The Top Courtroom Drama in Hindi Films

Courtroom scenes were once a favorite genre during the Golden Era of Bollywood. Of late this is completely missing in our films, barring one or two exceptions like Jolly LLB or Pink. 
The reason I think for creating a courtroom scene, a solid script is required, a lot of groundwork, understanding of law and procedures of a court, and finally a perfect direction. 
In the 1950s and 1960s, the court scenes usually come at the fag end of the film. Most of these scenes foretold by a quick shot of the national slogan "Satyamev Jayate" or by the shot of Goddess of Justice wearing a black colored bandage on the eyes and carrying a pair of weighing scale on the hand and almost invariably, the truth did prevail.

Courtroom Scene Amar 1954

Each decade presented a peculiar legal drama, in the late 40e patriotic court cases were common, recall the court scene of Shaheed (!949), where Dilip Kumar is being prosecuted. In another film Amar (1954).Dilip Kumar plays the role of an advocate. There was a court scene where Dilip Kumar fights a case for Madhubala.

Courtroom Scene Paying Guest 1957

Dev Anand films had many courtroom scenes. every fourth film of his had a court scene, either he is a lawyer or a convict. In Paying Guest he plays the role of an advocate. Similarly in 1962 film Baat Ek Raat Ki, he once again played a lawyer. In Kala Bazar there was a famous court scene in which Chetan Anand appeared. as a lawyer. In the 1968 film Dev Anand once again played the role of an advocate.

Courtroom Scene Awara 1951

In the 1951 film Awaea, in a very famous court scene, Nargis appeared as an advocate for the convict Raj Kapoor. This was perhaps one of the earliest instances of a female lawyer being shown in our cinema. The film starts with the courtroom scene where Nargis walks in to announce that she is going to defend Raj Kapoor in this case much against the wishes of Prithviraj Kapoor the father-like figure who had brought her up.

Courtroom Scene Pooja Ke Phool 1964

Mala Sinha also appeared as a lawyer in Pooja Ke Phool (1964). Dharmendra, the hero is charged with the murder of an unknown young woman.  Mala Sinha who plays a defense lawyer and her father Ashok Kumar who plays public prosecutor is one of the highlights of the film. There were interesting and dramatic courtroom scenes and the confrontation between Mala Sinha and Ashok Kumar. The last 45 minutes were devoted to this courtroom scene.

Courtroom Scene Mamta 1966

Suchitra Sen also played as an advocate in the 1966 film Mamta. Suchitra Sen in memorable double role-playing both mother and daughter. The daughter is brought up by Ashok Kumar without letting her know the identity of her mother.  The last scene of the film which is both emotional and impactful has the daughter Suchitra Sen as the defense lawyer pleading her mother’s case and she comes up with a splendid performance that leaves the audience stunned.

Courtroom Scene Kanoon 1960

Kanoon (1960) was an outright courtroom drama film. .A story of a murder mystery, starting with the Judge having Bet with Fellow judge to commit a murder and get Scot free from Law. It was the first songless film. The film was a courtroom drama of a murder case, where the judge's perspective son-in-law (Rajendra Kumar) is the defense lawyer in a case of murder, for which he suspects his would-be father-in-law. 

Courtroom Scene BaaT Ek Raat Ki 1962

Baat Ek Raat Ki is a 1962 Hindi film directed by Shankar Mukherjee, starring Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, and Johnny Walker. Dev Anand plays the role of a lawyer. Waheeda Rehman is accused of a murder.. The film starts with a court scene. Renowned lawyer Rajeshwar (Dev Anand) decides to represent her, he accepts her guilt, but as he goes deep into the details of her story and the circumstances, he is not sure whether or not she is guilty. Neela's employer Beni Prasad is the mastermind behind Neela's imprisonment. He is after her property. Rajesh disguises himself and appears at the court on the final day and accuses Beni Prasad and tells the whole story.

