Gajanan Jagirdar (2 April 1907 – 13 August 1988) was a veteran
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
n film director, screenwriter and actor. He worked in
Hindi Cinema
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
, also called
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
, as well as
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema is the segment of Cinema of India, Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Marathi language, which is widely spoken in the state of Maharashtra. It is based out of Mumbai. It is the oldest film ind ...
. The period of 1942 to 1947, saw his rise as a film director with
Prabhat Films
Prabhat Film Company (popularly known as Prabhat Films) was an Indian film production company and studio facility founded in 1929 in Kolhapur. It was established by filmmaker V. Shantaram, along with Vishnupant Govind Damle, Keshav Rao Dhaibar, ...
.
He was appointed as the first director (then principal) of th
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)in 1960 which was known as ''Film Institute of India'' then. Jagirdar served as the director of the
FTII for just over a year, from 1961 to 1962. He was associated with the Prabhat Film Company three decades before his FTII role, when the campus was the base of the Prabhat.
He became a well-known pedagogue applying the acting theories of Stanislavsky to the prevailing local conditions.
At the
1962
The year saw the Cuban Missile Crisis, which is often considered the closest the world came to a Nuclear warfare, nuclear confrontation during the Cold War.
Events January
* January 1 – Samoa, Western Samoa becomes independent from Ne ...
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards are awards for artistic and technical merit given for "Excellence within the Cinema of India, Indian film industry". Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India ...
his film ''Vaijayanta'' was awarded the
Second Best Marathi Feature Film.
Early life
Gajanan Jagirdar was born on 2 April 1907 in
Amravati
Amravati (/Marathi phonology, əmᵊɾɑʋᵊt̪iː/) is a city in Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region. It is the ninth largest city in Maharashtra, India & second largest city in the Vidarbha region in terms of population. It is the ...
, a city in
Amravati district
Amravati district (Marathi pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, �mɾaːʋət̪iː is a Districts of Maharashtra, district of Maharashtra state in central India. It is the administrative headquarter of Amravati division, which is one of the two ...
, which was a part of the erstwhile
Bombay Presidency of
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
. He started acting as a child actor in the amateur stage. Gajanan was a teacher before joining the film industry.
Film career
Gajanan began his film career in 1931 as a scenarist and assistant director in
Prabhat Film Company
Prabhat Film Company (popularly known as Prabhat Films) was an Indian film production company and studio facility founded in 1929 in Kolhapur. It was established by filmmaker V. Shantaram, along with Vishnupant Govind Damle, Keshav Rao Dhaibar, ...
and became a full-fledged film director only two years later in 1934. His first Bollywood film was ''Sinhasan'' (1934) as a director.
Gajanan Jagirdar's role of Ramshastri in the movie
Ramshastri (film) won him immense appreciation and popularity.
Filmography
As director
* ''Honhar'' (1936)
* ''
Main Hari'' (1940)
* ''
Charnon Ki Dasi'' (1941)
* ''
Vasantsena'' (1942)
* ''Ramshastri'' (1944, Marathi)
* ''
Behram Khan'' (1946, Hindi)
* ''
Jail Yatra'' (1947)
* ''Umaaje Naik'' (1961, Marathi) (as producer)
* ''Vijayanta'' (1961, Marathi)
As actor
* ''
Talaq
Divorce according to Islamic law can occur in a variety of forms, some initiated by a husband and some by a wife. The main categories of Islamic customary law are ''talaq'' ( repudiation), ''khulʿ'' (mutual divorce) and ''faskh'' (dissolution o ...
