Pre-Partition Punjab's contribution to the Indian Cinema
Ramanjit Singh
When it comes to who contributed the most to the Indian cinema, I believe that the pre-Partition generation of Punjab had the biggest share in terms of the sheer dominance of talent and skill that was seen in the films, music and arts for many decades prior to and after the independence of India.
Even those actors, singers, playwrights, writers, producers and directors, who were born outside of this province had either paternal or maternal connections to Punjab. There is a lot of analysis and research done by academics like Harjap Singh Aujla and others. Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed has written a book on this very subject, and I'll provide reference links to their research at the bottom of this article.
Here is a list of some of the great personalities of our time, in no particular order.
Prithviraj Kapoor (born Prithvinath Kapoor; 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was an Indian actor who is also considered to be one of the founding figures of Hindi cinema. Prithviraj Kapoor was born as Prithvinath Kapoor on 3 November 1906 in Samundri near Lyallpur, Punjab, British India, into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family of the Kapoor gotra. His father, Dewan Basheshwarnath Kapoor, was a police officer in the Indian Imperial Police. His grandfather, Dewan Keshavmal Kapoor, and his great-grandfather, Dewan Murli Mal Kapoor, were Tehsildars in Samundri near Lyallpur. Kapoor was the eldest of eight siblings, five boys (including Prithviraj and Trilok Kapoor, also an actor) and three girls. Film producer Surinder Kapoor, father of actors and producers Anil, Boney and Sanjay Kapoor, was a cousin of Prithviraj Kapoor.
Also refer to Samundri of Prithviraj Kapoor.
Raj Kapoor, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988, his full name was Ranbir Raj Kapoor, he was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in the history of Indian cinema, and has been referred to as The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema. Born in Peshawar as the eldest son of Prithviraj Kapoor of the Kapoor family, Raj Kapoor starred in and produced many films for which he received multiple accolades, including three National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards in India.
Dev Anand (born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand; 26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011) was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in cinema. Anand is considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.
Manoj Kumar (1937) was born into a Punjabi Hindu family in Abbottabad, a town in the North-West Frontier Province, British India. His birth name is Harikrishan Giri Goswami. When he was 10, his family migrated from Jandiala Sher Khan to Delhi due to the Partition. He is known for acting and making films with patriotic themes, and has been given the nickname Bharat Kumar. He is the recipient of a National Film Award and seven Filmfare Awards, in varied categories. He was awarded Padma Shri in 1992 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2016 by the Government of India for his contribution to Indian cinema and arts.
One of the superstars of the 1960s, Rajendra Kumar was born in a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family in Sialkot, in the Punjab province of British India. He's known for his incredible acting in Raj Kapoor's magnum opus Sangam (1964).
Sunil Dutt was born on 6 June 1929 in Nakka Khurd in the Jhelum District of the Punjab Province of British India into a Punjabi Hindu family, as Balraj Dutt to father Diwan Raghunath Dutt and mother Kulwanti Devi Dutt. One of the greatest actors of Indian cinema, he shot to stardom with B.R. Chopra's family drama Ek Hi Raasta (1956) and Mehboob Khan's epic drama Mother India (1957), and Waqt (1965).
Shammi Kapoor was born as Shamsher Raj Kapoor in Bombay in 1931 (now Mumbai) to Prithviraj Kapoor and Ramsharni Mehra Kapoor. Shammi was the second of the three sons of Prithviraj (the other two being Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor, both successful Hindi film actors).
Shashi Kapoor was born as Balbir Raj Kapoor to Prithviraj Kapoor and his wife in Calcutta, British India, on 18 March 1938. He was the youngest brother of Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor. He was perhaps the most handsome actor ever too grace the silver screen. He is famous for so many films, one of them being Deewar with Amitabh Bachchan.
Avtar Kishan Hangal (1914-2012) was an Indian freedom fighter and actor, born in Sialkot, Punjab. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina, as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the antagonist in Prem Bandhan and the 16 films he did with Rajesh Khanna.
Legendary Prem Chopra, the third of six children of Ranveerlal and Rooprani Chopra, a Punjabi Hindu family, was born on 23 September 1935, in Lahore. After the partition of India, his family moved to Shimla, where he was brought up. He has studied in S.D. Senior Secondary School, Shimla.His father desired for him to be a doctor or an Indian Administrative Services Officer.
Kamal Kapoor was born in 1920 in Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, British India. Kapoor completed his studies in Lahore's DAV college. He was cousin of Prithviraj Kapoor (their mothers were sisters).
Pinchoo Kapoor (1927 – 28 April 1989) was an Indian actor born in Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India. He acted in many Hindi films during the 1970s and 1980s. His film career lasted from 1969 to 1989. He is best remembered for his role in the films Don, Roti, Avtaar and Khud-Daar.