Courtroom Scene Yeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke 1963

Yeh Raste Hain Pyar Ke is a 1963 film. The film was based on a real story and famous case of the sixties "Nanavati" case. In the real-life story of crime and passion, Cdr. Nanavati, on his return from an assignment one day in 1959, was outraged to find that the British-born wife he adored had allowed herself to be seduced by his friend of 15 years, Prem Ahuja.
Without a doubt, the courtroom scenes played out by stalwarts Ashok Kumar and Motilal are the highlights of the film. In every scene, one tries to be up on the other and both are an absolute treat to watch. Without these two superb artistes and the riveting courtroom performances, this film would have been hollow. As it is, there are too many empty spaces when Dutt and Naidu are in the same frame.

Courtroom Scene  Waqt 1965

Waqt was a 1965 super hit film, it had very classic court scenes.  Balraj Sahni’s Lala Kedarnath is reunited with his family against the backdrop of a murder trial, and the court scenes serve a clear dramatic function in a story that is already much larger than life. Never in a Hindi film, such drama is shown in a courtroom. 
Sunil Dutt plays the defense advocate and acts his heart out, complete with long emotional gazes and melting puppy eyes in a bid to engage the conscience of witnesses. During one cross-questioning, he engages in an entire spectrum of emotions. From screaming at a witness, he moves close and almost whispers to him, urging him to place his hand on the Bhagwad Gita and reverse his earlier statement. Further, in order to prove a point about footprints at the crime scene, he actually drags a sack dripping with red liquid into the courtroom and asks the prosecutor to enact it himself.

Courtroom Scene Mera Saaya 1966

Another iconic courtroom scenes were in 1966 film Mera Saya, directed by Raj Khosla. Sunil Dutt plays an advocate who fights his own case. A lady resembling his wife claims to be his wife. His wife got died on his arms a year back refuses to accept her claim.

Courtroom Scene Mamta 1966

Mamta a 1966 film in which Suchitra Sen had a double role, playing mother and daughter. Ashok Kumar is the judge and the daughter becomes a lawyer. In the last scene of the film which is both emotional and impactful has the daughter Suchitra Sen as the defense lawyer pleading her mother’s case and she comes up with a splendid performance that leaves the audience stunned

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Court Scene Duniya 1968

Duniya 1968 film is having a memorable courtroom scene. There is a beautiful argument between Dev Anand and Balraj Sahni both are the advocate. The movie deals about three friends Amarnath, Gopal, and his sister, Mala, Years later, all three have grown up. Mala's mom is deceased, while she continues to live with her aunt and uncle, Public Prosecutor Ramnath Sharma; Amarnath is now an Advocate working with Senior Advocate Mehta, and is in love with Mala, not knowing that she is his childhood friend; while Gopal has been to prison in Poona, Madras, and the Police in Hyderabad want him for questioning. Soon Amarnath will be defending Gopal, alias Ram Singh, for the murder of one Mohanchand - and it will be an uphill task for Amarnath - for not only do the Police have airtight evidence against Gopal, Mohanchand

Courtroom Scene  Gambler 1971

Gambler, 1971 film having a long 30 minutes climax court scene. In this film Dev Anand (Raja) plays a gambler who faces a trial in the court for murder. In the climax in Raja's life is in the Court Room where he will find out about his past, and about his parents.

Courtroom Scene Insaf Ka Tarazu 1980

Insaaf ka Tarazu a 1980 film also had memorable court scenes. In the courtroom scene,  Zeenat Aman who has murdered the rapist is the defendant. Pitted against her is Sriram Lagu as Prosecution lawyer. Ifthikhar is the judge. Zeenat Aman says yes she murdered Ramesh Gupta. 

Andha Kanoon released in 1983 was a film about law and justice. The film takes a shot at how manipulative could be the law. Jan Nisar Akhtar Khan (Amitabh Bachchan)  is charged with killing Ram Gupta (Amrish Puri), , tried in Court, and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Years later, an angry and embittered Khan is released from prison. Khan finds out that Gupta is still alive and decides to kill him, quite dramatically in the same courtroom where he was convicted for his murder. 

