name	Apne
director	Anil Sharma
producer	Rahul SughandSangeeta Ahir
story	Neeraj Pathak
screenplay	Neeraj Pathak
starring	DharmendraSunny DeolBobby DeolShilpa ShettyKatrina KaifKirron Kher
music	Himesh Reshammiya
cinematography	Kabir Lal
editing	Ashfaque Makrani
distributor	Glamour Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.Prime Focus Ltd.
released	June 29, 2007
runtime	174 mins
country	India
language	Hindi
gross	}}

''Apne'' () () is a 2007 Bollywood film directed by Anil Sharma. This is the first and one of the two films to feature real life father and sons Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol together. Sunny and Bobby have worked together before in ''Dillagi''. Kiron Kher, Shilpa Shetty and Katrina Kaif play the female leads. The film opened to an excellent response across India and emerged as a hit overseas as well

Plot

An ex-boxer Baldev Choudhary (Dharmendra) has had a stain in his boxing career. He wanted to wash it with his son Angad's (Sunny Deol) success, but times were hard and a financial crunch kept him from achieving this dream. Though Angad pulled through fine, Baldev never forgot who ruined his chance to wash the stain. An opportunity strikes Baldev in the form of a T.V. Show. He trains a local boy to get into this media hyped boxing show, but is ditched for a better coach at the last minute. Baldev's younger son Karan (Bobby Deol) has just launched his first music album. Realizing his father is in crises of his life, he gives up his dream of a musical career to get into the game of boxing. Karan wins all through thinking that his victory will bring the two pillars of his family together. After winning within the nation, he wins all over the world. The final match is with the current world heavy champion. The match goes fine, but Karan is tricked and he ends up paralyzed in a hospital bed. Baldev, who wanted to wash a stigma is now about to lose his son. He feels like killing himself. When Karan reveals the world heavy champion cheated, Angad decides to get into the game of boxing once more and win the title for his father.Angad steps in and brings the world heavyweight champion belt to India. On the other hand, Karan suffers liver damage and requires a liver to survive. Baldev pleads with the doctors to use his liver, but the doctors reject the idea. However, the operation continues as God hears Baldev's call - a liver is donated to Karan through an unknown donor. In the end, Baldev who was going to give up his life for Karan, is instead alive and happy with his family.

Cast

Dharmendra as Baldev Singh Choudhary

Sunny Deol as Angad Choudhary

Bobby Deol as Karan Choudhary

Shilpa Shetty as Simran

Katrina Kaif as Nandini

Divya Dutta as Pooja

Kirron Kher as Raavi

Victor Banerjee as Ehsaan Ali

Jonnie Brown as Luca Gracia

Javed Sheikh as Roy

Aryan Vaid as Gaurav Ghera

Kurush Deboo as Dr. Niranjan Sarabhai

Marvina Vinique as Luca's wife

Jonathan Samson as a Bodyguard

Rajendra Gupta as Bullar

Dolly Bindra

Amrit Pal

Parvin Dabbas as Saket

Amar Singh

Sound Track

# ''Mehfooz Rakhta Hoon'' - Himesh Reshamiya # ''Dekhoon Tujhe'' - Himesh Reshamiya Akriti Kakkar # ''Apne To Apne Hote Hain'' - Jaspinder Narula Sonu Nigam Jayesh Gandhi # ''Ankh Vich'' - Shaan Kunal Ganjawala Amrita Kak Himesh Reshamiya(Replaced in Movie by Zubeen Garg) # ''Bulls Eye'' - Shaan Earl # ''Tere Sang'' - Jaspinder Narula Sonu Nigam # ''Mehfooz (Remix)'' - Himesh Reshamiya # ''Ankh Vich Chehra Pyaar Da (Remix)'' - Shaan Amrita Kak Himesh Reshamiya Kunal Ganjawala # ''Dekhoon Tujhe To Pyaar Aaye (Remix)'' - Himesh Reshamiya Akriti Kakkar

Response

Box office

''Apne'' opened to a very good response throughout the country especially in the Northern territories most notably Punjab where it had a mammoth opening becoming a gigantic blockbuster in the long run. The rest of the country saw a good opening for Apne. The Gross Collection of Apne was Rs. 45,05,44,575.

Overseas the film also opened to a fantastic response, especially in the UK. In its opening weekend the film made £179,457. The film entered the U.K Top Ten at number 3. In its second week the film made £320,138 and remained in the Top Ten at number 5. It was one of the few films which enjoyed extreme success at the overseas market for 2007. The film has been declared a semi-hit overseas and a hit in India.

Reviews

The film received positive reviews from critics, many complimenting the theme of a family drama with just the right dose of emotion, drama, comedy, and action in a not so violent way. Dharmendra received acclaim for his power-house and outstanding performance. Taran Adarsh in his review stated that "Apne is rich in emotions and has the potential to strike a chord with families. Those who love emotional fares are bound to take a liking for its theme." The movie was also dubbed into Punjabi.

References

External links

Category:2007 films Category:Hindi-language films Category:Indian films

pl:Apne

name	Kishore Kumar| image Gangulybros01.jpg
background	solo_singer
spouse	Rama Devi, Madhubala, Yogeeta Bali, Leena Chandawarkar
birth name	Abhas Kumar Ganguly
born	August 04, 1929Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar
died	October 13, 1987Mumbai, Maharashtra
genre	Playback, Rabindra Sangeet, rock and roll
occupation	Singer, actor, director, musician, producer
years active	1946–1987 }}

Kishore Kumar (, , ; born Abhas Kumar Ganguly 4 August 1929 – 13 October 1987) was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter. Kishore Kumar sang in many Indian languages including Bengali, Hindi, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Kannada, Bhojpuri, Malayalam and Oriya. He was the winner of 8 Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer and holds the record for most number of Filmfare Awards won for that category.

Early life

Kishore Kumar was born into the Bengali Brahmin Ganguly family in Khandwa, Central Provinces and Berar (now in Madhya Pradesh) as Abhas Kumar Ganguly. His father Kunjalal Ganguly (Gangopadhya) was a lawyer. His mother Gouri Devi came from a wealthy Bengali family. Kishore was the youngest of four siblings, the other three being Ashok Kumar (the eldest), Sati Devi, and Anoop Kumar.

While Kishore was still a child, Ashok Kumar became a Bollywood actor. (Later, Anoop Kumar also ventured into cinema with the help of Ashok Kumar). Spending time with his brothers, Kishore also started to take a keen interest in movies and music. He became a fan of singer-actor Kundan Lal Saigal, whom he considered his guru, and tried to follow Saigal's singing style.

Career

After Ashok Kumar became a Bollywood star, the Ganguly family used to visit Bombay regularly. Abhas Kumar changed his name to Kishore Kumar and started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies, where his brother worked. His first film as an actor was ''Shikari'' (1946), in which Ashok Kumar played the lead role. Music director Khemchand Prakash gave him a chance to sing the song ''Marne ki duayen kyon mangu'' for the film ''Ziddi'' (1948). After this, Kishore Kumar got many other assignments, but he was not very serious about a film career. In 1949, he decided to settle in Mumbai.

Kishore Kumar played hero in the Bombay Talkies film ''Andolan'' (1951), directed by Phani Majumdar. Although Kishore Kumar got some assignments as an actor with help of his brother, he was more interested in becoming a singer. He was not interested in acting, but his elder brother Ashok Kumar wanted him to be an actor like himself.

He starred in Bimal Roy's ''Naukri'' (1954) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's directorial debut ''Musafir'' (1957). Salil Chowdhury, the music director for ''Naukri'' was initially dismissive of him as a singer, when he came to know that Kishore Kumar didn't have any formal training in music. However, after hearing his voice, he gave him the song ''Chhota sa ghar hoga'', which was supposed to be sung by Hemant Kumar.

Kishore Kumar starred in films ''New Delhi'''' (1957), ''Aasha'' (1957), ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958), ''Half Ticket'' (1962), and ''Padosan'' (1968). ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'', his home production, starred the three Ganguly brothers, and Madhubala. The film is about romance between a city girl (Madhubala) and a car mechanic (Kishore Kumar), with a subplot involving brothers.

Music director S. D. Burman is credited with spotting Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer, and advancing his singing career. During the making of ''Mashaal'' (1950), Burman visited Ashok Kumar's house, where he heard Kishore imitating K. L. Saigal. He complimented Kishore, but also told him that he should develop a style of his own, instead of copying Saigal. Kishore Kumar did not have a formal training in music. He kept Burman's advice in mind, and eventually developed his own style of singing, which featured the yodeling that he had heard on some records of Jimmie Rodgers bought by his brother Anoop Kumar.

S. D. Burman recorded with Kishore for Dev Anand's ''Munimji'' (1954), ''Taxi Driver'' (1954), ''House No. 44'' (1955), ''Funtoosh'' (1956), ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Paying Guest'' (1957), ''Guide'' (1965), ''Jewel Thief'' (1967), ''Prem Pujari'' (1970), and ''Tere Mere Sapne'' (1971). He also composed music for Kishore Kumar's home production ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). Some of their initial films included the songs ''Maana Janaab Ne Pukara Nahin'' from ''Paying Guest'', ''Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'' from ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Ai Meri Topi Palat Ke Aa'' from ''Funtoosh'', and ''Ek Ladki Bheegi Bhaagi Si'' and ''Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka'' from ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar performed duets composed by S. D. Burman including ''Chhod Do Aanchal'' from ''Paying Guest'' (1957), ''Ankhon Mein Kya Ji'' from ''Nau Do Gyarah'' (1957), ''Haal Kaisa Hai Janaab Ka'' and ''Paanch Rupaiya Baara Aana'' from ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958), ''Chhedo Na Meri Zulfein'' from ''Ganga Ki Lahren'' (1964), and ''Arre Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Gajab'' from ''[Teen Devian|Teen Deviyan]'' (1965).

C. Ramchandra was another music director who recognized Kishore Kumar's talent as a singer. and their collaborations include ''Eena Meena Deeka'' from ''Aasha'' (1957). Kishore Kumar's work includes, ''Nakhrewaali'' from ''New Delhi'' (1956) by Shankar Jaikishan, and ''C.A.T. Cat Maane Billi'' and ''Hum To Mohabbat Karega'' from ''Dilli Ka Thug'' (1958) by Ravi.

Kishore Kumar produced, directed, and acted in the film ''Jhumroo'' (1961). He wrote the lyrics for the title song, ''Main Hoon Jhumroo'', and composed music for all the songs in the film. Later, he produced and directed the film ''Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein'' (1964). He also wrote the script and composed music for the film. The film is based on the relationship between a father (Kishore Kumar), and his deaf and mute son (played by his real-life son, Amit Kumar). He made another two films called ''Door Ka Rahi'' (1971) and ''Door Waadiyon Mein Kahin'' (1980).

