Balraj Sahni
Encyclopedia
Balraj Sahni (1 May 1913 – 13 April 1973), born Yudhishthir Sahni (Hindi: युधिष्ठिर साहनी), was a famous Hindi
film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri
family from Bhera
now in Punjab, Pakistan. He was the brother of Bhisham Sahni
, noted Hindi writer, playwright, and actor.
to study at Lahore. He completed his Masters degree in English Literature
from Lahore and then went back to Rawalpindi and joined his family business. He also held a Bachelor's degree
in Hindi, followed by a Masters in English from Punjab University. Soon after, he married Damayanti Sahni.
In the late 1930s, Sahni and his wife left Rawalpindi to join Tagore
's Visva-Bharati University
in Shantiniketan in Bengal
as an English and Hindi teacher. It is here that their son, Parikshit Sahni was born, when his wife Damayanti was doing her Bachelors degree. He also went to work with Mahatma Gandhi
for a year in 1938. The next year, Sahni, with Gandhi's blessings, went to England
to join the BBC
-London's Hindi service as a radio announcer. He returned to India in 1943.
(IPTA
). He started his film career in Mumbai
with the film Insaaf (1946), followed by Dharti Ke Lal
directed by KA Abbas in 1946, Door Chalein in 1946, and other films. But it was in 1953, with Bimal Roy
's classic Do Bigha Zameen
, that his true forte as an actor was first recognised. The film won the international prize at the Cannes Film Festival
.
He followed it up with an encore in the 1961 classic Kabuliwala
penned by Tagore.
Sahni's wife Damayanti died at a young age in 1947, who was the heroine of his film, Gudiya (1947) and two years later he married his first cousin, Santosh Chandhok, later known as an author and television writer.
Sahni's acting was very well liked and appreciated in all his films. He acted opposite top heroines like Nutan
, Meena Kumari
, Vyjayantimala, and Nargis
in films like Seema (1955), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Sutta Bazaar (1959), Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan (1961), Kathputli (1957), Lajwanti (1958) & Ghar Sansaar (1958). However, he is perhaps best remembered by the current generation for the picturization of the legendary song Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen from the movie Waqt
(1965) on him. Sahni appeared opposite Achala Sachdev
in the number.
He also starred in the classic Punjabi film Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970) as well as the critically acclaimed Satluj de kande.
His performance as the angst ridden but stoical Muslim man who refuses to go to Pakistan during partition in his last film Garam Hawa
has often been called his best performance by critics. Balraj however could not see the completed film himself to rate his own performance, as he died just the next day after he finished dubbing for Garm Hava. The last lines he recorded for the film, and hence his last recorded lines are, Hindi
:- "INSAAN KAB TAK AKELA JEE SAKTA HAI?" which can be translated in English as:- "How long can a man live alone?"
, and became a writer of repute in Punjabi literature
. In 1960, after a visit to Pakistan
, he wrote Mera Pakistani Safar. His book Mera Rusi Safarnama, which he had written after a tour of the erstwhile Soviet Union
in 1969, earned him the 'Soviet Land Nehru Award'. He contributed many poems and short stories in magazines and also penned his autobiography, Meri Filmi Aatmakatha. Sahni was an extremely well read and politically conscious person.
He and P K Vasudevan Nair worked on the idea of All India Youth Federation with firebrand Delhi communist, Comrade Guru Radha Kishan
to organise the first national conference of AIYF in Delhi. Their wholehearted efforts were visible as more than 250 delegates and observers representing several youth organizations of various states of India attended this session. Balraj Sahni was elected as the first president of All India Youth Federation
, the youth wing of Communist Party of India
. The organisation was a huge success and strong presence of the organisation was noticed by other political groups and the senior communist leaders everywhere.
Sahni also dabbled in screenwriting; he wrote the 1951 movie Baazi which starred Dev Anand
and was directed by Guru Dutt
. He was also a recipient of the Padma Shri
Award (1969). Balraj Sahni also wrote in Punjabi and contributed to the Punjabi magazine Preetlari. Very few people know about his love for the books, In 1950's he was first to inaugrate the Library and study centre for underprivilegd class in Delhi.