Courtroom Scene  Meri Jung 1985

MERI JUNG, a 1985  film with a  subject revolving around lawyers and their questionable practices in the court playing with the hidden truth.  The most electrifying and famous sequence of the film was the one in which Anil Kapoor who plays an advocate shockingly drinks poison from a bottle right within the court in order to prove it hasn’t got any poison at all and his client has just been framed for an undisclosed reason.

                                                     Scene of Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986)

Ek Ruka Hua Faisla (1986)  features the case against a teenager for killing his father by stabbing. The film not only focuses on the courtroom arguments but also show how jurors debate to reach out for the truth and what goes on in their head and mind when they declare a verdict. This film is an outright law film.

Courtroom Scene  Shehenshah 1987

In the movie SHAHENSHAH starring Amitabh Bachchan where Shahenshah drags JK back to the court and argues his case against JK after JK manages to escape from the news journalist's murder case for lack of evidence.

Court Scene of Damini 1993

Damini 1993 had an unforgettable courtroom scene. Recall  Sunny Deol's famous monologue ‘Tarikh pe Tarikh, Tarikh pe Tarikh’ ! in the courtroom. The heroine named Damini (Meenakshi) fights to get justice, for a rape victim. Sunny Deol appears in the court as her advocate

 

Court Scene , No One killed Jessica (2011)

No One killed Jessica (2011) based on a real case that happened in New Delhi.  Jessica, a young attractive model, a per time bartender, got shot dead at a celebrity party! The film follows the murder case trial and her sister Sabrina’s fight for justice. Rani Mukherjee as Meera Gaity, a news reporter, whereas Vidya Balan plays Jessica’s sister Sabrina.

Court Scene of Jolly LLB (2013)

Jolly LLB (2013) is a realistic film.  It comments on corruption and exploitative behavior of the rich as lawyer Jagdish (Arshad) fights a case for six innocent wage earners. The monopolistic behavior of the rich and judicial corruption are being focused throughout the film. Its sequel is also equally appreciating.

Court Scene of Pink 2016

Pink 2016 a fantastic film in court proceedings. Amitabh Bachchan played a strong and dominating role as a lawyer who criticizes about the stereotypes about girls and the term and conditions which only applicable (so-called) to girls. Pink is not just a movie, about the attempt to murder case, it questions about the thinking of society and how we judge people and women by looks, actions, and lifestyle. With his every delivery of dialogue, Amitabh takes this Courtroom Drama to its next level of success. 

This Iconic Song was Picturised on Music Director Jaikishan

All the fans of Music Director Shankar Jaikishan and Indian film enthusiasts would be surprised to note that the haunting melody ‘Ae Pyase Dil Bezubaan’ from the film Begunah, sung by the great Mukesh was picturized on Jaikishan. In the song sequence, Jaikishan is playing the piano and also singing.
 This film was released on 8 March 1957 but The film was banned 10 days after its release because it was a plagiarized version of the American film Knock on Wood (1954, starring Danny Kaye, Mai Zetterling). The producers of the film filed a copyright lawsuit in India. They won the case and the judge ordered all prints of Begunah to be destroyed. However, the songs especially Mukesh number "Aye Pyase Dil Bezuban" became quite popular 
There is a story behind this song was that once Mukesh was in need of money and approached Shankar for a song That time Shankar was in the process of composing the tune for the film Gunah. The hero of the film was Kishore Kumar so there was no scope for Mukesh to sing in that film. Music Director Shankar assured Mukesh that he will give him a song in this film. Shankar got his collaborator and friend, the renowned lyricist Shailendra, to write the lyrics and called the film’s producer Mahipatray Shah to tell that the song, which would be sung by Mukesh, would be picturized on Jaikishan. The idea startled Shah, who feared that the song had no relation to the film. But in the late 1950s, Shanker-Jaikishan practically ruled the Indian film music world and Shanker’s word was final,” 
The song was the highlight of that film and Sheila Vaz’s dancing was another major highlight of the song.
Sheila Vaz was a popular dancer in Hindi films from 1953 – 1960. Some of her important films included Shree 420 (1955), where she danced memorably not just to Ramaiya Vastavaiya but also to Dil Ka Haal Sune Dilwala, CID (1956), Johnny Walker (1957), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Mr X (1957), Solva Saal (1958), Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959) and Bahana (1960).

