Kidar Nath Sharma, also Kedar Sharma (12 April 1910 – 29 April 1999), was an

Indian film The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...

director, producer, screenwriter, and Lyricist of

Hindi films Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

.Neel Kamal'' (1947), ''

Bawre Nain ''Bawre Nain'' ("Impassioned Eyes") is a 1950 Indian Hindi-language romance film directed by Kidar Nath Sharma. It was produced under the Ambitious Pictures banner at Shree Sound Studios. For the music, Sharma persisted with music director Rosh ...

'' (1950) and '' Jogan'' (1950). He is most remembered for starting the acting careers of popular

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

actors like

Madhubala Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress and producer who worked in Hindi-language films. She ranked as one of the highest-paid entertainers in India in the post-independence era, ...

Geeta Bali Geeta Bali (born Harkirtan Kaur; 1930 ‒ 21 January 1965) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi language films. She was the wife of noted film actor Shammi Kapoor. Early life Geeta Bali was born as Harikirtan Kaur in Amritsar in the Pu ...

Raj Kapoor Raj Kapoor (pronunciation: �aːd͡ʒ kəpuːɾ born Shrishti Nath Kapoor; also known as Ranbir Raj Kapoor; 14 December 1924 2 June 1988) was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered one of th ...

Mala Sinha Alda Sinha (born 11 November 1936), better known by her stage name Mala Sinha is a former Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become a top leading ...

Bharat Bhushan ''Bharatbhushan Bhalla'' better known as ''Bharat Bhushan'' (14 June 1920 – 27 January 1992) was an Indian actor in Hindi language films, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the sam ...

and

Tanuja Tanuja Samarth, known mononymously as Tanuja, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in the Hindi film industry. Part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of actress Shobhna Samarth and producer Kumarsen Samarth, and was ...

Early life and education

Kidar Sharma was born in a

Punjabi brahmin The Saraswat Brahmins are Hindu Brahmins, who are spread over widely separated regions spanning from Kashmir in North India to Konkan in West India to Kanara (coastal region of Karnataka) and Kerala in South India. The word ''Saraswat'' is deriv ...

family

Narowal Narowal ( ur, ) is a city located on the western bank of river Ravi in the northeast of the province Punjab, Pakistan. The city is the capital of district Narowal, and a part of the Gujranwala division. It is the 94th largest city of Pakistan. ...

in what was then the

Punjab region Punjab (; Punjabi Language, Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also Romanization, romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the I ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

and grew up in a life of poverty. Two brothers, Ragunath and Vishwa had died as infants and his sister, Taro, died of

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...

at an early age. A younger sister Guro survived as did a younger brother, Himmat Rai Sharma, who would later work with Kidar on films before establishing himself as a successful

Urdu Urdu (;"Urdu"
''

Amritsar Amritsar (), historically also known as Rāmdāspur and colloquially as ''Ambarsar'', is the second largest city in the Indian state of Punjab, after Ludhiana. It is a major cultural, transportation and economic centre, located in the Majha r ...

where he became interested in philosophy, poetry, painting and photography. Upon completion of high school, he ran away from home to pursue a career in cinema in

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

but was unsuccessful in gaining employment. He returned to

and attended the Hindu Sabha College where he founded a College Dramatic Society which would later give him his first break in film.

Career

The head of a local

Temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting temperance or complete abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emph ...

would attend one of Kidar's plays and hired him to produce a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

depicting the evils of alcohol. Using the money he earned from this project he would receive his master's degree in English at

Khalsa College, Amritsar Khalsa College ( pa, ਖਾਲਸਾ ਕਾਲਜ ''khālsā kālaj'') is a historic educational institution in the northern Indian city of Amritsar in the state of Punjab, India. Founded in 1892, the sprawling campus is located about eight ...

before joining a local theatre group that earned him limited acting success in 1931. He was married in 1932 and painted to earn income. Upon seeing an early

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

film ''Puran Bhagat'' (1933) by film director

Debaki Bose Debaki Bose (1898–1971), also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was an Indian director, writer, and actor who is recognized for his contribution in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalposh, (now East Burdwan), Bu ...

, he left for

Calcutta Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , List of renamed places in India#West Bengal, the official name until 2001) is the Capital city, capital of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of West Bengal, on the eastern ba ...

hoping to get his big break at New Theatres Studios, where Debaki Bose worked. After many months of unemployment he managed to meet a then-unknown actor of

New Theatres New Theatres is an Indian film studio. It was formed in Calcutta by producer B. N. Sircar (Birendranath Sircar, the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award of 1970). It was formed on 10 February 1931. Motto of this company was– ''Jivatang Jyotire ...

Prithviraj Kapoor Prithviraj Kapoor (born Prithvinath Kapoor; 3 November 1906 – 29 May 1972) was an Indian actor who is also considered to be one of the founding figures of Hindi cinema. He was associated with IPTA as one of its founding members and establish ...

(where he would meet Prithviraj's eight-year-old son for the first time,

). Prithviraj Kapoor introduced Kidar to his neighbour, then-unknown

Kundan Lal Saigal Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who is considered the first superstar of the Hindi film industry, which was centred in Kolkata during Saigal's time, but is ...

