B. R. Chopra

2022-03-29T10:51:43Z

122.161.52.152:

{{short description|Indian film director (1914–2008)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = B. R. Chopra
| image = Baldev Raj Chopra 2013 stamp of India.jpg
| caption = Chopra on a 2013 stamp of [[India]]
| birth_name = '''Baldev Raj Chopra'''
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1914|04|22}}
| birth_place = [[Rahon]], [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{death-date and age|05 November 2008|22 April 1914}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[India]]
| occupation = [[Film producer]]<br/>[[Film director]]
| children = 3, including [[Ravi Chopra]]
| honours = {{Ubl | [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] (1998) | [[Padma Bhushan]] (2001) }}
| yearsactive = 1944–2006
| spouse = '''Prakash Chopra'''
| relatives = See [[List of Hindi film clans#Chopra family|Chopra-Johar family]]
| nationality = {{IND}}
}}

'''Baldev Raj Chopra''' (22 April 1914 – 05 November 2008)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081108222048/http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080071395 Filmmaker B R Chopra passes away]. Press Trust of India via NDTV. 5 November 2008</ref> was an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[film director]] and [[film producer]] who worked in [[Bollywood]] movies and television serials. Best known for directing Hindi films like ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957), ''[[Sadhna (1958 film)|Sadhna]]'' (1958), ''[[Kanoon]]'' (1961), ''[[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]]'' (1963), ''[[Hamraaz|Humraaz]]'' (1967), ''[[Insaaf Ka Tarazu]]'' (1980), ''[[Nikaah (film)|Nikaah]]'' (1982), [[Awam (1987)]], and the producer of TV series, ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'' in 1988,<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200811060323.htm B.R.Chopra made socially relevant films] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 6 November 2008.</ref> he was awarded the [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] in 1998.<ref name=ultra>[http://www.ultraindia.com/movies/awards/brchopra.htm B.R. CHOPRA – Purposeful Film Maker – 30th Recipient – 1998] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901135352/http://www.ultraindia.com/movies/awards/brchopra.htm |date=1 September 2009 }} ''Dadasaheb Phalke Award''.</ref>

The BR Chopra Mahabharata(1988) was nominated for Uptron awards under for several categories. Pankaj Dheer won the Uptron Award for Best Actor defeating Arun Govil and others in that category. Mukesh Khanna won the Best Supporting Actor for people's choice. Nitish Bharadwaj won the Best Supporting Actor defeating Sunil Lahri and others.

His younger brother [[Yash Chopra]], son [[Ravi Chopra]] and nephew [[Aditya Chopra]] are also film directors and producers in the [[Bollywood]] industry. His nephew [[Uday Chopra]] is an actor and film producer.

==Biography==
Chopra was born on 22 April 1914 in [[Rahon]], Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district (formerly Nawanshahr district) to Vilayati Raj Chopra, an employee of the PWD. He later shifted to [[Lahore]]. He was the second of several siblings; his youngest brother was filmmaker [[Yash Chopra]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taliculam |first1=Sharmila |title=And miles to go... |url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/apr/04br.htm |website=Rediff.com |access-date=29 October 2018 |date=4 April 1997}}</ref>

Chopra received an M.A. in English literature from [[University of the Punjab]] in [[Lahore]]. He started his career in 1944 as a film journalist with ''Cine Herald'', a film-monthly published in [[Lahore]], he later took over the magazine and ran it until 1947.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Films_transformed_Chopras_destiny_and_vice-versa/articleshow/3678768.cms Films transformed Chopra's destiny and vice-versa] ''[[The Times of India]]'', 6 November 2008.</ref> In the same year, he launched a film with a story by [[I. S. Johar]], ''Chandni Chowk''. Naeem Hashmi was hero of this movie and Erika Rukhshi was the heroine. Just as the production of film was to start, riots broke out in [[Lahore]] and he and his family had to flee from the city. After the [[partition of India]] into [[India]] and [[Pakistan]] in 1947, he moved to [[Delhi]]. He later moved to [[Mumbai]], where his first production, ''Karwat'', began in 1948, though it turned out to be a flop. His first film as a director, ''Afsana'', was released in 1951 and featured [[Ashok Kumar]] in a double role – the film was a hit and established his name in [[Bollywood]]. Chopra made ''[[Chandni Chowk (film)|Chandni Chowk]]'', with [[Meena Kumari]] as a lead, in 1954. In 1955, Chopra formed his own production house, ''B.R Films''. His first movie for this production house was ''[[Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)|Ek Hi Raasta]]'' which was highly successful. He followed it up with ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]'' (1957) starring [[Dilip Kumar]] and [[Vyjayantimala Bali]], the film became a golden jubilee hit. His subsequent releases like [[Kanoon]], [[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]], [[Humraaz]] were major hits in the sixties. In 1963, he was a member of the jury at the [[13th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="berlinale 1963">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1963/04_jury_1963/04_Jury_1963.html |title=Berlinale: Juries |access-date=13 February 2010 |work=berlinale.de| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100329093651/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1963/04_jury_1963/04_Jury_1963.html| archive-date= 29 March 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref> His second film with actor Dilip Kumar was [[Dastaan (1972 film)|Dastaan]] which became a flop in 1972.