25 Years of Rangeela

 

Rangeela released on September 8, 1995, was A. R. Rahman's debut Hindi film with an original score and soundtrack, The film was a major box office success and received critical acclaim. Rangeela is considered to be a cult classic in the history of Bollywood. 

Aamir Khan gave a brilliant performance in the film but eluded from the Filmfare's Best Actor Award. After that, he decided not to take any award and attend any award function. He played an unusual character of a Mumbaiya Tapori in the early stages of his career and that proved to be the milestone for him. Urmila Matondkar in the film became the talk of the town as it re-invented the image of the Bollywood Heroine.

The story evolves around Munna (Aamir Khan) & Milli (Urmila). Aamir is a tenant who lives in the same apartment as Milli, he is a street thug who makes a living by selling cinema tickets in black. In the turn of events, Milli ends up with a role in a big Bollywood movie, and the world around her changes. The hero of her film Jackie Shroff falls in love with her. Munna once her best friend, is in love with her but because this new turn in her life gets ignored. Feeling inferior, Munna decides to leave Mili to Raj. In the end, misunderstandings get cleared up and the lovers unite.

Rangeela is a great musical Hindi movie. The soundtrack featured 7 songs, all the songs were popular. The soundtrack fetched Rahman two Filmfare awards, Filmfare Best Music Director Award and Filmfare RD Burman Award for New Music Talent. 

Rangeela remains RGV's only successful light-hearted film that consisted of romance, music, and comedy. After that he shifted his focus to thriller and gangster films. 

Rangeela Soundtrack

No.	Title	Singer(s)	Length
1.	"Rangeela Re"	Asha Bhosle, Aditya Narayan	5:25
2.	"Hai Rama"	Hariharan, Swarnalatha	5:14
3.	"Kya Kare Kya Na Kare"	Udit Narayan	5:42
4.	"Tanha Tanha Yahan Pe Jeena"	Asha Bhosle	5:36
5.	"Pyar Ye Jaane Kaisa"	Kavita Krishnamurthy, Suresh Wadkar	4:59
6.	"Yaaro Sun Lo Zara"	Udit Narayan, Chitra	5:53
7.	"Mangta Hai Kya"	Shweta Shetty, A. R. Rahman	6:45
8.	"Spirit of Rangeela"	(instrumental)	3:02   Song of Rangeela 1995 Song of Rangeela 1995 Song of Rangeela 1995 Song of Rangeela 1995 Song of Rangeela 1995

Asha Bhonsle- Awarded for a song that never picturized

 

You would be surprised to know that Asha Bhosle won her 6th Filmfare Best Singer award of 1974 for a playback song that did not figure in the movie at all? The song was in the Long Playing Record but was not in the film.

The song was 'Chein se hum ko kabhi aap ne jeene na diyaa' from the film 'Pran Jaye Per Vachan Na Jaye'  released in 1974.The song was composed by O P Nayyar.It was the last song of Asha Bhonsle for O P Nayyar.After this song they parted away. Asha  Bhosle did not turn up to pick up the award, which was, ironically, received by OP Nayyar. 

The story behind the song was that this song was recorded after the completion of the shooting of the film. The song was to be added in the last moment but the producer had already sent the film to the censor board and before the song to be picturized, the film got the censor certificate.

The song was written by S H Bihari.lyrics are full of emotions and Ashadidiji sang this song from the depth of her heart and she made the song superb.

Asha Bhosle(born 8 September 1933) has won seven Filmfare Best Female Playback Awards of 18 nominations. After receiving the award in 1979, Bhosle emulated her elder sister and requested that her name not be considered for the nominations hereafter. Despite this, Bhosle is the most frequent winner of this award to date, tying with Alka Yagnik. She was later given a Special Award for Rangeela in 1996, and the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. 

