Kamal Amrohi: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by 103.248.93.203
Last edited July 31, 2023
← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
->GaiusAugustine
No edit summary
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Indian film director and screenwriter}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Kamal Amrohi
| name              = Kamal Amrohi
Line 6: Line 7:
| imagesize          =  
| imagesize          =  
| caption            = Kamal Amrohi in the 1950s
| caption            = Kamal Amrohi in the 1950s
| birth_date        = {{birth-date|17 January 1918}} <ref>{{cite book |author= Adrian Room |title= Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eSIhzKnNUf4C&q=Kamal+Amrohi&pg=PA44|access-date= 22 April 2012 |date= 26 July 2010 |publisher= McFarland |isbn= 978-0-7864-4373-4 |contribution= Kamal Amrohi}}</ref>
| birth_date        = {{birth-date|17 January 1918}}<ref>{{cite book |author=Adrian Room |title=Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSIhzKnNUf4C&q=Kamal+Amrohi&pg=PA44 |access-date=22 April 2012 |date=26 July 2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-4373-4 |contribution=Kamal Amrohi}}</ref>
| birth_place        = [[Amroha]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| birth_place        = [[Amroha]], [[United Provinces of Agra and Oudh]], [[British India]]
| death_date        = {{d-da|11 February 1993|17 January 1918}}<ref name="Room2010">{{cite book |author= Adrian Room |title= Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=eSIhzKnNUf4C&pg=PA44 |access-date= 22 April 2012 |date= 26 July 2010 |publisher= McFarland |isbn= 978-0-7864-4373-4 |contribution= Kamal Amrohi}}</ref>
| death_date        = {{d-da|11 February 1993|17 January 1918}}<ref name="Room2010">{{cite book |author=Adrian Room |title=Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSIhzKnNUf4C&pg=PA44 |access-date=22 April 2012 |date=26 July 2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-4373-4 |contribution=Kamal Amrohi}}</ref>
| death_place        = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| death_place        = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| burial_place      = Rahmatabad cemetery, Mumbai
| burial_place      = Rahmatabad cemetery, Mumbai
Line 14: Line 15:
| occupation        = film director and producer, screenwriter, dialogue writer<ref name=Dawn1/>
| occupation        = film director and producer, screenwriter, dialogue writer<ref name=Dawn1/>
| othername          = Kamal Amrohvi, ''Chandan''.
| othername          = Kamal Amrohvi, ''Chandan''.
| spouse            = Bilkis Bano (died) <br/> {{marriage|Mehmoodi||April 9, 1982|end=d.}}
| spouse            = Bilkis Bano (died) <br/> {{marriage|Mehmoodi||9 April 1982|end=d.}}
{{marriage|[[Meena Kumari]]|1952|1964|reason={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}<br/>{{marriage|Deep Kaur||1993|end=his death}}
{{marriage|[[Meena Kumari]]|1952|1964|reason={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}<br/>{{marriage|Deep Kaur||1993<!--Omission per Template:Marriage instructions-->}}
| awards            = 1961: [[Filmfare Best Dialogue Award]]: [[Mughal E Azam]]<ref name=web/>
| awards            = 1961: [[Filmfare Best Dialogue Award]]: [[Mughal E Azam]]<ref name=web/>
}}
}}


'''Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi''' (17 January 1918 – 11 February 1993), popularly known as '''Kamal Amrohi''', was an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[film director]] and [[screenwriter]]. He was also an [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]] poet.<ref name=Century>{{cite web|url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/Century_Of_Films/Story/0,,71138,00.html |title=Kamal Amrohi: Pakeezah|publisher= The Guardian (UK newspaper)|author= Derek Malcolm|date=5 August 1999|access-date= 26 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=Dawn1/>
'''Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi''' (17 January 1918 – 11 February 1993), popularly known as '''Kamal Amrohi''', was an [[Indian people|Indian]] [[film director]] and [[screenwriter]]. He was also an [[Urdu]] and [[Hindi]] poet.<ref name=Century>{{cite web |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/Century_Of_Films/Story/0,,71138,00.html |title=Kamal Amrohi: Pakeezah |publisher=The Guardian (UK newspaper) |author=Derek Malcolm |date=5 August 1999 |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=Dawn1/>