Sahni was undoubtedly one of the greatest actors ever to come on the Indian screen: a highly natural actor who reminded the audience of the actors like Motilal because of his simple persona and a sophisticated style of acting. He was looked up to as a role model as he was never involved in any scandal. His acting in Do Bigha Zameen
and Garam Hawa
were the highlights of his career. He believed in what is known as Neo-Realistic cinema.
Balraj's brother Bhisham Sahni
was a well-known writer who wrote the book Tamas. His son Parikshat Sahni
is also an actor. Balraj Sahni died on 13 April 1973, of a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 59. He had been depressed for some time by the untimely death of his young daughter, Shabnam.
'Punjabi Kala Kender', founded in 1973 at Mumbai by Balraj Sahni, gives away the annual Balraj Sahni Award', and also the 'All India Artists' Association'.
Mera Pakistani Safarnama (Punjabi),
Mera Russi Safarnama (Punjabi).
Kamey (Labourerers) (Punjabi)
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
family from Bhera
Bhera
Bhera is a city on the Jhelum river in Sargodha District, Punjab province of Pakistan. It lies at latitude 32.48 N, longitude 72.92.-Location:...
now in Punjab, Pakistan. He was the brother of Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni भीष्म साहनी was a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay Tamas , a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of India...
, noted Hindi writer, playwright, and actor.
Early life
Sahni went from his native RawalpindiRawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
to study at Lahore. He completed his Masters degree in English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
from Lahore and then went back to Rawalpindi and joined his family business. He also held a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Hindi, followed by a Masters in English from Punjab University. Soon after, he married Damayanti Sahni.
In the late 1930s, Sahni and his wife left Rawalpindi to join Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
's Visva-Bharati University
Visva-Bharati University
Visva Bharati University is a Central University for research and teaching in India, located in the twin towns of Santiniketan and Sriniketan in the Indian state of West Bengal. It was founded by Rabindranath Tagore who called it Visva Bharati, which means the communion of the world with India...
in Shantiniketan in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
as an English and Hindi teacher. It is here that their son, Parikshit Sahni was born, when his wife Damayanti was doing her Bachelors degree. He also went to work with Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
for a year in 1938. The next year, Sahni, with Gandhi's blessings, went to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to join the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
-London's Hindi service as a radio announcer. He returned to India in 1943.
Career
Sahni was always interested in acting, and started his acting career with the plays of the Indian People's Theatre AssociationIndian People's Theatre Association
Indian People’s Theatre Association was an association of leftist theatre-artists and others mostly based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Mumbai and Assam, India. Its goal was to bring cultural awakening among the people of India. It was the cultural wing of the Communist Party of India...
(IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
). He started his film career in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
with the film Insaaf (1946), followed by Dharti Ke Lal
Dharti Ke Lal
Dharti Ke Lal is a 1946 Hindi film and the first directorial venture of the noted film director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas...
directed by KA Abbas in 1946, Door Chalein in 1946, and other films. But it was in 1953, with Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy was one of the most acclaimed Indian film directors of all time. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema...
's classic Do Bigha Zameen
Do Bigha Zameen
Do Bigha Zamin is 1953 Hindi film, directed by Bengali film director Bimal Roy and star Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. The film is known for its socialist theme, and is an important film in the early parallel cinema of India and is rightly considered a trend setter...
, that his true forte as an actor was first recognised. The film won the international prize at the Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
He followed it up with an encore in the 1961 classic Kabuliwala
Kabuliwala
Kabuliwala ) is a 1957 Bengali film directed by Tapan Sinha and based on the eponymous story by the Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore.-Plot:...
penned by Tagore.
Sahni's wife Damayanti died at a young age in 1947, who was the heroine of his film, Gudiya (1947) and two years later he married his first cousin, Santosh Chandhok, later known as an author and television writer.
Sahni's acting was very well liked and appreciated in all his films. He acted opposite top heroines like Nutan
Nutan
Nutan Behl , better known as Nutan , was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades...
, Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari
Meena Kumari , born Mahjabeen Bano, was an Indian movie actress and poetess. She is regarded as one of the most prominent actresses to have appeared on the screens of Hindi Cinema...
