Surendra (actor)

Surendra

Surendra in Dynamite (1938)
Born Surendranath
November 11, 1910[1]
Batala, Gurdaspur District, Punjab, British India
Died 1987 (aged 76–77)
Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Actor
Years active 1936–1986
Spouse(s) Satya Rishi

Surendra (November 11, 1910 - 1987; Surendranath Sharma) was an Indian singer-actor of Hindi films.[2] Known by his mononym, Surendra was educated in Punjab to be a lawyer by profession. He came to Bombay to become a singer on the recommendation of a Delhi distributor and his friends.[3] He was "picked" by Mehboob Khan whom he met at Sagar Movietone, to sing and act in films as an alternative to the then Calcutta-based singer-actor, K. L. Saigal.[4] Surendra started his career with his debut starring role in Deccan Queen (1936) directed by Mehboob Khan.[5] He soon became a part of Sagar Movietone when his song "Birha Ki Aag Lagi More Man Mein" from the film became an "instant hit".[4]

Referred to as "Bombay's Saigal",[4] or "the other Saigal",[6] Surendra formed a popular singer-acting pair with his heroine Bibbo who was one of the 'most important female star of the 1930s and 1940s', following their successful films like Manmohan (1936) and Gramaphone Singer (1938).[6] He worked with acclaimed music directors like Anil Biswas, Khemchand Prakash, Ram Ganguly and Naushad. With composer Naushad, Surendra gave a musical success with the film Anmol Ghadi (1946). Cited as one of the "most popular films of the 1940s" with "evergreen (i.e. classic) hit" songs, it had Surendra singing the famous duet with actress-singer Noor Jehan, "Awaaz De, Kahan Hai" (Call Out To Me, Where Are You?) in rāga Pahādi.[7]

Surendra acted in about 74 films from 1936-1977, nine of which were to be with his mentor Mehboob Khan.[2] Stated to be an "immediate precursor" to Dilip Kumar,[8] Surendra continued to enjoy immense popularity in the 1940s, giving way to character roles with rare singing from the 1950s onwards. His last role as a lead actor was in Ram Bhakt Vibhishan (1958), a devotional film.[6]

Early life

Surendra was born on 11 November 1910, in Batala, Gurdaspur District, Punjab British India. His father's name was Ralia Ram Sharma. While in school, Surendranath, as he was then called, took part in concerts and earned the "reputation" of a singer.[2] Surendra completed his education in 1935, from the Punjab University, in Ambala, which was at that time a part of Punjab. He got his B.A.,LL.B degree and started preparing to work as a lawyer in Punjab.[6] He was "spotted" by the then leading distributor from Delhi, Lala Alopi Prashad who encouraged the young Surendra to join films.[9] On the instigation of his friends who wanted him to try his luck in films as a singer, he left Punjab and came to Bombay, where he met Mehboob Khan.

Surendra's parents were against the idea of his joining films, but on being persuaded they agreed, stipulating that Surendra's name in the credit roll of the films should appear as "Surendra Nath B.A.,LL.B", a condition agreed to by Mehboob Khan.[10]

Career

1930s

Surendra and Bibbo in Dynamite (1938)

Mehboob Khan, who had made a commercially successful film Al Hilal in 1935, is credited for bringing Surendra into films. He offered him the leading role in Deccan Queen (1936), which was produced by Sagar Movietone.[10] Khan also chose the singular name Surendra, which was to stay as his screen name. Deccan Queen with music by Anil Biswas, was a story about a police inspector played by Surendra, who has twin sisters fall in love with him. A song sung by Surendra "Birha Ki Aag Lagi", which according to author Ashok Raj, was a "rehash" of K. L. Saigal's song from Devdas (1935), "Baalam Aaye Baso", became extremely popular.[6] The other notable song from this film was a popular ghazal sung by Surendra "Yaad Na Kar Dil-e-Haseen Bhooli Hui Kahaniyan".[11]

In 1936, Khan wanted to make a film in Bombay, that would rival Calcutta's Devdas. Manmohan (1936), directed by Khan had Surendra once again in the lead. Zia Sarhadi wrote the story, script and dialogues for the film. Though referred to as the "poor man's Devdas"[12] the film went on to become a big hit. The third film in 1936 was Sagar's Grama Kanya, directed by Sarvottam Badami. The film had Surendra starring opposite Sabita Devi and Aruna Devi. The music of the film, composed by the famous bhajan singer Shankarrao Khatu became popular with the public.[13]