His Hindi films include ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'' (1949), ''[[Pakeezah]]'' (1972) and ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983). He established Kamal Pictures (Mahal Films) in 1953 and Kamalistan Studio in Bombay in 1958.<ref name=web/>
His Hindi films include ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'' (1949), ''[[Pakeezah]]'' (1972) and ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983). He established Kamal Pictures (Mahal Films) in 1953 and Kamalistan Studio in Bombay in 1958.<ref name=web/>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Kamal Amrohi was born in [[Amroha]], United Provinces in British India (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]]) and later took on the name Kamal Amrohi (or Amrohvi).<ref name=Independent>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-kamal-amrohi-1473555.html |author=Kuldip Singh|title=Obituary: Kamal Amrohi|publisher=The Independent (UK newspaper)|date=17 February 1993|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> He was a first cousin to Pakistani writers [[Jaun Elia]] and [[Rais Amrohvi]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1097578 |author=Manzoor Kureshi|title=In the name of father|publisher=DAWN (newspaper)|date=4 April 2014|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
Kamal Amrohi was born in [[Amroha]], United Provinces in British India (present-day [[Uttar Pradesh]]) and later took on the name Kamal Amrohi (or Amrohvi).<ref name=Independent>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-kamal-amrohi-1473555.html |author=Kuldip Singh |title=Obituary: Kamal Amrohi |publisher=The Independent (UK newspaper) |date=17 February 1993 |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref> He was a first cousin to Pakistani writers [[Jaun Elia]] and [[Rais Amrohvi]].<ref name=Dawn>{{cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1097578 |author=Manzoor Kureshi |title=In the name of father |publisher=DAWN (newspaper) |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
In 1938, he left Amroha to study in [[Lahore]], now part of [[Pakistan]], where singer [[K. L. Saigal]] discovered him and took him to Mumbai (Bombay) to work for [[Sohrab Modi]]'s Minerva Movietone film company, where he started his career working on films like ''Jailor'' (1938),<ref name=cineplot/> ''Pukar'' (1939), ''Bharosa'' (1940), [[A. R. Kardar]]'s film (Shahjehan 1946). He made his debut as a director in 1949, with ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'', starring [[Madhubala]] and [[Ashok Kumar]], which was a musical hit, with songs by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Rajkumari Dubey]].<ref>[http://www.upperstall.com/films/mahal.html Film Mahal (1949) Review at upperstall.com website] Retrieved 26 March 2018</ref>
In 1938, he left Amroha to study in [[Lahore]], now part of [[Pakistan]], where singer [[K. L. Saigal]] discovered him and took him to Mumbai (Bombay) to work for [[Sohrab Modi]]'s Minerva Movietone film company, where he started his career working on films like ''Jailor'' (1938),<ref name=cineplot/> ''Pukar'' (1939), ''Bharosa'' (1940), [[A. R. Kardar]]'s film (Shahjehan 1946). He made his debut as a director in 1949, with ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'', starring [[Madhubala]] and [[Ashok Kumar]], which was a musical hit, with songs by [[Lata Mangeshkar]] and [[Rajkumari Dubey]].<ref>[http://www.upperstall.com/films/mahal.html Film Mahal (1949) Review at upperstall.com website] Retrieved 26 March 2018</ref>


He directed only four films; of these were ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'' (1949) for [[Bombay Talkies]], ''[[Daaera]]'' (1953) with Meena Kumari and Nasir Khan, ''[[Pakeezah]]'', which was conceived in 1958 but was not brought to the screen until 1972. He also wrote the screenplay, lyrics and produced the latter. Film ''Pakeezah'' (1972) has been called one of the extraordinary musical melodramas ever made in India, although flawed but noble.<ref name=TheHindu/> Meena Kumari herself, in her public comments to the press, after seeing the movie, said that it was Kamal Amrohi's tribute to her.<ref name=cineplot>{{cite web|url=http://cineplot.com/meena-kamal/ |author= A. A. Khatib|date=21 November 2009|title=Meena Kumari & Kamal Amrohi|publisher=cineplot.com website|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983), his last film. Though, he started a film, ''Majnoon'' with [[Rajesh Khanna]] and [[Rakhee Gulzar]] as leads, however the film got shelved.<ref>{{cite news|title=Producer Kamal Amrohi was the master of old-world elegance and heartache|author=Sidharth Bhatia|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/RzayBUl2pB14xFcYp2svoN/Kamal-Amrohi.html|publisher=livemint.com|date=4 May 2013|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>
He directed only four films; of these were ''[[Mahal (1949 film)|Mahal]]'' (1949) for [[Bombay Talkies]], ''[[Daaera]]'' (1953) with Meena Kumari and Nasir Khan, ''[[Pakeezah]]'', which was conceived in 1958 but was not brought to the screen until 1972. He also wrote the screenplay, lyrics and produced the latter. Film ''Pakeezah'' (1972) has been called one of the extraordinary musical melodramas ever made in India, although flawed but noble.<ref name=TheHindu/> Meena Kumari herself, in her public comments to the press, after seeing the movie, said that it was Kamal Amrohi's tribute to her.<ref name=cineplot>{{cite web |url=http://cineplot.com/meena-kamal/ |author=A. A. Khatib |date=21 November 2009 |title=Meena Kumari & Kamal Amrohi |publisher=cineplot.com website |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983), his last film. Though, he started a film, ''Majnoon'' with [[Rajesh Khanna]] and [[Rakhee Gulzar]] as leads, however the film got shelved.<ref>{{cite news |title=Producer Kamal Amrohi was the master of old-world elegance and heartache |author=Sidharth Bhatia |url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/RzayBUl2pB14xFcYp2svoN/Kamal-Amrohi.html |publisher=livemint.com |date=4 May 2013 |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>


