respectively. As the release went unnoticed, Rajnarayan Dube re-released them and the first films to come out of the stables were Light of Asia (Prem Sanyas) and Karma in 1934. It was followed by Jawani ki Hawa, Achhut Kanya and Jeevan Naiya. The movie company-operated along with the principle of keeping the creative aspects and business aspects separate. Shri. Rajnarayan Dube would look into the business end of things and both Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani would immerse themselves in the creative pursuit. This approach gave rise to some of the most technically impressive films seen this side of the planet. The technical prowess was due to the movie studio employing German and other European technicians, prominent among them being Franz Osten.
In his book, Bombay Talkies - Pillar of Indian Cinema, Late. KM Srivastava mentioned that Rajnarayan Dube's Bombay Talkies was single-handedly responsible for making the careers of some of the leading talents in the golden age of Indian cinema. Besides Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani, the company gave the world Ashok Kumar, Leela Chitnis, Madhubala (who began as a child artist and was given her stage name by Rajnarayan Dube himself, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Leela Chitnis, David Abraham Cheulkar, Phani Majumdar, Gyan Mukherjee, K.A. Abbas, Saadat Hasan Manto, Nabendu Ghosh, Hansa Wadkar, Uttam Kumar, Kedar Sharma, Gemini Ganesan, P.L. Santoshi, Shakti Samanta, Niranjan Pal, Pt. Narendra Sharma, Kishor Sahu, P. Jairaj, Asit Sen, Mumtaj Ali, Nalini Jaywant, Kamini Kaushal, Snehprabha, Joseph Wirsching, Kanan Devi, Famous Bengali Novelist Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Shaheed Lateef, Sita Devi, Abhi Bhattacharya, R.D. Mathur, Aghajani Kashmiri, Kamal Bose, Pran, Usha Kiran, Renuka Devi, Great Writer Munshi Premchand (Written 2 Films for Bombay Talkies), Mukri, Bhagwati Charan Verma, Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, Kamal Amrohi, Guru Dutt, Suraiya, Bimal Roy, Nitin Bose, Salil Chowdhary, Kavi Pradeep, Franz Osten, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Sashadhar Mukherjee, Asha Bhonsle, Lata Mangeshkar, Satyajit Ray, Amiya Chakravarti, S. D. Burman, Manna Dey, Saraswati Devi (who was the first woman music director of Asia). All in all, Bombay Talkies gave the world 280 of the most talented movie professionals in the last century.
Under the command of Rajnarayan Dube, Bombay Talkies had Produced & processed 450 films like Achhut Kannya, Kismet, Bandhan, Mahal, Jhoola, Jeevan Naiya, Neel Kamal, Baadbaan, Daag, Majboor, Drishtidan (Bengali), Izzat, Prem Kahani, Punarmilan, Aawaz, Pratima, Raj Mahal, Apnapan, Anyaya, Roti, Farar, Ziddi, Mashal, Azad, Jwar Bhata, Basant, Sangram, Patita, Bhabi (1938), Durga, Kala Patthar, Indian Lady, Jeevan Prabhat, HamariBaat, Anand, Aurangzeb, Bemisaal, Mamta, Sipahi, Milan, Naya Sansar, Anjaan, Adalat, Aandolan, Zindagi, Zamindar, Kanjoos, Ravan, Raja Rani, Phaansi, Kasam, Parakh, Dhobi Doctor, Deewana, Darpan, Dr. Kumar, Maa, Khamosh, Nauka Doobi, Talaq, Zakhmi, Maharaja, Nirmala, Vilayati Babu, Dushman, Khandani, Puraskar, Tawaif, Asha, Aandhi, Sadma, Anaath, Loafer, Muqaddar, Prem Kahani, Vachan, Lahore to Calcutta, Navjeevan, Ramdhari B.A., Saudagar, Ghajini, Hero, Sawa Lakh, Pratima, Bulandi, Char Aankhen, Chanakya, Nakli Heera, Lahore, Rail Ka Dibba, Dost, Chhoti Si Duniya, Cinema and many more.
