Jump to content

Pran (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by PrithviSanju (talk | contribs) at 07:50, 13 April 2013 (his best films as villaain, as hero, and as character actor needs seperate mention in wiki;Y films with ashok kumar ignored?). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the cartoonist, see Pran Kumar Sharma.
Pran
Born
Pran Krishan Sikand

(1920-02-12) February 12, 1920 (age 104)
New Delhi, India [1]
Other namesPran Sahaab
OccupationActor
Years active1940–2007
SpouseShukla Sikand (1945–present)
ChildrenArvind Sikand
Sunil Sikand
Pinky Sikand
Websitehttp://www.pransikand.com

Pran (born Pran Krishan Sikand, 12 February 1920) is a multiple Filmfare and BFJA award-winning Indian actor, known as a movie villain and character actor in Hindi cinema from the 1940s to the 1990s.[2] He acted as the hero from 1940–47 and as a villain from 1942–1991 and played supporting and character roles from 1948–2007.

In a long and prolific career he appeared in over 361 films. He played the leading man in films like Khandaan (1942), Pilpili Saheb (1954) and Halaku (1956)Aurat, Dharma (1973), Jangal Mein Mangal (1972), Gaddar (1973), Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara (1973), Rahu Ketu (1978). His villanious roles in the films like Bari Behen (1949), Bahar (1951), Jashan (1955), Azaad (1955), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Half Ticket (1962), Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan?, Johny Mera Naam (1970) and Duniya (1984) as well as his character roles in Upkar (1967), Shaheed (1965), Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969), Victoria No. 203 (1972), Be-Imaan (1972), Zanjeer (1973), Chori Mera Kaam (1975), Hatyara (1977) Chor Ke Ghar Chor (1978), Don (1978), Maan Gaye Ustaad, Ladies Tailor (1981) are considered to be among his best performances.

Pran has received numerous awards and honours in his career. He won the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award in 1967, 1969 and 1972 and was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. He was awarded as the 'Villain of the Millennium' by Stardust in 2000.[3][4] In 2001, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India, for his contribution to Indian cinema. In 2010, he was named on the list of CNN's Top 25 Asian actors of all time.[5][6] In April 2013, he was announced as the winner of the 2012 Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Personal life and education

Pran was born in Ballimaran, Kotgarh Old Delhi,[1] into a wealthy Punjabi family. His father, Kewal Krishan Sikand, was a civil engineer and a Government civil contractor; his mother was Rameshwari and the couple had four sons and three daughters.[7]

He was academically gifted, especially in mathematics. Since his father had a transferable job, he studied in various places, including Dehradun, Kapurthala, Meerut and Unnao (Uttar Pradesh), finally completing his matriculation from Raza High School, in Rampur. Thereafter, he joined A. Das & Co., Delhi as an apprentice as he wanted to become a professional photographer. This job took him first to Simla, where he played Sita to Madan Puri's Ram in the local staging of "Ramlila".[8]

Pran married Shukla Ahluwalia in 1945 and has two sons, Arvind and Sunil and a daughter, Pinky.[9]

Career

Early career (1940–1966)

A chance meeting with the writer, Wali Mohammad Wali, who worked for Dalsukh M. Pancholi, at a shop in Hira Mandi, Lahore, led to Pran winning his first role as a hero opposite Ranjhana in Pancholi's Punjabi film Yamla Jat (1940).[10] Directed by Moti B. Gidwan, the film featured Noor Jehan and Durga Khote. This was followed by small roles in the film Chaudhary and Khajanchi, both of 1941. Pancholi cast him again in Khandaan (1942), which was the first Hindi film in which Pran became a romantic hero, opposite Noor Jehan, who had earlier acted with him in Yamla Jat as a child artist.[11][12][13] Noor Jehan, the female lead of Khandaan, was less than 15 years of age and to compensate for the difference in their heights in close-up shots in the film, she was made to stand atop bricks.[14] In the pre-partition era, director Gidwani casted Pran in more films like Kaise Kahoon (1945) and Khamosh Nigahen (1946).

