Bhagwan Dada
Encyclopedia
Bhagwan Dada was an Indian actor and film director. He is best known for his social film Albela
.
In 1942, as part of a scene, he had to slap actress Lalita Pawar
hard. He accidentally slapped her very hard, which resulted in facial paralysis and a burst left eye vein. Three years of treatment later Pawar was left with a defective left eye.
In 1951 he turned producer with Jagriti Pics and Bhagwan Arts Production, owning Jagriti Studios, Chembur. On advice from Raj Kapoor he turned to making a social film called Albela
starring Bhagwan and Geeta Bali
, and featuring music by his friend Chitalkar, or C. Ramchandra
. The songs of the film, in particular "Shola jo bhadke" are still remembered. Albela was a huge hit. After Albela, C Ramchandra and Geeta Bali got together again in Jhamela and La'Bela but they both flopped.
1956 - Lyricists Anand Bakshi got his first break in films when Actor Producer Bhagwan Dada signed him for four songs for Brij Mohan’s film, “Bhala Aadmi”, in 1956, a stunt film. later when Bakshi saw his name in the films credits, he cried in happiness. He was also paid (Rs. 150/- ) for his first 4 songs. His first recorded song was – "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal, Dharti tere Liye Tu Dharti Ke Liye." (Anand Bakshi once again began his struggle when he arrived in Bombay to find work in films the 2nd time – in Oct. 1956,
meeting people, hopping from one studio to another. To make matters worse, his money ran out in three months, "I was at the end of my tether," he grins today, "I didn't know what to do. I thought I should return home. But I was embarrassed. What would my family say?"
Then Bakshi heard that Bhagwan Dada was launching a film, 'BHALA AADMI'. "I went to his office at Dadar", Bakshi flashbacks. "I told him I was a song-writer. Right away he asked me to write four songs. I was paid Rs 150 for those songs. It was a whopping sum those days. Recorded 1st song on 9.11.1956." - Anand Bakshi said in a press print interview.)
After the success of “Jab Jab Phool Khile”, Bhagwan dada met Anand Bakshi in a big film party, and advised him, “Bakshi saheb, Khushi Ki Baat hai, Aap ka naam ho gaya hai. Magar ek baat yaad rakhna, ke yahan film industry mein aadmi ko naam se zyada uss ka kaam zinda rakhta hai.” Bakshi never ever forgot that golden advice. Anand Bakshi went on to write almost 3500 hindi film lyrics for almost 650 hindi films from 1956 to 2008 and beyond.
and Chori Chori
, none were roles of note, and he eventually took on bit parts in which he did his famous dance (made even more famous by Amitabh Bachchan
using it as his default dance step).
Most of Bhagwan's associates left him in his time of need, apart from C. Ramchandra
, Om Prakash
and lyricist Rajinder Krishan, who continued to meet him even in his chawl. Bhagwan died in 2002 at age 89. All his friends died long before him.
Albela (1951 film)
Albela is a 1951 Bollywood musical comedy film directed by and starring Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali.A Hindi classic, it was the third highest grossing film at the Indian Box Office in 1951 and its soundtrack by C. Ramchandra was acclaimed.-Cast:...
.
Early life
Bhagwan Dada was born in 1913 as Bhagwan Abhaji Palav. He was the son of a textile mill worker but was obsessed with films. He worked as a labourer but dreamt of films. He got his break with bit roles in silent films and got totally involved with the studios. He learnt film making and at one stage used to make low budget films (in which he arranged for everything including the design of costumes and arranging meals for the cast) for Rs 65000 (at that time US$ = Rs.5-6 so roughly $10000 to 11000 - that's 1US$ = Rs.50 as per today's conversion).Films
From 1938 to 1949 he directed a string of low budget stunt and action films that were popular with the working classes. He usually played a naive simpleton.In 1942, as part of a scene, he had to slap actress Lalita Pawar
Lalita Pawar
Lalita Pawar was a prolific Indian actress, who later became famous as character actress, appearing in over 700 films in Hindi and Marathi cinema, where she gave hits like, Netaji Palkar , made by Bhalji Pendharkar, New Hana Pictures’ Sant Damaji, Navyug Chitrapat’s Amrit, written by VS Khandekar,...
hard. He accidentally slapped her very hard, which resulted in facial paralysis and a burst left eye vein. Three years of treatment later Pawar was left with a defective left eye.