While Himanshu Rai's original vision for a movie production house sowed the seeds for the formation of Indian cinema as an industry, Shri. Rajnarayan Dube single-handedly architected the business angle of the entire industry which was yet to come. He supported various new theatres such as BN Sircar's New Theatres in Calcutta, V Shantaram's Prabhat Pictures, Homi Wadia's Wadia Movietone, Sohrab Modi's Minerva Movietone, LV Prasad's Prasad Labs and Pictures (Prasad was an ex-technician from Bombay Talkies), SS Vasan's Gemini Pictures and Mehboob Khan's theatres, Tarachand Barjatya's Rajshri Productions (Barjatya served as a distribution manager for Bombay Talkies for the period of seven years), Sashadhar Mukherjee's (Filmalaya Studio). Shri. Dube financed these fledgling companies and made them stronger. In essence, he builds the entire movie ecosystem in the country. Everyone whom Shri. Dube supported, went on to build a name for themselves in the industry.
Shri. Rajnarayan Dube had a big vision for Indian Cinema. He wanted Indian film making to be a respectable profession. He thus stipulated that Bombay Talkies would only hire graduates. He hoped this move would legitimize the Indian film industry of the thirties and forties, and it certainly did. Besides this, Shri. Dube also wanted the Indian film industry to be inclusive of Indians from all states and sectors of life. Even though the movie company worked with European technicians, Shri. Dube would bring on Indian technicians and make sure that they learned the art of movie-making. He also brought a lot of Indian writers on-board so that movies could have an Indian cultural sensitivity and thus could appeal to a large number of people. This move gave rise to a whole new Indian profession, movie making! This seemed to be a good move in the light of circumstances that were yet to arrive.
During one scene in the movie Karma, there was a minute-long kissing scene between Himanshu Rai & Devika Rani onscreen. During the re-release, some extra controversial scenes were shot at that time for the sake of sensational purpose. This caused quite a stir in Indian society then Seth Badriprasad Dube's father of Shri. Rajnarayan Dube was furious about the scene. Himanshu Rai apologized and held his ears' and said that it would not happen again. After that incident, Shri. Dube however, resolved to screen all films by himself before they could be released. He was a Brahmin and a conservative and strictly discouraged smoking, drinking and other vices in the studio premises. He was also a very caring employer for those pioneering people who worked at Bombay Talkies. He made sure that Education, Rent, Food, and other daily necessities were provided free of cost to employees of Bombay Talkies. He also championed the rights of the movie industry by setting up Unions and Associations such as IMPPA (of which Bombay Talkies was the first member) Several people along with Rajnarayan Dube, Himanshu Rai, and Devika Rani were responsible for the formation of IMPPA. He also helped grow the regional film industry. He staunchly supported Marathi, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Oriya, Gujarati and Southern cinema. If it wasn't for Shri. Dube, the Indian movie industry would have resembled other Southeast Asian movie industries from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Bollywood today is big enough to compete with Hollywood movies.
During the Second World War, Bombay Talkies was struggling. The war had made things very difficult in many ways. The company had several movies on the floor but they could not get them finished because the crucial German technicians had been arrested and detained by the British Government. At this point, 15-20 films were on the production floor and were stalled pretty badly. Himanshu Rai suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of this and passed away in 1940. Bombay Talkies had just lost its crucial co-founder on whose vision the entire company stood to be successful. Shri. Rajnarayan Dube decided that Rai's vision for Indian cinema would continue and he again invested four lakhs ten thousand rupees into the venture. This injected some much-needed blood into the company and a new era of Indian film making began. Shri. Dube decided that from that moment on, Bombay Talkies would only hire Indian technicians and production professionals.
