Demises in 2016

The popular adage "the show must go on" suits Bollywood perfectly. Every year new people enter the industry as singers or lyricists or actors or directors whilst simultaneously we also face the loss of some dear members of the fraternity. The show may go on but the people gone are never forgotten. BollyCurry remembers those members of Bollywood who we lost this year and shines light on them and their achievements.

 

 

Rajesh Vivek, most notably known for his role in Lagaan (2001), Swades (2004) amongst many others, passed away on 14th of January this year. He had been part of Bollywood for more than two decades and was also nominated for his comic role of astrologer "Guran" in Lagaan by International Indian Film Academy. The alumnus of the National School of Drama was introduced to Bollywood by Shyam Benegal through the movie Junoon (1978) which led him to act in over 70 films in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi movies since late 1970s.

 

 

On 8th of February we lost an immensely talented award winning lyricist, poet and dialogue writer - Nida Fazli. The Padmashri award winner had written 24 books in Urdu, Hindi and Gujarati, along with title songs for serials such as Sailaab, Neem Ke Ped, Jaane Kya Baat Hui, Jyoti and had also penned songs like "Hosh Waalon Ko Khabar Kya" from Sarfarosh (1999) and "Tu Iss Tarah Se Meri Zindagi Mein" from Aap To Aise Na The (1980). He had also won the Star Screen Award for Best Lyricist for Sur (2002) and the Bollywood Movie Award of Best Lyricist for the song "Aa Bhi Ja" from Sur.

  

 

Rajesh Pillai was a well-known director in the Malayalam film industry who recently ventured into Hindi cinema with the remake of his path breaking Malayalam film Traffic (2011). He had five films under his belt as a director in Malayalam. A director with great potential, he breathed his last on 27th February. His debut Bollywood movie released on 6th May to critical acclaim.

 

 

On May 31st, popular trade analyst Vikas Mohan passed away. He was the printer publisher of trade magazine Super Cinema and an eminent member of the film association. He was also the producer of the Madhuri Dixit, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan starrer Arzoo (1999).

 

A day after the Vikas Mohan passed away, Bollywood lost another gem, Razak Khan. Starting his career with a small role in the television show Nukkad (1986-1987), Khan went on to do comic roles in Bollywood. His debut Bollywood movie was Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1993) but is mainly known for his role in Baadshah (1999) as Manikchand and as Ninja Chacha in Hello Brother (1999). He had acted in various movies including Raja Hindustani (1996), Hera Pheri (2000), Phir Hera Pheri (2006), Bhagam Bhag (2006), Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998) and Ishq (1997).

 

 

On 4th June, veteran movie and theatre actress Sulabha Deshpande passed away. Deshpande was one of the few pioneers of experimental theatre movement in the 70s. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the year 1987 for Hindi Marathi theatre acting. She had done many character roles in movies such as Vijeta (1982), Virasat (1997) and English Vinglish (2012). Recently she was seen in TV serials like Jee Ley Zara and Ek Packet Umeed.

 

 

Veteran music director Om Prakash Sonik, also known as Omi of Sonik-Omi duo, passed away on July 7th. Omi was the nephew of blind music director Master Sonik and that uncle-nephew team that provided music to almost 125 Bollywood films. Some of their earlier works include Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya (1966), Aabroo (1968), Mahua (1969), Beti (1969) etc. The duo composed many hits like "Dono Ne Kiya Tha Pyar" from Mahua, "Raaz Ki Baat Keh Doon Toh" from the movie Dharma (1973) and the title track of the movie Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya. Despite Master Sonik's passing away in 1993, Omi continued to compose music with his last work being the movie Biwi No. 2 in 2000.

 

18th July saw us losing one of the popular playback singers of the 50s and 60s, Mubarak Begum. Her career started with light music recitals on Air India Radio after which she entered Bollywood as a playback singer with the song "Mohe Aane Lagi Angrai" from the movie Aiye (1949). Her singing career spanned over 115 films and over 178 songs till the early 1980s. Her most noteworthy songs are "Mujhko Apne Gale Laga Lo" from the movie Hamrahi (1963), "Neend Ud Jaye Teri, Chain Se Sone Waale" from Juari (1968) and "Woh Na Aayegi Palat Ke" from Devdas (1955).

 

 

MD and CEO of Rajshri Media, Rajjat Barjatya passed away on July 30th. He was the cousin of Sooraj Barjatya and was also known as one of the brilliant brains of the industry; he is credited for expanding their family business. Some of the best TV shows were produced by his company and he was the mastermind behind the digital promotions of the movie Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015).

 

 

Tamil Nadu's Amma, Jayalalithaa, who is also known as Iron Lady, breathed her last on 5th December. She was a dancer, actress and a politician. While she had done many movies in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada cinema before switching over to politics, very few people know that she had acted in Bollywood too. Her only work in Bollywood is Izzat (1968) opposite Dharmendra. She went on to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms and is credited for bringing numerous reforms in the state.

 

 

On 16th of December, film writer Mushtaq Sheikh's father, Babu Sheikh, passed away. Babu Sheikh was actually an editor in the film industry and and had won the National Award for Best Editing. He has edited many blockbusters films such as Hare Rama Hare Krishna (1971), Guide (1965) and Tere Mere Sapne (1996).

 

Writer: Kalpana K.C.

Editors: Dhanya S. and Jenifer A.

Graphics: Rifah K.