Rishi Kapoor- R K Studio was his Film Institute.

 

Rishi Kapoor (4 September 1952 – 30 April 2020)  made his debut, as an adolescent, in his father Raj Kapoor's film Mera Naam Joker (1970)for which he won the National Film Award for Best Child Artist. As an adult, his first lead role was opposite Dimple Kapadia in the teen romance Bobby (1973), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor.

The acting was in his blood, he grew up in the cinema atmosphere all around him. He was the grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor, son of the greatest showman of Bollywood Raj Kapoor, and nephew of Shammi and Shashi Kapoor. He wrote in his Biography,"For me, there could have been no film institute better than RK Studio. Film sets were not out of bounds for us, we grew up comfortable in that ambiance. The language, the stories and discussions at home were almost entirely on films.

.I was two years old when I faced a camera.I have no recollection of that acting debut it is captured in the film. I have heard many tales of that day when my father cast him along with my brother and sister in the immortal song 'Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua. from Shree 420. The three of us had to walk through the rain scene.

From very early on, we were also exposed to another side of the film profession. the name, fame, and gossips are part of this life. We were natural to all these. Most of the Kapoors were dropout of schools, acting was their natural profession so he was. When he was in school Mera Naam Joker was offered to him. He played the role of the young Joker. Raj Kapoor fine-tuned his performance by rehearsing every shot of him many times.

Mera Naam Joker was released in 1970, the film flopped but his performance was appreciated. He got the National Award for his performance. His next film Bobby was a super hit He got the best actor award for this film..Between 1973 and 2000 he starred as the romantic lead in 92 films 

Some of his notable films during this period include Khel Khel Mein (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Sargam (1979), Karz (1980), and Chandni(1989). Since the 2000s, he played character roles to critical acclaim in such films as Do Dooni Chaar (2010), Aurangzeb (2013), and Mulk (2018). For his performance in Do Dooni Chaar (2010), he won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor, and for his role in Kapoor & Sons (2016), he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Rishi Kapoor was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 and went to New York City for treatment but after returning home he again fell ill and died on  30 April 2020 

Song of Mera Naam Joker 1970

Song of Bobby 1973

Song of Rafoochakkar 1975

Song of Khel Khel Mein 1975

Song of Kabhie Kabhie 1976

Song of Sargam (1979)

Song of Chandni (1989)

Song of Karz (1980)

Laxmikant Pyarelal- Dominance in Binaca Geetmala

 

Binaca Geetmala was the first and the most popular countdown show of Hindi Film songs from 1953 to 1993. The program played a plethora of popular songs, flooding the airwaves of our childhood and youth. We used to wait eagerly to every Wednesday at 8 PM, to tune in to what would be a nonstop one hour feast of music fiesta.

In an interview, Laxmikant told that it was their desire that their song is played in this program. It became their goal to achieve this feat. In the third quarter of 1963, Laxmikant-Pyarelal first ever songs Hasta Hua Noorani Chehra form “Parasmani”  hit the “Binaca Geetmala”.  It appeared on the Number 06 position in the finals. Number  15  also acquired by Woh Jab Yaad Aaye, from the same film.

Binaca Geetmala was a weekly program and in the last Wednesday of the year, Binaca Geetmala used to broadcast annual (Varshik) program giving the orders of the top ‘Final Songs”  songs of the year, at the end of every year. The success of a music director , lyricist or singer was judged on the performance of their song in the annual program.

If we look into the 40 years journey of this show, the total number of songs that appeared were 1259. Out of these, 245 songs were composed of them, highest of all music directors followed by Shankar Jaikishan (144 songs). 

The popularity of their songs was so high that on many occasions, more than half the numbers of the songs were of the duos.  There are certain weekly Binaca Geetmala programs in which more than 13 out of 16 songs of Laxmikant-Pyarelal were broadcast when the duo were on right on top of their carrier. 