[[File:Kamal mahal in 1940.jpg|thumbnail|350px| Kamal Mahal, Mumbai in 1940]]
[[File:Kamal mahal in 1940.jpg|thumbnail|350px| Kamal Mahal, Mumbai in 1940]]
Line 41: Line 42:


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Amrohi married four times: His first wife was Bilkis Bano (who was a maid to [[Nargis]]'s mother, [[Jaddan Bai]]). After her passing away, he married Sayeda Al-Zehra Mehmoodi, daughter of Jamal Hasan. She died on 9 April 1982.<ref>{{cite web | title=Meena Kumari – Her Resting Place| website=YouTube | date=24 August 2018 | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMR9sFao6U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/SvMR9sFao6U |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live| access-date=31 October 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He met [[Meena Kumari]] during the filming of ''[[Tamasha (1952 film)|Tamasha]]''. Veteran actor [[Ashok Kumar]] introduced them.<ref name=cineplot/> They fell in love and married on 14 February 1952, on Valentine's Day in a much private ceremony. Only Amrohi's friend Baaqar Ali and Meena Kumari's younger sister Madhu were aware of this development.
Amrohi married four times: His first wife was Bilkis Bano (who was a maid to [[Nargis]]'s mother, [[Jaddan Bai]]). After her death, he married Sayeda Al-Zehra Mehmoodi, daughter of Jamal Hasan. She died on 9 April 1982.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meena Kumari – Her Resting Place |website=YouTube |date=24 August 2018 |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMR9sFao6U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/SvMR9sFao6U |archive-date=14 December 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=31 October 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He met [[Meena Kumari]] during the filming of ''[[Tamasha (1952 film)|Tamasha]]''. Veteran actor [[Ashok Kumar]] introduced them.<ref name=cineplot/> They fell in love and married on 14 February 1952, on Valentine's Day in a much private ceremony. Only Amrohi's friend Baaqar Ali and Meena Kumari's younger sister Madhu were aware of this development.


The couple then made ''[[Daaera|Daera]]'' (1953 film), a film based on their love story, however the movie tanked at the box office. During the filming of ''[[Azaad (1955 film)|Azaad]]'' in 1954, both of them planned another movie, [[Pakeezah]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} The film went on studio floors by 1956, but as the craze of colour films increased, particularly after the release of ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), the black & white scenes were re-shot to colour sequences. After the release of [[Guru Dutt]]'s classic [[Kaagaz Ke Phool]] (1959 film) which marked the arrival of [[Cinemascope]] technique, the film was again shot, this time in [[Cinemascope]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} By the 1960s, [[Meena Kumari]] was at the peak of her career which caused tensions between the couple and ultimately led to a mutual separation in March 1964. Film ''[[Pakeezah]]'' got shelved. In March 1969, the film was revived with an ill [[Meena Kumari]], (due to her alcoholism) in the lead. They lived together for a total of 11 years.<ref name=TheHindu>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/an-admirers-account-of-meena-kumari/article5415248.ece |author=Baradwaj Rangan|title=An admirer's account of Meena Kumari|date=3 December 2013|publisher=The Hindu (newspaper)|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> [[Raaj Kumar]] was roped in, as by that time, [[Ashok Kumar]]- the original lead was too old to portray the hero of the film.<ref name=Outlook/>
The couple then made ''[[Daaera|Daera]]'' (1953 film), a film based on their love story, however the movie tanked at the box office. During the filming of ''[[Azaad (1955 film)|Azaad]]'' in 1954, both of them planned another movie, [[Pakeezah]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} The film went on studio floors by 1956, but as the craze of colour films increased, particularly after the release of ''[[Mother India]]'' (1957), the black & white scenes were re-shot to colour sequences. After the release of [[Guru Dutt]]'s classic [[Kaagaz Ke Phool]] (1959 film) which marked the arrival of [[Cinemascope]] technique, the film was again shot, this time in [[Cinemascope]].{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}} By the 1960s, [[Meena Kumari]] was at the peak of her career which caused tensions between the couple and ultimately led to a mutual separation in March 1964. Film ''[[Pakeezah]]'' got shelved. In March 1969, the film was revived with an ill [[Meena Kumari]], (due to her alcoholism) in the lead. They lived together for a total of 11 years.<ref name=TheHindu>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/books-reviews/an-admirers-account-of-meena-kumari/article5415248.ece |author=Baradwaj Rangan |title=An admirer's account of Meena Kumari |date=3 December 2013 |publisher=The Hindu (newspaper) |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref> [[Raaj Kumar]] was roped in, as by that time, [[Ashok Kumar]]- the original lead was too old to portray the hero of the film.<ref name=Outlook/>