In this second phase, the company boomed and went on to a very productive cinematic run. 1943 hit Kismet was getting rave reviews everywhere and managed to run in theatres for 3 and a half years in over 90% of the Indian theatres! By comparing the value of gold and land by today's standards, the movie made the equivalent of Rs. 40000 crores. Not one movie has broken this record in terms of business. By 1954, Bombay Talkies had put its name to a huge amount of work. It had produced & processed 450 films, had introduced over 280 new talents, built 400 theatres across the country. With the historical grand success of Bombay Talkies, the legendary film company under the influence of Rajnarayan Dube had now processed more than 450 films of outside and likeminded producers and made more than 250 film projects for the new and needy producers. As the success of Bombay Talkies was going sky-high the clash of ego between the giants also started roaring high? The three companies which solely belongs to Rajnarayan Dube, The Bombay Talkies Studios, Bombay Talkies Laboratories and Bombay Talkies Pictures were doing fine but the fourth company The Bombay Talkies Limited, which was established by him to include more people and more talents was becoming a platform to project nasty ego clashes of the directors and management of the company. Instead of being devoted to filmmaking and cinema they devoted their energy and talent for spreading rumours and objectionable stories. At this time Shri. Rajnarayan Dube decided that he and his company had arrived at the goal that they had set out to complete two decades earlier. Indian films were now a major force in terms of communication and entertainment in post-independence India. Shri. Dube shut down his sole proprietorship companies The Bombay Talkies Studios, Bombay Talkies Laboratories and Bombay Talkies Pictures in 1954 so that he could pay more attention to other aspects of his business and continued to distribute and finance films. The fate of the limited company, The Bombay Talkies Limited, which was established to include more people and more talents, got entrapped in selfish motives and litigation. Since 1953, complicated legal battles have been going on in different courts till date. Among all odds and misfortune, of the past time Bombay Talkies became a dream only to be in memories, the artists and technicians, whom Bombay Talkies made living legends in their own lives, who became national and international personalities by virtue of their own right, became world famous. But there was no one to take notice of Bombay Talkies.
With the noble intention and the purpose of promotion, protection, and projection of ancient divine culture globally Girish Ghanshyam Dube Revived Bombay Talkies after six decades with full glory and pride. With the historical revival of the legendary Bombay talkies, Girish Ghanshyam Dube paid his heartfelt tribute to his grandfather, pillar of Indian Cinema Rajnarayan Dube along with Himanshu Rai, Devika Rani, and many great filmmakers, artists and technicians. Girish Ghanshyam Dube brought his idol, Chandrashekhar Azad, from the darkness of history and presented him for the first time in the larger than life manner. Rashtraputra first patriotic film based on the life and times of the greatest revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad was screened at the 72nd Cannes film festival, France. The international audience connected with the patriotic and nationalistic thoughts of the great son of mother India through Rashtraputra. After Rashtraputra Girish Ghanshyam Dube created and released the first mainstream Sanskrit film of the world Cinema, Aham Brahmasmi to promote, protect & project Devbhasha Sanskrit worldwide and to preach Bramhavakya of Vedas to every corner of the World.
Many film-makers followed Rajnarayan Dube as a fortune for them, like in his Book, 'Bombay Talkies - Pillar of Indian Cinema', Senior Most Journalist of India Late. KM Srivastava mentioned Prakash Mehra, one of the legendary filmmakers of India who got the first chance to direct a movie named, Haseena Maan Jayegi, starring Shashi Kapoor. The film got stuck because of lack of budget. Later, popular actor Shashi Kapoor advised him to acquaint with Shri. Rajnarayan Dube; "He is the person who will appreciate your talent and help you out from the issue". Rajnarayan Dube said yes to him and the film triumphed magnificently. The same incident happened with Prakash Mehra in the film Samadhi which was starred by Dharmendra. Rajnarayan Dube helped him and got a huge applause. Because of such incidents, Prakash Mehra followed Rajnarayan Dube as a deity and he was always thankful to him. Then he gave back to back hits like Zanjeer, Khoon Pasina, Hera Pheri with the help of Rajnarayan Dube. After his establishment he didn't face financial trouble but still, he used to take one hundred and one rupees as goodwill from Rajnarayan Dube for his later hits like Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Jaadugar and many more.