After appearing for the first time in 1963 they dominated this program.. Not only that, on an average, there used to be at least more than 8 to 10  songs from the desk of the duos, that too covering about 50 % of the songs in between top to first ten positions.

In their 30 years journey in Binaca Geetmala, their composition topped for Eleven years including four times in a row in  1967, 1968, 1969, and 1970. In this blog, I am posting these Top Songs (11)

1967 — Sawan Ka Mahina .… Lata – Mukesh,  “Milan”          

Song of Milan 1967

1968 — Dil Vil Pyar Vyar …. Lata,   “Shagird”  

Song of Shagird 1968

1969 — Kaise Rahoon Chup …. Lata, “Intequam”        

               Song of Intequam 1969     

                 

1970 — Bindiya Chamkegi ….. Lata, “Do Raaste”     

Song of Do Raste 1970

1975 — Mehangai Mar Gayi ..Lata Jani .”Roti Kapada Aur Makan”

Song of Roti Kapda Aur Makan 1975

1980 — Dafliwale Dafli Baja … Lata-Rafi, “Sargam” 

Song of “Sargam” 1980

1984 — Tu Mera Janu Hai … Anuradha-Manhar  “Hero”

Song of Hero 1984

1986 — Yashoda Ka Nandlala …. Lata, “Sanjog”

Song of Sanjog 1986

1987 — Chitthi Aayi Hai ….Pankaj Udhas, “Naam”

Song of Naam 1986

1989 — My Name Is Lakhan …. M. Aziz, “Ram Lakhan”

Song of Ram Lakhan 1989

1993 — Choli Ke Peeche ….Alka Yagnik-Ila Arun “Khalnayak”

Song of Khalnayak 1993

Sadhana - The Story of Famous "Sadhana Cut'

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No doubt she was a Style icon of the 60s. Her hairstyle and her dresses were copied by the girls. There was a time when mothers taking their little girls to the hairdresser for a ‘Sadhana cut'. She created a fashion of the fusion churidar-Kurtis and Mojris she wore in Waqt(1965). In an interview, Sadhana told about her famous Sadhana Cut Hairstyle.

She narrated how she got the famous ‘Sadhana fringe’. “I had a broad forehead, which showed prominently in photo tests. It would then be covered with a patch of hair. When we were about to start Love In Simla, the director RK Nayyar said the patch wouldn’t do. Those days Audrey Hepburn’s Roman Holiday (in which she sports a fringe) had just released. So I was promptly rushed off to a Chinese hairdresser and given a fringe.

Regarding her Churidar Kurtas, she told that she wore those conventional Kurtas in the 1963 film Mere Mehboob which were liked by the girls but she now wanted some changes in her wardrobe. She asked Bhanu Athaiya, the Oscar-winning costume designer to create a fusion of the traditional churidar and modern Kurti for my personal wardrobe. One day Yashji (Chopra) happened to come home to discuss my costumes in Waqt when I walked in wearing a sleeveless, gold-embroidered Kurti, churidar, and Mojris and a chic hairstyle, he went, ‘Wow! What you’re wearing is exactly what I want for my film.’ “The style went on to become a craze.”

Sadhana (2 September 1941– 25 December 2015) started her career with a Sindhi film titled

 Abaana (1958) playing the sister's role of the heroine. Very few know that In 1955 she got her first little break. She played a chorus girl in the song "Mud mud ke na dekh... mud mud ke" in Raj Kapoor's Shree 420. She got her first Hindi film Love In Simla released in 1960 but she played a simple girl in her next film Parakh of Bimal Roy. Recall the popular song of this film 'O Sajna Barkha Bahar Aayi'. 

In 1961's other hit, Hum Dono released, she played the love interest of Dev Anand.  The song 'Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar' remains the most romantic song to date. In 1962, she was again paired with Dev Anand in Asli-Naqli by director Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The same year saw director-screenwriter Raj Khosla cast her opposite Joy in Ek Musafir Ek Hasina. Khosla would again work with Sadhana to make a suspense thriller trilogy  Woh Kaun Thi 1964,  Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967) thus making her famous as the "Mystery Girl". Sadhana was the highest-paid actress of her time. During a career spanning over two decades, Sadhana starred in over 30 films.   

