Page 41 - Seniorstoday January 2023 Issue
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Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and Maa Durga.
He did make Shri Krishna (1993), which
was also successful, but rivals and political
interference, allotted Durga to another
production house, The Sagar banner,
however, went on to make, between 1985-
2015 -- Luv Kush, Alif Laila, Ganga Maiya,
Mahalaxmi, Dada Dadi Ki Kahaniyan, for DD;
and for other satellite channels, Hatim, Sai
Baba, Brahma Vishnu Mahesh, BBajrangbali,
Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan became most watched Chandragupta Maurya, Prithiraj Chauhan,
television series in the world
Shani Dev to name a few.
What it definitely did, was set off a trend Prem Sagar calls his father a “maharishi,”
of mythological and costume serials on but he definitely was a television pioneer.
television. Ramayan was followed by Ramanand Sagar had fulfilled the spiritual
Mahabharat (produced by BR Chopra). destiny that had been foretold for over the
Ramanand Sagar was keen on a trilogy on years!
Top Five Ramanand Sagar Films
Arzoo (1965): force and the other in the army, who take on
The love story starring Rajendra Kumar and the Japanese army in Burma. Mala Sinha and
Sadhana indianised An Affair To Remember Kumkum played the female leads.
(1957), in which a man tries to break off with Charas: (1976):
the woman he met in Kashmir, because Shot on picturesque European locations, this
he loses his foot in an accident, but true was one of the first films to focus on the drug
love, accompanied by Shankar-Jaikishen’s trade, along with a romance and revenge plot,
haunting score, conquers all. starring Dharmendra and Hema Malini, at
Ankhen (1968): the height of their off-screen romance.
One of the earliest international espionage
films, starring Dharmendra and Mala Sinha, Ramanand Sagar Milestones
it was shot on exotic locations in Japan and Born: December 29, 1917
Lebanon, with plenty of action, Bond-inspired 1949: Wrote Raj Kapoor’s Barsaat
gizmos and fine music by Ravi. 1950: Established production company Sagar
Geet (1970): Art
A romantic melodrama, starring Rajendra 1960: Filmfare Best Dialogue writer for
Kumer and Mala Sinha, had memorable Paigham
music by Kalyanji-Anandji, as it portrayed 1969: Filmfare Best Director Award for
the romance between a city-based singer, Aankhen
bewitched by the flute-playing of a villager. 2000: Awarded the Padmashri by the
Lalkar (1972): Government of India
Set during World War II, this action- 2004: Indian Television Awards: Lifetime
adventure had Rajendra Kumar and Contribution to Television
Dharmendra playing brothers, one in the air Died: December 12, 2005
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #43 | JANUARY 2023 41