'' (1938) - Chhabilelal
* ''
Meetha Zahar'' (1938)
* ''Shejari'' (1941) - Mirza
* ''Payachi Dasi'' (1941) - Nokheram
* ''
Padosi'' (1941) - Mirza
* ''
Vasantsena'' (1942) - Shakar
* ''Kanoon'' (1943)
* ''
Ramshastri'' (1944) - Ramshastri
* ''Kiran'' (1944)
* ''Jhumke'' (1946)
* ''
Behram Khan'' (1946)
* ''Dhanyawad'' (1948)
* ''Lekh'' (1949)
* ''Sabak'' (1950)
* ''Chhatrapati Shivaji'' (1952) - King Aurangzeb
* ''Armaan'' (1953)
* ''Mahatma'' (1953, Marathi)
* ''Gajanan Maharaj Ki Jai'' (1954)
* ''Malka-e-Alam Noorjehan'' (1954)
* ''Mahatma Kabir'' (1954)
* ''Maan'' (1954)
* ''
Angarey'' (1954) - Singoba
* ''Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali'' (1955) - Seth Mohanlal
* ''Ramshastri Ka Nyay'' (1956)
* ''Chhoo Mantar'' (1956) - The King
* ''
Yahudi Ki Ladki'' (1957)
* ''Talaash'' (1957)
* ''
Paying Guest'' (1957) - Public Prosecutor Dayal
* ''Apradhi Kaun?'' (1957) - Shree Nath / Dina Nath
* ''Trolley Driver'' (1958)
* ''Karigar'' (1958) - Shankar's Employer
* ''
Dulhan'' (1958) - Seth Dhanpal
* ''
Raj Tilak'' (1958) - Sardar Mangal Sen
* ''
Qaidi No. 911'' (1959) - Jailor
* ''Chacha Zindabad'' (1959) - Judge Khanna
* ''
Hum Hindustani'' (1960) - Verma
* ''Babar'' (1960) - Shehenshah Jaheeruddin Babar
* ''
Hum Dono'' (1961) - Mita's Father
* ''
Main Chup Rahungi'' (1962) - Ratan Kumar
* ''
Aarti
''Arti'' () or ''Aarati'' () is a Hindu ritual employed in worship, part of a ''Puja (Hinduism), puja'', in which light from a flame (fuelled by camphor, ghee, or oil) is ritually waved to venerate Hindu deities, deities. ''Arti'' also refers t ...
'' (1962) - Deepak's Father
* ''
Grahasti'' (1963) - Maya and Radha's dad
* ''Ek Don Teen'' (1964)
* ''
Guide
A guide is a person who leads travelers, sportspeople, or tourists through unknown or unfamiliar locations. The term can also be applied to a person who leads others to more abstract goals such as knowledge or wisdom.
Travel and recreation
Exp ...
'' (1965) - Bhola
* ''Tu Hi Meri Zindagi'' (1965)
* ''Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe'' (1965)
* ''
Kaajal'' (1965) - Saxena
* ''Ek Saal Pehle'' (1965)
* ''Yugo Yugo Mi Vaat Pahili'' (1965, Marathi)
* ''Shankar Khan'' (1966) - Lala Kedarnath
* ''
Suraj'' (1966) - Ram Singh
* ''
Amrapali'' (1966) - Kulpati Mahanam
* ''Hum Kahan Ja Rahe Hain'' (1966) - Principal
* ''
Dillagi'' (1966) - Raibahadur
* ''Chhota Bhai'' (1966) - Poojary
* ''Mera Naam Johar'' (1968) - Lalji
* ''Dil Aur Mohabbat (1968) - Hostel Warden
* ''
Jhuk Gaya Aasman'' (1968) - Shankarlal Khanna
* ''
Humsaya'' (1968) - Sharma - Intelligence Office Chief
* ''Farishta'' (1968)
* ''Beti Tumhare Jaisi'' (1969)
* ''
Aadmi Aur Insaan'' (1969) - Judge
* ''
Ittefaq'' (1969) - Dr. Trivedi
* ''
Sajan'' (1969) - Guruji
* ''
Paisa Ya Pyaar'' (1969) - Shankarlal
* ''
Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai'' (1969) - Judge
* ''
Insaan Aur Shaitan'' (1970) - Shankar Chauhan
* ''
Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani'' (1970) - Padma's brother
* ''
Devi
''Devī'' (; ) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is Deva (Hinduism), ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism.
The concept ...
'' (1970) - Ram Singh (Driver)
*
''Chingari'' (1971 film)
* ''Veer Chhatrasal'' (1971)
* ''Bahake Kadam'' (1971)
* ''Nate Jadale Don Jiwaache'' (1971)
* ''Chingari'' (1971) - Advocate
* ''
Jwala'' (1971) - Sardar
* ''
Hulchul'' (1971) - Padma's Father
* ''Albela'' (1971)
* ''Chori Chori'' (1972) - Komal's Father
* ''
Zindagi Zindagi'' (1972) - Mr. Sharma
* ''
Sub Ka Saathi'' (1972) - Sevak Ram
* ''Sonal'' (1973)
* ''
Bandhe Haath'' (1973) - Seth. Harnam Das
* ''
Aa Gale Lag Jaa'' (1973) - Dr. Saxena
* ''Badi Maa'' (1974)
* ''Woh Main Nahin'' (1974) - Judge
* ''Raja Shiv Chhatrapati'' (1974)
* ''Hamrahi'' (1974)
* ''Archana'' (1974) - Gopal Kaka
* ''
Aashiana'' (1974)
* ''Awara Ladki'' (1975)
* ''Mutthi Bhar Chawal'' (1975)
* ''Dafaa 302: Indian Penal Code Section 302 (Section of Murder)'' (1975) - Judge
* ''Badnaam'' (1975) - Shankerlal
* ''Gumrah'' (1976) - Professor Vaidya