Recently in an event, Mr. Chandra Shekhar Pusalkar Phalke, grandson of the father of Indian Cinema Dada Saheb Phalke said, "With the establishment and work culture of Bombay Talkies, Rajnarayan Dube has played a great historic role in nurturing and developing the Indian film industry. He gave it the form of an organised industry and made it be accepted as a respectful form of art by the civilised society." He further added, "Like Dada Saheb Phalke, Rajnarayan Dube also faced all kinds of conflicts and the result of his immense struggle is visible like a World Heritage Site in the form of Bombay Talkies today. He strongly affirmed, If Mr. Rajnarayan Dube was not there, there would be no Himanshu Rai, neither Devika Rani nor there would be Bombay Talkies."
Numerous people have written books about Bombay Talkies and Rajnarayan Dube like Multiple editions of a book written by Mohammad Zahid Ahmed titled as The Man Behind Indian Cinema, which was launched in The United States of America on 19th June 2016. The last edition of the book mentions that The truth behind "The Bombay Talkies ltd" and commercial Indian cinema lies beneath the biography of Mr. Rajnarayan Dube. The novels unfold the truth of Indian cinema and the history that people made without any substantial evidence. Many news reports and media tries to recreate the fact about Indian cinema.
History witnessed the success and fall of the pillar of Indian cinema and the disasters of broken fire in the Bombay talkies studio campus many times. Negatives, important documents along with props and properties of filmmaking got burned and became ashes. Multiple researches were done on Indian Cinema and Bombay Talkies, numerous books were read on Bombay Talkies, only information on released films were obtained but no vital information could be gathered. Every book mentioned contradictory information on Bombay Talkies, only a few names were mentioned related to Bombay Talkies and its foundation. From the very ashes of history the senior most and respected film journalist K M Srivastava recollected the truths and facts of Bombay Talkies. K M Srivastava's career spanning fifty years, he has done a great service to the students of cinema by researching Bombay Talkies. K M Srivastava has disclosed nearly each and every aspect of Bombay Talkies in his historical book Bombay talkies - the pillar of Indian cinema, that how London return flop Actor Himanshu Rai got to finance his films, how he met Rajnarayan dube and how the actors and actresses of that time rose to glory. All the needful information was available in this book. The book is now the authentic prime source of inspiration, information and knowledge about Bombay talkies and that magnificent era. K M Srivastava's work contains more authentic information than any other source available. K M Srivastava documented nearly everything in detail in his research book on Bombay talkies. He has interviewed most of the legends who were associated with Bombay talkies. He was the eye-witness of most of the events along with his fellow journalists. The intense and comprehensive research book Bombay talkies - the pillar of Indian cinema - 3rd Edition written by senior journalist K M Srivastava was released by Chandrashekhar Pusalkar Phalke, the grandson of father of Indian cinema Dada Sahab Phalke on On 19 May 2018.
In his 52 years long career, It is the third time that senior most Journalist Of Indian Cinema , K M Srivastava wrote Bombay Talkies History in the book, Bombay talkies - the pillar of Indian cinema.
The event was organized by Manika Sanstha. The guests and speakers of the event were senior editor of Madhuri Magazine, Sudeep, Rashtriya Sahara editor, senior journalist and narrator Harish Pathak, senior film actors Surendra Pal, Gajendra Chauhan and actress Asema Bhatt. The program was conducted by Devmani Pandey and incorporated by Amar Tripathi. A large number of friends of the literary world were present on the occasion. Chief Guest at the book launch event, Mr. Chandrashekhar Pusalkar Phalke, grandson of the father of Indian Cinema Dada Sahab Phalke said, "With the establishment and work culture of Bombay Talkies, Rajnarayan Dube has played a great historic role in nurturing and developing Indian film industry. He gave it the form of an organised industry and made it to be accepted as a respectful form of art by the civilised society." He further added, "Like Dada Sahab Phalke, Rajnarayan Dube also faced all kinds of conflicts and the result of his immense struggle is visible like a World Heritage Site in the form of Bombay Talkies today. He strongly affirmed, If Mr. Rajnarayan Dube was not there, there would be no Himanshu Rai, neither Devika Rani nor there would be Bombay Talkies."