Iftekhar Ahmed Sharif, born in Jalandhar, (22 February 1920 – 4 March 1995), often credited as Iftekhar or Iftikhar, was an Indian actor who mainly worked in Indan cinema He is known for his film roles as a police officer. Many of Iftekhar's close relatives, including his parents and siblings, migrated to Pakistan during partition He would have preferred to stay in Calcutta, but rioting forced him to leave Calcutta. Along with his wife and daughters, he moved to Bombay.
Satyendra Sharma, 7 February 1931, Panipat, Punjab, British India (present-day Haryana, India)
His work is lauded in movies like Don, Zanjeer, Mr. Natwarlal, and Yadon ki Baraat, to name a few.
Pran Krishan Sikand Ahluwalia (12 February 1920 – 12 July 2013), better known by his mononym, Pran, was an Indian actor, known as one of the greatest villains ever in the history of Indian cinema and a character actor in Hindi cinema from the 1940s to the 1990s. He has been one of the most highly successful and respected veteran actors in the history of Indian cinema. He was also one of the highest-paid actors of his time. Pran was born on 12 February 1920 in Lahore, into a wealthy Punjabi Hindu family but raised in Ballimaran of Old Delhi in Delhi. His father, Kewal Krishan Sikand Ahluwalia, was a civil engineer and a government civil contractor, his mother was Rameshwari Ahluwalia. Pran was one of seven children; four sons and three daughters.
Superstar of the 1970s, Rajesh Khanna was born on 29 December 1942, in Amritsar in the Punjab Province of British India, as 'Jatin Khanna' into a Punjabi Hindu Khatri family. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, he is known as the first Superstar of Indian cinema. His accolades include five Filmfare Awards.
Dharmendra was born as Dharmendra Deol in Nasrali, a village in Ludhiana district, Punjab, British India on 8 December 1935. He was born to Kewal Krishan and Satwant Kaur. His ancestral village is Dangon, near Pakhowal Tehsil Raikot, Ludhiana.
Vinod Khanna was born in a Punjabi Hindu family to Kamla and Krishanchand Khanna on 6 October 1946, in Peshawar, British India (now in Pakistan). He had three sisters and one brother. Shortly after his birth, India was partitioned and the family left Peshawar and moved to Bombay (present-day Mumbai).
Jeetendra (1942) was born in a Punjabi Khatri family as Ravi Kapoor in Amritsar, Punjab, to Amarnath and Krishna Kapoor. Jeetendra reached his peak in the early 80s and enjoyed a strong innings throughout the decade.
Om Prakash, born in Lahore, (1919-1998), British India, was a highly regarded Indian character actor who made significant contributions to the Hindi film industry. With a career spanning over four decades, Om Prakash became known for his versatile performances and memorable portrayals of supporting characters. He joined All India Radio, Lahore and left for India during partition.
Om Shivpuri (14 July 1938 – 15 October 1990) was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films. Born in Patiala, Om Shivpuri started his career by working at Jalandhar Radio Station.
He was born in 1928 in the town of Sargodha, British India. He played the role of a police inspector in 144 films. His daughter Anita Raj is also an actress.
Syed Rehman Khan was an actor in Hindi and Indian films. He was born on 23 June 1921 in Lahore, Punjab Province, British India. He was a pilot in Royal Indian Air Force before joining the film industry. He has played pivotal roles in movies like Pyaasa and Waqt.
Madan Lal Puri (1915-1985) was born in Nawanshahr, Punjab, in a Punjabi Hindu family, to Nihal Chand Puri and Ved Kaur. He studied in Rahon. He was the second of five children, with elder brother Chaman Puri, younger brothers Amrish Puri and Harish Lal Puri and younger sister Chandrakanta Mehra. He was a cousin of singing sensation Kundan Lal Sehgal.
Premnath Malhotra, better known as Prem Nath (21 November 1926 – 3 November 1992) was an Indian actor and director, born in Peshawar, NWFP British India. His sister Krishna married Raj Kapoor while his other sister Uma was married to veteran Hindi Film actor Prem Chopra. His brothers Rajendra Nath and Narendra Nath were also actors who mostly appeared in comic and supporting roles.
Indra Sen Johar was born on 16 February 1920 in Talagang City, Talagang Tehsil, Jhelum District, Punjab Province, British India. He is famous for his comedy roles. He also played a character role in the epic film Lawrence of Arabia.
One of the greatest actors of Indian cinema, Balraj Sahni (1913-1973) was born in Rawalpindi. He is best known for Dharti Ke Lal (1946), Do Bigha Zameen (1953), Kabuliwala (1961), Waqt (1965) and Garam Hawa (1973). He was the brother of Bhisham Sahni, noted writer, playwright, and actor.