In the 1960s, as an actor, Kishore Kumar built up a notoriety for coming late for the shootings, or bunking them altogether. His films flopped frequently, and he also landed in income tax trouble. As a singer, his work in this period includes ''Zaroorat Hai Zaroorat Hai'' from ''Manmauji'' (1961), ''Gaata Rahe Mera Dil'' from ''Guide'' (1965), and ''Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara'' from ''Jewel Thief'' (1967).

In the late 1960s, Rahul Dev Burman worked together on the soundtrack of the film ''Padosan'' (1968), in which Kishore Kumar sang the songs ''Mere Saamne Wali Khidki Mein'' and ''Kehna Hai''. ''Padosan'' was a comedy film starring Kishore Kumar as a dramatist-musician, Mehmood as a Carnatic music and dance teacher, and Sunil Dutt as a simpleton named Bhola. Kishore Kumar's character in the film was inspired by the personality of Kishore's own uncle, Dhananjay Bannerjee (a classical singer). The highlight of the film was a musical, comical duel between Kishore Kumar-Sunil Dutt and Mehmood, ''Ek Chatur Nar Karke Singaar''.

1970's and 1980's

In 1969, Shakti Samanta produced and directed the film ''Aradhana'', for which the music was composed by S. D. Burman. S. D. Burman fell ill after recording some duet songs with Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar. Afterwards, his son and assistant Rahul Dev Burman took over the recording. R. D. Burman got Kishore Kumar to solo sing the songs ''Mere Sapno Ki Rani'' and ''Roop Tera Mastana''. Kishore Kumar won his first Filmfare award for the song "Roop Tera Mastana".

In 1970s & 1980s Kishore Kumar sang for Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Dev Anand, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff.

S. D. Burman and Kishore Kumar continued to work together, including ''Phoolon Ke Rang Se'' and ''Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaaye'' from ''Prem Pujari'' (1969), ''Aaj Madhosh Hua Jaaye Re'', ''Khilte Hain Gul Yahan'' and ''O Meri Sharmilee'' from ''Sharmilee'' (1971), ''Meet na mila'' from ''Abhimaan'' (1973), ''Pyaar Ke Is Khel Mein'' from ''Jugnu''. In 1975, S. D. Burman composed his last song for Kishore Kumar. S. D. Burman went into a coma for the second time, soon after Kishore recorded the song ''Badi Sooni Sooni Hai Zindagi'' for the film ''Mili''.

R. D. Burman frequently used Kishore Kumar as the male singer, and recorded several songs with him in the 1970s. Some Kishore Kumar-R. D. Burman songs include ''O Maajhi Re'' from ''Khushboo'', ''Yeh Shaam Mastaani'' and ''Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai'' from ''Kati Patang'' (1971), ''Kuchh To Log Kahenge'' from ''Amar Prem'' (1972), "Raat Kali Ek Khwab Mein Aayi" from ''Buddha Mil Gaya ''(1971), ''Musafir Hoon Yaaron'' from ''Parichay'' (1972), ''Diye Jalte Hain'' from ''Namak Haraam'' (1973), ''Meri Bheegi Bheegi Si'' from ''Anamika'' (1973), ''Zindagi Ke Safar Mein'' from ''Aap Ki Kasam'' (1974), ''Agar Tum Na Hote'', ''Humein Tum Se Pyaar Kitna'' from ''Kudrat'', "Mere Naina Saawan Bhadon" from ''Mehbooba'', and ''Chingari Koi Bhadke'' (''Amar Prem''), ''Jab Bhi Koi Kangana'' from ''Shaukeen'' (1986). R. D. Burman also recorded several duets pairing Kishore Kumar with Asha Bhosle and with Lata Mangeshkar. Some of these duets include ''Panna Ki Tamanna'' from ''Heera Panna'' (1973), ''Neend Chura Ke Raaton Mein'' from the film ''Shareef Budmaash'', ''Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai'' from Sanjay Dutt's debut film ''Rocky'' (1981), ''Sagar Kinare'' from ''Sagar'' in [1985], ''Aap Ki Aankhon Mein Kuchh'' from ''Ghar'', ''Jaane Ja Dhoondta'' and ''Nahi Nahi'' from ''Jawani Diwani'', "Kharoshoo" from ''Harjai'' (1982).

Apart from the Burmans, Kishore Kumar worked with other music directors as well. The composer duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal (L-P) also composed many songs sung by Kishore Kumar. Some of their songs include ''Mere Mehboob Qayamat Hogi'' from ''Mr. X In Bombay'', ''Mere Naseeb Mein Aye Dost'' from ''Do Raaste'', ''Yeh Jeevan Hai'' from ''Piya Ka Ghar'', ''Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai'' from ''Daag: A Poem of Love'', ''Nahi Mai Nahi Dekh Sakta'' from ''Majboor'', ''Mere diwanepan ki bhi'' from ''Mehboob Ki Mehndi'', ''Naach Meri Bulbul'' from ''Roti'', ''Chal Chal Mere Haathi'' from ''Haathi Mere Saathi'', ''Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai'' from ''Dost'', ''Ruk Jaana Nahi'' from ''Imtihaan'', ''Ek Ritu Aaye'' from ''Gautam Govinda'', ''My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves'' from ''Amar Akbar Anthony'' ''Bahut Khoobsurat Jawan Ek Ladki'' from ''Dostana'' and ''Om Shanti Om'' as well as ''Paisa Yeh Paisa'' from ''Karz''. Laxmikant-Pyarelal also composed several Kishore-Lata duets, including ''Achchha To Hum Chalte Hain'' from ''Aan Milo Sajna'', ''Gore Rang Pe Na Itna'' from ''Roti'', ''Main Solah Baras Ki'' from ''Karz'', and ''Din Mahine Saal'' from ''Avtaar'', ''Tu Kitne Baras Ki'' from ''Karz''. L-P also got Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi to sing duets for the films ''Dostana'', ''Ram Balram'' and ''Deedaar-E-Yaar''. L-P composed a duet with Kishore Kumar and Alisha Chinoy, ''I love you (Kaate Nahin Katate Yeh Din Yeh Raat)'' from ''Mr. India'' in (1987). Salil Chowdhury recorded songs like ''Koi Hota Jisko Apna'' from ''Mere Apne'' and ''Gujar Gaye Din Din'' from ''Annadata''. Ravindra Jain recorded ''Ghungroo Ki Tarah'', and the duet ''Tota Maina Ki Kahani'' from ''Fakira''. Khaiyyaam recorded beautiful duets with Lata Mangeshkar such as ''Hazar Rahein'' from ''Thodisi Bewafai'', ''Aankhon Mein Humne Aapke Sapne Sajaye Hain'', ''Chandani Raat Mein Ek Bar''. Hridaynath Mangeshkar recorded ''Zindagi Aa Raha Hoon Main'' from ''Mashaal''. Kalyanji-Anandji recorded several songs with Kishore Kumar including ''Zindagi Ka Safar'' and ''Jeevan Se Bhari Teri Aankhein'', from ''Safar'', ''Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas'' from ''Black Mail'', ''Apne Jeevan Ki Uljhan'' from ''Uljhan'', ''Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz'' from ''Kora Kagaz'', ''O Saathi Re'' from ''Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'', ''Khaike Paan Banaraswala'' from ''Don'', ''Neele Neele Ambar Par'' from ''Kalakar'' and ''Pal Bhar Ke Liye'' from ''Johny Mera Naam''.

Other composers including Rajesh Roshan, Sapan Chakravarty, Jaidev, Chitragupta (composer), Usha Khanna, Sohnik Omi, Prem Dhawan, Vanraj Bhatia and Bappi Lahiri also worked with Kishore Kumar. Rajesh Roshan's film ''Julie'' featured songs sung by Kishore Kumar, ''Bhool Gaya Saab Kuchh'' (duet with Lata Mangeshkar) and ''Dil Kya Kare Jab Kisise''. Their other songs include ''Chhookar mere man ko'' from ''Yaarana'', ''Tune Abhi Dekha Nahin'' from ''Do Aur Do Paanch'' and ''Kahan Tak Ye Man Ko Andhere Chhalenge'' from ''Baaton Baaton Mein''. Bappi Lahiri also recorded many songs with Kishore Kumar, including ''Pag Ghunghroo Bandh'' from ''Namak Halal'' (1982), ''Manzilen Apni Jagah Hai'' from ''Sharaabi'' (1984) and ''Chalte Chalte Mere Ye Geet'' from ''Chalte Chalte'' (1976), ''Saason Se Nahi Kadmose Nahi'' from ''Mohabbat'' in (1987) and duets with (Lata Mangeshkar)) like ''Taa thaiya'' from ''Himmatwala'' in (1984), ''Albela Mausam'' from ''Tohfa'' in (1985) and another duet ''Pyar Ka Tohfa'' from the same film.

During the Indian Emergency (1975–1977), Sanjay Gandhi asked Kishore Kumar to sing for an Indian National Congress rally in Mumbai, but Kishore Kumar refused. As a result, the government put an unofficial ban on playing Kishore Kumar songs on the All India Radio or television.

Later years

Kishore Kumar produced and directed some movies in the late 1970s and early 1980s, such as ''Badhti Ka Naam Daadhi'' (1978), ''Zindagi'' (1981) and ''Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin'' (1980). His last appearance as an actor was in ''Door Wadiyon Mein Kahin''.

With patronage from R. D. Burman and Rajesh Roshan, Kishore Kumar's son Amit Kumar also became a Bollywood singer in the 1980s. Kishore Kumar also continued singing for several actors. He also did some stage shows, apparently to earn money to pay his income tax arrears.

Kishore Kumar stopped singing for Amitabh Bachchan in the mid-1980s, after Bachchan did not do a guest appearance in a film produced by him but called a truce with him by singing for him in ''Toofan''. He also temporarily stopped singing for Mithun Chakraborty, after Yogeeta Bali divorced him and married Chakraborty. However, later Kumar sang for him in many films like ''Disco Dancer'', ''Muddat'', and ''Pyar Ka Mandir''.

In the mid-1980s, Kishore Kumar sang for Anil Kapoor in Kapoor's debut film as a leading man, ''Woh Saat Din'' and also recorded ''Mr. India''. He sang a duet with Alka Yagnik, ''Tumse Badhkar Duniya Mein Na Dekha'' for ''Kaamchor'' in (1986). He also recorded some songs for the film ''Saagar'' with R. D. Burman. By this time, he had decided to retire and was planning to go back to his birthplace, Khandwa.

On 13 October 1987, he died of a heart attack in Mumbai at 4:45 pm. His body was taken to Khandwa for cremation. He had recorded his last song a day before he died. The song was ''Guru Guru'', a duet with Asha Bhosle, for the film ''Waqt Ki Aawaz'' (1988) composed by Bappi Lahiri for Mithun Chakraborty and Sridevi.