The detailed history on Bombay Talkies and Indian cinema, can be found in the Books, The Man behind Indian Cinema by Mohammad Zahid Ahmed and Bombay Talkies - Pillar of Indian Cinema by KM Srivastava.- Producer
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Daggubati Ramanaidu is a multilingual Indian film producer. He is the founder of Suresh Productions and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most films produced by an individual, having produced more than 150 films in 13 Indian languages.
He has also served as a member of parliament for the Baptala constituency of Guntur District in the 13th Lok Sabha from 1999-2004.
In 2009 Ramanaidu received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in the film industry for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema, and in 2012 he was conferred with the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, the Padma Bhushan, in recognition for his contribution to Telugu cinema.
Ramanaidu contributes a substantial part of his earnings to numerous philanthropic purposes including the Ramanaidu Charitable Trust that was founded in 1991.- Actor
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Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury was born 11 February 1930 in Madras (now Chennai), India to painter/sculptor Devi Prasad Roy Chowdhury, who was then Principal at the Madras School of the Arts. The dances he learned were Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Manipuri. In 1955, he relocated to New York City and started his own dance company, Bhaskar Dances of India. Aside from taking painting, Bhaskar also acted in stage plays, musicals and several motion pictures. Horror movie fans will remember him as the Charles Manson-inspired satanist hippie cult leader Horace Bones in the horror flick, I Drink Your Blood (1971). On 25 October 1977, he was crippled in a stage fall during rehearsal, and was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He has since then concentrated on becoming a painter, and became a successful artist. Bhaskar passed away on 4 August 2003 at The Jewish Home & Hospital, 120 West 106th Street, New York City. Shortly before his death, however, he contributed audio commentary for Grindhouse's limited edition I Drink Your Blood (1971) DVD, and was fortunately able to see a copy of the film.- Actress
- Producer
Sowcar Janaki, born as Sankaramanchi Janaki, is a revered and iconic Indian actress with a career that spans over seven decades. she made her debut in the Telugu film industry at the age of 18 with "Shavukaru" in 1949, marking the beginning of an illustrious journey in the world of cinema.
Interestingly, Sowcar Janaki ventured into acting post-marriage, defying conventions and proving that it is never too late to pursue one's passion. Her versatile performances across various languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Malayalam, have left an indelible mark on the Indian film industry.
Sowcar Janaki rose to stardom between 1949 and 1975, portraying lead roles in numerous successful films. Collaborating with acclaimed directors like Dada Mirasee and K. Balachandar, she showcased her acting prowess and established herself as a powerhouse performer. Some of her notable works during this period include "Valayapathy," "Rojulu Marayi," "Naan Kanda Sorgam," "Pallum Pazhamum," "Puthiya Paravai," and "Iru Kodugal."
Beyond the silver screen, Sowcar Janaki actively engaged in stage performances, participating in over 300 shows. Her versatility extended to the radio, where she demonstrated her talents as a radio artist in her early years. Noteworthy milestones in her career include her Malayalam debut in "Schoolmaster" (1964) and her Hindi film, "Teen Bahuraniyan."
After 1975, Sowcar Janaki gracefully transitioned into supporting roles, earning widespread acclaim for her performances in films like "Cinema Paithiyam," "Thee," "Thillu Mullu," "Vetri Vizha," and "Kaanche." Her contributions were not limited to acting; she served as a jury member for the National Indian Films Awards committee and chaired the state Telugu Films Awards committee.
Janaki's dedication to the arts extended beyond the screen, as she actively participated in drama troupes, performing in live shows from 1960 to 1995. Her collaborations with co-star Sreekanth in both films and dramas added another dimension to her illustrious career.