, Vyjayantimala, and Nargis
Nargis
Nargis Dutt , born Fatima Rashid but known by her screen name, Nargis, was an Indian film actress. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Hindi cinema. She made her screen debut as a child in Talash-E-Haq in 1935, but her acting carer began in 1942 with Tamanna...
in films like Seema (1955), Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Sutta Bazaar (1959), Bhabhi Ki Chudiyaan (1961), Kathputli (1957), Lajwanti (1958) & Ghar Sansaar (1958). However, he is perhaps best remembered by the current generation for the picturization of the legendary song Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen from the movie Waqt
Waqt (1965 film)
Waqt is a 1965 Indian film directed by Yash Chopra. It made it onto the BFI's long list of films in consideration for their top ten of Indian films award. It was produced by B.R...
(1965) on him. Sahni appeared opposite Achala Sachdev
Achala Sachdev
Achala Sachdev is an Indian film actress who started her career as a child. She later became known for mother and grandmother roles in Hindi films...
in the number.
He also starred in the classic Punjabi film Nanak Dukhiya Sub Sansar (1970) as well as the critically acclaimed Satluj de kande.
His performance as the angst ridden but stoical Muslim man who refuses to go to Pakistan during partition in his last film Garam Hawa
Garam Hawa
Garm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics....
has often been called his best performance by critics. Balraj however could not see the completed film himself to rate his own performance, as he died just the next day after he finished dubbing for Garm Hava. The last lines he recorded for the film, and hence his last recorded lines are, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
:- "INSAAN KAB TAK AKELA JEE SAKTA HAI?" which can be translated in English as:- "How long can a man live alone?"
Later life
Sahni was a gifted writer, his early writings were in English, though later in life he switched to PunjabiPunjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
, and became a writer of repute in Punjabi literature
Punjabi Literature
Punjabi literature refers to literary works written in the Punjabi language particularly by peoples from the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan including the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several different scripts, of which the Shahmukhi, the Gurmukhī scripts are...
. In 1960, after a visit to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, he wrote Mera Pakistani Safar. His book Mera Rusi Safarnama, which he had written after a tour of the erstwhile Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1969, earned him the 'Soviet Land Nehru Award'. He contributed many poems and short stories in magazines and also penned his autobiography, Meri Filmi Aatmakatha. Sahni was an extremely well read and politically conscious person.
He and P K Vasudevan Nair worked on the idea of All India Youth Federation with firebrand Delhi communist, Comrade Guru Radha Kishan
Guru Radha Kishan
Guru Radha Kishan was born in the year 1925 on Krishna Janmashtami in Bid village of district Harda of Madhya Pradesh in a Brahmin family of farmers. He has to experience the hardships of the life very early as his father was expired while he was a kid...
to organise the first national conference of AIYF in Delhi. Their wholehearted efforts were visible as more than 250 delegates and observers representing several youth organizations of various states of India attended this session. Balraj Sahni was elected as the first president of All India Youth Federation
All India Youth Federation
All India Youth Federation is the youth wing of Communist Party of India. AIYF is a member of World Federation of Democratic Youth. AIYF was started by Balraj Sahni and P.K. Vasudevan Nair, among others, in 1959.The All India Youth Federation came into being in 1959...
, the youth wing of Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
. The organisation was a huge success and strong presence of the organisation was noticed by other political groups and the senior communist leaders everywhere.
Sahni also dabbled in screenwriting; he wrote the 1951 movie Baazi which starred Dev Anand
Dev Anand
Dharam Dev Anand , better known as Dev Anand , is an Indian Hindi Cinema actor, director and film producer. Dev is the second of three brothers who were active in Hindi Cinema. His brothers are Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned Hindi and...
and was directed by Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
. He was also a recipient of the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
Award (1969). Balraj Sahni also wrote in Punjabi and contributed to the Punjabi magazine Preetlari. Very few people know about his love for the books, In 1950's he was first to inaugrate the Library and study centre for underprivilegd class in Delhi.
