KUNDAN SHAH SATIRE..NO MORE!

 

Prominent filmmaker in the genre of Indian satiric social cinema..Kundan Shah passed away!

After studying direction at 'FTII', Pune..in 1983 Kundan Shah made his first film 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' which was in the stream of Indian new wave cinema; but was with independent style of satire or slapstick comedy! Artists like Satish Shah, Pankaj Kapoor, Om Puri & Bhakti Barve played their roles superbly in it. For this debut film Shah won National Award!

After this he started working for television with serial 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'. Then joined 'Iskara' of Saeed Akhtar Mirza and during 1985-86 co-directed folk comedy serial 'Nukkad' with him! After that in 1987 he independently directed TV serial 'Manoranjan' which focused on the film industry..And in 1988 on R. K. Laxman's characters he made 'Wagle Ki Duniya' which Anjan Srivastava acted fantastically!

In 1993 Kundan Shah returned to big screen and written-directed movie 'Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa' which won 'Filmfare's critics Award'!..That was today's superstar Shahrukh Khan's one of the initial roles which gave him boost!..This focused on the hidden talent of youth..which also depicted in it's song..
"Woh to hai albela, hazaron mein akela..
Sada tumne aib dekha, hunar to na dekha!"

Then to focus on the serious social issue of single parenthood..in 1998 Kundan Shah made film 'Kya Kehna'! This was actually the debut film (which released in 2000) of pretty gorgeous Preity Zinta who enacted teenage single-mother in it brilliantly!

Then he wrote-directed some light romantic movies like 'Hum To Mohabbat Karega' (2000) & 'Dil Hai Tumhara' (2002). And in 2014 he made last film..(bold) political satire 'P Se PM Tak'!
 

I remember meeting Kundan Shah in 'FTII'..And during 'Wisdom Tree Film Festival' had nice conversation with him!

My Humble Homage!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti' Pune]