In 1951 he turned producer with Jagriti Pics and Bhagwan Arts Production, owning Jagriti Studios, Chembur. On advice from Raj Kapoor he turned to making a social film called Albela
Albela (1951 film)
Albela is a 1951 Bollywood musical comedy film directed by and starring Bhagwan Dada and Geeta Bali.A Hindi classic, it was the third highest grossing film at the Indian Box Office in 1951 and its soundtrack by C. Ramchandra was acclaimed.-Cast:...
starring Bhagwan and Geeta Bali
Geeta Bali
Geeta Bali was a popular film actress from Bollywood.-Early life:Bali was born in a Mohyal family in pre-partition Punjab as Harkirtan Kaur, a Sikh. Her family moved to Bombay and were living in near poverty when she started to get breaks in films.-Career:Bali became a star in the 1950s...
, and featuring music by his friend Chitalkar, or C. Ramchandra
C. Ramchandra
Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar was a renowned music composer in the movie industry of India. In the composer's role, he mostly used the name C. Ramachandra, though he also used the names Annasaheb , Ram Chitalkar Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar(Marathi: रामचंद्र नरहर चितळकर /सी.रामचंद्र ) (1918–1982) was...
. The songs of the film, in particular "Shola jo bhadke" are still remembered. Albela was a huge hit. After Albela, C Ramchandra and Geeta Bali got together again in Jhamela and La'Bela but they both flopped.
1956 - Lyricists Anand Bakshi got his first break in films when Actor Producer Bhagwan Dada signed him for four songs for Brij Mohan’s film, “Bhala Aadmi”, in 1956, a stunt film. later when Bakshi saw his name in the films credits, he cried in happiness. He was also paid (Rs. 150/- ) for his first 4 songs. His first recorded song was – "Dharti Ke Laal Na Kar Itna Malaal, Dharti tere Liye Tu Dharti Ke Liye." (Anand Bakshi once again began his struggle when he arrived in Bombay to find work in films the 2nd time – in Oct. 1956,
meeting people, hopping from one studio to another. To make matters worse, his money ran out in three months, "I was at the end of my tether," he grins today, "I didn't know what to do. I thought I should return home. But I was embarrassed. What would my family say?"
Then Bakshi heard that Bhagwan Dada was launching a film, 'BHALA AADMI'. "I went to his office at Dadar", Bakshi flashbacks. "I told him I was a song-writer. Right away he asked me to write four songs. I was paid Rs 150 for those songs. It was a whopping sum those days. Recorded 1st song on 9.11.1956." - Anand Bakshi said in a press print interview.)
After the success of “Jab Jab Phool Khile”, Bhagwan dada met Anand Bakshi in a big film party, and advised him, “Bakshi saheb, Khushi Ki Baat hai, Aap ka naam ho gaya hai. Magar ek baat yaad rakhna, ke yahan film industry mein aadmi ko naam se zyada uss ka kaam zinda rakhta hai.” Bakshi never ever forgot that golden advice. Anand Bakshi went on to write almost 3500 hindi film lyrics for almost 650 hindi films from 1956 to 2008 and beyond.
Poverty and later life
After that Bhagwan did not have any more hits and eventually had to give up producing and directing films, sell his bungalow and cars and move to a chawl. He took whatever roles he could get, but apart from Jhanak Jhanak Payal BajeJhanak Jhanak Payal Baje
Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje is a 1955 Indian film directed by V. Shantaram. It stars Shantaram's wife Sandhya and dancer Gopi Krishna. One of the earlier Technicolor films made in India, the film won the 1956 Filmfare Best Movie Award.-Cast:...
and Chori Chori
Chori Chori
Chori Chori is a 1956 Hindi film directed by Anant Thakur, with music by Shankar Jaikishan and lyrics by Hasrat Jaipuri and Shailendra. The film is inspired by the Hollywood movie, It Happened One Night. The film stars Raj Kapoor and Nargis. Bhagwan Dada, Pran, David, and Johnny Walker have...
, none were roles of note, and he eventually took on bit parts in which he did his famous dance (made even more famous by Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
using it as his default dance step).
Most of Bhagwan's associates left him in his time of need, apart from C. Ramchandra
C. Ramchandra
Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar was a renowned music composer in the movie industry of India. In the composer's role, he mostly used the name C. Ramachandra, though he also used the names Annasaheb , Ram Chitalkar Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar(Marathi: रामचंद्र नरहर चितळकर /सी.रामचंद्र ) (1918–1982) was...
, Om Prakash
Om Prakash
Om Prakash was an Indian character actor. He was born in Jammu as Om Prakash Chibber. He used to play the role of Kamla in the stage play by the famous Dewan Mandir Natak Samaj Koliwada. Starting his career in 1942, he was a popular supporting actor from the 1950s until the 1980s. He was one of...
and lyricist Rajinder Krishan, who continued to meet him even in his chawl. Bhagwan died in 2002 at age 89. All his friends died long before him.