He directed successful film across genres after 1972, with films like suspense thriller [[Dhund (1973 film)|Dhund]], drama Karma (1977), comedy film [[Pati Patni Aur Woh]], crime film in [[Insaaf Ka Tarazu]], Muslim social in ''Nikaah'' and the political thriller [[Awam (film)|Awam]].

He was the producer for the films [[Dhool Ka Phool]], [[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]], [[Aadmi Aur Insaan]] and [[Ittefaq (1969 film)|Ittefaq]] directed by his younger brother Yash Chopra, and he also produced [[The Burning Train]], [[Aaj Ki Awaaz]], [[Mazdoor]], [[Baghban]], [[Baabul]], [[Bhootnath]] which were directed by [[Ravi Chopra]].

Chopra was instrumental in developing the career of singer [[Mahendra Kapoor]], whom he employed in most of his movies. (Director-producer [[Yash Chopra]] cast Mahendra Kapoor's son in ''Faasle''.) One prominent thing about B. R. Chopra is the relatively low number of songs sung by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Mohammed Rafi]] in his films, with [[Asha Bhosle]] and [[Mahendra Kapoor]] being his preferred singers. The reason behind this was never revealed by him or the singers. Incidentally, both Chopra and Kapoor died within a gap of little longer than a month in 2008, with the latter dying first.

Chopra forayed into television with ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]'', one of the most successful TV serials in Indian television history, where [[Nitish Bharadwaj]] played the role of [[Lord Krishna|Krishna]] and this was co-directed by him with his son. He also produced TV Series on [[Bahadur Shah Zafar]], Kanoon (1993), Aap Beeti, Vishnu Puran (2000) and Maa Shakti. He produced films like Baghbhan, Babul and Bhootnath, after 2000.

He died in [[Mumbai]] at the age of 94 on 5 November 2008,<ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/filmmaker-br-chopra-dead_100115182.html Filmmaker B.R. Chopra dead]. Thaindian.com (5 November 2008). Retrieved on 2018-11-09.</ref> survived by his son, [[Ravi Chopra]], and two daughters Shashi and Bina.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7710210.stm Bollywood producer BR Chopra dies]. ''[[BBC News]]'', 5 November 2008.</ref>