Kishore Kumar's song ''Pal Bhar Ke Liye'' from the film ''Johny Mera Naam'' (1970) was used in an episode of ''The Simpsons'' titled "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore". His songs have also been featured in several films, including ''Such a Long Journey'' (1998) and ''Side Streets'' (1998). Sony TV organised the television singing contest ''K for Kishore'' to search for a singer like Kishore Kumar.

Personal life

Kishore Kumar married four times. His first wife was Ruma Guha Thakurta aka Ruma Ghosh. Their marriage lasted from 1950 to 1958.

Kishore's second wife was actress Madhubala, who had worked with him on many films including his home production ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'' (1958). When Kishore Kumar proposed to her, Madhubala was sick and was planning to go to London for treatment. At this time, she didn't know that she had a ventricular septal defect, and her father wanted her to wait and consult the London doctors first. Nevertheless, Madhubala married Kishore in 1960. Madhubala was a Muslim, and the two had a civil marriage. Kishore converted to Islam and took the name Karim Abdul. The doctors in London told Madhubala that she would not live for long. The marriage lasted for nine years, and ended with Madhubala's death on 23 February 1969.

Kishore Kumar's third marriage was to Yogeeta Bali, and lasted from 1976 to 4 August 1978. Kishore was married to Leena Chandavarkar from 1980 until his death. Kishore Kumar sired two sons, Amit Kumar (playback singer) with Ruma, and Sumit Kumar with Leena Chandavarkar.

Kumar is said to have been paranoid about not being paid. During recordings, he would sing only after his secretary confirmed that the producer had made the payment. Once, when he discovered that his dues hadn't been fully paid, he landed up for shooting with make-up on only one side of his face. When the director questioned him, he replied "Aadha paisa to aadha make-up." (Half make-up for half payment). On the sets of ''Bhai Bhai'', Kishore Kumar refused to act because the director M V Raman owed him five thousand rupees. Ashok Kumar persuaded him to do the scene. But, when the shooting started, he walked across the floor and, each time he walked a few places, he said, ''Paanch Hazzar Rupaiya'' (five thousand rupees) and did a somersault. After he reached the end of the floor, he went out of the studio, jumped into his car, and ordered his driver Abdul to drive away. On another occasion, when producer R. C. Talwar did not pay his dues in spite of repeated reminders, Kishore turned up at Talwar's residence one morning and started shouting "''Hey Talwar, de de mere aath hazaar''" ("Hey Talwar, give me my eight thousand"). He did this every morning until Talwar paid him.

The film ''Anand'' (1971) was originally supposed to star Kishore Kumar and Mehmood Ali in the lead. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, the director of the film, was asked to meet Kishore Kumar to discuss the project. However, when he went to Kishore Kumar's house, he was driven away by the gatekeeper due to a misunderstanding. Kishore Kumar (himself a Bengali) hadn't been paid for a stage show organized by another Bengali man, and had instructed his gatekeeper to drive away this "Bengali", if he ever visited the house. When Hrishikesh Mukherjee (also a Bengali) went to Kishore Kumar's house, the gatekeeper drove him away, mistaking him for the "Bengali" that Kishore Kumar had asked him to drive away. Consequently, Mehmood had to leave the film as well, and new actors (Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan) were signed up for the film.

In spite of his "no money, no work" principle, sometimes Kishore Kumar recorded for free even when the producers were willing to pay. Such films include those produced by Rajesh Khanna and Danny Denzongpa. On one occasion, Kishore Kumar helped actor-turned-producer Bipin Gupta, by giving him Rs. 20,000 for the film ''Dal Mein Kala'' (1964). When actor Arun Kumar Mukherjee died, Kishore Kumar regularly sent money to his family in Bhagalpur. Mukherjee was one of the first persons to appreciate Kishore's singing talent.

Many journalists and writers have written about Kishore Kumar's seemingly eccentric behavior. Kishore Kumar had put a "''Beware of Kishore''" sign at the door of his Warden Road flat, where he stayed for some time while his bungalow was being done up. Once, producer-director H. S. Rawail, who owed him some money, visited his flat to pay the dues. Kishore Kumar took the money, and when Rawail offered to shake hands with him, he reportedly put Rawail's hand in his mouth, bit it, and asked "Didn’t you see the sign?". Rawail laughed off the incident and left quickly. Kishore Kumar was a loner, and in an interview with Pritish Nandy (1985), he said that he had no friends – he preferred talking to his trees instead. Once, when a reporter made a comment about how lonely he must be, Kishore Kumar took her to his garden. He then named some of the trees in his garden, and introduced them to the reporter as his closest friends.

According to another reported incident, once Kishore Kumar was to record a song for producer-director G. P. Sippy. As Sippy approached his bungalow, he saw Kishore going out in his car. Sippy pleaded him to stop his car, but Kishore only increased the speed of his car. Sippy chased him to Madh Island, where Kishore Kumar finally stopped his car near the ruined Madh Fort. When Sippy questioned his strange behavior, Kishore Kumar refused to recognize or talk to him and threatened to call police. Sippy had to return. Next morning, Kishore Kumar reported for the recording. An angry Sippy questioned him about his behavior on the previous day. However, Kishore Kumar insisted that Sippy must have seen a dream, and claimed that he was in Khandwa on the previous day.

Once, a producer went to court to get a decree that Kishore Kumar must follow the director's orders. As a consequence, Kishore Kumar obeyed the director to the letter. He refused to alight from his car until the director ordered him to do so. Once, after a car scene in Mumbai, he drove on till Khandala because the director forgot to say "Cut". In the 1960s, a financier named Kalidas Batvabbal, patently disgusted with Kishore Kumar's alleged lack of cooperation during the shooting of ''Half Ticket'', gave him away to the income tax authorities. Kishore had to face a raid at his house. Later, Kishore invited Batvabbal home, tricked him by asking him to enter a cupboard for a "chat" and locked him inside. He unlocked Batvabbal after two hours and told him "Don’t ever come to my house again."

Awards

; Filmfare Awards

Winner:

! Year	! Song	! Film	! Music director	! Lyricist
1969	''Roop tera mastaana''		Sachin Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1975	''Dil aisa kisi ne Mera''	''Amanush''	Shyamal Mitra	Indeevar
1978	''Khaike Pan Banaras Wala''		Kalyanji-Anandji	Anjaan
1980	''Hazaar raahen mudke dekheen''	''Thodisi Bewafaii''	Khayyam	Gulzar
1982	''Pag ghungroo baandh ke meera nachi''	''Namak Halaal''	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1983	''Hamen aur jeene ki''	''Agar Tum Na Hote''	Rahul Dev Burman	Gulshan Bawra
1984	''Manzilen apni jagah''	''Sharaabi''	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1985	''Saagar Kinaare''	''Saagar''	Rahul Dev Burman	Javed Akhtar

Nominated:

! Year	! Song	! Film	! Music Director	! Lyricist
1971	''Zindagi Ek Safar''		Shankar-Jaikishan	Hasrat Jaipuri
1971	''Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai''	Kati Patang	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1972	''Chingari Koi Bhadke''	Amar Prem	Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1973	''Mere Dil Mein Aaj''	''Daag: A Poem of Love''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Sahir Ludhianvi
1974	''Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai''	''Dost''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1974	''Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz''	''Kora Kagaz''	Kalyanji Anandji	M.G.Hashmat
1975	''Main Pyaasa Tum''	''Faraar''	Kalyanji Anandji	Rajendra Krishan
1975	''O Manjhi Re''		Rahul Dev Burman
1977	''Aap Ke Anurodh''	''Anurodh''	Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1978	''O Saathi Re''	Muqaddar Ka Sikander	Kalyanji-Anandji	Anjaan
1978	''Hum Bewafa Harghiz''		Rahul Dev Burman	Anand Bakshi
1979	''Ek Rasta Hai Zindagi''	''Kaala Patthar''	Rajesh Roshan	Sahir Ludhianvi
1980	''Om Shanthi Om''		Laxmikant-Pyarelal	Anand Bakshi
1981	''Hameh Tumse Pyar''	''Kudrat''	Rahul Dev Burman	Majrooh Sultanpuri
1981	''Chhookar Mere Mann Ko''		Rajesh Roshan	Anjaan
1983	''Shayad Meri Shaadi''	''Souten''	Usha Khanna	Sawan Kumar
1984	''De De Pyar De''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1984	''Inteha Ho Gayi''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan
1984	''Log Kehete Hai Main''	Sharaabi	Bappi Lahiri	Anjaan

; Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Winner: 1971 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Aradhana'' 1972 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Andaz'' 1973 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Hare Rama Hare Krishna'' 1975 - Best Male Playback Singer for ''Kora Kagaz''

See also

Kishore Kumar filmography

List of Indian playback singers

Hindi songs

References

Further reading

External links

Category:1929 births Category:1987 deaths Category:Bengali people Category:People from Khandwa Category:Indian male singers Category:Indian actors Category:Indian film actors Category:Indian film singers Category:Cardiovascular disease deaths in India Category:Indian comedians Category:Bollywood playback singers Category:Yodelers Category:Bengali musicians Category:Bengali actors Category:Assamese playback singers Category:Indian former Muslims Category:People from Mumbai Category:Hindi film actors Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:Indian film directors Category:Indian film producers

bn:কিশোর কুমার de:Kishore Kumar es:Kishore Kumar fr:Kishore Kumar hi:किशोर कुमार ml:കിഷോർ കുമാർ mr:किशोर कुमार ne:किशोर कुमार sd:ڪشور ڪمار Kishore Kumar sv:Kishore Kumar te:కిషోర్ కుమార్ ur:کشور کمار

name	Amitabh Bachchan
birth name
birth date	October 11, 1942
birth place	Allahabad, United Province, British India
residence	Prateeksha, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
occupation	Actor, producer, singer, television presenter
years active	1969–present
spouse	Jaya Bhaduri (1973–present)
website
signature	}}

Amitabh Bachchan ( , , born Amitabh Harivansh Bachchan on 11 October 1942) is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since become one of the most prominent figures in the history of Indian cinema.

Bachchan has won numerous major awards in his career, including four National Film Awards, three of which are in the Best Actor category, and fourteen Filmfare Awards. He is the most-nominated performer in any major acting category at Filmfare, with 36 nominations overall. In addition to acting, Bachchan has worked as a playback singer, film producer and television presenter, and was an elected member of the Indian Parliament from 1984 to 1987.

Early life

Born in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Amitabh Bachchan hails from a Hindu Kayastha family. His father, Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan was a well-known Hindi poet, while his mother, Teji Bachchan was a Sikh-Punjabi from Faisalabad (now in Pakistan). Bachchan was initially named Inquilaab, inspired from the famous phrase Inquilab Zindabad, during the Indian independence struggle. However, at the suggestion of fellow poet Sumitranandan Pant, Harivansh Rai changed the name to Amitabh which means, "the light that would never go off." Though his surname was Shrivastava, his father had adopted the pen-name Bachchan (meaning child-like in colloquial Hindi), under which he published all his works. It is with this last name that Amitabh debuted in films, and, for all public purposes, it has become the surname of all members of his family. Bachchan's father died in 2003, and his mother in 2007.