Sahni was undoubtedly one of the greatest actors ever to come on the Indian screen: a highly natural actor who reminded the audience of the actors like Motilal because of his simple persona and a sophisticated style of acting. He was looked up to as a role model as he was never involved in any scandal. His acting in Do Bigha Zameen
Do Bigha Zameen
Do Bigha Zamin is 1953 Hindi film, directed by Bengali film director Bimal Roy and star Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. The film is known for its socialist theme, and is an important film in the early parallel cinema of India and is rightly considered a trend setter...
and Garam Hawa
Garam Hawa
Garm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics....
were the highlights of his career. He believed in what is known as Neo-Realistic cinema.
Balraj's brother Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni
Bhisham Sahni भीष्म साहनी was a Hindi writer, playwright, and actor, most famous for his novel and television screenplay Tamas , a powerful and passionate account of the Partition of India...
was a well-known writer who wrote the book Tamas. His son Parikshat Sahni
Parikshat Sahni
Parikshit Sahni is an Indian film and television actor, who is most known for playing the lead in TV series Barrister Vinod, Gul Gulshan Gulfaam and Gaatha ....
is also an actor. Balraj Sahni died on 13 April 1973, of a massive cardiac arrest at the age of 59. He had been depressed for some time by the untimely death of his young daughter, Shabnam.
'Punjabi Kala Kender', founded in 1973 at Mumbai by Balraj Sahni, gives away the annual Balraj Sahni Award', and also the 'All India Artists' Association'.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Door Chalen | |
| Dharti Ke Lal Dharti Ke Lal Dharti Ke Lal is a 1946 Hindi film and the first directorial venture of the noted film director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas... |
||
| Badnami | ||
| 1947 | Gudia | |
| 1951 | Maaldar | |
| Humlog | Raj | |
| Hulchul Hulchul Hulchul is a 2004 Hindi film which is an adaptation of the 1991 Malayalam film Godfather. The film has a huge star cast including Akshaye Khanna, Kareena Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Sunil Shetty, Amrish Puri, Paresh Rawal, Jackie Shroff, Arbaaz Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Farha Naaz, and Laxmi... |
The jailer | |
| 1952 | Badnam | |
| 1953 | Rahi Rahi Rahi may refer to:as Name:*Rahi Chakraborty, a singer and songwriter from India*Rahi Masoom Raza, an Indian writer*Rahi Mo'ayeri, an Iranian poet and musicianas Surname:*Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 2011... |
Doctor |
| Do Bigha Zamin | Shambu Maheto | |
| Bhagyawan | ||
| Akash | ||
| 1954 | Naukari | |
| Majboori | ||
| Aulad | ||
| 1955 | Tangewali | |
| Seema Seema Oncorhynchus masou, has three different subspecies. 'Song-eo; 송어' or 'Sancheoneo; 산천어' Oncorhynchus masou masou in Korea, and 'Formosan salmon; Oncorhynchus masou formosanum as in Tiwan, and as Masu salmon Oncorhynchus masou macrostomus in Japan. Pacific Ocean:... |
Ashok 'Babuji' | |
| Garam Coat | Giridhari | |
| Taksaal | Jatin Mukherjee | |
| 1957 | Pardesi (1957 film) | |
| Mai Baap | ||
| Lal Batti | ||
| Kath Putli | Loknath | |
| Bhabhi Bhabhi (1957 film) Bhabhi is 1957 Hindi urdu film directed by R Krishnan Raju and S Panju for AVM Productions. The film stars Balraj Sahni, South Indian actress Pandari Bai, Nanda in pivotal roles.... |
Ratan | |
| 1958 | Sone Ki Chidiya | Shrikant |
| Lajwanti Lajwanti Lajwanti is a 1958 Indian drama film directed by Narendra Suri. It was entered into the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or for Best Film.-Cast:* Nargis - Mrs. Kavita Kumar* Balraj Sahni - Nirmal Kumar... |