In 1938, while working for Gramophone Singer Surendra met with a car accident and had to be hospitalised. The film's shooting was halted for a few days.[14] Gramophone Singer was Ramachandra Thakur's debut directorial venture, which he co-directed with V. C. Desai. The film had music composed by Anil Biswas.It was cited as a "music-dominated" love triangle starring Surendra with Bibbo and Prabha, who played the role of his wife.[15] Following the release of the film, Surendra and Bibbo became a popular pair and worked together in several films together. Surendra's song "Ek Chhota Sa Mandir Banaya Hua Hai" went on to become popular.[16]

1940s

Surendra and Suraiya in 1857 (1946)

In 1940, Mehboob Khan produced Aurat under the banner of his National Studios. Mehboob was to later remake Aurat as Mother India in 1957. In Aurat, he cast Surendra as the older brother, a role to be played by Rajendra Kumar in Mother India. Yakub was cast as the younger brother Birju, with Sardar Akhtar playing the mother's role. The song "Utth Sajni Khol Kiware, Tere Sajan Aye Duware" sung by Surendra and Jyoti went on to become a "big hit",[17] with Baburao Patel, editor of the cine-magazine Filmindia claiming that "Surendra had never sung better" in the June 1940 issue.[18]

Ali Baba (1940) had Surendra starring in the title role,[19] with Sardar Akhtar and Waheedan Bai. The film was a bilingual, made both in Hindi and Punjabi, with Surendra playing the double role of Alibaba and his son.[20] The popular song from this film was "Hum Aur Tum Aur Ye Khushi Ye Kehkahe Ye Dillagi" sung by Surendra and Waheedan.[21]

In 1940, it was reported by Baburao Patel editor of Filmindia in the June 1940 issue that Surendra had fallen off a horse while riding at the Bombay Turf Club lawns. He was hospitalised for several months. Rumours surfaced at that time that Surendra had retired from acting.[22] However, quashing the report in the news, Surendra returned after almost ten months to complete his films. He was left with a limp that remained for the rest of his life.[16]

Following a hiatus of two years he went on to act in Jawani (1942) directed by Wajahat Mirza. In 1943, he acted in Paigham directed by music director Gyan Dutt, Vish Kanya by Kidar Sharma and Vishwas by Homi Wadia.

In 1944, Surendra acted in three films, Lal Haveli, Bhatruhari and Miss Devi. The first two were successful films of 1944. Lal Haveli starred him opposite the then reigning singer-actress Noor Jehan. Directed by K. B. Lall, it had music by Mir Sahib with the duet "Dil Le Ke Mukar Na Jaana, Nazuk Hai Bahut Zamana" sung by Noor Jehan and Surendra and two solos songs by Surendra, "Yehi Fiqar Hai Shyam Pichale Savere" and "Kyun Man Dhoondhe Prem Nadi Ka Kinara" becoming successful. Bhatruhari also called Raja Bhatruhari directed by Chaturbhuj Doshi, had music composed by Khemchand Prakash. The popular songs were "Bhanwara Madhuban Mein Ja", Prem Bina Sab Soona", Bhiksha De De Maa" and "Allah Naam Ras Pina Prani".[6]

1946 had Surendra and Noor Jehan starring again with a third singer-actor Suraiya, in what was to be the highest grossing film of that year, Anmol Ghadi. Directed by Mehboob Khan for his Mehboob Productions, it had music composed by Naushad. According to journalist and author Rauf Ahmed in his book Mehboob Khan, Mehboob had initially decided not to cast Surendra as the male lead in Anmol Ghadi due to a misunderstanding created by the head of Ranjit Studios, Chandulal Shah.[23] The role was written with Surendra in mind, and in an interview with journalist-author Bunny Reuben, for his book Mehboob, India's Demille: The First Biography Surendra stated that a frustrated Mehboob, unable to find the right man to enact the role told Faredoon Irani, his cinematographer, "it's really Surendra who should be doing this role".[24] Faredoon Irani asked Mehboob to pick up the phone and patch-up with Surendra, which he did. Surendra's "pathos-ridden" "Kyun Yaad Aa Rahein Hain" has "stood the test of time".[10] Surendra's other solo "Ab Kaun Hai Mera", and a duet with Noor Jehan "Awaaz De Kahan Hai" also became "big hits", with the music composition cited as Naushad's "crowning glory" of the 1940s.[25] Two other films of 1946 were Mohan Sinha's 1857 opposite Suraiya, and Panihari directed by V. M. Gunjal.