Amitabh is the eldest of Harivansh Rai Bachchan's two sons, the second being Ajitabh. His mother had a keen interest in theatre and had been offered a role in a film, but preferred her domestic duties. She had some degree of influence in Bachchan's choice of career because she always insisted that he should take the centre stage. He attended Allahabad's Jnana Prabodhini and Boys' High School (BHS), followed by Nainital's Sherwood College, where he majored in the art stream. He later went on to study at Kirori Mal College of the University of Delhi and completed a Bachelor of Science degree. In his twenties, Bachchan gave up a job as freight broker for the shipping firm, Bird and Co., based in Calcutta now known as Kolkata, to pursue a career in acting.

Career

Early work: 1969–1972

Bachchan made his film debut in 1969 as a voice narrator in Mrinal Sen's National Award winning film ''Bhuvan Shome''. Thereafter he got his first acting role as one of the seven protagonists in '' Saat Hindustani'', a film directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas and featuring Utpal Dutt, Madhu and Jalal Agha. Though the film was not a financial success, Bachchan won his first National Film Award for ''Best Newcomer''.

''Anand'' (1971) followed, where he starred alongside Rajesh Khanna. Bachchan's role as a doctor with a cynical view of life garned him his first Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Amitabh then played his first negative role as an infatuated lover-turned-murderer in ''Parwaana'' (1971). This was followed by several films including ''Reshma Aur Shera'' (1971). During this time, he made a guest appearance in the film ''Guddi'' which starred his future wife Jaya Bhaduri. He narrated part of the film ''Bawarchi''. In 1972, he made an appearance in the road action comedy ''Bombay to Goa'', directed by S. Ramanathan.

Rise to stardom: 1973–1983

Director Prakash Mehra cast him in the leading role for the film ''Zanjeer'' (1973) as Inspector Vijay Khanna. The film was a sharp contrast to the romantically themed films that had generally preceded it and established Amitabh in a new persona—the "angry young man" of Bollywood cinema,. He earned a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. 1973 was also the year he married Jaya and around this time they appeared in several films together, not only in ''Zanjeer'' but in films such as ''Abhimaan'' which followed and was released only a month after their marriage. Later, Bachchan played the role of Vikram in the film ''Namak Haraam'', a social drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and scripted by Biresh Chatterjee addressing themes of friendship. His supporting role won him his second Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.

In 1974, Bachchan made several guest appearances in films such as ''Kunwara Baap'' and ''Dost'', before playing a supporting role in ''Roti Kapda Aur Makaan''. The film, directed and written by Manoj Kumar, addressed themes of honesty in the face of oppression and financial and emotional hardship. Bachchan then played the leading role in film ''Majboor'', released on 6 December 1974, which was a remake of the Hollywood film Zigzag. The film was only a moderate success at the box office. In 1975, he starred in a variety of film genres from the comedy ''Chupke Chupke'', the crime drama ''Faraar'' to the romantic drama ''Mili''. 1975 was the year when he appeared in two films which are regarded as important in Hindi cinematic history. He starred in the Yash Chopra directed film ''Deewar'', opposite Shashi Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, and Neetu Singh, which earned him a Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor. The film became a major hit at the box office in 1975, ranking in at number 4. ''Indiatimes Movies'' ranks ''Deewaar'' amongst the ''Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films''. Released on 15 August 1975 was ''Sholay'' (meaning flames), which became the highest grossing film of all time in India, earning INR 2,36,45,00,000 equivalent to US$ 60 million, after adjusting for inflation. Bachchan played the role of Jaidev. In 1999, BBC India declared it the "Film of the Millennium" and like ''Deewar'', has been cited by ''Indiatimes movies'' as amongst the ''Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films''. In that same year, the judges of the 50th annual Filmfare awards awarded it with the special distinction award called Filmfare Best Film of 50 Years.

Bachchan starred in comedies such as ''Chupke Chupke'' (1975) and ''Amar Akbar Anthony'' (1977) and in films such as ''Kabhie Kabhie'' (1976). In 1976, he was once again cast by director Yash Chopra in his second film, ''Kabhi Kabhie'', a romantic tale in which Bachchan starred as a young poet named Amit Malhotra who falls deeply in love with a beautiful young girl named Pooja played by actress Rakhee Gulzar. The film saw him again nominated for the Filmfare Best Actor Award. In 1977, he won his first Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performance in ''Amar Akbar Anthony'' where he played the third lead opposite Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor as Anthony Gonsalves. In 1978 he starred in all four of the highest grossing films of India in that year. He once again resumed double roles in films such as ''Kasme Vaade'' as Amit and Shankar and ''Don'' playing the characters of Don, a leader of an underworld gang and his look alike Vijay. His performance won him his second Filmfare Best Actor Award. He also performed in ''Trishul'' and ''Muqaddar Ka Sikander'' which both earned him further Filmfare Best Actor nominations. He was billed a "one-man industry" by the French director François Truffaut.

In 1979, for the first time, Amitabh was required to use his singing voice for the film ''Mr. Natwarlal'' in which he starred alongside Rekha. His performance in the film saw him nominated for both the Filmfare Best Actor Award and the Filmfare Best Male Playback Awards. In 1979, he also received Best Actor nomination for ''Kaala Patthar'' (1979) and then went on to be nominated again in 1980 for the Raj Khosla directed film ''Dostana'', in which he starred opposite Shatrughan Sinha and Zeenat Aman. ''Dostana'' proved to be the top grossing film of 1980. In 1981, he starred in Yash Chopra's melodrama film ''Silsila'', where he starred alongside his wife Jaya and rumoured lover Rekha. Other films of this period include ''Ram Balram'' (1980), ''Shaan'' (1980), ''Lawaaris'' (1981), and ''Shakti'' (1982) which pitted him against legendary actor Dilip Kumar.

1982 injury while filming ''Coolie''

On 26 July 1982, while filming ''Coolie'' in the University Campus in Bangalore, Bachchan suffered a near fatal intestinal injury during the filming of a fight scene with co-actor Puneet Issar. Bachchan was performing his own stunts in the film and one scene required him to fall onto a table and then on the ground. However as he jumped towards the table, the corner of the table struck his abdomen, resulting in a splenic rupture from which he lost a significant amount of blood. He required an emergency splenectomy and remained critically ill in hospital for many months, at times close to death. The public response included prayers in temples and offers to sacrifice limbs to save him, while later, there were long queues of well-wishing fans outside the hospital where he was recuperating. Nevertheless, he spent many months recovering and resumed filming later that year after a long period of recuperation. The film was released in 1983, and partly due to the huge publicity of Bachchan's accident, the film was a box office success.

The director, Manmohan Desai, altered the ending of ''Coolie'' after Bachchan's accident. Bachchan's character was originally intended to have been killed off but after the change of script, the character lived in the end. It would have been inappropriate, said Desai, for the man who had just fended off death in real life to be killed on screen. Also, in the released film the footage of the fight scene is frozen at the critical moment, and a caption appears onscreen marking this as the instant of the actor's injury and the ensuing publicity of the accident.

Later, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis. His illness made him feel weak both mentally and physically and he decided to quit films and venture into politics. At this time he became pessimistic, expressing concern with how a new film would be received. Before every release he would negatively state, "Yeh film to flop hogi!" ("This film will flop").

Politics: 1984–87

In 1984, Bachchan took a break from acting and briefly entered politics in support of long-time family friend, Rajiv Gandhi. He contested Allahabad's seat of 8th Lok Sabha against H. N. Bahuguna, former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and won by the one of the highest victory margins in general election history (68.2% of the vote). His political career, however, was short-lived: he resigned after three years, calling politics a cesspool. The resignation followed the implication of Bachchan and his brother in the "Bofors scandal" by a newspaper, which he vowed to take to court. Bachchan was eventually found not guilty of involvement in the ordeal.

His old friend, Amar Singh, helped him during a financial crisis due to the failure of his company ABCL. Therefore Bachchan started to support Amar Singh's political party, the Samajwadi party. Jaya Bachchan joined the Samajwadi Party and became a Rajya Sabha member. Bachchan has continued to do favors for the Samajwadi party, including advertisements and political campaigns. These activities have recently gotten him into trouble again in the Indian courts for false claims after a previous incident of submission of legal papers by him, stating that he is a farmer.

A 15 year press ban against Bachchan was imposed during his peak acting years by ''Stardust'' and some of the other film magazines. In his own defense, Bachchan claimed to have banned the press from entering his sets until late 1989.

Slump and retirement: 1988–1992

In 1988, Bachchan returned to films, playing the title role in ''Shahenshah'', which was a box office success due to the hype of Bachchan's comeback. After the success of his comeback film however, his star power began to wane as all of his subsequent films failed at the box office. The 1991 hit film, ''Hum'', for which he won his third Filmfare Best Actor Award, looked like it might reverse this trend, but the momentum was short-lived as his string of box office failures continued. Notably, despite the lack of hits, it was during this period that Bachchan won his first National Film Award for Best Actor, for his performance as a Mafia don in the 1990 film ''Agneepath''. These years would be the last he would be seen on screen for some time. After the release of ''Khuda Gawah'' in 1992, Bachchan went into semi-retirement for five years. In 1994, one of his delayed films ''Insaniyat'' was released but was also a box office failure.

Producer and acting comeback 1996–99

Bachchan turned producer during his temporary retirement period, setting up Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (A.B.C.L.) in 1996, with the vision of becoming a 10 billion rupees (approx 250 million $US) premier entertainment company by the year 2000. ABCL's strategy was to introduce products and services covering the entire section of the India's entertainment industry. Its operations were mainstream commercial film production and distribution, audio cassettes and video discs, production and marketing of television software, celebrity and event management. Soon after the company was launched in 1996, the first film was produced by the company. ''Tere Mere Sapne'' failed to do well at the box office but launched the careers of actors such as Arshad Warsi and South films star Simran. ABCL produced a few other films, none of which did well.

In 1997, Bachchan attempted to make his acting comeback with the film ''Mrityudaata'', produced by ABCL. Though ''Mrityudaata'' attempted to reprise Bachchan's earlier success as an action hero, the film was a failure both financially and critically. ABCL was the main sponsor of the ''1996 Miss World beauty pageant'', Bangalore but lost millions. The fiasco and the consequent legal battles surrounding ABCL and various entities after the event, coupled with the fact that ABCL was reported to have overpaid most of its top level managers, eventually led to its financial and operational collapse in 1997. The company went into administration and was later declared a failed company by Indian Industries board. The Bombay high court, in April 1999, restrained Bachchan from selling off his Bombay bungalow 'Prateeksha' and two flats till the pending loan recovery cases of Canara Bank were disposed of. Bachchan had, however, pleaded that he had mortgaged his bungalow to Sahara India Finance for raising funds for his company.