* ''
Aaj Ka Ye Ghar'' (1976)
* ''
Immaan Dharam'' (1977) - Barkat Chacha
* ''Dhoop Chhaon'' (1977) - Abdul
* ''
Shankar Hussain'' (1977) - Mir Irshaad Hussain
* ''
Ram Bharose'' (1977)
* ''Paradh'' (1977)
* ''
Naami Chor'' (1977)
* ''Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam'' (1977) - Swamiji
* ''Mandir Masjid'' (1977)
* ''
Aadmi Sadak Ka'' (1977) - Retd. Commissioner Upendra Nath
* ''
Des Pardes'' (1978) - Mr. Sahni
* ''
Saajan Bina Suhagan'' (1978) - Doctor (uncredited)
* ''
Karmayogi'' (1978) - Principal
* ''Dost Asava Tar Asa'' (1978) - Retired Commissioner
* ''
Ankh Ka Tara'' (1978) - Karim
* ''Anjaam'' (1978) - Maharaja
* ''
Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin'' (1979) - Hariram
* ''
Naiyya'' (1979) - Sarpanch of Lakhipur
* ''
Maan Apmaan'' (1979) - Parvati's dad
*''
Beqasoor (1980 film)'' - Jagmohan Sinha
* ''Premika'' (1980)
* ''Manokaamnaa'' (1980) - Jain (Ex-DFO)
* ''
Chambal Ki Kasam'' (1980) - Radhu Kaka
* ''
Dostana'' (1980) - High School Principal
* ''Maan Abhiman'' (1980) - Money-lender Prabhu Dayal Gupta
* ''
Dahshat'' (1981) - Elderly Doctor
* ''
Kaalia
''Kaalia'' is a 1981 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film, written and directed by Tinnu Anand, and produced by Iqbal Singh. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan (in the title role), Parveen Babi, Asha Parekh, Kader Khan, Pran, Amjad Khan, ...
'' (1981) - 1st Defense Attorney
* ''
Umrao Jaan'' (1981) - Maulvi
* ''
Maan Gaye Ustaad'' (1981) - Prosecuting Lawyer
* ''
Khud-Daar'' (1982) - Judge
* ''
Dharam Kanta'' (1982) - Mukhiya
* ''
Sun Sajna
''Sun Sajna'' is a 1982 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Chander Bahl for Rajshri Productions, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Ranjeeta Kaur, Iftekhar, Ram Mohan and Jagdeep.
Plot
Basanti (Ranjeeta Kaur), a lively young woman, lives in Madh ...
'' (1982) - Doctor
* ''
Love in Goa'' (1983) - Mr. D'Souza
* ''
Rishta Kagaz Ka'' (1983) - Professor Sharma
* ''
Lal Chunariya'' (1983) - Kundan's dad
* ''
Laila'' (1984)
* ''Maan Maryada'' (1984) - Police Commissioner
* ''
Bepanaah'' (1985) - Brahmprakash Bharadwaj
* ''
Aap Ke Saath
''Aap Ke Saath'' is a 1986 Hindi-language film produced and directed by J. Om Prakash, starring Anil Kapoor, Vinod Mehra, Smita Patil, Rati Agnihotri, Utpal Dutt, and Amrish Puri.
Plot
Ashok and Vimal are two grandsons of K.K. Sahib. Ashok and ...
'' (1986) - Parsaji (oldman in "Aged Home")
* ''
Sutradhar'' (1987) - Headmaster
* ''
Soorma Bhopali'' (1988)
* ''Pyase Nain'' (1989) - Senior Police Inspector (final film role)
Awards and honors
Gajanan Jagirdar was awarded the best actor award for his portrayal of the poet Parshuram in the film Shahir Parshuram by
Government of Maharashtra
The Government of Maharashtra is the executive branch of the Indian states of india, state of Maharashtra. The government is led by the List of chief ministers of Maharashtra, chief minister (currently Devendra Fadnavis since 5 December 2024) ...
in 1962. The
Bengal journalists Association in
5th Annual BFJA Awards bestowed upon him the best actor award for his performance in the film's
Padosi. The same
Bengal journalists Association in
8th Annual BFJA Awards honoured him doubly in 1944 by citing him both as Best Actor of the Year and Best Director of the Year for his film
Ramshastri.
Death
Gajanan Jagirdar died of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
on 13 August 1988 at his residence in
Bombay
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
(now
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
), aged 81.
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jagirdar, Gajanan
1907 births
1988 deaths
Male actors in Hindi cinema
People from Amravati
Male actors in Marathi cinema
Hindi-language film directors
Marathi film directors
Indian male screenwriters
20th-century Indian male actors
Film directors from Maharashtra
Film producers from Maharashtra
20th-century Indian screenwriters
20th-century Indian male writers