Bollywood Necrology - 2006

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2006 Necrologies
By Moses Navgire (IndiaFM News Bureau), December 30, 2006 - 05:43 IST

The year 2006 saw the sad demise of some of the great veterans in the film industry. Their departure has surely left an empty space which is difficult to fill up. But the least we can do is pay a tribute to these departed souls. IndiaFM in this special feature remembers these great personalities whom we lost in year 2006.

Sardar Malik (1925 - Jan 27, 2006)

Film Profile ; Music Composer

Sardar Malik was one of the most talented music composers in the industry. He was suffering from Parkinson's disease for several years and was undergoing treatment for the same. On 27th January 2006, he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. He was 81.

Sardar Malik was born in Kapurthala and came to Mumbai in 1940's to join the film industry. He composed music for movies like Aulad, Thokar, Maharani Padmini, Saranga and Bachpan, among others. His compositions 'Saranga teri yaad mein'; and 'Haan diwana hoon main' which were sung by Mukesh, were very popular. The song 'Mujhe kuch hosh nahin' from Bachpan, sung by Mohammad Rafi, is still a memorable track.

His sons have also created a place for themselves in the film industry. Anu Malik is one of the respected music composers in Bollywood. Sardar's other two sons Abu and Daboo Malik, have also created a name for themselves in the industry in the field of Bollywood music.
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Nadira (December 5, 1932 - February 9, 2006)

Film Profile ; Actor

Nadira was known for her negative roles in the 1950's and 60's. She suffered from various illnesses and died of cardiac arrest on 9th February 2006. She was 74.

Born as Florence Ezekiel, Nadira hailed from the South Mumbai region of Nagpada. She started her film career with Mehboob Khan's Aan opposite Dilip Kumar at the tender age of 19. She was one of the most beautiful actresses of that time, yet she was open to playing negative roles. Her performances in films like Elaan, Shri 420, Dil Apna Aur Preet Parayi, Pakeezah, Julie and Sagar are still memorable. She also bagged the Best Supporting Actress award for the Julie (1975) in which she played Laxmi's mother. Nadira was also a part of television. She was seen in tele-serials like Thoda Sa Aasman and Milind Soman starrer Margaritta.

Nadira lived alone at her residence in Mumbai. However, she used to share a good rapport with kids. Nadira always celebrated her birthday with the kids in her neighborhood distributing sweets.

Last seen: Nadira was last seen in Mansoor Khan's Josh (2000) which starred Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Sharad Kapoor and Chandrachur Singh.
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Naushad (December 25, 1919 - May 5, 2006)

Film Profile : Music Composer

Naushad was considered as one of the ace music composers in the industry. He died at the age of 86 due to old age.

Naushad grew up in Lucknow. The city is very much known for its rich cultural heritage of which music is an indispensable element. Therefore, Naushad too studied the classical Hindustani music in the city with from some great Ustads.

He later moved to Mumbai to become a musician in the late 30's. After struggling for a while, he managed to get a job of in a studio orchestra. He later joined music director Khemchand Prakash as his assistant. It was with the film Prem Nagar (1940) when he started of as an independent film composer. But it was the film Rattan (1944) that made Naushad one of the top music composers of those times.

Naushad's biggest contribution to Indian cinema was bringing the Indian Classical music to films. Many of his compositions were inspired by Ragas and he even used distinguished classical artistes like Amir Khan and D.V. Pulaskar in Baiju Bawra (1952) and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Mughal-E-Azam (1960). The music of these films is famous even today. Some of his greatest compositions come from films like Mother India (1957), Ganga Jamuna (1961), Mere Mehboob (1963) and Pakeezah(1971). He was honored with Dadasaheb Phalke award for his contribution to the Indian Cinema.

Last work: Naushad's last composition was for Akbar Khan's Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story (2005).
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Ustad Bismillah Khan (March 21, 1916 - August 21, 2006)

Film Profile : Music Composer/Shehnai Player

Ustad Bimillah Khan was world's best Shehnai player. The Shehnai maestro died of cardiac arrest at the age of 91.

