Kundan Shah. Video grab
Kundan Shah. Video grab
Filmmaker Kundan Shah, who directed the all-time iconic classic black comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and romantic coming-of-age comedy Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa passed away in Mumbai on Saturday.
He was 69.
He died of a heart attack.
He has also directed hugely popular TV serial Nukkad with Saeed Akhtar Mirza and directed the famous Wagle ki Duniya, popular comedy sitcom, which was based on characters created by late cartoonist RK Laxman including his famous Common Man. He also directed episodes of TV series Ye Jo Hai Zindagi.
Born on 19 October, 1947, Shah is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.
Shah, who was a strong votary of freedom of expression and speech, would always be remembered for Jaane Bhi De Yaaro, a satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, and stars an ensemble cast including Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Bhakti Barve and Neena Gupta. The film was released in 1983 and the next year he received he won the 1984 Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director for his work.
In 1993, he directed and wrote screenplay of the the hit Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa starring Shah Rukh Khan and Suchitra Krishnamurty.
In 1998, Shah directed another acclaimed film, Kya Kehna starring Preity Zinta.
"Anguished by the passing away of Shri Kundan Shah. He will be remembered for his wonderful usage of humour and satire to showcase the life & struggles of common citizens. My thoughts are with his family & admirers. May his soul rest in peace," prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted in his condolence message.
Shah's next releases were Hum To Mohabbat Karega (2000) starring Bobby Deol and Karisma Kapoor, Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002) with Rekha and Zinta, and Ek Se Badhkar Ek (2004).