Elaan made in 1947, was a Mehboob Khan Productions, directed by Mehboob Khan. The film, a Muslim social, followed the fortunes of two step-brothers, one "evil" called Sajjad played by Himalayawala, the other good, called Javed acted by Surendra, who is mistreated by Sajjad and his mother played by Zebunissa. Both brothers are in love with the same girl, Munawwar Sultana. Claimed to be a "stylised Muslim social" it had music by Naushad.[26] Elan was in trouble with the censors and banned for a time. When the censors cleared the film for viewing it was "rejected" by audiences and did not fare well at the box-office though Surendra's acting was acclaimed as the "simple-hearted" stepbrother.[27] Suendra went on to act in a couple of films directed by Mohan Sinha, Mere Bhagwan and Chittor Vijay, which turned out to unsuccessful commercially. A third film made by Sinha in 1949 Imtihan also flopped. According to Surendra, in an interview with Krishna, he stated the films were "very badly made and released without any build-up" and "very poor in content". The films faring poorly brought his acting career in a lead role to a near halt.[16]

In 1948, Mehboob Khan cast Surendra in Anokhi Ada, with Naseem Banu and Prem Adib. Anokhi Ada was unsuccessful in creating the same "magic" as Anmol Ghadi and has been cited as "at best a modest grosser" at the box-office.[27] His duet with Shamshad Begum "Kyun Unhen Dil Diya" was appreciated. Anokhi Ada was also the last film Mehboob and Surendra worked in together.

1950s-1980s

In 1950, Surendra was part of an ensemble cast in Hindustan Hamara, a fictional story that used "extensive documentary footage".[28] Produced by the Documentary Unit of India, it was directed by Paul Zils. The film also featured Prithviraj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Durga Khote and P. Jairaj.[29]

1n 1952, while going through a rough patch as far as film roles were concerned, he was offered to enact Tansen in Vijay Bhatt's film Baiju Bawra. The film starring Meena Kumari and Bharat Bhushan in the lead roles, went on to become a big success commercially, with its music composed by Naushad becoming popular. One of the highlights of the film was the music-singing competition between the court musician Tansen and the folk popular Baiju.[30] However, instead of singing for himself in the film, Surendra had to lip-sync to Ustad Amir Khan for the song "Ghanana Ghanana Kar Barso Re" in raga Malhar, While the song sequence between Tansen and Baiju played by Bharat Bhushan had Ustad Amir Khan and D. V. Paluskar providing playback singing for them.[31]

In 1954, Surendra's version of the song from Gawaiya "Teri Yaad Ka Deepak Jalta Hai Din Raat" was claimed to be a "super-hit".[6] The roles were less, and Surendra switched to playing character roles. Some of his films in the period from late 1950s to 1970s included Rani Roopmati (1957), Mughal-E-Azam (1960) where he again played Tansen, Hariyali Aur Raasta" (1962), Geet Gaaya Pattharone (1964), Waqt (1965), Boond Jo Ban Gayee Moti, Milan (1967), Saraswatichandra (1968).[6]

Surendra, started making ad films and Television commercials for "big brands" like Colgate and Liril several years before his death.[32]

Personal life and family

Surendra was married to Satya Rishi, in Lahore on 3 March 1945. Satya Rishi was the sister of author Tilak Rishi.[32] Surendra and Satya had four children, two daughters and two sons, Sunita, Jeetendranath, Kailash and Rohini. Surendra had started an ad film company Surendra Film Productions making commercials. The name was changed to J K Advertisers and then FAR Productions, later run by his sons Jeetendra and Kailash. His son Jeetendra Surendranath and daughter Rohini Pinto manage the Indian Advertising Company FAR Commercials.[33] His younger son Kailash Surendranath is an ad and feature film-maker and founder of Kailash Picture Company. He is married to actress Aarti Gupta.[34]

Surendra died in 1987 at the age of 78 years, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.[35]

Filmography

List of films:[2]