''[[Pakeezah]]'' was released on 4 February 1972, 14 years after it first began. Unfortunately, it received a lukewarm response from the critics. Although the film received warm reception from the audience, it was [[Meena Kumari]]'s untimely death on 31 March 1972 which acted as an ultimate push and made it one of the top grossers of that year. The film is now considered as a cult classic and has a status much similar to [[K. Asif]]'s 1960 magnum opus, ''[[Mughal-E-Azam]]''.<ref name=Outlook>{{cite web|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/her-story/287253 |title= Her Story (Meena Kumari)|author=Vinod Mehta|date=1 August 2013|publisher=Outlook (magazine)|access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>
''[[Pakeezah]]'' was released on 4 February 1972, 14 years after it first began. Unfortunately, it received a lukewarm response from the critics. Although the film received warm reception from the audience, it was [[Meena Kumari]]'s untimely death on 31 March 1972 which acted as an ultimate push and made it one of the top grossers of that year. The film is now considered as a cult classic and has a status much similar to [[K. Asif]]'s 1960 magnum opus, ''[[Mughal-E-Azam]]''.<ref name=Outlook>{{cite web |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/her-story/287253 |title=Her Story (Meena Kumari) |author=Vinod Mehta |date=1 August 2013 |publisher=Outlook (magazine) |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref>


Kamal Amrohi got married for the fourth time with his physician. During his last years, he used to regularly visit the hospital for minor ailments. There he met his fourth wife, who was actually his doctor. After the death of Mehmoodi in 1982, Amrohi felt lonely and in order to avoid being a burden on his children, he decided to get married, drawing sharp reactions from the media.<ref name=Cineplot>{{cite web|url=https://cineplot.com/kamal-amrohi-the-last-emperor/ |author=Mithilesh Sinha|title=Kamal Amrohi – The Last Emperor|date=7 November 2011|publisher=Cineplot|access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
Kamal Amrohi got married for the fourth time with his physician. During his last years, he used to regularly visit the hospital for minor ailments. There he met his fourth wife, who was actually his doctor. After the death of Mehmoodi in 1982, Amrohi felt lonely and in order to avoid being a burden on his children, he decided to get married, drawing sharp reactions from the media.<ref name=Cineplot>{{cite web |url=https://cineplot.com/kamal-amrohi-the-last-emperor/ |author=Mithilesh Sinha |title=Kamal Amrohi – The Last Emperor |date=7 November 2011 |publisher=Cineplot |access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
   
   
Kamal Amrohi had three children with Mehmoodie: two sons, Shandaar and Taajdaar, both of whom worked with him in ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'',<ref>{{IMDb name|2173354}}</ref> and a daughter, Rukhsar Amrohi.<ref name=toi10/> He had no children with Bilkis Bano, [[Meena Kumari]] and his fourth wife. Shandaar died on 21 August 2011 in [[Goa]]. He was survived by his wives, Shahida Amrohi and Khursheed Naqvi Amrohi. He was laid to rest in [[Mumbai]] the following day. Amrohi's grandsons [[Mashhoor Amrohi]] and [[Bilal Amrohi]] are also actors.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}
Kamal Amrohi had three children with Mehmoodie: two sons, Shandaar and Taajdaar, both of whom worked with him in ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'',<ref>{{IMDb name|2173354}}</ref> and a daughter, Rukhsar Amrohi.<ref name=toi10/> He had no children with Bilkis Bano, [[Meena Kumari]] and his fourth wife. Shandaar died on 21 August 2011 in [[Goa]]. He was survived by his wives, Shahida Amrohi and Khursheed Naqvi Amrohi. He was laid to rest in [[Mumbai]] the following day. Amrohi's grandsons are [[Waseem Amrohi]] and [[Mashhoor Amrohi]], [[Bilal Amrohi]] who also are actors.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}