Mr. Nirmal | |
| Khazanchi Khazanchi Khazanchi is a 1941 Indian Bollywood film. It was the highest grossing Indian film of 1941.... |
Radhe Mohan | |
| Ghar Sansar | Kailash | |
| Ghar Grihasti | ||
| 1959 | Satta Bazaar | Ramesh |
| Heera Moti | ||
| Chhoti Bahen Chhoti Bahen Chhoti Bahen is a 1959 Hindi film that stars Nanda in the title role, and Balraj Sahni, Shyama, and Rehman.... |
Rajendra | |
| Black Cat | Agent Rajan | |
| 1960 | Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere is a 1960 Hindi movie. Produced by Bihari Masand for Kanwar Kala Mandir, the film is directed by Arjun Hingorani. The film stars Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra and Kum Kum. The film was Dharmendra's debut film.-Plot:... |
Panchu Dada |
| Bindya | Devraj | |
| Anuradha Anuradha Anuradha may be:*A disciple and a cousin of Gautama Buddha, see Anuruddha*a lunar mansion in Hindu astrology, see Anuradha *a film, see Anuradha... |
Dr. Nirmal Chaudhary | |
| 1961 | Suhag Sindoor | Ramu |
| Sapne Suhane | ||
| Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan | Shyam | |
| Batwara Batwara Batwara is a 1989 Bollywood film directed by J.P. Dutta. The film stars Dharmendra, Vinod Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Amrita Singh, Poonam Dhillon, Shammi Kapoor, Mohsin Khan and Amrish Puri.... |
||
| Kabuliwala Kabuliwala (1961 film) Kabuliwala is a 1961 Hindi film based on a story, Kabuliwala, written by the Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore. It was directed by Hemen Gupta, who had remained private secretary to Subhash Chandra Bose, and went on to direct many films including, Taksaal , also starring Balraj Sahni, and his... |
Abdul Rehman Khan | |
| 1962 | Shaadi Shaadi (film) Shaadi is an 1962 Indian film directed by R. Krishnan and S. Pandu. It stars actors Dharmendra and Saira Banu.The title reflects the Urdu word for a marriage , specifically a wedding ceremony.-Plot:an elder patriarch Ratan Malhotra Shaadi is an 1962 Indian film directed by R. Krishnan and S. Pandu.... |
Ratau |
| Anpadh Anpadh Anpadh is a 1962 Hindi film. The film stars Mala Sinha, Balraj Sahni, Shashi Kala and Dharmendra. The music is by Madan Mohan and the lyrics by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan. The film focuses on the importance of education for girls... |
Choudhary Shambhunath | |
| 1964 | Punar Milan | Dr. Mohan/Ram |
| Haqeeqat Haqeeqat Haqeeqat is a 1964 Hindi war-film directed by Chetan Anand. It was supported by the Government of India.The movie stars Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Rajender Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Sanjay Khan and Vijay Anand. the music is by Madan Mohan and the lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The movie was based on the 1962... |
Major Ranjit Singh | |
| 1965 | Waqt Waqt (1965 film) Waqt is a 1965 Indian film directed by Yash Chopra. It made it onto the BFI's long list of films in consideration for their top ten of Indian films award. It was produced by B.R... |
Lala Kedarnath |
| Faraar Faraar Faraar is a 1975 Bollywood crime film drama. The film is produced by Alankar Chitra and directed by Shanker Mukherjee. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Sulochna, Sajjan, Agha and Bhagwan Dada. The music is by Kalyanji Anandji.-Plot:The film is based around a... |
Detective Officer | |
| 1966 | Pinjre Ke Panchhi | Yaseen Khan |
| Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare | Khan Bahadur | |
| Aasra | Surendra Nath Kumar | |
| Aaye Din Bahar Ke Aaye Din Bahar Ke Aaye Din Bahar Ke is a 1966 Hindi film produced by J. Om Prakash. It became a box office hit. The film stars Dharmendra, Asha Parekh, Nazima, Sulochna, Balraj Sahni and Rajindernath. The film is a musical romance with music given by Laxmikant Pyarelal. Anand Bakshi is the lyricist... |
