Remembering Raja Paranjpe, the legendary actor, director, producer, and writer in Marathi cinema, on his 109th birth anniversary today.

Remembering Raja Paranjpe, the legendary actor, director, producer, and writer in Marathi cinema, on his 109th birth anniversary today.

Raja Paranjpe was quite a legend on Marathi stage and cinema as a writer, producer, director, and actor but did very few Hindi films. Raja Paranjape, who ruled Marathi cinema from1948 to 1969, has acted in 60 films and directed 27 films, of which 13 were Hindi films as an actor. His notable Hindi films as an actor include Chacha Chowdhury (1953), Bandini (1963), Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli (1971), Piya Ka Ghar (1972) and Us-Paar (1974). The Hindi films directed by Raja Paranjpe include Baap Bete (1959) and Love and Murder (1966). The super hit Hindi film Mera Saaya (1964) was a remake of his 1964 Marathi film Pathlaag.

Raja Paranjape’s genius lay in the ability to bring a smile on the audience’ face without any slapstick comedy and he had the equal power to bring them to tears without adding any glycerine to his own eyes.

In the 2nd photo, Raja Paranjpe and Nutan in a still from the movie Bandini (1963).