==Kamal Amrohi Studios==
==Kamal Amrohi Studios==
Kamal Amrohi Studios (Kamalistan Studios) was established in 1958, spread over 15 acre, it is situated in [[Jogeshwari]] East, off [[Jogeshwari – Vikhroli Link Road]] in Mumbai. It continues to run, managed by Amrohi's son, Tajdar Amrohi; despite 2010 news reports of it being sold,<ref>{{cite news |title=Buildings in place of Kamalistan Studios: buyer from city|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/buildings-in-place-of-kamalistan-studios-buyer-from-city/700890/0 |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=toi10/> and continued litigation thereafter. Over the years, it has been venues of films like ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983) Kamal Amrohi's last film as a director, ''[[Amar Akbar Anthony]]'' (1977) and ''[[Kaalia]]'' (1981),  ''[[Khalnayak]]'' (1993), ''[[Koyla]]'' (1997), and recently the first schedule of film, ''[[Dabangg 2]]'' was shot there in 2012, apart from the television shows are also shot at the complex.<ref name=toi10>{{cite news |title=Kamalistan sold to 3 builders for Rs 200 cr |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-20/mumbai/28257941_1_db-realty-shandar-brothers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052424/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-20/mumbai/28257941_1_db-realty-shandar-brothers |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |date=20 October 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Salman Khan takes over Kamalistan |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/news-interviews/31139151_1_dabangg-salman-khan-unprecedented-security |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928183953/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/news-interviews/31139151_1_dabangg-salman-khan-unprecedented-security |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |date=9 March 2012|work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>
Kamal Amrohi Studios (Kamalistan Studios) was established in 1958, spread over 15 acre, it is situated in [[Jogeshwari]] East, off [[Jogeshwari – Vikhroli Link Road]] in Mumbai. It continues to run, managed by Amrohi's son, Tajdar Amrohi; despite 2010 news reports of it being sold,<ref>{{cite news |title=Buildings in place of Kamalistan Studios: buyer from city |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/buildings-in-place-of-kamalistan-studios-buyer-from-city/700890/0 |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=toi10/> and continued litigation thereafter. Over the years, it has been venues of films like ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983) Kamal Amrohi's last film as a director, ''[[Amar Akbar Anthony]]'' (1977) and ''[[Kaalia]]'' (1981),  ''[[Khalnayak]]'' (1993), ''[[Koyla]]'' (1997), and recently the first schedule of film, ''[[Dabangg 2]]'' was shot there in 2012, apart from the television shows are also shot at the complex.<ref name=toi10>{{cite news |title=Kamalistan sold to 3 builders for Rs 200 cr |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-20/mumbai/28257941_1_db-realty-shandar-brothers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203052424/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-10-20/mumbai/28257941_1_db-realty-shandar-brothers |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 December 2013 |date=20 October 2010 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=27 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Salman Khan takes over Kamalistan |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/news-interviews/31139151_1_dabangg-salman-khan-unprecedented-security |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928183953/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/news-interviews/31139151_1_dabangg-salman-khan-unprecedented-security |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 September 2013 |date=9 March 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref>


==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
[[File:Kamal Amrohi 2013 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Amrohi on a 2013 stamp of India]]
[[File:Kamal Amrohi 2013 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Amrohi on a 2013 stamp of India]]
Amrohi died on 11 February 1993 in Mumbai,<ref name=Independent/> twenty one years after his wife [[Meena Kumari]]'s death and ten years after making his last film, ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983). He was buried next to [[Meena Kumari]] in Rehmatabad Qabristan, an Indian-Iranian graveyard in Mumbai.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}
Amrohi died on 11 February 1993 in Mumbai,<ref name=Independent/> twenty one years after his wife [[Meena Kumari]]'s death and ten years after making his last film, ''[[Razia Sultan (film)|Razia Sultan]]'' (1983). He was buried next to [[Meena Kumari]] in Rehmatabad Qabristan, an Indian-Iranian graveyard in Mumbai.{{Citation needed|date= April 2018}}


Kamal Amrohi's only daughter from his second wife, Mehmoodie, Rukhsaar Amrohi gave a newspaper interview describing her version of life-events, which she witnessed, between her father Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari.<ref name=Dawn1>[https://www.dawn.com/news/1096579 In the name of the father] Dawn (newspaper), Updated 30 March 2014, Retrieved 27 March 2018</ref>
Kamal Amrohi's only daughter from his second wife, Mehmoodie, Rukhsaar Amrohi gave a newspaper interview describing her version of life-events, which she witnessed, between her father Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari.<ref name=Dawn1>[https://www.dawn.com/news/1096579 In the name of the father] Dawn (newspaper), Updated 30 March 2014, Retrieved 27 March 2018</ref>
In February 2022, Music label [[Saregama]] and actor Bilal Amrohi (grandson of Kamal Amrohi) announced a web series on the love story of Amrohi and Meena Kumari against the backdrop of making of the film ''[[Pakeezah]]''. The series which will be helmed by [[Yoodlee films]] is expected to go on floors in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/meena-kumari-kamal-amrohis-intense-love-story-on-the-backdrop-of-pakeezah-to-be-turned-into-a-web-series/amp_articleshow/89596447.cms|title=Meena Kumari-Kamal Amrohi's intense love story on the backdrop of 'Pakeezah' to be turned into a web series |work=Economic Times |date=15 February 2022 |access-date=17 February 2022}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
[[File:Pakeezah shooting, 1958.jpg|thumb|The shooting of ''[[Pakeezah]]'', 1958]]