Shukla | |
| 1967 | Naunihaal | |
| Ghar Ka Chirag | ||
| Aman Aman -External links:*... |
Gautamdas' dad | |
| Hamraaz Hamraaz Hamraaz is a 1967 Hindi film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Mumtaz, Sarika, Madan Puri, Iftekhar, Balraj Sahni, Jeevan, Helen and Vimi. The films music is by Ravi... |
Police Inspector Ashok | |
| 1968 | Sunghursh Sunghursh Sunghursh is a 1968 Hindi movie directed by Harnam Singh Rawail. It was based on a story by Jnanpith Award winner, Mahasweta Devi, which presents a fictionalized account of vendetta within a Thuggee cult in the holy Indian town of Varanasi.... |
Ganeshi Prasad |
| Neel Kamal Neel Kamal (1968 film) Neel Kamal is a 1968 Hindi film directed by Ram Maheshwari starring Waheeda Rehman in the title role.- Synopsis :Sita and her friends go for a trip, at night Sita sleepwalks and when she is about to be killed by a train walking on the railway track, Ram saves her and her father decides her... |
Mr. Raichand | |
| Izzat | ||
| Duniya Duniya (1968 film) Duniya is a 1968 Hindi romantic thriller film written by K. A. Narayan and directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film starred Dev Anand, Vyjayanthimala in the lead with Balraj Sahni, Johnny Walker, Lalita Pawar, Prem Chopra, Sulochana Latkar, Madan Puri, Nana Palsikar, Achala Sachdev, Laxmi Chhaya,... |
Public Prosecutor Ramnath Sharma | |
| 1969 | Talash Talash Talash is the last book of Mumtaz Mufti, in which he has discussed different Islamic topics.-External links:**... |
Ranjit Rai |
| Nanha Farishta | Dr. Ramnath | |
| Ek Phool Do Mali Ek Phool Do Mali Ek Phool Do Mali is a 1969 Indian Bollywood film directed by Devendra Goel. The film took the third top spot at the box office in 1969. Balraj Sahni earned a Filmfare nomination as Best Supporting Actor.-Plot:... |
Kailash Nath Kaushal | |
| Do Raaste Do Raaste Do Raaste is a 1969 Indian Hindi film directed by Raj Khosla. It stars Rajesh Khanna as the dutiful son, Mumtaz as his love interest. Balraj Sahni and Kamini Kaushal play the elder brother and his wife. Prem Chopra plays the wayward son with Bindu as his dispute causing wife.The story was based on... |
Navendru Gupta | |
| 1970 | Pehchan Pehchan (1970 film) Pehchan is a 1970 Filmfare Award winning Bollywood romance film produced & directed by Sohanlal Kanwar, & the story is by Sachin Bhowmick. The film stars Manoj Kumar, Babita, and Balraj Sahni. Music is by Shankar Jaikishan. The movie has very nice songs, catchy and melodious - Woh pari kahaan se... |
Ex-Firefighter |
| Pavitra Paapi Pavitra Paapi Pavitra Paapi is a 1970 Bollywood drama film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. The film stars Parikshit Sahni and Tanuja.-Cast:*Balraj Sahni ... pannalal*Tanuja ... Veena*Parikshat Sahni ... Kedarnath... |
Pannalal | |
| Naya Raasta Naya Raasta Naya Raasta is a 1970 Bollywood drama film directed by Khalid Akhtar. The film stars Jeetendra, Asha Parekh and Farida Jalal.-Cast:*Jeetendra ... Chander*Asha Parekh ... Shallo*Balraj Sahni ... Bansi... |
Bansi | |
| Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansar | ||
| Mere Humsafar Mere Humsafar Mere Humsafar is a 1970 Bollywood romance film directed by Dulal Guha . The film stars Jeetendra, Sharmila Tagore and Waheeda Rehman .-Cast:*Sharmila Tagore ... Tarna / Meenakshi*Jeetendra ... Raju*Balraj Sahni ... Ashok*Laxmi Chhaya ... Kusum... |
Ashok | |
| Holi Ayee Re Holi Ayee Re Holi Ayee Re is a 1970 Bollywood romance film directed by Harsukh Jagneshwar Bhatt. The film stars Shatrughan Sinha and Mala Sinha.-Cast:*Shatrughan Sinha*Mala Sinha*Balraj Sahni*Premendra*Kumud Chuggani... |