Year Film Director Composer Studio
1936Deccan Queen Mehboob Khan Pransukh Nayak, Ashok Ghosh Sagar Movietone
1936Manmohan Mehboob Khan Ashok Ghosh Sagar Movietone
1936Grama Kanya Sarvottam Badami Shankarrao Khatu Sagar Movietone
1937Qazzak Ki Ladki K. Sardar Ishrat Sultana Rainbow Films
1937Jagirdar Mehboob Khan Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1937Kal Ki Baat Rama S. Choudhary Mir Sahib Saroj Movies
1937Mahageet a.k.a. Eternal Music Hiren Bose Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1938Dynamite C. M. Luhar Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1938Gramophone Singer V. C. Desai, Ramchandra Thakur Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1939Jeevan Saathi a.k.a. Comrades Nandlal Jaswantlal Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1939Ladies Only Sarvottam Badami Anupam Ghatak Sagar Movietone
1939Service Ltd. a.k.a. Seva Samaj C. M. Luhar Anupam Ghatak Sagar Movietone
1940Aurat Mehboob Khan Anil Biswas National Studios
1940Alibaba Mehboob Khan Anil Biswas Sagar Movietone
1942Garib Ramchandra Thakur Ashok Ghose National Studios
1942Jawani Wajahat Mirza Anil Biswas National Studios
1943Paigham Gyan Dutt Gyan Dutt Amar Pictures
1943Vish Kanya Kidar Sharma Khemchand Prakash Ranjit Studios
1943Vishwas Homi Wadia Feroz Nizami, Chhelalal Wadia Movietone
1944Lal Haveli K. B. Lall Mir Sahib Bombay Cinetone
1944Miss Devi C. M. Trivedi Ashok Ghosh Laxmi Productions
1944Bhatruhari Chaturbhuj Doshi Khemchand Prakash Navin Pictures
1945Ratnavali Surendra Desai Gobindram Amar Pictures
1945Parinde P. K. Atre Gobindram Atre Pictures
1945AartiRamchandra Thakur Ashok Ghosh, Ali Bux Screen Attractions Corp.
1945Chand Chakori Kidar Sharma Bulo C. Rani Ranjit Studios
1946Anmol Ghadi Mehboob Khan Naushad Mehboob Productions
19461857 Mohan Sinha Sajjad Hussain Murari Pictures
1946Panihari V. M. Gunjal Ali Hussain, S. N. Tripathi Asiatic Pictures
1947Elaan Mehboob Khan Naushad Mehboob Productions
1947Manjhdhar Sohrab Modi Ghulam Haider, Gyan Dutt Minerva Movietone
1948Anokhi Ada Mehboob Khan Naushad Mehboob Productions
1948Dukhiyari D. K. Ratan Gyan Dutt Jeevan Jyot Kalamandir
1949Imtihan Mohan Sinha S. Pathak Veena Pictures
1949Kamal Surya Kumar S. D. Burman Hind Kamal Pictures
1950Hindustan Hamara Paul Zils Vasant Desai Documentary Unit of India
1951Maya Machhindra Aspi Premnath (composer) Super Pictures
1952Baiju Bawra Vijay Bhatt Naushad Prakash Pictures
1953Gharbaar Dinkar Patil Vasant Prabhu K. Pictures
1954Gawaiya H. P. Sharma Ram Ganguly R. B. Productions
1954Mahatma Kabir Gajanan Jagirdar Anil Biswas N. P. Films
1959Dil Deke Dekho Nasir Hussain Usha Khanna Filmalaya
1962Hariyali Aur Rasta Vijay Bhatt Shankar Jaikishan Prakash Pictures
1964Geet Gaaya Paththarone V. Shantaram Ramlal V. Shantaram Productions
1965Johar-Mehmood in Goa I. S. Johar Kalyanji Anandji Johar Films
1965Waqt Yash Chopra Ravi B. R. Films
1967Evening In Paris Shakti Samanta Shankar Jaikishan Shakti Films
1967Sangdil Dharam Kumar G. S. Kohli Alamdeep Productions
1967Milan Adurthi Subba Rao Laxmikant-Pyarelal Rajashree Pictures, Prasad Productions
1968Boond Jo Ban Gayee Moti V. Shantaram Satish Bhatia Rajkamal Kalamandir (Shantaram Productions)
1968Saraswatichandra Govind Saraiyya Kalyanji-Anandji Sarvodaya Pictures
1973Daag Yash Chopra Laxmikant-Pyarelal Yash Raj Films, Trimurti Films
197436 Ghante Raj Tilak Sapan-Jagmohan Raj Tilak
1974Bazaar Band Karo B. R. Ishara Bappi Lahiri B. R. Ishara
1975Angaarey Govind Saraiya Chitragupta Apollo Arts
1976Kabeela Bholu Khosla Kalyanji Anandji Bholu Khosla
1977Abhi To Jee Lein Roshan Taneja Sapan-Jagmohan Embee Combines