Pran had acted in 22 films from 1942–46 in Lahore and of them 18 got released by 1947 when his career experienced a brief pause due to the partition in 1947. The films he did from 1944–47 were all made in undivided India. His films But Taraash (1951) and Khanabadosh (1952), both co-starrring Manorama, for which he shot in early 1947, were released only in Pakistan after Partition. He left Lahore and arrived in Bombay. Though films didn't come his way for months together, he kept looking for opportunities of acting alongwith other jobs. He started working in Delmar Hotel, Marine Drive and eight months later, in 1948, he got a chance to start all over again. With the help of writer Saadat Hasan Manto and actor Shyam, he got a role in the Bombay Talkies' film, Ziddi which had Dev Anand and Kamini Kaushal as leads and was directed by Shaheed Latif. This launched his career in Bombay. The film also proved to be Dev Anand's big break as a hero, and there was no turning back for Pran thereafter.[7][15] By 1950 he got established gradually as a premier villain in Hindi cinema. Within a week of Ziddi's success, he signed three more films; S M Yusuf's Grihasti (1948), which became a diamond jubilee hit, Prabhat Films's Apradhi (1949) and Wali Mohammad's Putli (1949). Mohammad who had first lured him into movies in 1940 had by then also moved to Bombay and had turned into a producer setting up an office at Famous Studios, near Mahalaxmi Racecourse.[16][17] Romantic duets picturized on him; like the song "Tere Naaz Uthane Ko Jee Chahta Hai" from Grihasti opposite Shardha and from Khandaan (1942) with Noor Jehan, became popular in 1940s. The way he expressed his dialogues in films like Sheesh Mahal (1950), a series of disguises he made in Adalat (1958) and the rapport he shared with vamps like Kuldip Kaur in Jashan (1955) showcasd his versatility in 1950s.

As a villain, post independence, Pran's initial successful films were Ziddi and Bari Behan (1949). He was regularly offered the role of the main villain or of negative character in the films with Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor as the lead hero in the 1950s and 60s. From the 1950's directors like M. V. Raman, Nanabhai Bhatt, Kalidas, Ravindra Dave, I. S. Johar, Bimal Roy repeatedly cast him in different roles in their many films. Similarly in sixties he was frequent in directorial ventures of A. Bhim Singh, Shakti Samanta, Bhappi Sonie, K. Amarnath, Nasir Hussain and others. In 1970's new younger directors and producers cast him in their films even though Pran's price was highest among supporting actors from 1968–1982.

Pran's performance as the negative character was very much appreciated in Dilip Kumar starrers like Azaad (1955), Devdas (1955), Madhumati (1958), Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), Ram Aur Shyam (1967) and Aadmi (1968) and films with Dev Anand as the lead man like Ziddi (1948), Munimji (1955), Amar Deep (1958), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961) and with Raj Kapoor in Aah (1953), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956), Chhalia (1960), Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Dil Hi Toh Hai (1963). Films with him as the lead hero, Pilpili Saheb (1954) and then Halaku in 1956, were big hits too. Pran proved his versatility in the 1950s by enacting as the typical swashbuckling pirate in Sindbad the Sailor (1952) and Daughter of Sindbad (1958) and in action-packed thrillers like Azad (1955); historicals such as Aan (1952) and Raj Tilak (1958); social themes such as Baradari (1955) and light romances like Munimji (1955) and Asha (1957).[18] Subsequently in the 1960s and early 1970s, even though he was in his forties, his demand in the film market never went down and he was given pivotal roles as a character of the age range of 25 to 30 in films with Shammi Kapoor, Joy Mukherjee, Rajendra Kumar and Dharmendra as the lead heroes. From early 1950s to early 1970s – Pran's name invoked fear in minds of audience due to his villainous characters.[19] It was from 1964 with Pooja Ke Phool and Kashmir Ki Kali, where he started bringing comical side to his negative characters. Where Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor's careers as the young hero started to decline from the late 1960s and even careers of Rajendra Kumar and Shammi Kapoor as lead hero too ended by 1973, Pran was still in business. His association with Dev Anand which had begun in 1948 continued even during the 1970s and the 1980s with Johny Mera Naam (1970), Yeh Gulistan Hamara (1972), Joshila (1973), Warrant (1975) and Des Pardes (1978).

