iconic filmmaker passes away
Mumbai : Legendary Bollywood director Kundan Shah died of a heart attack at his Mumbai residence early on Saturday at the age of 69. The director, who had made many iconic films like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983) and ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ (1993) to name a few.
“It was an honour working with Kundan. He didn’t just make great satirical cinema, but also had a great sense of humour. He had an infectious energy and he imparted that in his actors as well,” says Satish Kaushik, who is Shah’s friend and played a pivotal role in ‘Jaane bhi do yaaron’.
“Oh my friend I miss you. I know you will bring smiles around wherever u are…but this world will laugh less now. RIP,” tweeted Shahrukh Khan. The industry also shared its condolences on social media. Filmmaker Farhan Akhtar was one of the first one to react. “Sadden that Kundan Shah is no more. Will never forget his genuineness, cinematic knowledge and his unique sense of humour,” Farhan posted.
“Brave man Kundan Shah who added vigour to the alternative cinema with movies like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron,” posted Mahesh Bhatt.
Shah had studied at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. He was primarily responsible for introducing the satirical comedy genre in Hindi cinema. ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron’ was his first film as a director and is still considered as one of the classics of Hindi cinema.
The late filmmaker won the national award – Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director, but returned the award during the students’ protest in his alma mater FTII in 2015.
He made his directorial debut in television in 1986 with the popular series “Nukkad”. In 1988, he directed the sitcom, “Wagle Ki Duniya”, based on cartoonist R K Laxman’s character, the Common Man.
The director made his Bollywood comeback in 1993 with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa”. His next film was “Kya Kehna” (2000). Starring Preity Zinta, Saif Ali Khan, the movie became a surprise hit. His last film ‘P se PM Tak’ released in 2014.