Renowned for her enduring on-screen partnerships, Sowcar Janaki shared a special rapport with actors like Sreekanth, Gemini Ganeshan, and Shivaji Ganeshan, particularly cherishing her experiences with the legendary Sivaji Ganesan. Her association with him was characterized by mutual admiration and collaborative efforts to enhance their performances.
In 2016, Sowcar Janaki emerged as the actress with the longest career span, surpassing many of her contemporaries. Her legacy continues to inspire generations, solidifying her place as a true icon in Indian cinema. Sowcar Janaki's unparalleled dedication and longevity in the industry stand as a testament to her remarkable contributions and influence in shaping the Indian film landscape.- Jayanthi was born on 6 January 1945 in Bellary, Madras Presidency, British India. She was an actress, known for Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1969), Thotalo Pilla Kotalo Rani (2017) and Dada (1966). She was married to Peketi Sivaram. She died on 26 July 2021 in Banashankari, Bangalore, India.
- Actor
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Gollapudi Maruthi Rao was born on 14 April 1939 in Vizianagaram, Madras Presidency, British India [now Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India]. He was an actor and writer, known for Papam Pasivaadu (1972), Deshoddharakudu (1986) and Chelleli Kapuram (1971). He died on 12 December 2019.- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Varalakshmi G. was born on 27 September 1926 in Ongole, Madras Presidency, British India. She was an actress and director, known for Kanna Talli (1953), Moogajeevulu (1968) and Purana Purush (1978). She was married to K.S. Prakash Rao. She died on 25 November 2006 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Music Artist
- Actress
- Producer
M.S. Subbalakshmi was born on 16 September 1916 in Madurai, Madras Presidency, British India. She was a music artist and actress, known for Meera (1945), Seva Sadan (1938) and Meera (1947). She was married to T. Sadasivam. She died on 11 December 2004 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
M.S. Viswanathan was born on 24 June 1928 in Palakkad, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a composer and actor, known for Agni Sakshi (1982), Vishwa Thulasi (2004) and Lakshmi Kalyanam (1968). He was married to Janaki. He died on 14 July 2015 in Chennai, India.- Actor
- Director
V.S. Raghavan was born in 1925 in Vembakkam, South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Samaya Sanjeevani (1957), Indru Netru Naalai (2015) and Naanum Oru Thozhilaali (1986). He died on 24 January 2015 in Chennai, India.- Writer
- Producer
Mullapudi Venkata Ramana was born on 28 June 1931 in Dhowleswaram, Rajahmundry, Madras Presidency, British India. Mullapudi Venkata was a writer and producer, known for Buddimantudu (1969), Muthyala Muggu (1975) and Pelli Pustakam (1991). Mullapudi Venkata died on 24 February 2011 in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.- Director
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Yoganand was born on 16 April 1922 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. Yoganand was a director and writer, known for Bagdad Gajadonga (1968), Parthiban Kanavu (1960) and Rani Samyuktha (1962). Yoganand died on 23 November 2006 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Actor
- Director
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Balaiah M. was born on 9 April 1930 in Chavapadu, Guntur district, Madras Presidency, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Kirayi Alludu (1984), Chelleli Kapuram (1971) and Kurukshetra (1977). He was married to Mannava Kamaladevi. He died on 9 April 2022 in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Production Manager
Mumtaz Ali was born on 15 March 1915 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. He is an actor and production manager, known for Chhote Nawab (1961), Immaan Dharam (1977) and Mastana (1970).- Vinuchakravarthy was born on 15 December 1945 in Usilampatti, Madras Presidency, Madurai District, British India. He was an actor and writer, known for Oru Kaidhiyin Diary (1985), Villain (2002) and Rajadhani (1994). He was married to Karna Poo. He died on 27 April 2017 in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
- Rajasulochana was born on 15 August 1935 in Bezawada, Madras Presidency, British India. She was an actress, known for Piya Milan (1958), Sri Kalahastiswara Mahatyam (1954) and Rangoon Radha (1956). She was married to Rao C.S.R.. She died on 5 March 2013 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Music Department
- Actor
- Writer
Vaali was born on 29 October 1931 in Srirangam, Madras Presidency, British India. He was an actor and writer, known for Dasavatharam (2008), Lion (2016) and Ghajini (2005). He died on 18 July 2013 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
L. Subramaniam was born on 23 July 1947 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. He is a composer, known for Salaam Bombay! (1988), Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love (1996) and Mississippi Masala (1991). He has been married to Kavita Krishnamurthy since 11 November 1999. They have one child. He was previously married to Viji Subramaniam.- Santha Rama Rau was born on 24 January 1923 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. She was a writer, known for A Passage to India (1984), BBC Play of the Month (1965) and The Merv Griffin Show (1962). She died on 21 April 2009 in Amenia, New York, USA.
