Veteran playback singer and actress Sulakshana Pandit passed away on Thursday evening after a prolonged illness, her family said. She was 71.
It was a sad day for the movies, as film folk grappled with updates on movie legend Dharmendra's health and also attended the prayer services for Zarine Khan and singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit.
In 1973, several major leading ladies like Mumtaz, Raakhee, Jaya Bhaduri, Dimple Kapadia, Tanuja, had married and retired from films. Producers wanted a new heroine as a replacement. Many thought Sulakshana was a Mumtaz lookalike and was soon persuaded to sign on multiple films as a leading lady.
'Sulakshanadidi was never the same after Sanjeev Kumar turned her down.'
Singer-actress Sulakshana Pandit, 71, passed into the ages on November 6 after a prolonged illness. Besides her acting roles, she leaves behind some beautiful songs to remember her by.
'It was Kishoreda who suggested to Sulakshanadidi that she should become an actress and sing her own songs in her films. This transformed her life and career.'
Jatin-Lalit's music score for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is one of the best-selling soundtracks of all times and their Pehla Nasha is a song for the ages.
'Kishoreda was very close to our family and offered a lot of support.'
Subhash K Jha celebrates the Ram Mandir pran pratishtha ceremony by picking some memorable Ram bhajans from movies you may not have heard of.
'Bhupinderji was an amazing singer, a unique voice which had romance and nostalgia.' 'It was soothing, caressing, sentimental, soulful, all rolled into one.'
'Sandhya's life may have been far from perfect but does that give anyone the right to kill her?' the composer asks.
'The last month and a half has taken a toll on all of us, especially his wife, my sister Vijayta. She has endured a lot,' Lalit Pandit tells Subhash K Jha.
On the occasion of Ram Navmi, five Ram bhajans from Hindi films that you probably haven't heard, but should right away.
Bappida's softer more creative work got buried in the noise, rues Subhash K Jha as he picks the late lamented composer's most soulful songs.
'Not many know I am a Rajput from Jodhpur.' 'My ancestors shifted to Kolhapur as my great grandfather and grandfather were both engineers.' 'They were called by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj to build the city of Kolhapur.'
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