{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"  style="text-align: center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"  style="text-align: center;"
Line 185: Line 189:
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=cinestaan>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/feb/11/582/kamal-amrohi-interrupted |title=Kamal Amrohi, interrupted|date=6 June 2016|author=Shriram Iyengar|publisher=cinestaan.com website|access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref><br>Directorial debut
|<ref name=cinestaan>{{cite web |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2016/feb/11/582/kamal-amrohi-interrupted |title=Kamal Amrohi, interrupted |date=6 June 2016 |author=Shriram Iyengar |publisher=cinestaan.com website |access-date=26 March 2018}}</ref><br/>Directorial debut
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''[[Saqi (film)|Saqi]]''
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''[[Saqi (film)|Saqi]]''
Line 244: Line 248:
||{{Y}}
||{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|{{Y}}
|<ref name=cinestaan/><br>{{Nominated}}-[[Filmfare Award for Best Director]].<ref name="muvyz.com">[http://muvyz.com/people/do660989/Awards/#selected Kamal Amrohi's Awards on movyz.com website] Retrieved 26 March 2018</ref>
|<ref name=cinestaan/><br/>{{Nominated}}-[[Filmfare Award for Best Director]].
|-
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''[[Shankar Hussain]]''
! scope="row" style="text-align:left;"|''[[Shankar Hussain]]''
Line 274: Line 278:
|
|
|
|
|<ref name=cinestaan/><br>Last film
|<ref name=cinestaan/><br/>Last film
|}
|}


==Soundtrack==
==Soundtrack==
1998 Such a Long Journey (writer: "Thare rahiyo")
1998 Such a Long Journey (writer: "Thare Rahiyo")


==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
* 1961: [[Filmfare Best Dialogue Award]]: [[Mughal E Azam]] (1960)<ref name=web/>
* 1961: [[Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue]]: ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]]'' (1960)<ref name=web/>
* 1972: Nominated for [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]] for film [[Pakeezah]] (1972).<ref name="muvyz.com"/>
* 1972: Nominated for [[Filmfare Award for Best Director]] for film ''[[Pakeezah]]'' (1972).


==References==
==References==
Line 301: Line 305:
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:Indian Shia Muslims]]
[[Category:People from Amroha district]]
[[Category:People from Amroha]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]

Revision as of 20:47, 28 June 2022


Kamal Amrohi
File:Kamal Amrohi.jpg
Kamal Amrohi in the 1950s
Born
Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi

17 January 1918 (1918-01-17)[1]
Amroha, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India
Died11 February 1993 (1993-02-12) (aged 75)[2]
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Burial placeRahmatabad cemetery, Mumbai
Other namesKamal Amrohvi, Chandan.
Occupationfilm director and producer, screenwriter, dialogue writer[3]
Spouse(s)Bilkis Bano (died)
Mehmoodi
(
died 1982)
​
(
m. 1952;
sep. 
1964)

Deep Kaur
(
m. before 1993)
Awards1961: Filmfare Best Dialogue Award: Mughal E Azam[4]

Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi (17 January 1918 – 11 February 1993), popularly known as Kamal Amrohi, was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He was also an Urdu and Hindi poet.[5][3]

His Hindi films include Mahal (1949), Pakeezah (1972) and Razia Sultan (1983). He established Kamal Pictures (Mahal Films) in 1953 and Kamalistan Studio in Bombay in 1958.[4]

Early life

Kamal Amrohi was born in Amroha, United Provinces in British India (present-day Uttar Pradesh) and later took on the name Kamal Amrohi (or Amrohvi).[6] He was a first cousin to Pakistani writers Jaun Elia and Rais Amrohvi.[7]

Career

In 1938, he left Amroha to study in Lahore, now part of Pakistan, where singer K. L. Saigal discovered him and took him to Mumbai (Bombay) to work for Sohrab Modi's Minerva Movietone film company, where he started his career working on films like Jailor (1938),[8] Pukar (1939), Bharosa (1940), A. R. Kardar's film (Shahjehan 1946). He made his debut as a director in 1949, with Mahal, starring Madhubala and Ashok Kumar, which was a musical hit, with songs by Lata Mangeshkar and Rajkumari Dubey.[9]