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Soundtrack
Gordon Mills was born on 15 May 1935 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a producer and production manager, known for Edward Scissorhands (1990), Play Misty for Me (1971) and Hot Shots! (1991). He was married to Jo Waring. He died on 29 July 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22 December 1887 in Erode, Madras Presidency, British India [now Tamil Nadu, India]. He died on 26 April 1920 in Kumbakonam, Madras Presidency, British India [now Tamil Nadu, India].
- R. Krishnan was born on 18 July 1909 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. R. was a director, known for Uyarntha Manithan (1968), Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum (1965) and Server Sundaram (1964). R. died on 15 July 1997 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Director
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- Writer
S. Balachander was one of southern India's formemost Veena players. He was a child prodigy who taught himself to play the Veena, an ancient stringed instrument that is sometimes called the Indian lute. He directed several Tamil films, mostly mysteries. Unfortunately, they were commercial failures. His films are vaguely reminiscent of Hollywood's film noir classics. They should be regarded as attempts to get an Indian vernacular audience to appreciate detective fiction. Besides being a film director, Balachander was also a musicologist. An acerbic and combative man, he made enemies of his fellow musicians, notably Balamuralikrishna and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, by disproving their musical claims. Balachander's death some years ago robbed India of one of its most colourful personalities.- Music Department
- Writer
- Actor
Kannadasan was born on 24 June 1927 in Sirukoodalpatti, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a writer and actor, known for Karnan (1964), Sivagangai Seemai (1959) and Rani Samyuktha (1962). He died on 17 October 1981 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna was born on 6 July 1930 in Sankaraguptam, East Godavari District, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a composer and actor, known for Madhavacharya (1986), Hamse Geethe (1975) and Kurukshetramu (1977). He was married to Annapurna. He died on 22 November 2016 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Subbalakshmi was born on 21 April 1936 in Thirunelveli,Madras presidency, British India. She was an actress, known for Beast (2022), Dil Bechara (2020) and Thilakkam (2003). She was married to Kalyanakrishnan. She died on 30 November 2023 in Thiruvananthapuram, India.- Raghupati Surya Prakash Naidu was born in 1901 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a director, known for Tara Sasankam (1941), Chandika (1940) and The Catechist of Kil-Arni (1923). He died on 28 May 1956 in Madras, Madras State, India.
- R.K. Narayan was born on 10 October 1906 in Madras, Madras Presidency, British India. R.K. was a writer, known for Guide (1965), The Guide (1965) and Banker Margayya (1983). R.K. died on 13 May 2001 in New Delhi, India.
- Director
- Cinematographer
- Producer
R. Nataraja Mudaliar was born on 26 January 1885 in Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Gopal Krishna (1917), Kalinga Mardanam (1920) and Markandeya (1919). He died in 1972.- Punathil Kunjabdulla was born on 3 April 1940 in Vatakara, Madras Presidency, British India. He was a writer, known for John Paul Vaathil Thurakkunnu (2014), Kathi (1983) and Ramanam (2009). He died on 27 October 2017 in Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
- N. Viswanathan was born in 1929 in Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India. He was an actor, known for Ladai (2020), Tomar Rakte Amar Sohag (1993) and Kichhhu Sanlap Kichhu Pralap (1999). He died on 17 November 2010 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.