Achala Sachdev (3 May 1920 – 30 April 2012), a Punjabi born in Peshawar, was an Indian actress who appeared in classic films of Hindi language film industry, who started her career as a child actor. She later became known for mother and grandmother roles in Hindi films. Her most memorable roles were as Balraj Sahni's wife in Waqt (1965)
Kulbhushan Pandit (Raj Kumar) was born on 8 October, 1926 in Loralai in the Baluchistan Province of British India into a Kashmiri Pandit family. In the late 1940s, he moved to Bombay. He is famous for his dialogue delivery and his roles in so many classics, such as Pakeezah.
Daya Kishan Sapru (1916-1979), was born in Kashmir, India, was a Punjabi actor famed for a variety of character roles in Punjabi and Hindi cinema, particularly villains, judges and aristocrats in crime thrillers and dramas. His son Tej Sapru and younger daughter Preeti Sapru are actors in Punjabi films.
Gulshan Kumar Mehta, popularly known by his pen name Gulshan Bawra (literally: "Gulshan The Mad") (12 April 1937 – 7 August 2009), was an Indian songwriter and actor in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning 42 years, he has to his credit about 240 songs, he collaborated with noted music directors like Kalyanji Anandji, Shankar Jaikishan, and R. D. Burman. He composed almost half of the songs in films like Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kasme Vaade (1978) and Satte Pe Satta (1982). Apart from R. D. Burman hits, he is most remembered for his songs like 'Mere Desh Ki Dharti" in Upkaar (1968) and "Yaari Hai Imaan Mera" in Zanjeer (1974), both of which got him the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award.
Kulbhushan Kharbanda (born 21 October 1944) in Hasan Abdal, Punjab, is an Indian actor who works in Hindi and Punjabi films. He is best known for his role as the antagonist Shakaal in Shaan (1980).
Saeed Jaffrey was born on 8 January 1929 to a Punjabi Muslim family in Malerkotla, Punjab region. At that time, his maternal grandfather, Khan Bahadur Fazle Imam of Banur, was the Dewan or Prime Minister of the princely state of Malerkotla. Saeed Jaffrey is famous for his work in Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Henna, and many British productions.
K. Amarnath (1 Dec 1914 – 14 May 1983), born in Mianwali, Punjab, was one of the earliest film makers of Indian Cinema. His career as a movie producer and director spanned over four decades in the film industry. He promoted the young actress Noor Jahan in his first movies. Noor Jehan was the heroine of 2 of the movies directed by K.Amarnath – "Gaon ki Gori "– 1945 and "Mirza Sahiban" – 1947. Both of them were super hits. Mirza Sahiban was her last movie in India before she moved to Pakistan.
Legendary Mohammed Rafi (1924-1980) was the second eldest of six brothers born to Allah Rakhi and Haji Ali Mohammad in a Punjabi Jat Muslim family. The family belonged to Kotla Sultan Singh, a village near present-day Majitha in Amritsar district of Punjab, India.
Chaudhary Abdul Hayee Gujjar (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), born in Ludhiana, Punjab, popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi. He is regarded as one of the greatest film lyricist and poets of 20th century India.
Navin Nischol (18 March 1946 – 19 March 2011), born in Lahore, was an Indian actor. He made his debut with the Hindi film Sawan Bhadon in 1970. In 1996 he worked in Pyar Zindagi Hai along with Rita Bhaduri and Raj Mohammed. The film was shot in Hyderabad. I remember him in the song with Punjabi actress Priya Rajvansh 'Tum Jo Mil Gaye Ho' in the film Hanste Zakham.
One of the most beautiful actress ever to adorn the silver screen, Priya Rajvansh (1936-2000) was born in a Sikh family as Veera Sunder Singh in Shimla. Her father Sunder Singh was a Conservator in the Forest Department. She grew up in Shimla along with her brothers, Kamaljit Singh and Padamjit Singh. She studied at Auckland House, where she was school captain, and Convent of Jesus and Mary, Shimla. She passed intermediate from St. Bede's College, Shimla in 1953. She played leading roles in films like Haqeeqat, Hanste Zakham, and Heer Ranjha.
Kabir Bedi was born in Lahore in the Punjab Province of British India on 16 January 1946. His father, Baba Pyare Lal Singh Bedi, was a Punjabi Sikh author, philosopher and a direct descendent of Guru Nanak.
There are countless others which I can add to the list, like Kuldip Kaur, Geeta Bali, Suraiya, KL Sehgal, Noor Jahan, Gulzar, Suresh Oberoi, BR Chopra, AR Kardar, Jay Om Prakash, Rakesh Roshan, Subhash Ghai, and so many others. Amitabh Bachchan's mother Teji Bachchan was s Sikh from Lahore. Idea is to understand how brilliant these men and women were. They gave us the ability to imagine how beautiful our lives can be; they enthralled us with their beautiful melodies; they made us smile and be joyful about the world around us.
