Kundan Shah (19 October 1947 – 7 October 2017), was an Indian film director and writer.
He is known for his comedy classic ''
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
''Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'' () is a 1983 Indian Hindi-language satirical black comedy film directed by Kundan Shah and produced by NFDC. It is a dark satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, and st ...
'' (1983) and his 1986–1987, TV series ''
Nukkad
''Nukkad'' (English: Street Corner) is an Indian Hindi-language television series that aired on DD National in 1986–87. It was directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza; it was written by Prabodh Joshi and Anil Chaudhary.
It starred Dil ...
'' with
Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Saeed Akhtar Mirza (born 30 June 1943) is an Indian screenwriter and director in Hindi films and television. He is the maker of notable parallel films such as ''Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!'' (1984), '' Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai'' (1980), '' ...
.
Biography
Kundan Shah was born in a
Gujarati
Gujarati may refer to:
* something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India
* Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat
* Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them
* Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub ...
family.
Shah studied direction at the
Film and Television Institute of India in
Pune
Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...
and he developed an interest in the
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
genre.
His directorial debut was the comedy film ''
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
''Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'' () is a 1983 Indian Hindi-language satirical black comedy film directed by Kundan Shah and produced by NFDC. It is a dark satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, and st ...
'' (aka Who Pays the Piper) in 1983. He also was the co-writer of the film, with Satish Kaushik. The film introduced
Indian cinema
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, ...
to satirical comedy for the first time and was well accepted as not being
slapstick.
Shah then started to work in television. He was one of the directors of the popular sitcom
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
''Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'' (literal meaning: 'Such is Life') is a sitcom that aired on DD National in 1984. It was written by comedy writer Sharad Joshi and directed by Kundan Shah, S. S. Oberoi and ''Raman Kumar''.
Plot
The episodes revolved aro ...
, which started telecast in August 1984. He became a partner of ''Iskra'', a company founded by
Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Saeed Akhtar Mirza (born 30 June 1943) is an Indian screenwriter and director in Hindi films and television. He is the maker of notable parallel films such as ''Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!'' (1984), '' Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai'' (1980), '' ...
,
Aziz Mirza
Aziz Mirza (born 15 August 1947) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter known for his works in Bollywood and Indian television.
Background
Mirza was born the son of bollywood script-writer Akhtar Mirza. He is a brother of the fi ...
and others. In 1985–1986 he directed the TV series ''
Nukkad
''Nukkad'' (English: Street Corner) is an Indian Hindi-language television series that aired on DD National in 1986–87. It was directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza; it was written by Prabodh Joshi and Anil Chaudhary.
It starred Dil ...
'' (street) along with
Saeed Akhtar Mirza
Saeed Akhtar Mirza (born 30 June 1943) is an Indian screenwriter and director in Hindi films and television. He is the maker of notable parallel films such as ''Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!'' (1984), '' Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai'' (1980), '' ...
. The serial was another folk comedy dealing with the routine life of street youngsters. In 1987 he directed another television serial named "Manoranjan", the comedy serial was based on film industry and became an instant hit. In 1988, he started directing sitcom, ''
Wagle Ki Duniya
''Wagle Ki Duniya'' () is an Indian sitcom that aired on DD National from 1988 to 1990. It was produced by Durga Khote, directed by Kundan Shah, and was based on characters created by noted cartoonist, R. K. Laxman, especially " the common man" ...
'', based on cartoonist,
R. K. Laxman
Rasipuram Krishnaswami Laxman ''Pg. 11 in the source says that Laxman & his brother Narayan were Tamil Iyer Brahmins.'' (24 October 1921 – 26 January 2015) was an Indian cartoonist, illustrator, and humorist. He is best known for his creation ...
's character, the common man, starring
Anjan Srivastav
Aanjjan Srivastav (born 2 June 1948) is an Indian film, television and stage actor, associated with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Mumbai of which he remained Vice-President for several years. Outside theatre, he is best known as ...
.
After directing several serials, Shah took a long break of 7 years from cinema.
Shah made his comeback to cinema in 1993. He directed the famous ''
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
''Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa'' () is a 1994 Hindi-language coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Kundan Shah, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepak Tijori. It also featured Suchitra Krishnamurthy (in her Hindi film debut) and Naseeruddin Shah. P ...
'' and wrote the screenplay for the film. The film was another comic love story but it also displayed new aspects to its credit – it was the first time that the hero in the film was an absolute loser. The film starred
Shahrukh Khan
Shah Rukh Khan (; born 2 November 1965), also known by the initialism SRK, is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works in Hindi films. Referred to in the media as the " Baadshah of Bollywood", "King of Bollywood" ...
in one of his first roles. The film was much acclaimed and both Shah and Khan were appreciated for their work. In 1994, Shah won the
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
The Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film is awarded during annual Filmfare Awards, given by the Filmfare magazine.
The awards are the oldest and most prominent film awards given for Hindi films in India. The yearly awards started in 1954. Mo ...
for the film. He was the first filmmaker to win this award.