References

  1. ↑ http://www.downmelodylane.com/surendra.html
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Surendra". singeractorsurendra.com. FAR Commercials. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  3. ↑ Om Parkash Varma (1963). 333 Great Indians, who is who & who was Who, from the Remotest Past to the Nearest Present: Philosophers, Politicians, Diplomats. Varma Bros. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Tilak Rishi (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford Publishing. pp. 126–. ISBN 978-1-4669-3963-9. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). "Deccan Queen". Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 87–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Jayson Beaster-Jones (8 September 2014). "Awaz De Kahan Hai". Bollywood Sounds: The Cosmopolitan Mediations of Hindi Film Song. Oxford University Press. pp. 238–. ISBN 978-0-19-999347-5. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Vijay Mishra (21 August 2013). Bollywood Cinema: Temples of Desire. Routledge. pp. 13–. ISBN 1-135-31092-0. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  9. ↑ 333 Great Indians, who is who & who was Who, from the Remotest Past to the Nearest Present: Philosophers, Politicians, Diplomats.
  10. 1 2 3 RaufAhmed, p. 29
  11. ↑ Dutta, V. S. "Death Anniversary Tribute- Surendra". activeindiatv.com. Active India. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Devdas Forever". Outlook Magazine. 5 Aug 2002. Retrieved 8 Sep 2014.
  13. ↑ Ashok Damodar Ranade (1 January 2006). Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries. Bibliophile South Asia. pp. 342–. ISBN 978-81-85002-64-4. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  14. ↑ Patel, Baburao (February 1938). "Studio Close-Ups". Filmindia. 3 (9): 38. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  15. ↑ RajadhyakshaWillemen2014, ch. Gramaphone Singer
  16. 1 2 3 "Interview-Surendra". cinegems.in. Cinegems.in. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  17. ↑ Dutta, V. S. "India Homage to Surendra". activeindiatv.com. Active India. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  18. ↑ Patel, Baburao (June 1940). "Aurat Review". Filmindia. 6 (6): 37. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  19. ↑ Raj2009, p. 86
  20. ↑ Sanjit Narwekar (1994). Directory of Indian film-makers and films. Flicks Books. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  21. ↑ Datta, V. S. "Surendra's evergreen songs are a treat to remember". activeindiatv.com. Active India. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  22. ↑ Patel, Baburao (June 1940). "Pictures In The Making". Filmindia. 6 (6): 59. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  23. ↑ RaufAhmed, p. 58
  24. ↑ Bunny Reuben (1994). Mehboob, India's DeMille: The First Biography. Indus. p. 128. ISBN 978-81-7223-153-8. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  25. ↑ Raheja, Dinesh. "Turning the clock back to Anmol Ghadi". rediff.com. Rediff.com. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  26. ↑ RajadhyakshaWillemen2014, ch. Elaan{
  27. 1 2 Mehboob Khan.
  28. ↑ Kavita Daiya (4 February 2011). Violent Belongings: Partition, Gender, and National Culture in Postcolonial India. Temple University Press. pp. 88–. ISBN 978-1-59213-744-2. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  29. ↑ "Hamara Hindustan". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  30. ↑ Rachel Dwyer (1 December 2005). 100 Bollywood Films. Roli Books Pvt. Ltd. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-81-7436-990-1. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  31. ↑ K. Moti Gokulsing; Wimal Dissanayake (17 April 2013). Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. Routledge. pp. 260–. ISBN 978-1-136-77284-9. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  32. 1 2 "Surendra". tilakrishi.blogspot.in. Tilak Rishi. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  33. ↑ "FAR Commercials". resources.afaqs.com. afaqs!. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  34. ↑ "Kailash Picture Company". kailashpictureco.com. Kailash Picture Co. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  35. ↑ "Death Anniversary Tribute". activeindiatv.com. activeindiatv.com. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
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