This book traces the contribution of Punjabis born before the Partition of India in 1947 to Indian cinema. It examines the story of their contributions at three centres of Hindustani-language films: Bombay, Calcutta and Lahore.
This book is co-published with Aakar Books. Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan)
Preface
1. Themes in Punjab’s History That Shaped Its Music, Popular Consciousness and Cinema
2. Historical and Cultural Context for Punjab’s, Especially Lahore’s, Participation in the Film Industry
3. The Lahore-Bombay Film Linkage
4. Punjabi Artistes and Professionals Establish Themselves in the Indian Film Industry
5. Historical Factors That Shaped Punjab’s Significant Role in the Music of South Asian Cinema
6. Contribution of the Legendary K.L. Saigal to Indian Cinema
7. Punjab-Born Stars Who Shone Brightly in the Bombay Film Industry
8. Two Towering Personalities of the Bombay Film Industry: Shyam and Balraj Sahni
9. Dilip Kumar: Mega Star of the Bombay Film Industry from Punjab
10. Raj Kapoor: The Legendary Showman
11. Dev Anand and Lahore
12. Two Prominent Punjabis in the Bombay Film Industry from Chakwal and Jhelum: R.C. Talwar and Sunil Dutt
13. Pran Personifies the Lahore-Bombay Film Link
14. Om Prakash: Yet Another Lahori Who Shifted to Bombay
15. Kamini Kaushal: Lahore is Home
16. Shyama’s Arain Roots in Lahore
17. Other Pre-Partition Punjabi Heroines in the Bombay Film Industry
18. Where the Rafi Saga Began...
19. The ‘Bell’ Who ‘Sang’ Mellifluously: Shamshad Begum
20. Role of Three Lahori Directors in the Indian Film Industry
21. Other Prominent Directors and Producers
22. Punjabis Who Shaped Songwriting in the Indian Film Industry
23. Two Great Songwriters: Rajinder Krishan and Sahir Ludhianvi
24. Punjabi Storywriters and Scriptwriters of the South Asian Film Industry
25. Magical Song-Music Collaborators: Madan Mohan and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan
26. Some Other Pre-Partition Born Punjabi Lead Artistes, Character Actors, Comedians and Villains
27. I Met Raj Babbar and Naqsh Lyallpuri
28. A Visit to Bombay in February 2013
29. Post-Partition Lahore Film Industry
Editor’s Afterword
Index
Biography
Ishtiaq Ahmed is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Stockholm University, from where he also holds a PhD. He has published several books including the award winning, Jonnah: His Successes, Failures and Role in History, 2020. His book, The Punjab Bloodied, Partitioned and Cleansed: Unravelling the 1947 Tragedy through Secret British Reports and First-Person Account won the Best Non-Fiction Book Award at the Karachi Literature Festival, 2013 and at the Lahore Literary Festival, 2013.