I can close my eyes and see Dev Anand in Guide, or Rajendra Kumar in Sangam. I can close my eyes and see Sunil Dutt in Mother India, or Pran in Zanjeer, or Balraj Sahni in Garam Hawa. I can close my eyes and see Shammi Kapoor in Kashmir ki kali. I can close my eyes and see Shashi Kapoor in Deewar. Each one of these artists gave their best, their work inspired us to become better human beings. Through their work we cherish the richness of our language, culture and history. They brought civility to our chaotic society. They brought laughter into our uncertain world.
I cannot ignore the contributions of those from the Frontier as well, such as the Great Dilip Kumar, Madhu Bala, Amjad Khan, Feroze Khan, Kader Khan, and countless others who were ethnic Pashtuns. There is an interview of Dilip Kumar with Noor Jahan, when she came to India in the early eighties, and during the conversation they start talking in Punjabi.
Dilip Kumar was born Muhammad Yusuf Khan on 11 December 1922, into an Awan Hindkowan Muslim family at his family home in the Qissa Khawani Bazaar neighborhood of Peshawar, a city in the North-West Frontier Province of British India. He was one of the twelve children of Lala Ghulam Sarwar Ali Khan (1890–1950) and his wife Ayesha Begum (1897–1948).
I learned long time ago that those who experienced Partition, understood that event differently than those who were born much later. In this interview, Dilip Kumar used his every word, every pause, so carefully, a sort of mental calibration of current realities and the desire to go back to the time when we were all together. There’s a sense of longing in his voice, a pain in his voice. And I can sense his pain clearly. His facial expressions, his reminiscing of the past, as if he’s balancing the present and the past in his mind. That struggle is so painful to watch, and I think he had played those events every day in his life. How does one adjust to a life when you are separated from your birthplace, your extended family, your people. How does one understand what Partition meant to someone like Dilip Kumar or Sanjay Dutt or Raj Kapoor. They epitomized a different India, a united India. Their work carried the hopes of millions, their work stressed the need for communal harmony and social justice. Their voice was a voice of reason and kindness. Their every word carried the weight of history and context that we will never be able to understand. Whenever they went to see their ancestral homes, I know from the bottom of my heart that a part of their soul was left behind. The tragedy of Partition cannot be written in words, it can only be described by that inconsolable Balraj Sahni looking at his house in Rawalpindi. They all cried, they all cried.
And the tragedy is that we will never have this calibre of men and women ever again in India.
We have lost the greatest generation of artists, and their absence is greatly missed by all of us. We miss them whenever we see their movies or listen to their old songs. We go back in time, a time of innocence, we escape into their world because the present has become so toxic; that was the time when people respected each other, there was sharafat and respect shown to others.
They were different, they were just different.
What has happened to us now?
Please refer to these articles from Mr. Harjap Singh Aujla:
Please refer to these books and articles from Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed:
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 08-Jan-2016 › the-punjabi-...
Jan 8, 2016 — In the first part of this series, Ishtiaq Ahmed explores themes in Punjab's history which shaped its music, popular consciousness and cinema.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 25-Mar-2016 › the-punjabi...
Mar 25, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed continues his examination of Punjabis in Indian cinema, focusing on the work of the legend K. L. Saigal. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 22-Jan-2016 › the-punjabi-...
Jan 22, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed continues his discussion of the historical and cultural context in which Punjabis participated in the film industry.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 19-Aug-2016 › the-punjab...
Aug 19, 2016 — In the tenth part of his series, Ishtiaq Ahmed tells the stories of stars that shone brightly in Bollywood, but were born in Chakwal district.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 29-Jan-2016 › the-punjabi-...
Jan 29, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed chronicles the process by which artists and professionals of Punjabi birth established themselves in the Indian film industry.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 18-Mar-2016 › the-punjabi...
Mar 18, 2016 — The Punjabi contribution to cinema - V. Ishtiaq Ahmed on the Punjabis who shaped song-writing in the Indian film industry. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 05-Aug-2016 › the-punjab...
Aug 5, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed examines the work of two of Punjab's most accomplished sons who graced the silver screen. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 02-Sep-2016 › the-punjabi...
Sep 2, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed examines the work of two prominent Punjabis in Bollywood, one from Chakwal and the other from Jhelum. Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 12-Feb-2016 › the-punjabi...
Feb 12, 2016 — Ishtiaq Ahmed continues his examination of the historical factors which shaped Punjab's significant role in the music of South Asian cinema. Dr.
The Friday Times
https://thefridaytimes.com › 22-Jul-2016 › the-punjabi-...
Jul 22, 2016 — The Punjabi contribution to cinema - VIII. Ishtiaq Ahmed on the role played in the Indian film industry by three directors produced by Lahore.
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