In 1998, Shah directed another acclaimed film, ''
Kya Kehna
''Kya Kehna'' ( en, So well said) is a 2000 Indian Hindi romantic drama film. Written by Honey Irani, it was directed by Kundan Shah and released on 19 May 2000 at a budget of . ''Kya Kehna'' dealt with the taboo issue of pre-marital pregnancy ...
''. Due to delay, the film released in 2000 and became the surprise hit of the year. The film dealt with the socially controversial issue of single parenthood and premarital pregnancy.
Preity Zinta
Preity G Zinta (pronounced ; born 31 January 1975) is an Indian actress and entrepreneur primarily known for her work in Hindi films. After graduating with degrees in English honours and criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in '' ...
gave a critically appreciated performance in the lead role of a teenage single-mother who tries to overcome the values of her society. This was to be her debut film but, due to the delay in release, she instead debuted in
Dil Se..., followed by
Soldier
A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, or an officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...
. The film also starred
Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan (; born Sajid Ali Khan Pataudi; 16 August 1970) is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi films. Part of the Pataudi family, he is the son of actress Sharmila Tagore and cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
Khan ...
and
Chandrachur Singh
Chandrachur Singh (born 11 October 1968) is an Indian actor, who mainly works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of a Filmfare Award, in addition to receiving nomination for an IIFA Award and a Screen Award.
Early life and career
Singh att ...
.
Shah's next releases were ''
Hum To Mohabbat Karega
''Hum To Mohabbat Karega'' (transl. ''I Will Love He Always'') is a 2000 Indian Hindi thriller-comedy film. It was the first time Bobby Deol and Karisma Kapoor were paired. This film was inspired by the 1981 American film '' Eyewitness''. The ri ...
'' in 2000, starring
Bobby Deol
Vijay Singh Deol (born 27 January 1967) popularly known as Bobby Deol, is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema and web series. A member of the Deol family, he is the younger son of veteran actor Dharmendra. His accolades include a Filmfar ...
and
Karisma Kapoor
Karisma Kapoor (born 25 June 1974) is an Indian actress, who works in Hindi films. A member of the Kapoor family, she is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards.
Kapoor made her acting d ...
, ''
Dil Hai Tumhaara
''Dil Hai Tumhaara'' (English: ''My Heart Is Yours'') is a 2002 Indian Hindi romantic drama film directed by Kundan Shah starring Rekha, Preity Zinta, Mahima Chaudhry, Arjun Rampal, Jimmy Sheirgill and Alok Nath. The film was promoted as a sta ...
'' in 2002, starring
Rekha
Bhanurekha Ganesan (born 10 October 1954), better known by her stage name Rekha, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Hindi films. Acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema, she has starred in more than 180 fi ...
,
Preity Zinta
Preity G Zinta (pronounced ; born 31 January 1975) is an Indian actress and entrepreneur primarily known for her work in Hindi films. After graduating with degrees in English honours and criminal psychology, Zinta made her acting debut in '' ...
,
Arjun Rampal
Arjun Rampal (born 26 November 1972) is an Indian actor, model, film producer and television personality who works in Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Rajiv Rai's romance film '' Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat'' (2001) and has since gone on t ...
,
Mahima Chaudhry
Mahima Chaudhry is an Indian actress and model who worked in Hindi films. During the 1990s, Chaudhry did a few modelling assignments and appeared in several television commercials before venturing into films. She made her acting debut in the 1997 ...
, and
Jimmy Shergill
Jimmy Sheirgill (born Jasjit Singh Gill; 3 December 1970), also credited as Jimmy Shergill, is an Indian actor and film producer who works in Hindi and Punjabi films.
Sheirgill began his film career with the 1996 thriller '' Maachis''. His bre ...
, and ''
Ek Se Badhkar Ek'' in 2004, starring
Suniel Shetty and
Raveena Tandon
Raveena Tandon (born 26 October 1972) is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. The daughter of director Ravi Tandon, she made her acting debut in the 1991 action film '' Patthar Ke Phool'', which won her the Filmfare Award for New Face ...
. While the second film received generally positive reviews, none of the films fared well at the box office.
Awards
*
National Film Award
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directora ...
–
Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director
The Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, the organization set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of seve ...
– ''
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
''Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'' () is a 1983 Indian Hindi-language satirical black comedy film directed by Kundan Shah and produced by NFDC. It is a dark satire on the rampant corruption in Indian politics, bureaucracy, news media and business, and st ...
''
*
Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics) – ''
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
''Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa'' () is a 1994 Hindi-language coming-of-age romantic comedy film directed by Kundan Shah, starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepak Tijori. It also featured Suchitra Krishnamurthy (in her Hindi film debut) and Naseeruddin Shah. P ...
''
Filmography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Kundan
1947 births
2017 deaths
Film directors from Mumbai
Hindi-language film directors
Filmfare Awards winners
Film and Television Institute of India alumni
Indian television directors
Indian male screenwriters
20th-century Indian film directors
21st-century Indian film directors
Director whose film won the Best Debut Feature Film National Film Award