Ustad was born in Dumraon and was named Bismillah by his grandfather. His ancestors were court musicians in the princely states of Bhojpur. He was trained in music by his uncle Ali Baksh, who was also a Shehai player. Ustad Bismillah Khan was responsible for making Shehnai a popular musical instrument. He always said that Music has no caste and also performed at various temples. The Maestro has possibly performed in every major city in the world. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Bharat Ratna Award in 2001.

Though not exactly a film personality, Ustad is one musical genius who is known worldwide for his talent and therefore, deserves a mention in this year's obituary.
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Hrishikesh Mukerjee (September 30, 1922 - August 27, 2006)

Film Profile : Director

Hrishikesh Mukerjee was one of the most talented story tellers in Indian Cinema. He was long suffering from illness and was admitted in Leelavati Hospital in critical condition due to chronic renal failure and pneumonia. He passed away at the age of 84.

Born on September 30, 1922, in Kolkata, Hrishida, as he was popularly known, began his career as an assistant director and also editor to Bimal Roy for Do Bigha Zameen (1953). Mukherjee's first directorial venture though was Musafir (1957), which was an episodic film with three parallel stories. Although the film didn't do well, Raj Kapoor was so impressed with Hrishida's work that he recommended him to be the director for Anari (1959) starring Raj Kapoor himself and Nutan. The film was an emotional drama with a realistic view of the life of lower middle class in India. Hrishida retained the neo-realistic style of filmmaking from his mentor, Bimal Roy, which could be seen in this film.

Anand (1970) was a major breakthrough in the Indian cinema. It is a story about a man (Rajesh Khanna) who is suffering from a terminal disease and in his last few days makes people around him realize how precious life is. Some of his best creations include films like Guddi (1971), Bawarchi (1972), Mili (1975), Abhimaan (1973) and Namak Haram (1973). He also did a series of comedy films like Golmaal (1979), Khoobsurat (1980) and Naram Garam (1981) and Chupke Chupke (1975).

Mukerjee also served as Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and of the National Film Development Corporation

Last work: His last directorial work was Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kate (1998), which was again a comedy starring Anil Kapoor , Juhi Chawla, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher and Reema Lagoo.
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N.N Sippy (1931 - November 7, 2006)

Film Profile : Producer

Veteran Bollywood producer N N Sippy died of heart ailment at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital at the age of 75.

He produced several Bollywood hits like Fakira(1976), Meri Jung(1985), Chor Machaye Shor(1974) and Silsila Hai Pyaar Ka (1999). He also gave a break to Subhash Ghai as director with Kalicharan (1976). Sippy was also responsible for introducing Jaya Prada to Bollywood with the film Sargam (1979) opposite Rishi Kapoor. Before starting his career as a producer, Sippy worked for 10 years in various areas relating to films like film finance and film distribution.
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Rajkumar (April 24, 1928 - April 12, 2006)

Film Profile : Actor

Veteran Kannada actor Rajkumar died here, after a heart attack at the age 77. Though not a Bollywood star, he was one of the legendary actors in India.

He was born on April 24, 1929, in Gajanur on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. Born as S.P. Muthuraj, he became Rajkumar with his first film Bedara Kannappa (1954). After this, he went on to climb the ladder of success. He went on to become the legendary actor. He acted in more than 220 films. Rajkumar was also a recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

In 2000, Rajkumar was kidnapped by Veerappan and was abducted for 109 days. This had created a very tensed situation in south India.

Last Seen: He was last seen in the film Shabdavedi (2000)
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Vikram Dharma (1961 - June 28, 2006)

Film Profile : Stunt Coordinator

Popular stunt coordinator Vikram Dharma suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at the age of 50.

Vikram Dharma had worked in more than 300 films He started his career as a stunt man in Tamil filmdom and rose to become a stunt master. His work in the Kamal Haasan-starrer Vikram won him appreciation and he came to be known as Vikram Dharma after the movie. He also worked on stunt sequences in over 200 films in various languages, including movies starring Rajnikanth and Kamal Haasan among others.

He also choreographed stunts for some famous Bollywood films like Hey Ram (2000), Yuva(2004), Fight Club (2006), Zamaanat (2006) and his last is going to be Mani Ratnam's Guru which is to release early next year.