He directed only four films; of these were Mahal (1949) for Bombay Talkies, Daaera (1953) with Meena Kumari and Nasir Khan, Pakeezah, which was conceived in 1958 but was not brought to the screen until 1972. He also wrote the screenplay, lyrics and produced the latter. Film Pakeezah (1972) has been called one of the extraordinary musical melodramas ever made in India, although flawed but noble.[10] Meena Kumari herself, in her public comments to the press, after seeing the movie, said that it was Kamal Amrohi's tribute to her.[8] This was followed by Razia Sultan (1983), his last film. Though, he started a film, Majnoon with Rajesh Khanna and Rakhee Gulzar as leads, however the film got shelved.[11]

Kamal Mahal, Mumbai in 1940

He wrote scripts for the movies made by Sohrab Modi, Abdul Rashid Kardar and K. Asif.[4] He was one of the four dialogue writers for the latter's famous 1960 movie, Mughal-e-Azam, for which he won the Filmfare Award.[4]

As a director, he developed a style that combined a stylised direction with minimalist performances. This style was different from the one with expressive acting that was common in Indian cinema of his period.[citation needed]

In 1958, he started Kamaal Studios for his banner Mahal Films, though it closed down after three years and later changed hands to become Natraj Studios.[citation needed]

It was mentioned that the last movie he wanted to make was called Aakhri Mughal. He had written a substantial portion of the script. But it went into oblivion after his death.[citation needed] Noted film maker J P Dutta was to revive the film in the late 1990s which was supposed to have been Abhishekh Bachchan's debut movie. But later Dutta scrapped the project. He was again planning to revive the film in 2007 after the debacle of his costume drama Umrao Jaan (2006) remake from the cult film from the 1980s.[citation needed]

Personal life

Amrohi married four times: His first wife was Bilkis Bano (who was a maid to Nargis's mother, Jaddan Bai). After her death, he married Sayeda Al-Zehra Mehmoodi, daughter of Jamal Hasan. She died on 9 April 1982.[12] He met Meena Kumari during the filming of Tamasha. Veteran actor Ashok Kumar introduced them.[8] They fell in love and married on 14 February 1952, on Valentine's Day in a much private ceremony. Only Amrohi's friend Baaqar Ali and Meena Kumari's younger sister Madhu were aware of this development.

The couple then made Daera (1953 film), a film based on their love story, however the movie tanked at the box office. During the filming of Azaad in 1954, both of them planned another movie, Pakeezah.[citation needed] The film went on studio floors by 1956, but as the craze of colour films increased, particularly after the release of Mother India (1957), the black & white scenes were re-shot to colour sequences. After the release of Guru Dutt's classic Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959 film) which marked the arrival of Cinemascope technique, the film was again shot, this time in Cinemascope.[citation needed] By the 1960s, Meena Kumari was at the peak of her career which caused tensions between the couple and ultimately led to a mutual separation in March 1964. Film Pakeezah got shelved. In March 1969, the film was revived with an ill Meena Kumari, (due to her alcoholism) in the lead. They lived together for a total of 11 years.[10] Raaj Kumar was roped in, as by that time, Ashok Kumar- the original lead was too old to portray the hero of the film.[13]

Pakeezah was released on 4 February 1972, 14 years after it first began. Unfortunately, it received a lukewarm response from the critics. Although the film received warm reception from the audience, it was Meena Kumari's untimely death on 31 March 1972 which acted as an ultimate push and made it one of the top grossers of that year. The film is now considered as a cult classic and has a status much similar to K. Asif's 1960 magnum opus, Mughal-E-Azam.[13]

Kamal Amrohi got married for the fourth time with his physician. During his last years, he used to regularly visit the hospital for minor ailments. There he met his fourth wife, who was actually his doctor. After the death of Mehmoodi in 1982, Amrohi felt lonely and in order to avoid being a burden on his children, he decided to get married, drawing sharp reactions from the media.[14]

Kamal Amrohi had three children with Mehmoodie: two sons, Shandaar and Taajdaar, both of whom worked with him in Razia Sultan,[15] and a daughter, Rukhsar Amrohi.[16] He had no children with Bilkis Bano, Meena Kumari and his fourth wife. Shandaar died on 21 August 2011 in Goa. He was survived by his wives, Shahida Amrohi and Khursheed Naqvi Amrohi. He was laid to rest in Mumbai the following day. Amrohi's grandsons are Waseem Amrohi and Mashhoor Amrohi, Bilal Amrohi who also are actors.[citation needed]