Bachchan attempted to revive his acting career and had average success with ''Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'' (1998), and received positive reviews for ''Sooryavansham'' (1999) but other films such as ''Lal Baadshah'' (1999) and ''Hindustan Ki Kasam'' (1999) were box office failures.

Television career

In the year 2000, Bachchan stepped up to host India's adaptation of the British television game show, ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' entitled, ''Kaun Banega Crorepati''. As it did in most other countries where it was adopted, the program found immediate success. Canara Bank withdrew its law suit against Bachchan in November 2000. Bachchan hosted KBC till November 2005, and its success set the stage for his return to film popularity. In 2009 Oscar winning movie ''Slumdog Millionaire'' in the first question of ''Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'' contest "Amitabh Bachchan" was the correct answer to the question "Who was the star of ''Zanjeer''? Feroz Abbas Khan performed as Amitabh Bachchan in a scene in the movie while Anil Kapoor performed as the host of the contest. Bachchan hosted the third season of the reality show ''Bigg Boss'' in 2009.

Return to prominence: 2000–present

In 2000, Amitabh Bachchan appeared in Yash Chopra's box-office hit, ''Mohabbatein'', directed by Aditya Chopra. He played a stern, older figure that rivalled the character of Shahrukh Khan. His role won him his third Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award. Other hits followed, with Bachchan appearing as an older family patriarch in ''Ek Rishtaa: The Bond of Love'' (2001), ''Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'' (2001) and ''Baghban'' (2003). As an actor, he continued to perform in a range of characters, receiving critical praise for his performances in ''Aks'' (2001), ''Aankhen'' (2002), ''Khakee'' (2004) and ''Dev'' (2004). One project that did particularly well for Bachchan was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ''Black'' (2005). The film starred Bachchan as an aging teacher of a deaf-blind girl and followed their relationship. His performance was unanimously praised by critics and audiences and won him his second National Film Award for Best Actor and fourth Filmfare Best Actor Award. Taking advantage of this resurgence, Amitabh began endorsing a variety of products and services, appearing in many television and billboard advertisements. In 2005 and 2006, he starred with his son Abhishek in the hit films ''Bunty Aur Babli'' (2005), the ''Godfather'' tribute ''Sarkar'' (2005), and ''Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna'' (2006). All of them were successful at the box office. His later releases in 2006 and early 2007 were ''Baabul'' (2006), ''Eklavya'' and ''Nishabd'' (2007), which failed to do well at the box office but his performances in each of them were praised by critics.

In May 2007, two of his films ''Cheeni Kum'' and the multi-starrer ''Shootout at Lokhandwala'' were released. ''Shootout at Lokhandwala'' did very well at the box office and was declared a hit in India, while ''Cheeni Kum'' picked up after a slow start and was declared an overall average hit. A remake of his biggest hit, ''Sholay'' (1975), entitled ''Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag'', released in August of that same year and proved to be a major commercial failure in addition to its poor critical reception. The year also marked Bachchan's first appearance in an English-language film, Rituparno Ghosh's ''The Last Lear''. The film premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2007. He received positive reviews from critics who hailed his performance as his best ever since ''Black''. Bachchan was slated to play a supporting role in his first international film, ''Shantaram'', directed by Mira Nair and starring Hollywood actor Johnny Depp in the lead. The film was due to begin filming in February 2008 but due to the writer's strike, was pushed to September 2008. The film is currently "shelved" indefinitely. Vivek Sharma's ''Bhoothnath'', in which he plays the title role as a ghost, was released on 9 May 2008. ''Sarkar Raj'', the sequel of the 2005 film ''Sarkar'', released in June 2008 and received a positive response at the box-office. His latest movie was ''Paa'', which released at the end of 2009. ''Paa'' was a highly anticipated project as it saw him playing his own son Abhishek's Progeria-affected 13-year-old son, and it opened to favourable reviews, particularly towards Bachchan's performance. It won him his third National Film Award for Best Actor and fifth Filmfare Best Actor Award. In 2010, he debuted in Malayalam film through ''Kandahar'', directed by Major Ravi and co-starring Mohanlal. The film was based on the hijacking incident of the Indian Airlines Flight 814. Bachchan did not receive any remuneration for this film.

Health

2005 hospitalisation

In November 2005, Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital's ICU once more, to undergo surgery for diverticulitis of the small intestine. This occurred after Bachchan complained of pains in his abdomen some days prior. During the period and that following his recovery, most of his projects were put on hold, including the television show he was in the process of hosting, ''Kaun Banega Crorepati''. Amitabh returned to work in March 2006.

Voice

Bachchan is known for his deep, baritone voice. He has been a narrator, a playback singer and presenter for numerous programmes. Renowned film director Satyajit Ray was so impressed with Bachchan's voice, that he decided to use his voice as commentary in ''Shatranj Ke Khiladi'' since he could not find a suitable role for him. In 2005, Bachchan has lent his voice to the Oscar-winning French documentary March of the Penguins, directed by Luc Jacquet.

Controversies and criticism

Barabanki land case

In the runup to the Uttar Pradesh state assembly elections, 2007, Bachchan made a film extolling the virtues of the Mulayam Singh government. His Samajwadi Party was routed, and Mayawati came to power.

On 2 June 2007 a Faizabad court ruled that he had legally acquired agricultural land designated specifically for landless Dalit farmers. It was speculated that he might be investigated on related charges of forgery, as he has allegedly claimed he was a farmer. On 19 July 2007, after the scandal broke out, Bachchan surrendered the land acquired in Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh and Pune. He wrote to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to donate the lands that were allegedly acquired illegally in Pune. However, the Lucknow Court has put a stay on the land donation and said that the status quo on the land be maintained.

On 12 October 2007, Bachchan abandoned his claim in respect of the land at Daulatpur village in Barabanki district. On 11 December 2007, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court gave a clean chit to Bachchan in a case pertaining to alleged fraudulent allotment of government land to him in Barabanki district. A single Lucknow bench of Justice said there was no finding that the actor "himself committed any fraud or manipulated any surreptitious entry in the revenue records".

After receiving a positive verdict in Barabanki case, Amitabh Bachchan intimated to Maharashtra government that he did not wish to surrender his land in Maval tehsil of Pune district.

Raj Thackeray's criticism

In January 2008 at political rallies, Raj Thackeray, the chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, targeted Amitabh Bachchan, asserting that the actor was "more inclined" towards his native state than Maharashtra. He expressed his disapproval of Amitabh's inaugurating a girls' school named after his daughter-in-law, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, at Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh, rather than in Maharashtra. According to media reports, Raj's censure of Amitabh, whom he admires, stemmed out of his disappointment of not being invited to Amitabh's son Abhishek's marriage to Aishwarya, despite invitations to his estranged uncle Bal and cousin Uddhav.

Responding to Raj's accusations, the actor's wife, SP MP Jaya Bachchan, said that the Bachchans were willing to start a school in Mumbai, provided the MNS leader donated the land to build it. She told the media, "I heard that Raj Thackeray owns huge properties in Maharashtra, in Mumbai—Kohinoor Mills. If he is willing to donate land, we can start a school in the name of Aishwarya here." Raj responded to it saying, "Jaya bachchan claims she does not know me then how come she knows how much property I own?". Amitabh abstained from commenting on the issue. However, he apologized to Raj for controversial remarks from Jaya in some other incidence. "

Bal Thackeray refuted the allegations, stating, "Amitabh Bachchan is an open-minded person, he has great love for Maharashtra, and this is evident on many occasions. The actor has often said that Maharashtra and specially Mumbai has given him great fame and affection. He has also said that what he is today is because of the love people have given him. The people of Mumbai have always acknowledged him as an artiste. It was utter foolishness to make these parochial allegations against him. Amitabh is a global superstar. People all over the world respect him. This cannot be forgotten by anyone. Amitabh should ignore these silly accusations and concentrate on his acting."

On 23 March 2008, more than a month and half after Raj's remarks, Amitabh finally spoke out in an interview to a local tabloid saying, "Random charges are random; they do not deserve the kind of attention you wish me to give." Later, on 28 March at a press conference for the International Indian Film Academy, when asked what his take was on the anti-migrant issue, Amitabh said that it is one's fundamental right to live anywhere in the country and the constitution entitles so. He also stated that he was not affected by Raj's comments.

Awards, honours and recognitions

Apart from National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards and other competitive awards which Bachchan won for his performances throughout the years, he has been awarded several honours for his achievements in the Indian film industry. In 1991, he became the first artist to receive the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, which was established in the name of Raj Kapoor. Bachchan was crowned as Superstar of the Millennium in 2000 at the Filmfare Awards. The Government of India awarded him with the Padma Shri in 1984 and the Padma Bhushan in 2001. France's highest civilian honour, the Knight of the Legion of Honour, was conferred upon him by the French Government in 2007, for his "exceptional career in the world of cinema and beyond".

In 1999, Bachchan was voted the ''Greatest Star of stage or screen of the Millennium'' by BBC online poll where he defeated many Hollywood legends. In 2001, he was honoured with the ''Actor of the Century'' award at the Alexandria International Film Festival in Egypt in recognition of his contribution to the world of cinema. Many other honours for his achievements were conferred upon him at several International Film Festivals, including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2010 Asian Film Awards.

In June 2000, he became the first living Asian to have been immortalised in wax at London's prestigious Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Another statue was installed at New York and Hong Kong in 2009.

In 2003, he was conferred with the Honorary Citizenship of the French town of Deauville. He was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate by the Jhansi University in 2004, the Delhi University in 2006, the De Montfort University in Leicester, UK in 2006, the University Brandan Foster by the Leeds Metropolitan University in Yorkshire in 2007. Another an Honorary Doctorate was conferred by the Queensland University of Technology in Australia in 2009. But he turns down the honour as mark of protest to racial attacks on Indian students.

Severals books have been written about Bachchan. ''Amitabh Bachchan: the Legend'' was published in 1999, ''To be or not to be: Amitabh Bachchan'' in 2004, ''AB: The Legend: (A Photographer's Tribute)'' in 2006 /, ''Amitabh Bachchan: Ek Jeevit Kimvadanti'' in 2006, ''Amitabh: The Making of a Superstar'' in 2006, ''Looking for the Big B: Bollywood, Bachchan and Me'' in 2007 and ''Bachchanalia'' in 2009. Bachchan himself has also written a book in 2002: ''Soul Curry for you and me – An Empowering Philosophy That Can Enrich Your Life''.

Personal life

Bachchan is married to actress Jaya Bhaduri. They have two children, Shweta Nanda and Abhishek Bachchan. Abhishek is also an actor and is married to actress Aishwarya Rai.