==Awards==
[[File:Baldev Raj Chopra and Yash Chopra.jpg|thumb|B. R. Chopra (sitting left) and Yash Chopra attending audio release of ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]''. ]]
;Civilian awards
* [[Padma Bhushan]]-2001<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref>
;[[National Film Awards]]
* [[8th National Film Awards|1960]]: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] – ''[[Kanoon]]''<ref name="8thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |title=8th National Film Awards |publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]] |access-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123052231/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm8thNFAAward.aspx |archive-date=23 November 2016 }}</ref>
* [[9th National Film Awards|1961]]: [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] – ''[[Dharmputra]]'' (Producer)<ref name="9thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|title=9th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=30 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202115652/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm9thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1998: [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]]
;[[Filmfare Awards]]
* [[9th Filmfare Awards|1962]]: [[Filmfare Best Director Award]]: ''[[Kanoon]]''
* 2003: [[Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award]]
;Other Awards
* 1998: Kalakar Awards for Lifetime Achievement {{citation needed|date=December 2011}}
* 2008: '''Phalke Ratna Award''' by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy<ref>
[http://www.apunkachoice.com/happenings/20080403-0.html Apunkachoice] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001051852/http://www.apunkachoice.com/happenings/20080403-0.html |date=1 October 2012 }}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Director
! scope="col" | Producer
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
! scope="row" | 1951
| ''[[Afsana (film)|Afsana]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Directorial debut
|-
! scope="row" | 1953
| ''Shole''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1954
| ''[[Chandni Chowk (film)|Chandni Chowk]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1956
| ''[[Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)|Ek Hi Raasta]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| First film under B.R. Films
|-
! scope="row" | 1957
| ''[[Naya Daur (1957 film)|Naya Daur]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1958
| '' [[Sadhna (1958 film)|Sadhna]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated – [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1959
| ''[[Dhool Ka Phool]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1960
| ''[[Kanoon]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| {{Ubl | Won – [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] | [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]] }}
|-
! scope="row" | 1961
| ''[[Dharmputra]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1963
| ''[[Gumrah (1963 film)|Gumrah]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1965
| ''[[Waqt (1965 film)|Waqt]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1967
| ''[[Hamraaz]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1969
| ''[[Ittefaq (1969 film)|Ittefaq]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1970
| ''[[Aadmi Aur Insaan]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1972
| ''[[Dastaan (1972 film)|Dastaan]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1973
| ''[[Dhund (1973 film)|Dhund]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1975
| ''[[Zameer (1975 film)|Zameer]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Directorial debut of [[Ravi Chopra]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1976
| ''[[Chhoti Si Baat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1977
| ''[[Karm]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1978
| ''[[Pati Patni Aur Woh]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1980
| ''[[The Burning Train]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1980
| ''[[Insaf Ka Tarazu]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1981
| ''[[Agni Pareeksha (1981 film)|Agni Pareeksha]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''Beta''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''[[Nikaah (film)|Nikaah]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]], Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]]
|-
! scope="row" | 1982
| ''Teri Meri Kahani''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Telefilm
|-
! scope="row" | 1983
| ''[[Mazdoor]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1983
| ''Dharti Aakash''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Telefilm
|-
! scope="row" | 1984
| ''[[Aaj Ki Awaaz]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1985
| ''Ghazal''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1985
| ''[[Tawaif (film)|Tawaif]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| ''Kirayadar''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1986
| ''[[Dahleez (film)|Dahleez]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1987
| ''[[Awam (film)|Awam]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1988
| ''[[Mahabharat (1988 TV series)|Mahabharat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
!1991
|[[Mahabharat Katha|Mahabharat katha]]
|
|
|TV Serial
|-
! scope="row" | 1991
| ''[[Pratigyabadh]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| Kal Ki Awaz
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1992
| ''Sauda''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 1993
| ''[[Kanoon (1993 TV series)|Kanoon]]''
| {{Yes}}
| {{No}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2000
| ''[[Vishnu Puran (TV series)|Vishnu Puran]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2001–2002
| ''[[Ramayan (2002)|Ramayan]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2001–2004
| Aap Beeti
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2002–2003
| ''Ma Shakti''
| {{Yes}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2003
| ''[[Baghban (2003 film)|Baghban]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| Nominated- [[Filmfare Award for Best Film]]
|-
! scope="row" | 2004
| ''[[Kamini Damini]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
Apraadhi Kon? (2006) No Yes TV Series
! scope="row" | 2006–2007
| ''[[Viraasat (Star One)|Viraasat]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
| TV series
|-
! scope="row" | 2006
| ''[[Baabul (2006 film)|Baabul]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
! scope="row" | 2008
| ''[[Bhoothnath]]''
| {{No}}
| {{Yes}}
|
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Baldev Raj Chopra}}
{{Wikinews|Indian filmmaker Baldev Raj Chopra dies at age 94}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0159148|name=Baldev Raj Chopra}}
* [http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/05sd1.htm B R Chopra's unforgettable movies] ''[[Rediff.com]]''

{{B. R. Chopra}}
{{Dadasaheb Phalke Award}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestDirector}}
{{FilmfareLifetimeAchievementAward}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chopra, Baldev Raj}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Film directors from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Film producers from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Film producers from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:Hindi film producers]]
[[Category:Hindi screenwriters]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:People from Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district]]
[[Category:Punjabi people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Punjab, India]]
[[Category:University of the Punjab alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

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B. R. Chopra