Kamal Amrohi Studios

Kamal Amrohi Studios (Kamalistan Studios) was established in 1958, spread over 15 acre, it is situated in Jogeshwari East, off Jogeshwari – Vikhroli Link Road in Mumbai. It continues to run, managed by Amrohi's son, Tajdar Amrohi; despite 2010 news reports of it being sold,[17][16] and continued litigation thereafter. Over the years, it has been venues of films like Razia Sultan (1983) Kamal Amrohi's last film as a director, Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) and Kaalia (1981), Khalnayak (1993), Koyla (1997), and recently the first schedule of film, Dabangg 2 was shot there in 2012, apart from the television shows are also shot at the complex.[16][18]

Death and legacy

Amrohi on a 2013 stamp of India

Amrohi died on 11 February 1993 in Mumbai,[6] twenty one years after his wife Meena Kumari's death and ten years after making his last film, Razia Sultan (1983). He was buried next to Meena Kumari in Rehmatabad Qabristan, an Indian-Iranian graveyard in Mumbai.[citation needed]

Kamal Amrohi's only daughter from his second wife, Mehmoodie, Rukhsaar Amrohi gave a newspaper interview describing her version of life-events, which she witnessed, between her father Kamal Amrohi and Meena Kumari.[3]

In February 2022, Music label Saregama and actor Bilal Amrohi (grandson of Kamal Amrohi) announced a web series on the love story of Amrohi and Meena Kumari against the backdrop of making of the film Pakeezah. The series which will be helmed by Yoodlee films is expected to go on floors in 2023.[19]

Filmography

File:Pakeezah shooting, 1958.jpg
The shooting of Pakeezah, 1958
Title Year Credited as/for Notes
Director Producer Story Screenplay Dialogue Lyrics
Jailor 1938 Green tickY
Chhalia Green tickY
Pukar 1939 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Prem Ki Jyot Green tickY
Main Hari 1940 Green tickY Green tickY
Bharosa Green tickY
Pagal Green tickY
Mazaaq 1943 Green tickY
Phool 1945 Green tickY Green tickY
Shahjehan 1946 Green tickY
Romeo & Juliet 1947 Green tickY Green tickY
Mahal 1949 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY [20]
Directorial debut
Saqi 1952 Green tickY
Daaera 1953 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai 1960 Green tickY
Mughal E Azam Green tickY Won-Filmfare Best Dialogue Award[4]
Zindagi aur Khwab 1961 Green tickY
Pakeezah 1972 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Nominated-Filmfare Award for Best Director.
Shankar Hussain 1977 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Majnoon 1979 Green tickY Green tickY Incomplete film
Razia Sultan 1983 Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY [20]
Last film

Soundtrack

1998 Such a Long Journey (writer: "Thare Rahiyo")

Awards and recognition

References

  1. ↑ Adrian Room (26 July 2010). "Kamal Amrohi". Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-4373-4. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Adrian Room (26 July 2010). "Kamal Amrohi". Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-4373-4. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 In the name of the father Dawn (newspaper), Updated 30 March 2014, Retrieved 27 March 2018
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Writer, Poet and Director Profile at webindia123 website, Retrieved 26 March 2018
  5. ↑ Derek Malcolm (5 August 1999). "Kamal Amrohi: Pakeezah". The Guardian (UK newspaper). Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kuldip Singh (17 February 1993). "Obituary: Kamal Amrohi". The Independent (UK newspaper). Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  7. ↑ Manzoor Kureshi (4 April 2014). "In the name of father". DAWN (newspaper). Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 A. A. Khatib (21 November 2009). "Meena Kumari & Kamal Amrohi". cineplot.com website. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  9. ↑ Film Mahal (1949) Review at upperstall.com website Retrieved 26 March 2018
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Baradwaj Rangan (3 December 2013). "An admirer's account of Meena Kumari". The Hindu (newspaper). Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  11. ↑ Sidharth Bhatia (4 May 2013). "Producer Kamal Amrohi was the master of old-world elegance and heartache". livemint.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  12. ↑ "Meena Kumari – Her Resting Place". YouTube. 24 August 2018. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Vinod Mehta (1 August 2013). "Her Story (Meena Kumari)". Outlook (magazine). Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  14. ↑ Mithilesh Sinha (7 November 2011). "Kamal Amrohi – The Last Emperor". Cineplot. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  15. ↑ Kamal Amrohi on IMDb
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Kamalistan sold to 3 builders for Rs 200 cr". The Times of India. 20 October 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "Buildings in place of Kamalistan Studios: buyer from city". 22 October 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Salman Khan takes over Kamalistan". The Times of India. 9 March 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  19. ↑ "Meena Kumari-Kamal Amrohi's intense love story on the backdrop of 'Pakeezah' to be turned into a web series". Economic Times. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Shriram Iyengar (6 June 2016). "Kamal Amrohi, interrupted". cinestaan.com website. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kamal_Amrohi&oldid=322757"
Discover more