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Baldev Raj Chopra (B.R. Chopra) (22 April 1914 – 5 November 2008)^[1] was an Indian director and producer of Bollywood movies and television serials. Most known for Hindi social films like Naya Daur (1957), Kanoon (1961), Gumrah (1963) and Humrāz (1967), plus the mega TV Series, Mahabharat in the late 1980s ^[2] He was awarded the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1998 ^[3]

His brother Yash Chopra, son Ravi Chopra and nephew Aditya Chopra are also directors in the Bollywood industry.

[edit] Biography

Born in Ludhiana, "B.R." received an M.A. in English literature from University of the Punjab in Lahore. He started his career in 1938 as a film journalist with Cine Herald, a film-monthly published in Lahore, he later took over the magazine and ran it until 1947 ^[4]. In the same year, he launched a film with a story by I. S. Johar, Chandni Chowk,,,Naeem Hashmi was hero of this movie and Erika ( Rukhshi)was heroin . Just as the production of film was to start, riots broke out in Lahore and he and his family had to flee from the city. After the partition of India into India and Pakistan in 1947, he moved to Delhi. He later moved to Bombay (Mumbai), where his first production, Karwat, began in 1948, though it turned out to be a flop. His first film as a director, Afsana, was released in 1951 and featured Ashok Kumar in a double role - the film was a hit and established his name in Bollywood. Chopra made Chandni Chowk, with Meena Kumari as a lead, in 1954. In 1955, B.R. formed his own production house, B.R Films. His first movie for this production house was the highly successful Naya Daur (1957) starring Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala Bali, the film became a golden jubilee hit.

B.R. was instrumental in developing the career of singer Mahendra Kapoor, and employed Mahendra in most of his movies. (Director-producer Yash Choprā, a brother of B.R., cast Mahendra Kapoor's son in Fasle.)

B.R.'s foray into television led to Mahabharat, one of the most successful TV serials in Indian television history. Another of his memorable TV drama is Bahadur Shah Zafar.

He died in Mumbai at the age of 94 on 5 November 2008 ^[5], survived by his son, Ravi Chopra, also a filmmaker and two daughters ^[6]

[edit] Awards

1962: Filmfare Best Director Award: Kanoon
1998: Dādāsāheb Phālke Award
2003: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award
2008: Phalke Ratna Award by the Dadasaheb Phalke Academy ^[7]

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Actor

Ghar (1978)

[edit] Story Writer

Bāghbān (2003)
Bābul (2006)

[edit] Director-Producer

Naya Daur (1957)
Sadhana (1958)
Kanoon (1961)
Gumrah (1963)
Humrāz (1967)
Dastān (1972)
Dhund (1973)
Karm (1977)
Pati Patni Aur Woh (1980)
Insāf Kā Tarāzoo (1980)
Nikāh (1982)
Awām (1987)
Kal Ki Awaz (1992)

[edit] Director

Afsānā (1951)
Chāndni Chowk (1954)
Ek Hi Raasta (1956)
Tawaif (1985)

[edit] Producer

Dhool Kā Phool (1959)
Dharm Putra (1962)
Waqt (1965)
Ittefaq (1969)
Ādmi Aur Insān (1970)
Zameer (1975)
Chhoti Si Bāt (1976)
The Burning Train (1980)
Agnee Pareeksha (1982)
Mazdoor (1983)
Aaj Ki Awaaz (1984)
Kirayedār (1986)
Dahleez (1986)
Pratigyābadh (1991)
Bāghbān (2003)
Bābul (2006)

[edit] References

Wikinews has related news: Indian filmaker Baldev Raj Chopra dies at age 94

[edit] External links

[0] NDTV

[1] B.R.Chopra made socially relevant films The Hindu, 6 November 2008.

[ultra-2] B.R. CHOPRA - Purposeful Film Maker - 30th Recipient - 1998 Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

[3] Films transformed Chopra's destiny and vice-versa The Times of India, 6 November 2008.

[4] Filmmaker B.R. Chopra dead

[5] Bollywood producer BR Chopra dies BBC News, 5 November 2008.

[6] Apunkachoice

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