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| Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani is a 1970 Bollywood drama film directed by T. Prakash Rao. The film stars Rakesh Roshan and Nirupa Roy .-Cast:*Rakesh Roshan*Bharti*Balraj Sahni*Nirupa Roy*Shashikala*Om Prakash*Gajanan Jagirdar*Jagdeep*Maruti Rao... |
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| Dharti Dharti Dharti is a 1970 Bollywood action film directed by Sridhar. The film stars Rajendra Kumar and Waheeda Rehman.-Cast:*Rajendra Kumar ... Bharat*Waheeda Rehman... Jwala / Princess Chitralekha... |
Bharat's dad | |
| 1971 | Paraya Dhan Paraya Dhan Paraya Dhan is a film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. The film starred Balraj Sahni, Hema Malini, Rakesh Roshan and Ajit Khan.-Synopsis:... |
Govindram |
| Jawan Mohabbat Jawan Mohabbat Jawan Mohabbat is a 1971 Bollywood romance film directed by Bhappi Sonie. The film stars Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh and Pran.... |
Dr. Sarin | |
| 1972 | Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor Shayar-e-Kashmir Mahjoor is a 1972 Bollywood biographical drama film directed by Prabhat Mukherjee. The film stars Balraj Sahni.The film is a biography of Kashmiri poet Ghulam Ahmed Mahjoor.... |
Ghulam Ahmed Mahjoor |
| Jawani Diwani Jawani Diwani Jawani Diwani is a 1972 Bollywood movie directed by Narender Bedi, and starring Randhir Kapoor, Jaya Bhaduri, Balraj Sahni, Nirupa Roy, as leads.... |
Ravi Anand | |
| Jangal Mein Mangal Jangal Mein Mangal Jangal Mein Mangal is a 1972 Bollywood romance film directed by Rajendra Bhatia. The film stars Kiran Kumar and Reena Roy .-Cast:*Kiran Kumar ... Rajesh*Reena Roy ... Leela*Sonia Sahni ... Professor Laxmi*Pran ... Retd. Col. M.K. Das / Raghu... |
Thomas | |
| 1973 | Pyaar Ka Rishta | |
| Hindustan Ki Kasam Hindustan Ki Kasam Hindustan Ki Kasam is a 1973 war movie based on the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 directed by Chetan Anand.-Cast:*Chetan Anand*Vijay Anand*Raaj Kumar*Priya Rajvansh*Balraj Sahni*Padma Khanna*Amjad Khan*Amrish Puri*Parikshat Sahni*Bharat Kapoor... |
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| Hanste Zakhm Hanste Zakhm Hanste Zakhm is a 1973 Indian Hindi film produced and directed by Chetan Anand with music by Madan Mohan, and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The film stars Navin Nischol, Priya Rajvansh, Balraj Sahni, and Nadira in lead roles.-Plot & Textual Analysis:... |
SP Dinanath Mahendru | |
| Garam Hawa Garam Hawa Garm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics.... |
Salim Mirza | |
| 1977 | Jallian Wala Bagh Jallian Wala Bagh Jallian Wala Bagh is a 1977 Bollywood film directed by Balraj Tah.-Cast:*Shabana Azmi*Sampooran Singh Gulzar ... Suneel*Vinod Khanna*Ram Mohan*Deepti Naval*Parikshat Sahni ... Udham Singh*Parikshat Sahni*Om Shivpuri*Sudhir Thakkar... |
Udham Singh |
| Amaanat Amaanat Amaanat is a 1977 Bollywood film directed by Shatrujiit Paul. The film stars Manoj Kumar.-Cast:*Manoj Kumar ... Deepak*Sadhana Shivdasani ... Suchitra *Balraj Sahni ... Suresh*Mehmood ... Mahesh*Rehman... Amar... |
Suresh |
Works
- Balraj Sahni: An Autobiography, by Balraj Sahni. Published by Hind Pocket Books, 1979.
Mera Pakistani Safarnama (Punjabi),
Mera Russi Safarnama (Punjabi).
Kamey (Labourerers) (Punjabi)
Further reading
- Balraj Sahni: An Intimate Portrait, by Puran Chandra Joshi. Published by Vikas Pub. House, 1974.
- Balraj, my brother (National biography series), by Bhishma Sahni. National Book Trust, India, 1981.
External links
- http://www.thebhopalpost.com/index.php/2010/07/balraj-sahni-speaking-his-heart-out/ Balraj Sahni’s Convocation Address at Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1972