Filmography

Latest films

''Eklavya: The Royal Guard'' ''Jodhaa Akbar'' ''Delhi-6'' ''Rann (film) ''Department (film) ''Taalismaan''

Year !! Film !! Role !! Notes
rowspan="4"	2006	''Family - Ties of Blood''	Viren Sahi
''Darna Zaroori Hai''	Professor
''Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna''	Samarjit Singh Talwar (aka. Sexy Sam)
''Baabul (2006 film)	Baabul''	Balraj Kapoor
rowspan="7"	2007	|	Eklavya
''Nishabd''	Vijay
''Cheeni Kum''	Buddhadev Gupta/Ghaspus
''Shootout at Lokhandwala''	Special appearance, Dingra
''Jhoom Barabar Jhoom''	Special appearance, Sutradhar
''Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag''	Babban Singh
''Om Shanti Om (film)	Om Shanti Om''	Special appearance, Himself
rowspan="5"	2008	|	Narrator
''Bhoothnath''	Bhoothnath (Kailash Nath)
''Sarkar Raj''	Subhash Nagre aka Sarkar
''God Tussi Great Ho''	God Almighty
''The Last Lear''	Harish 'Harry' Mishra
rowspan="3"	2009	|	Special appearance, Dadaji
''Aladin (2009 film)	Aladin''	Genius the Gennie
''Paa (film)	Paa''	Auro
rowspan="3"	2010	Rann'' ||	Vijay Harshvardhan Malik
''Teen Patti (film)	Teen Patti''	Venkat
''Kandahar (2010 film)	Kandahar''	Lokanathan Sharma
rowspan="4"	2011	Department'' ||		A Ram Gopal Varma production and direction
''Bbuddah... Hoga Tera Baap''
''Aarakshan''	Prabhakar Anand
''Shoebite (2010 film)	Shoebite''	John Periera
	2012	|		Filming

Producer

! Year !! Film
1996
	''Ullaasam''
''Mrityudaata''
1998	''Major Saab''
2001
2005	''Viruddh''
2006	''Family - Ties of Blood''

Playback singer

! Year !! Film
	''The Great Gambler''
''Mr. Natwarlal''
	''Lawaaris''
''Silsila''
	''Mahaan''
1984	''Sharaabi''
	''Toofan''
''Jaadugar''
1992	''Khuda Gawah''
1998	''Major Saab''
1999	''Sooryavansham''
''Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham''
2002
''Aetbaar''
2006
	''Nishabd''
''Cheeni Kum''
2008	''Bhoothnath''
2011	''Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap''

Further reading

Dwyer, Rachel. "Amitabh Bachchan: the Angry Young Man." British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 16 November 2007.

Mazumdar, Ranjani.'' Bombay Cinema: An Archive of the City''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2007.

References

External links

Amitabh Bachchan's official blog

Amitabh Bachchan Documentary, Classic BBC Archive video and exclusive interview conducted in Amitabh's own house for BBC Asian Network

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name	Lata Mangeshkar
background	solo_singer
born	September 28, 1929Indore, Central India Agency, British India
instrument	Vocals
genre	Film music (playback singing)
occupation	Singer
years active	1942–present }}

Lata Mangeshkar (; born September 28, 1929) is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Bollywood movies and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional Indian languages and foreign languages, though primarily in Hindi. She is the elder sister of singer Asha Bhosle, and Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Meena Mangeshkar. She is the second vocalist to have ever been awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

Mangeshkar was featured in the ''Guinness Book of World Records'' from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world. The claim was that she had recorded approximately 25,000 solo, duet, and chorus-backed songs in 20 Indian languages between 1948 to 1974 (30,000 songs between 1948 and 1987, according to the 1987 edition). Over the years, while several sources have supported this claim, others have raised concerns over its veracity, claiming that this number was highly exaggerated and that Mangeshkar's younger sister, Asha Bhosle, had more song recordings than she had.

Early life

Lata Mangeshkar was born in Sikh Mohalla, Indore, in the Central India Agency (now part of Madhya Pradesh). Her father, Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar who belonged to a Gomantak Maratha Samaj family from Goa, was a classical singer and theater actor. Her mother Shevanti (Shudhamati) who was from Thalner, Maharashtra, was Deenanath's second wife. The family's last name used to be Hardikar; Deenanath changed it to Mangeshkar in order to identify his family with his native town, Mangeshi in Goa. Lata was named "Hema" at her birth. Her parents later renamed her Lata after a female character, Latika, in one of her father's plays, ''BhaawBandhan''. Lata is the eldest child of her parents. Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridayanath are her siblings in sequence.

Mangeshkar took her first music lessons from her father. At the age of five, she started to work as an actress in her father's musical plays (''Sangeet Natak'' in Marathi). On the first day in the school, she started teaching songs to other children. When the teacher stopped her, she was so angry that she stopped going to the school. Other sources cite that she left school because they would not allow her to bring Asha with her, as she would often bring her younger sister with her.

Singing career

Early career in the 1940s

In 1942, when Mangeshkar was 13, her father died of heart disease. Master Vinayak (Vinayak Damodar Karnataki), the owner of Navyug Chitrapat movie company and a close friend of the Mangeshkar family, took care of them.

Mangeshkar sang the song "Naachu Yaa Gade, Khelu Saari Mani Haus Bhaari" which was composed by Sadashivrao Nevrekar for Vasant Joglekar's Marathi-language movie ''Kiti Hasaal'' (1942), but the song was dropped from the final cut. Vinayak gave her a small role in Navyug Chitrapat's Marathi movie ''Pahili Mangalaa-gaur'' (1942), in which she sang "Natali Chaitraachi Navalaai" which was composed by Dada Chandekar. Her first Hindi song was "Mata Ek Sapoot Ki Duniya Badal De Tu" for the Marathi film, ''Gajaabhaau'' (1943). Mangeshkar moved to Mumbai in 1945 when Master Vinayak's company moved its headquarters there. She started taking lessons in Hindustani classical music from Ustad Amanat Ali Khan Bhendibazaarwale. She sang “Paa Lagoon Kar Jori” for Vasant Joglekar's Hindi-language movie ''Aap Ki Seva Mein'' (1946), which was composed by Datta Davjekar. Mangeshkar and her sister Asha played minor roles Vinayak's first Hindi-language movie, ''Badi Maa'' (1945). In that movie, Lata also sang a bhajan, “Maata Tere Charnon Mein.” She was introduced to music director Vasant Desai during the recording of Vinayak's second Hindi-language movie, ''Subhadra'' (1946).

Following the partition of India in 1947, Ustad Amanat Ali Khan Bhendibazaarwale migrated to newly formed Pakistan, so Mangeshkar started to learn classical music under Amanat Khan Devaswale. Pandit Tulsidas Sharma, a pupil of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, also trained her.

After Vinayak's death in 1948, music director Ghulam Haider mentored her as a singer. Haider introduced Mangeshkar to producer Sashadhar Mukherjee, who was working then on the movie ''Shaheed'' (1948), but Mukherjee dismissed Mangeshkar's voice as "too thin." An annoyed Haider responded that in the coming years the producers and the directors would "fall at Lata's feet" and "beg her" to sing in their movies. Haider gave Lata her first major break with the song “Dil Mera Toda,” from the movie ''Majboor'' (1948).

Initially, Mangeshkar is said to have imitated Noor Jehan, but later she developed her own style of singing. Lyrics of songs in Hindi movies are primarily composed by Urdu poets and contain a higher proportion of Urdu words, including the dialogue. Actor Dilip Kumar once made a mildly disapproving remark about Mangeshkar's Maharashtrian accent while singing Hindi/Urdu songs; so for a period of time, Lata took lessons in Urdu from an Urdu teacher named Shafi.

“Aayega Aanewaala,” a song in the movie ''Mahal'' (1949) was composed by music director Khemchand Prakash and lip-synced on screen by actress Madhubala.

1950s

In the 1950s, Mangeshkar sang songs composed by various music directors of the period, including Anil Biswas (in films such as Tarana and Heer), Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, S. D. Burman, C. Ramchandra, Hemant Kumar, Salil Chowdhury, Khayyam, Ravi, Sajjad Hussain, Roshan, Kalyanji-Anandji, Vasant Desai, Sudhir Phadke, Hansraj Behl, Madan Mohan, and Usha Khanna.

Mangeshkar sang many raga-based songs for Naushad in movies such as ''Baiju Bawra'' (1952), ''Mughal-E-Azam'' (1960), and ''Kohinoor'' (1960). ''Ae Chorre Ki Jaat Badi Bewafa'', a duet with G. M. Durrani, was her first song for composer, Naushad. The duo, Shankar-Jaikishan, chose Mangeshkar for ''Aag'', ''Aah'' (1953), ''Shree 420'' (1955), and ''Chori Chori'' (1956). Before 1957, composer Sachin Dev (S. D.) Burman chose Mangeshkar as the leading female singer for his musical scores in ''Sazaa'' (1951), ''House No. 44'' (1955), and ''Devdas'' (1955). However a rift developed between Lata and Burman in 1957, and Lata did not sing Burman's compositions again until 1962.

Mangeshkar won a Filmfare Best Female Playback Award for Salil Chowdhury's composition “Aaja Re Pardesi,” from ''Madhumati'' (1958). In the early fifties, Lata Mangeshkar's association with C. Ramchandra produced songs in movies such as Anarkali, Albela, Asha, Pehli Jhhalak, Shin Shinkai Bublaa Boo, Azad and Amardeep. For Madan Mohan, she performed for films like Adalat, Railway Platform, Dekh Kabira Roya and Chacha Zindabad.

1960s

Mangeshkar's song "Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya" from ''Mughal-E-Azam'' (1960), composed by Naushad and picturized on Madhubala, still remains famous . The Hawaiian-themed number "Ajeeb Dastaan Hai Yeh" from ''Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai'' (1960) was composed by Shankar-Jaikishan and picturized on Meena Kumari.

In 1961, Mangeshkar recorded two popular bhajans, "Allah Tero Naam" and "Prabhu Tero Naam", for Burman's assistant, Jaidev. In 1962, she was awarded her second Filmfare Award for the song "Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil" from ''Bees Saal Baad'', composed by Hemant Kumar.

On June 27, 1963, against the backdrop of the Sino-Indian War, Mangeshkar sang the patriotic song "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo" (literally, "Oh, the People of My Country") in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. The song, composed by C. Ramchandra and written by Pradeep, is said to have brought the Prime Minister to tears.

In 1963, Mangeshkar returned to collaboration with S. D. Burman. She also sang for R. D. Burman's very first film ''Chhote Nawaab'' and later for his films such as ''Bhoot Bangla'' (1965), ''Pati Patni'' (1966), ''Baharon ke Sapne'' (1967) and ''Abhilasha'' (1969). She also recorded several popular songs for S. D. Burman, including "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai", "Gata Rahe Mera Dil" (duet with Kishore Kumar) and "Piya Tose" from ''Guide'' (1965), and "Hothon Pe Aisi Baat" from ''Jewel Thief'' (1967).