Pran always had a significant role in comedy films starring Kishore Kumar and Mehmood Ali in the lead roles. Pran's memorable collaborations with Mehmood include Sadhu Aur Shaitaan (1968), Lakhon Me Ek (1971) and with Kishore Kumar include Chham Chhama Chham (1952), Aasha, Bewaqoof (1960), Half Ticket (1962) and Man-Mauji (1962).

Later career (1967−retirement)

In the late 1960s, with the character of Malang Chacha, a veteran war hero, in Manoj Kumar's film Upkar (1967), he turned towards positive roles. The film also had the popular Kalyanji Anandji song, "Kasme Waade Pyaar Wafaa" picturised on him. With the same film, the lead actress of yesteryears Kamini Kaushal also moved to character roles. Pran received his first Filmfare Award and began his career into character roles. Kumar continued to cast him in pivotal roles in his films like Shaheed, Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Be-Imaan (1972), Sanyasi (1975) and Dus Numbri (1976). From 1967 onwards he also acted in Bengali films, beginning with Ashim Banerjee’s Sonai Dighe, where Joy Mukherjee was the hero.[20]

Many roles with him playing the supporting role released and this way he reinvented himself as a character actor changing his image of the main villain. After 1969, he was offered the role of leading man in the films like Nanha Farishta (1969), Jangal Mein Mangal (1972), Dharma (1973), Ek Kunwari Ek Kunwara (1973) and Rahu Ketu (1978). Pran and Ashok Kumar were very close friends in professional and real life and have acted in 27 films together from 1951-1987 starting from Afsana (1951). They were casted to play either the role of friends, around whom the story revolved, like in Adhikar, Victoria No. 203, Chori Mera Kaam, Chor Ke Ghar Chor, Apna Khoon, Aap Ke Deewane, Maan Gaye Ustaad and Raja Aur Rana or as characters at logger heads in films like Inspector (1956), Lakeeren(1954), Mr. X(1957), Daaka (1959), Pooja Ke Phool, Purab Aur Paschim, Naya Zamana and Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool. Sung by Kishore Kumar, Ashok Kumar's younger brother, and picturised on Pran the song "Hum Bolega To Bologe Ke Bolta Hai" from Kasauti (1974), "Micheal Daru Pita Hai" from Majboor (1974), "Meri Nazar Se Bachana Koi" from Chori Mera Kaam were huge hits and continue to be popular. The title song of Maan Gaye Ustaad, "Mera Ek Sawaal Hai" sung by Rafi and "Do Bichare, Bina Sahare" from Victoria No 203 sung by Mahendra Kapoor is also popular.

In the period of 1969-1982, Pran was the highest paid actor than most lead actors like Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor. The lead hero to be paid much higher than Pran was only Rajesh Khanna in the 1970s and 80s.[21] He played the leading man in the film Aurat (1967) paired opposite Padmini and Rajesh Khanna in a supporting role. Pran and Khanna worked in 6 more films – Aurat (1967 film), Maryada (1971), Jaanwar (1983 film) (1983), Souten (1983), Bewafai (1985) and Durgaa (1985). In 1973, he recommended Amitabh Bachchan to Prakash Mehra for the character of Vijay in Zanjeer, which was earlier offered to Dev Anand and Dharmendra. Pran's character of Sher Khan, with red wig and beard and Pathani style was well appreciated. He paid great attention to his looks and proved to be the selling point of the film where Bachchan was still a new comer.[22] Pran acted with Bachcahn in about 14 films with notable ones being Zanjeer, Don (1978), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Dostana (1980), Naseeb (1981) and Sharaabi (1984).

In the late 1990s, Pran started rejecting film offers citing age-related problems. But in the 1990s when Amitabh was going through a bad patch in his career, he requested Pran to do roles in his home productions Tere Mere Sapne (1996) Mrityudata (1997) and and Pran made an exception by acting in them. Pran's legs had begun to shiver in 1997 so his character in Mrityudaata was modified accordingly to justify his legs shivering and in Tere Mere Sapne, his shots were taken with him being seated. Post 2000, he made few guest appearances.[20]

Image

Pran had a marathon six-decade career in Hindi cinema and is one of the most celebrated actors of the industry. So effective was his acting that it was said that people stopped naming their children 'Pran' because of his negative roles,[19] while the industry had started calling him 'Pran Sahab'.[23] His favourite line "Barkhurdaar" became immensely popular.