, who through an acquaintance allowed Kidar to meet Debaki Bose. Debaki Bose hired Kidar initially to become the

Movie stills photographer A unit still photographer, or simply a still photographer, is a person who creates film stills, still photographic images specifically intended for use in the marketing and publicity of feature films in the motion picture industry and network tele ...

for the film ''Seeta'' (1934) but would give Kidar his first part in the creation of film with that of a backdrop screen painter and a poster painter for the film ''Inquilab'' (1935) where Kidar also had a

bit part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British television, ...

.IMDB Inquilab Movie Details
/ref> Kidar would continue to work with New Theatres on films such as ''Dhoop Chhaon'' (1935) and ''Pujarin'' (1936) but a big break would come when Kidar was asked to write the dialogue and lyrics for the 1936 adaptation of ''

Devdas ''Devdas'' ( bn, দেবদাস, transliterated as ''Debdās'') is a Bengali romance novel written by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The story pivots a tragic triangle linking Devdas, an archetypal lover in viraha (separation); Paro, his forbidden ...

'' starring his friend

. ''Devdas'' was not only a hit, but songs from the film such as ''Balam Aaye Baso Moray Man Mein'' and ''Dukh Ke Ab Din Beetat Naahi'' became feverishly popular throughout the country, giving Kidar Sharma acclaim by the press and public. Kidar would later say, "Both

Bimal Roy Bimal Roy (12 July 1909 – 8 January 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as ''Do Bigha Zamin'', ''Parineeta (1953 film), Parineeta'', ''Biraj Bahu'', ''Devdas (1955 film), D ...

and I got our first big break in ''Devdas''. He as the cameraman and I as the writer." Kidar's big directing break came in 1940 when asked to complete the film ''Tumhair Jeet''. Upon its completion he was given the opportunity to direct his own screenplay for ''Aulad / Dil Hi to Hai'', which met with some success. He was then asked to direct '' Chitralekha'' (1941) which became a smash hit and gave Kidar credibility as a director. He would go on to begin producing his own movies, casting

and

in their first film '' Neel Kamal''. He would also cast

in her first movie, '' Sohag Raat'' (1948) and later he would team her with

for the film ''Bawre Nain'' (1950). That same year he directed ''Jogan'' starring

Nargis Nargis Dutt (born Fatima Rashid; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981) was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she made her screen debut in a minor role ...

and

Dilip Kumar Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from lat ...

. In the late 1950s

Jawaharlal Nehru Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (; ; ; 14 November 1889 – 27 May 1964) was an Indian anti-colonial nationalist, secular humanist, social democrat— * * * * and author who was a central figure in India during the middle of the 20t ...

who had heard Sharma's lyrics, summoned him and asked him to become director-in-chief of the

Children's Film Society Children's Film Society India (CFSI) was a nodal organization of Government of India that produced children's films and various TV programs in various Indian languages. Established in 1955, CFSI functioned under the Ministry of Information and ...

. Kidar Sharma would work on many movies for the Children's Film Society, including the film ''Jaldeep'' which would go on to receive international acclaim.Children's Film Society of India, Film: Jaldeep

Children's Film Society of India Children's Film Society India (CFSI) was a nodal organization of Government of India that produced children's films and various TV programs in various Indian languages. Established in 1955, CFSI functioned under the Ministry of Information and ...

In 1958, he would work for one year directing movies in Singapore for

Shaw Brothers Studio Shaw Brothers (HK) Ltd. () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, and operated from 1925 to 2011. In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shangh ...

. An outstanding poet, Sharma wrote some of the most memorable songs including ''Balam aayo baso more man mein'', ''Dukh kay ab din beetat nahi'', ''Khayalon Mein Kisike'' (Bawre Nain), ''Kabhi Tanhaiyon Mein Bhi'' (''

Hamari Yaad Aayegi ''Hamari Yaad Aayegi'' (You Will Remember Me) is a 1961 Hindi romantic drama film, written and directed by Kidar Sharma. Produced under the banner of Show People, the director of photography was D. C. Mehta. The music was composed by Snehal Bhat ...

'') and ''Teri duniya mein dil lagta nahi''.Kidar Sharma Biograpjhy
Radio City. Kidar would continue to contribute as a lyricist and to write and direct films through the 1990s. Ironically, many Indian film critics and historians argued that he deserved the highest cinema award from the government of India but he died a day before he was to receive the Raj Kapoor Award, named in honour of the actor he helped make a success. His autobiography, ''The One and Lonely Kidar Sharma'' was published posthumously in 2002, edited by his son Vikram Sharma.

Awards and nominations

International honours and recognitions

* Part of the Indian Delegation in 1945 which travelled to England and Hollywood and met with

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is consider ...

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

and

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

* Best Children's Film, International Film Festival at Venice 1957 for ''Jaldeep''

National honours and recognitions

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian Missionary, missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim ...

National Film Award for Best Children's Film The National Film Award for Best Children's Film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several awards ...