During the 1960s, Lata Mangeshkar continued her association with Madan Mohan which included the songs "Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha" from ''Anpadh'' (1962), "Lag Ja Gale" and "Naina Barse Rim Jhim" from ''Woh Kaun Thi?'' (1964), "Woh Chup Rahen To" from ''Jahan Ara'' (1964), and "Tu Jahan Jahan Chalega" from ''Mera Saaya'' (1966).

The 1960s also witnessed the beginning of Mangeshkar's association with Laxmikant-Pyarelal, the music directors for whom she sang the most popular songs in her career.

She also sang several playback songs for Marathi films, composed by Marathi music directors including Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Vasant Prabhu, Srinivas Khale, Sudhir Phadke and herself (under the name ''Anandghan''). During the 1960s and 1970s, she also sang several Bengali songs, composed by music directors like Salil Chowdhury and Hemant Kumar.

In this period Lata Mangeshkar has recorded duets with Mukesh, Manna Dey, Mohammed Rafi, and Kishore Kumar.

1970s

In 1972, Meena Kumari's last film, ''Pakeezah'' released. It featured popular songs including "Chalte Chalte" and "Inhi Logon Ne" sung by Lata Mangeshkar, and composed by Ghulam Mohammed. She recorded many popular songs for S. D. Burman's last films, including "Rangeela Re" from ''Prem Pujari'' (1970), "Khilte Hain Gul Yahaan" from ''Sharmeelee'' (1971), and "Piya Bina" from ''Abhimaan'' (1973).

Lata Mangeshkar's most notable songs in 1970s were composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal (Laxmi-Pyare) and Rahul Dev Burman. She recorded several songs composed by Laxmi-Pyare in 1960s and 1970s, many of them written by the lyricst Anand Bakshi. She also recorded many hit songs with Rahul Dev Burman in the films ''Amar Prem'' (1972), ''Caravan'' (1971), ''Kati Patang''(1971), and ''Aandhi'' (1975). The two are noted for their songs with the lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anand Bakshi and Gulzar.

In 1973, she won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Beeti Na Bitai" from the film ''Parichay'', composed by R. D. Burman, and written by Gulzar. In 1974, she sang her only Malayalam song "Kadali Chenkadali" for the film ''Nellu'', composed by Salil Chowdhury, and written by Vayalar Ramavarma. In 1975, she again won the national award, this time for the song "Roothe Roothe Piya" from the film ''Kora Kagaz'', composed by Kalyanji-Anandji.

From 1970s onwards, Lata Mangeshkar has also staged many concerts in India and abroad, including several charity concerts. Her first concert overseas was at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in 1974. She also released an album of Mirabai's bhajans, ''Chala Vaahi Des'', composed by her brother Hridayanath Mangeshkar. Some of the bhajans in the album include "Saanware Rang Raachi" and "Ud Jaa Re Kaaga". In the early 70s, she released other non-film albums, such as her collection of Ghalib ghazals, an album of Marathi folk songs (koli-geete), an album of Ganesh aartis (all composed by her brother Hridaynath) and an album of ''abhangs'' of Sant Tukaram composed by Shrinivas Khale.

In late 1970s and early 1980s, she worked with the children of composers she had earlier worked with. Some of these composers included Rahul Dev Burman (son of Sachin Dev Burman), Rajesh Roshan (son of Roshan), Anu Malik (son of Sardar Malik), and Anand-Milind (sons of Chitragupt).

1980s onwards

From 1980s onwards, Lata Mangeshkar worked with music directors including Shiv-Hari, Ram Laxman, and A. R. Rahman. She recorded some non-film songs, including ghazals with Jagjit Singh.

In 1990, Mangeshkar launched her own production house for Hindi movies which produced the Gulzar-directed movie ''Lekin...''. She won her third National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her rendition of the song "Yaara Sili Sili" from the film, which was composed by her brother Hridayanath. During the 1990s, she recorded with music directors including Jatin-Lalit and Nadeem-Shravan. She has sung for Rajshri Productions, including ''Maine Pyar Kiya'' (1989) and ''Hum Aapke Hain Kaun'' (1994).

Mangeshkar has sung for almost all the Yash Chopra films and films from his production house Yash Raj Films at that time, including ''Chandni'' (1989), ''Lamhe'' (1991), ''Darr'' (1993), ''Yeh Dillagi'' (1994), ''Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge'' (1995), ''Dil To Pagal Hai'' (1997) and later on ''Mohabbatein'' (2000), ''Mujhse Dosti Karoge'' (2002) and ''Veer Zaara'' (2004).

A. R. Rahman recorded a few songs with Mangeshkar during this period, including "Jiya Jale" (''Dil Se''), "Khamoshiyan Gungunane Lagin" (''One Two Ka Four''), "Ek Tu Hi Bharosa" (''Pukar''), "Pyaara Sa Gaon" (''Zubeidaa''), "Lukka chuppi" (''Rang de Basanti'') and "O Paalanhaare" (''Lagaan''). She made an appearance in the film ''Pukar'' singing this song.

In 1999, Lata Eau de Parfum, a perfume brand named after her, was launched.

In 1999, Mangeshkar was nominated as a member of Rajya Sabha. However, she did not attend the Rajya Sabha sessions regularly, inviting criticism from several members of the House, including the Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah, Pranab Mukherjee and Shabana Azmi. She stated the reason for her absence as ill-health; it was also reported that she had not taken a salary, allowance or a house in Delhi for being a Member of Parliament.

In 2001, Lata Mangeshkar was awarded Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. In the same year, she established the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Pune, managed by the Lata Mangeshkar Medical Foundation (founded by the Mangeshkar family in October 1989). In 2005, she designed a jewellery collection called Swaranjali, which was crafted by Adora, an Indian diamond export company. Five pieces from the collection raised £105,000 at a Christie's auction, and a part of the money was donated for the 2005 Pakistan earthquake relief. Also in 2001, she recorded her first Hindi song with the composer Ilaiyaraaja, for the film ''Lajja''; she had earlier recorded Tamil and Telugu songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Lata Mangeshkar's song "Wada Na Tod" is in the film ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (2004) and on the film's soundtrack.

On June 21, 2007, she released an album ''Saadgi'', featuring eight ghazal-like songs written by Javed Akhtar and composed by Mayuresh Pai.

Non-singing career

Music direction

Lata Mangeshkar composed music for the first time in 1955 for Marathi movie ''Ram Ram Pavhane''. Later in 1960s, she composed music for following Marathi movies under the pseudonym of ''Anand Ghan''.

1960 - ''Ram Ram Pavhana''

1963 - ''Maratha Tituka Melvava''

1963 - ''Mohityanchi Manjula''

1965 - ''Sadhi Manase''

1969 - ''Tambadi Mati''

She won Maharashtra State Government's Best Music Director Award for the film ''Sadhi Manase''. The song "Airanichya Deva Tula" from the same film received best song award.

Production

Lata Mangeshkar has produced four films:

1953 - ''Vaadal'' (Marathi)

1953 - ''Jhaanjhar'' (Hindi), co-produced with C. Ramchandra

1955 - ''Kanchan'' (Hindi)

1990 - ''Lekin'' (Hindi)

Awards and recognitions

Lata Mangeshkar has won several awards and honors, including Padma Bhushan (1969), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1989), Maharashtra Bhushan Award (1997), NTR National Award (1999), Bharat Ratna (2001), ANR National Award (2009), three National Film Awards, and 12 Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. She has also won four Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards. In 1969, she made the unusual gesture of giving up the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award, in order to promote fresh talent. She was later awarded Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

In 1984, the State Government of Madhya Pradesh instituted the ''Lata Mangeshkar Award'' in honuor of Lata Mangeshkar. The State Government of Maharashtra also instituted a Lata Mangeshkar Award in 1992.

In 1974, The Guinness Book of Records listed Lata Mangeshkar as the most recorded artist in the history, stating that she had reportedly recorded "not less than 25,000 solo, duet and chorus backed songs in 20 Indian languages" between 1948 and 1974. Her record was contested by Mohammed Rafi, who was claimed to have sung around 28,000 songs. After Rafi's death, in its 1984 edition, the Guinness Book of World Records stated Lata Mangeshkar's name for the "Most Recordings", but also stated Rafi's claim. The later editions of Guinness Book stated that Lata Mangeshkar had sung no fewer than 30,000 songs between 1948 and 1987.

Although the entry has not been printed in Guinness editions since 1991, reputable sources claim that she has recorded thousands of songs, with estimates ranging up to figures as large as 50,000. However, even the earliest Guinness claim of 25,000 songs (between 1948–1974) was claimed to be exaggerated by other sources, who stated that the number of songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar in Hindi films till 1991 was found to be 5250. Mangeshkar herself stated that she does not keep a record of the number of songs recorded by her, and that she did not know from where Guinness Book editors got their information.

See also

Playback singer

Asha Bhosle

List of Indian playback singers

Bollywood songs

References

Further reading

. A collection of articles written by Lata Mangeshkar since 1952. . . A collection of articles written by Lata Mangeshkar since 1952.

External links

Category:1929 births Category:Indian female singers Category:Indian film singers Category:Recipients of the Bharat Ratna Category:Recipients of the Padma Vibhushan Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan Category:Living people Category:Bollywood playback singers Category:Marathi people Category:Kollywood playback singers Category:People from Indore Category:Marathi playback singers Category:Telugu playback singers Category:Kannada playback singers Category:Hindi-language singers Category:Marathi-language singers Category:Bengali-language singers Category:Gujarati-language singers Category:Tamil-language singers Category:English-language singers Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients Category:Recipients of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award Category:Malayalam playback singers

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name	Rajendra Jublee Kumar
birth date	July 20, 1929
birth place	Sialkot, Punjab, British India
death place	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
occupation	Actor, Producer, Director
yearsactive	1950–1998
spouse	Shukla
children	2 Daughters and son Kumar Gaurav
death date	July 12, 1999 }}

Rajendra Kumar (20 July 1929 – 12 July 1999) was one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors in the 1960s and 1970s. He also produced several films in the 1980s starring his son Kumar Gaurav.

was born in a Punjabi Hindu family in Sialkot, in the West Punjab province of British India, currently in Pakistan.

Career

Rajendra Kumar made his debut in the 1950 film ''Jogan'' in which he starred opposite Dilip Kumar and Nargis. He then shot to fame in the blockbuster hit ''Mother India'' in 1957 in which he played Nargis's son. His first major success as a romantic leading man was in Amit Saxenas's musical superhit ''Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' (1959), co-starring Ameeta.