His biography, ...and Pran was so named because, in at least 250 of the 350 movies that he acted in, his was the last name in the cast portion of the credits, with the words "...and Pran" and sometime "..above all Pran".[24]

In 2012, he gave his hand print for "Legend’s Walk", a waterfront promenade in Bandra.[25]

Awards and honours

Pran has been honoured with numerous awards for his portrayal of both negative and character roles. He has received three Filmfare Awards in the Best Supporting Actor category for Upkar, Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool and Be-Imaan. However, in 1972 when he was awarded for his role of constable Ram Singh in Be-Imaan, he refused to accept the award stating that the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director should have gone to Ghulam Mohammed for Pakeezah and not to the musical duo Shankar Jaikishan for Be-imaan.[26][27] He also has been awarded with three Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards for his supporting roles.

For his vast contributions to the films, he has been honoured by various awards with their Lifetime Achievement awards; including those of Filmfare, Star Screen Awards and Zee Cine Awards. In 2001, the Government of India conferred the Padma Bhushan on him. Recently in April 2013, he is announced to be the winner of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the most prestigious award of the Indian cinema, presented by the Government of India. The award will be presented to him at the 60th National Film Awards ceremony on May 3, 2013 for his lifetime of work in the film industry.[28] Various celebrities have congratulated him on this occasion with Amitabh Bachchan calling him "a large pillar of the Indian Film Industry" on his twitter feed.[29] He was also the contender of the award for the previous year along with Manoj Kumar and Vyjayanthimala; where Soumitra Chatterjee was finally awarded.[30]

Filmfare Awards

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

Other awards and recognitions

Pran being felicitated by the then Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal (left) at the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards in 2010.
  • 1972–73 – Chitrlok Cine Circle Ahmedabad: "Best Character Artiste Award".[27]
  • 1975–76 – Bombay Film Award: Most Versatile Actor.[27]
  • 1977–78 – Bombay Film Award: Most Versatile Actor.[27]
  • 1978 – North Bombay Jaycees: Best Character Actor.[27]
  • 1984 – "Extra Ordinary Special Award as Wizard of Acting" by Bombay Film Award.[27]
  • 1984 – Filmgoers Award: Reigning "Abhinay Samrat".[27]
  • 1985 – Kala Bhushan Award presented by Punjabi Kala Sangam.[27]
  • 1987 – North Bombay Jaycees: Outstanding Performance of Decade.[27]
  • "Viyayshree Award" presented for enriching Human Life and Outstanding Attainments India Int. Friendship Society).[27]
  • "Ars Gratia Artis" for excellence in emotive Art.[27]
  • 1990 – Kala Rattan Award presented by Punjabi Kal Sangam for 50 glorious Years.[27]
  • 1990 – Punjab Association: an Award for 50 years in the Industry.[27]
  • 1990 – Southall Lion's Club London: "In recognition of Invaluable Services to Charity at the Celebration of Golden Jubilee of his services tot Film Industry.[27]
  • 1991 – Cinegoers Award: "Abhinay Samrat Golden Jubilee Award".[27]
  • 1992 – Outstanding contribution to Indian Film Industry, Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association.[27]
  • 2000 – Star Screen Lifetime Achievement Award[27]
  • 2000 – Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement [16][27]
  • 2000 – "Villain of the Millennium" by Stardust Award.[12][27]
  • 2001 – Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award from the Government of India.[34][27]
  • 2004 – Lifetime Achievement Award instituted by the Maharashtra Government.[12]
  • 2010 – Phalke Icon and Legendary Cine Versatile Cine Star Award by Dadasaheb Phalke Academy. [35]
  • 2013 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award for life time achievement. [36]

Selected filmography

Main article: Pran filmography
1940s
3
1950s
3
1960s
3
1970s
3
1980s
3
1990s
3

Source: Offical website. See also articles on individual films.