: ''Jaldeep'' * Indian Film Directors' Association Lifetime Achievement Award * Gold Award from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982 for contribution to Indian Cinema *

Government of Maharashtra The Government of Maharashtra is the state governing authority for the state of Maharashtra, India. It is a democratically elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the Vidhan Sabha for a five-year term. Maharashtra has a Maharashtra Legisla ...

's Raj Kapoor Award (awarded in 1999 after his deat

Filmography

* ''Inquilab'' (1935), Set Painter, actor * '' Dhoop Chhaon (1935 film), Dhoop Chhaon'' (1935), actor, Assistant Manager * '' Pujarin'' (1936), actor * ''

Karodpati ''Karodpati'' (also called ''Millionaire'') is a Hindi 1936 comedy film directed by Hemchander Chunder. The film was produced by New Theatres Ltd. Calcutta, and the music was composed by R. C. Boral with the assistance of Pankaj Mullick. The ly ...

'' a.k.a. ''Millionaire'' (1936), actor, lyrics * ''

'' (1936), Dialogue and lyrics * ''

Vidyapati Vidyapati ( – 1460), also known by the sobriquet ''Maithil Kavi Kokil'' (the poet cuckoo of Maithili), was a Maithili and Sanskrit polymath-poet-saint, playwright, composer, biographer, philosopher, law-theorist, writer, courtier ...

'' (1937), actor * ''Anath Ashram'' (1937), writer * ''Jawani Ki Reet'' (1939), Dialogue * ''Badi Didi'' (1939), writer, actor * ''Tumhai Jeet'' (1939), lyricist (film directed by Ranjit Sen). * ''Dil Hi Toh Hai'' (1939) Director, lyricist * '' Zindagi'' (1940), Writer * ''Aulad'' (1940), director * '' Chitralekha'' (1941), director * '' Armaan'' (1942), director * ''Gauri'' (1942), director * ''

Mumtaz Mahal Mumtaz Mahal (/'/; ), born Arjumand Banu Begum (27 April 1593 – 17 June 1631) was the empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 19 January 1628 to 17 June 1631 as the chief consort of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Taj Mahal in Agra, oft ...

'' (1944), director * ''Dhanna Bhagat'' (1945), director * '' Chand Chakori'' (1945), director * '' Duniya Ek Sarai'' (1946), director * '' Neel Kamal'' (1947), writer, director, producer * '' Sohag Raat'' (1948), director * '' Neki Aur Badi'' (1949), director, actor * ''Thes'' (1949), director * ''

'' (1950), writer, director, producer * '' Jogan'' (1950), director * ''Gunah'' (1953), director * ''Chora-Chori'' (1954), director * ''Rangeen Raaten'' (1956), producer, director, lyricist * ''

'' (1961), director, lyricist * ''Fariyad'' (1964), director * '' Chitralekha'' (1964), director, writer * ''

Kaajal ''Kaajal'' () is a 1965 Bollywood film produced by Pannalal Maheshwari and directed by Ram Maheshwari. The film stars Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar, Dharmendra, Padmini, Mumtaz, Mehmood, Durga Khote, Helen. The film's music is by Ravi. The film is a ...

'' (1965), writer * ''Pehla Kadam'' (1981), Director He's Filmography list is incomplete need to done more work.

Children's Film Society of India Contributions

* ''Jaldeep (Light House)'' (1956), writer, director * ''Ganga Ki Lahren'' (1957), writer, director * ''Bachchon Se Bate (Talking To Children)'' (1957), writer, director * ''Haria'' (1958), writer * ''Gulab Ka Phool (The Rose Among Flowers)'' (1958), writer, director * ''26 January (India's Republic Day)'' (1959), writer, director * ''Ekta (In Unison)'' (1959), writer, director * ''Guru Bhakti (Devotion)'' (1959), writer * ''Panchtantra Ki Ek Kahani (A Story From The Panchantra)'' (1959), writer * ''Yatra (Journey)'' (1959), writer * ''Dilli Ki Kahani (The Story of Delhi City)'' (1960), writer * ''Chetak'' (1960), writer, director * ''Meera Ka Chitra (Portrait of Meera)'' (1960), writer, director * ''Nyaya ( Justice)'' (1960), Camera * ''Mahateerth (Great Pilgrimage)'' (1961), writer, director * ''Khuda Hafiz (Goodbye)'' (1983), writer, director, lyricist

Bibliography

* ''The One and Lonely Kidar Sharma (an anecdotal autobiography)'', ed. Vikram Sharma. Bluejay Books, 2002. .

References

External links

*
The genius of film-making named: Kidar Sharma
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Kidar Bengali film directors 1910 births 1999 deaths Hindi-language film directors Indian male screenwriters Indian lyricists Bengali film producers People from Narowal District Guru Nanak Dev University alumni Indian movie stills photographers 20th-century Indian film directors Film directors from Mumbai Film producers from Mumbai Hindi film producers Directors who won the Best Children's Film National Film Award 20th-century Indian screenwriters 20th-century Indian male writers