Sadhana got married to R K Nayyar, the director of her first film in 1966. After marriage, Sadhana worked sporadically and went on to do Ek Phool Do Mali, Intaqam , and Geeta Mera Naam (she even directed it). She quit after Geeta Mera Naam. she was not keeping good health (she was suffering from a thyroid disorder). She was diagnosed with cancer in her old age that led her to her death on 25 December 2015. 

Many classic songs were picturized on her, here are a few

Song of Parakh 1960

Song of Hum Dono 1961

Song of Asli Naqli 1962

Song of Mere Mehboob1963

Song of Woh Kaun Thi 1964

Song of Rajkumar 1964

Song of Aarzoo1965

Song of Mera Saya 1966

Song of Inteqam 1969

 

KN Singh- The Looks That Sent Shivers to Audience

 

Recall the personality on the Black & White screen, immaculate in his dress - a suit, overcoat, hat, and cigarette. A peculiar style of his own, raising his bushy eyebrows, tough looks, loud and nasty talk, and horrible laugh, cultured, and soft exterior.  He appeared in over 250 Hindi films over a long career stretching from 1936 to the late 1980s.

Yes, I am talking about K. N. Singh (1 September 1908 – 31 January 2000) who was a prominent villain and character actor of Hindi films. He appeared in several iconic movies in the 40s and 50s including Sikandar (1941), Jwar Bhata (1944) (Dilip Kumar's Debut film), Humayun(1945),, Awara (1951), Baazi(1951) Jaal (1952), CID (1956), Howrah Bridge (1958), Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi (1958), Amrapali (1966) and An Evening in Paris (1967).

He was selected to represent India in the 1936 Berlin Olympics before circumstances compelled him to go to Calcutta to attend on his ailing sister. There he met his family friend Prithviraj Kapoor, who introduced him to director Debaki Bose, who offered him a debut role in his film Sunehra Sansar (1936). According to his nephew in an interview, his first film was Hawai Daku where he was the protagonist. No records exist of this movie now.

After that, he appeared in Karodpati(1937), Vidyapati (1937), Anand Ashram, and Milaap, all these films he did in Calcutta. He came to limelight after the release of Baghban 1938  in which he played the antagonist. The movie was super hit and his role also became super hit. His suave style, baritone voice, and menacing eyes became legendary.KN Singh and his friends Prithviraj Kapoor and KL Saigal were considered the pioneering stars of the Bombay talkies.

He appeared in many R K Films and Navketan films. He was in Barsaat(1949) as Bholu, Awaea(1951) as Jagga. He was in Baazi as Rajni's father, in Jaal as Carlo, in House No 44 as captain. He was in Aandhiyan, Funtoosh, and almost all the earlier films of Dev Anand. He was also a favorite actor of Guru Dutt, who took him in Baazi, Jaal, Baaz, and CID. He played General Barborosa in Baaz(1953)

As an actor, Singh's thirst for learning was legendary. For example, he studied the style and mannerisms of carriage riders to prepare for the role of a horse carriage driver in Inspector (1956).He played prominent roles in movies such as Jhoota Kahin Ka (1970), Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (1972). His last prominent role was in the 1973 film Loafer.

He had the distinction of working with three generations of the Kapoor family. He acted with Patriarch Prthiviraj Kapoor in Bidyapati (1937), with Raj Kapoor in Awara (1951) and Rishi Kapoor in Rafoo Chakkar (1975).

Kishore Kumar made him sing and dance in his film Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi in 1974. This is a rare occasion we see K N Singh in a cameo role.

Song of Badhti Ka Naam Dadhi in 1974.

K.N. Singh turned completely blind in his last years. He died in Mumbai on 31 January 2000 aged 91 was survived by his adopted son Pushkar, who is a producer of television serials.

A scene from Awara 1951

Scene from Baaz 1953