References

  1. ^ a b "Pran as a person (Official biography)". Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  2. ^ Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema, by Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd, Gulzar, Govind Nihalani, Saibal Chatterjee. Published by Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd., 2003. ISBN 81-7991-066-0.
  3. ^ Pran, Bollywood's black gold
  4. ^ Top 10 Villains of Bollywood! | MissMalini
  5. ^ "Big B in CNN's top 25 Asian actors list". New York: Hindustan Times. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Asia's Best Actors". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b Pran Bollywood: yesterday – today – tomorrow, by Ramesh Dawar. Published by Star Publications, 2006. ISBN 190586301. Page 89.
  8. ^ "Padma Bhushan Pran – Fine actor, finer man". The Hindu. 28 January 2001. Retrieved 14 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "PRAN – About". Retrieved 2013-04-12.
  10. ^ "92 Facts You Didn't Know About Pran – 2". Rediff.com. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ "Pran chosen for Raj Kapoor award". The Times of India. 15 July 2004. Retrieved 14 Dec 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b c A lifetime of villainy Prerana Trehan, The Tribune, 25 July 2004.
  13. ^ "Villains". bollywoodprofilesite.com.
  14. ^ Villain of the Millennium Pran turns 89
  15. ^ "My Best Year – PRAN:1948". India Today. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b ..In March 2000, he was honoured with the Zee Lifetime Achievement Award Rediff, 5 April 2000.
  17. ^ Bollywood: a history, by Mihir Bose, page 161, published by Lotus Collection, Roli Books, 2007. ISBN 81-7436-508-7.
  18. ^ Name *. "Pran Krishan Sikand-Bollywood Legend". Calcutta Tube. Retrieved 2012-07-12.[dead link]
  19. ^ a b Kumar, Anuj (15 November 2012). "Talking talkies". The Hindu. Retrieved 12 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ a b Kohli, Suresh (2012-02-12). "Ninety-plus and counting". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2012-07-12. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  21. ^ Chintamani, Gautam (23 November 2012). "And Pran..." Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); line feed character in |date= at position 3 (help)
  22. ^ Dubey, Bharati (13 April 2013). "Dadasaheb Phalke Award for Pran". Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ Pran is eighty - His is the kind of life (pran) life will always be proud of. Screen.
  24. ^ Reel evil The Tribune, 24 October 2004." Bimal Roy presents, Madhumati, starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Johny Walker, Tiwari ... and Pran."
  25. ^ "Pran in Riteish Deshmukh's 'Legend`s Walk'". Zeenews.india.com. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  26. ^ Super Admin (2006-02-27). "Things that u dont know about Filmfare Awards". Entertainment.oneindia.in. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "PRAN – Awards". Retrieved 2013-04-12.
  28. ^ Das, Mala (April 12, 2013). "Actor Pran to receive Dadasaheb Phalke Award". NDTV. Retrieved April 12, 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  29. ^ Bachchan, Amitabh (13 April 2013). "Amitabh Bachchan @SrBachchan". Twitter. Retrieved 13 April 2013. A glorious tribute to a great human and a large pillar of the Indian Film Industry .. PRAN..the Dada Saheb Phalke award by the state {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ "Veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee to get Dadasaheb Phalke award". Kolkata: The Financial Express. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ 1962:25th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1961[dead link] BFJA Awards website.
  32. ^ 1967:30th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1966[dead link] BFJA Awards website.
  33. ^ 1974: 37th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1973[dead link] BFJA Awards website.
  34. ^ Lata, Bismillah Khan get Bharat Ratnas Rediff.com, 25 January 2001. "The Padma Bhushan...veteran actor Pran,".
  35. ^ "Aamir, Dev Anand, Pran honoured". Mumbai: Mid Day. 2010-05-01. Retrieved 13 April 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ "Actor Pran to receive this year's Dadasaheb Phalke Award". Times of India. Retrieved 2013-04-12.

Further reading

  • ...and PRAN, a Biography, by Bunny Ruben. HarperCollins, India, 2004. ISBN 81-7223-466-X.
  • The Life of A Villain-Pran by Chobay Gill (2005), HarperCollins New Delhi, 446 pages. ISBN 81-7223-466-X
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pran.

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pran_(actor)&oldid=550120394"