The 1960s saw Rajendra Kumar rise like no other star had risen. The songs of his film in Mohammed Rafi's voice became mega hits. There were times when he had six or seven films running in their silver jubilee weeks at the same time. Rajendra Kumar was soon known as "Jubilee Kumar".

He had many successful box office hits including ''Dhool Ka Phool'' (1959), ''Mere Mehboob'' (1963), ''Sangam'' (1964), ''Arzoo'' (1965), ''Suraj'' (1966) and ''Ganwaar'' (1970).. He received the Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor for ''Dil Ek Mandir'' (1963), ''Ayee Milan Ki Bela'' (1964), ''Arzoo'' (1965), and as Best Supporting Actor for ''Sangam'' (1964). He was considered a golden boy for the movie producers as he could recover the producers' money in a matter of weeks.

However, from 1972 onwards, he faced stiff competition in the form of the phenomenal Rajesh Khanna. Several of his films bombed at the box office. However, the dry spell ended when he was offered an interesting role in the film ''Saajan Bina Suhaagan'' opposite Nutan. The film was a huge blockbuster of 1978. Rajendra Kumar had regained his 'Midas Touch'. He then switched to character roles in the late 1970s and 1980s.

He also starred in a number of Punjabi films like ''Teri meri ek jindari''.

In 1981 Rajendra introduced his son Kumar Gaurav in the film ''Love Story'' which he produced, directed and also starred in. The film was declared the blockbuster. But the success was short-lived as Kumar Gaurav's later films were huge disappointments at the box office and his son's career declined as soon as it began. Rajendra produced several other films starring his son which did not do well. In 1986 he produced ''Naam'' with his son and his son's brother-in-law Sanjay Dutt in leading roles which was a box office success but the success was short-lived. His last attempt to revive his son's career was with the 1993 film ''Phool'' where he once again acted alongside his son but this film was also a box office failure.

Rajendra appeared in only a few films after this and his last film appearance was a minor role in Deepa Mehta's critically acclaimed film ''Earth'' in 1998.

He died on 12 July 1999 of cancer, 8 days before his 70th birthday. He was known to never have taken medicines in his entire life.

Personal life

He married Shukla and had a son and two daughters. His son Kumar Gaurav married Namrata Dutt, the daughter of actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis and sister of actor Sanjay Dutt.

Rajendra had acted with Sanjay's parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis in the blockbuster film ''Mother India'' (1957) where both Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Kumar played natural sons of Nargis. He had a special relationship with Sunil Dutt, who is quoted as having said that "Even though Rajendra Kumar did not win any award through out his career, he was one of the most genuine human beings I have ever encountered. When I was struggling with the troubles related to the arrest of my son Sanjay Dutt and my house was repeatedly being searched by means of numerous police raids, Rajendra Kumar was the one who came to my rescue by staying at my house and ensuring that raids were conducted using due procedures, false evidences were not planted in the house and valuables were not stolen".

He was a gentleman to the true sense of the word - very disciplined on the film sets and polite with his co-stars. Meena Kumari, the legendary actress paired with him in a number of films. Although, being a major star at the time, he would modestly address Meena Kumari as 'Mem Sahab'. Rajendra Kumar lived his life astutely and conserved his resources very well.

Honours and recognitions

Rajendra Kumar was honoured with the Padma Shri Award in 1969.

He was also conferred with Justice of Peace honour and served as Honorary Magistrate.

He was awarded the National Honour by late Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru simultaneously for “Kanoon” (Hindi) and “Mehandi Rang Lagyo” (Gujarati film).

He received a special Shastri National Award and was associated with several charity schemes.

Awards and nominations

Rajendra Kumar was nominated for Best Actor category three times.

Trivia

Father of Kumar Gaurav.

Films started coming his way when he played the role of a son of Nargis in Mother India.

His daughter-in-law (Namrata) is Sunil Dutt's and Nargis Dutt's daughter.

Started as an assistant director before getting a role in Vachan.

Was nicknamed as "Jubilee Kumar" by the trade people because majority of his movies used to do either Silver or Golden Jubilee.

He used to actively participate in campaigning for friend, Sunil Dutt, whenever the latter used to contest for elections.

For the premier of his first movie, Vachan, he was asked if he wanted any seats for his relatives or friends, and thinking that it would be complimentary, he answered ten. After some days when he went to get his fees from the producer's accountant, he was given a lesser amount and when he asked why he was told that the money was deducted for the seats he took for his relatives and friends. He took this lesson as a principle of production and when he produced Naam, he deducted some amount from Amrita Singh's fees for the long calls she had made from Hong Kong to India.

Was best friends with Raj Kapoor, so much so that his son Kumar Gaurav was engaged to the latter's daughter, Reema Kapoor. However, this friendship could not last long after their children broke the engagement.

Filmography

Actor:

Earth (1998) .... Refugee police

Diya Aur Toofan (1969)

"Andaz" (1995) TV series

Phool (1993) .... Dharamraaj

Insaaf Ka Khoon (1991) .... Judge Kumar

Clerk (1989) .... Rahim U. Khan

Main Tere Liye (1988) .... Shiva

Lovers (1983) .... Christian Priest

Rustom (1982) .... J. D. Mehta

Yeh Rishta Na Tootay (1981) .... Police Inspector Vijay Kumar

Saajan Ki Saheli (1981) .... Barrister Avinash Kumar

Love Story (1981) .... Vijay Mehra

Oh Bewafa (1980) .... R.K

Dhan Daulat (1980) .... Raj Saxena

Badla Aur Balidan (1980)

Gunehgaar (1980)

Bin Phere Hum Tere (1979) .... Jagdish Sharma

Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978) .... Raj Kumar

Aahuti (1978) .... CID Inspector Ram Prasad/Rocky

Sone Ka Dil Lohe Ke Haath (1978) .... Shankar

Daku Aur Mahatma (1977)

Do Sholay (1977)

Shirdi Ke Sai Baba (1977) .... Doctor (Pooja's husband)

Mazdoor Zindabaad (1976) (uncredited) .... Ram Singh

Do Jasoos (1975) .... Karamchand Jasoos

Rani Aur Lalpari (1975) .... Rani's dad

Sunehra Sansar (1975) .... Chandrashekhar

Teri Meri Ik Jindri (1975) .... Jaggar Singh Fauji

Do Sher (1974)(Punjabi Movie) .... Shera

Dukh Bhanjan Tera Naam (1974) .... Boatsman

Lalkar (The Challenge) (1972) .... Wing Commander Rajan Kapoor

Aan Baan (1972) .... Suraj

Gaon Hamara Shaher Tumhara (1972) .... Brij "Birju" Bhushan

Gora Aur Kala (1972) .... Karan Singh/Kali Singh (Kalua)

Tangewala (1972) .... Rai Bahadur Kishandas/Raju/Dilbahadur Khan

Aap Aye Bahaar Ayee (1971) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Rohit Kumar Verma

Dharti (1970) .... Bharat

Ganwaar (1970) .... Gopal Rai

Geet (1970) .... Suraj 'Sarju' Kumar

Mera Naam Joker (1970) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Mahender Kumar

Anjaana (1969) .... Raju

Shatranj (1969) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Jai/Vijay/Shinranz

Talash (1969) .... Raj Kumar 'Raju'

Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Sanjay/Tarun Kumar 'Battu' 'Pappu' Saxena

Saathi (1968) .... Ravi

Aman (1967) .... Dr. Gautamdas

Palki (1967) .... Naseem Baig

Suraj (1966) .... Suraj Singh

Arzoo (1965) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Gopal/Sarju

Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Shyam

Sangam (1964) .... Magistrate Gopal Verma

Zindagi (1964) .... Rajendra "Rajan"

Akeli Mat Jaiyo (1963) (as Rajendrakumar) .... Prince Amardeep

Amar Rahe Yeh Pyaar (1963)

Dil Ek Mandir (1963) .... Dr. Dharmesh

Gehra Daag (1963) .... Shanker

Hamrahi (1963) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Shekhar

Mere Mehboob (1963) .... Anwar

Aas Ka Panchhi (1961) .... Rajan 'Raju' Khanna

Dharmputra (1961) (uncredited) .... Special appearance

Gharana (1961) .... Kamal

Pyaar Ka Saagar (1961) .... Kishen Chand Gupta

Sasural (1961) .... Shekhar

Zindagi Aur Khwab (1961) .... Inspector Manoj

Kanoon (1960) .... Advocate Kailash Khanna

Maa Baap (1960) .... Raj Kumar 'Raju'

Mehndi Rang Lagyo (1960) .... Anil

Patang (1960) (as Rajender Kumar) .... Dr. Rajan

Chirag Kahan Roshni Kahan (1959) .... Dr. Anand

Dhool Ka Phool (1959) (as Rajinder Kumar) .... Mahesh Kapoor

Do Behnen (1959)

Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) .... Kishan

Santan (1959)

Devar Bhabhi (1958)

Ghar Sansar (1958) .... Deepak

Khazanchi (1958) .... Harish Mohan

Talaaq (1958) .... Ravi Shankar Chaube

Mother India (1957) .... Ramu

Ek Jhalak (1957)

Aawaz (1956) .... Ashok

Toofan Aur Deeya (1956) .... Satish Sharma/Master-Ji

Vachan (1955) .... Kishore

Jogan (1950) .... Vijay's friend

Producer:

The Jungle Book (1994) (co-executive producer) (co-producer)

Phool (1993) (producer)

Jurrat (1989) (producer)

Naam (1986) (producer)

Lovers (1983) (producer)

Love Story (1981) (producer)

Presenter:

The Train (1970)

Ganwaar (1970)

Talash (1969)

Phool Aur Patthar (1966)

Editor:

Jurrat (1989)

Director:

Love Story (1981)

Soundtrack:

Mere Mehboob (1963) (performer: "Mere Mehboob Tujhe", "Allah Bachaye", "Tere Pyar Mein Dildar", "Janeman Ek Nazar", "Yaad Mein Teri", "Tumse Izhar e Haal", "Mere Mehboob Mein Kya", "Ae Husn Zara Jaag", "Yaad Mein (revival)")

Thanks:

Mera Naam Joker (1970) (acknowledgment) (as Rajender Kumar)

Self:

Raj Kapoor (1987) .... Himself (during funeral)

Star (1982) .... Himself (Guest Appearance)

Shrimanji (1968) .... Himself

Kala Bazar (1960) .... Himself

Archive Footage:

Film Hi Film (1983) (uncredited)

Footnotes

External links

On Rajendra Kumar's Contribution to Indian Cinema

Rajendra Kumar profile at Rediff.com

Category:Indian actors Category:1929 births Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri Category:1999 deaths Category:Indian film directors Category:Indian film producers Category:Hindi-language film directors Category:People from Sialkot Category:Cancer deaths in India Category:Indian film actors Category:Hindi film actors Category:Gujarati-language films

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