Pathetic Facts

Indian movie stars born in 1917

Here are 12 famous actors from India were born in 1917:

G. V. Iyer

G. V. Iyer (September 3, 1917 Nanjangud-December 21, 2003 Mumbai) also known as Ganapathy Venkataramana Iyer, Kannada Bheeshma, Barefoot Director, The Barefoot Director or Ganapathi Venkatrama Iyer was an Indian actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer.

G.V. Iyer is best known for his contribution to Kannada cinema and is considered to be one of the pioneers of parallel cinema in India. He began his career as a lawyer before getting into the film industry. He directed over 20 films in his career, most of which were in Kannada. His films were known for their social commentary and humanistic themes. Iyer also dabbled in acting and appeared in several films, including Satyajit Ray's "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" (1977). He was a recipient of several awards, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, which are among the highest civilian honours in India. He was also awarded the National Film Award for Best Direction in 1976 for his film "Vamsha Vriksha".

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Bijon Bhattacharya

Bijon Bhattacharya (July 17, 1917 Faridpur-January 19, 1978) also known as Bijan Bhattacharya, বিজন ভট্টাচার্য or Shri Bijon Bhattacharya was an Indian actor, playwright and screenwriter. His child is called Nabarun Bhattacharya.

Bijon Bhattacharya was considered as one of the pioneers of Indian theatre. He was involved in leftist politics and his work often reflected socio-political issues. He co-founded the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and was instrumental in promoting Hindi and Bengali theatre. Some of his most renowned plays include "Nabanna", "Tantra", and "Sojan Badiyar Ghaat". In addition to his contributions to Indian theatre, Bhattacharya also acted in several Bollywood films including "Ankur" and "Amar Akbar Anthony". He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his contributions to the field of arts and culture.

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M. G. Ramachandran

M. G. Ramachandran (January 17, 1917 Nawalapitiya-December 24, 1987 Chennai) also known as Makkal Thilagam, Bharat Ratna M.G. Ramachandran, Puratchi Thalaivar, Chemmal Ponmana, Puratchi Nadigar, M. G. R., MGR, Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran, Marudur Gopalamenon Ramachandran, M.G.R., M.G. Ramachandran, Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran, Ponmanachemmal, Vaatthiyaar, Idhayakkani, Idhaya dheyvam or DOCTOR was an Indian politician, actor, film producer, film director, philanthropist and editor. His child is called Surendran Ramachandran.

M.G. Ramachandran started his career as an actor in the Tamil film industry in 1935 and went on to act in over 130 films. He gained immense popularity for his roles in movies such as "Malaikkallan," "Nadodi Mannan," and "Enga Veetu Pillai." In 1972, he formed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party and became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977. He served as the Chief Minister for three terms and was known for his populist policies and schemes targeted towards the welfare of the poor. He was also popularly known as Puratchi Thalaivar, which translates to "revolutionary leader." M.G. Ramachandran was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 1988, a year after his death.

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K. A. Thangavelu

K. A. Thangavelu (January 15, 1917 Tirumalarajanpattinam-September 28, 1994) otherwise known as K.A. Thangavelu or Danaal Thangavelu was an Indian actor, comedian and singer. His children are called Sumathi Thangavelu, N. Valarmathi and Vijaya Chamundeeshwari.

K. A. Thangavelu is best known for his work in Tamil cinema, where he acted in over 400 films. He was known for his comic timing and versatile acting abilities, and was a popular figure in Tamil cinema during the 1950s and 60s. Thangavelu began his career as a stage actor before moving on to films, and his early roles were often comedic in nature. However, he also showed his range as an actor by performing in dramatic roles later in his career. In addition to acting, Thangavelu was also a talented singer and recorded several songs during his career. He was honored with the Kalaimamani award, one of the highest honors given by the Tamil Nadu government, for his contributions to Tamil cinema.

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Pendyala Nageswara Rao

Pendyala Nageswara Rao (March 6, 1917 Andhra Pradesh-August 31, 1984) also known as Pendyala Nageshwara Rao, P M Rao or పెండ్యాల నాగేశ్వరరావు was an Indian actor, singer, film score composer and music director.

He was one of the most prominent and prolific music directors in the Indian film industry, especially in the Telugu cinema. Pendyala Nageswara Rao composed music for around 300 films in a career spanning more than three decades. His music is known for its melody, simplicity, and perfect harmony. He has also sung several memorable songs in Telugu movies, which are still popular among music lovers. Pendyala Nageswara Rao received many awards and honours for his contribution to Indian music, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 1972. Even after his demise, his music continues to inspire many upcoming music directors in the Indian film industry.

Thomas Heathcote

Thomas Heathcote (September 9, 1917 Shimla-January 5, 1986 London) also known as Tom Heathcote was an Indian actor.

Heathcote was best known for his work in British television and film productions. He started his acting career in India before moving to the UK in the 1940s. He went on to appear in numerous television shows and films, including "The Sword and the Rose" (1953), "Doctor Who" (1967), and "The Avengers" (1961-1969). In addition to his acting work, Heathcote was also a talented writer and playwright. He wrote several plays, including "Tess" (1971) and "The Fan House" (1972), both of which were broadcast on BBC Radio. Heathcote passed away in London in 1986 at the age of 68.

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Ishaq Bux

Ishaq Bux (June 15, 1917 Kampur-September 2, 2000 London) was an Indian actor.

He started his acting career in 1937 with a small role in the film "Rangila Rajasthan". Soon, he became well known for his roles in films like "Jugnu" (1947) and "Barsaat" (1949). He worked in more than 150 films in his career and was known for his versatility as an actor. Bux was also a writer and wrote the script for the film "Bala Joban" (1950). In 1953, he migrated to Pakistan and continued to act in films there, becoming a popular actor in the Pakistani film industry. In 1980, he moved to London and settled there until his death in 2000.

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Milton Reid

Milton Reid (April 29, 1917 Mumbai-November 27, 1987 India) a.k.a. Milton Read, Milton Gaylord Reid, The Mighty Chang, Milton Rutherford Reid or Jungle Boy was an Indian actor and wrestler. His child is called Milton Reid Jr..

Reid was best known for his work in the British film industry. He appeared in several notable films, including the James Bond film "Dr. No" (1962), the Hammer Horror film "The Vampire Lovers" (1970), and the adventure film "The Million Eyes of Sumuru" (1967). In addition to his acting career, Reid was also a professional wrestler, and he was known for his impressive physique and acrobatic skills in the ring. He competed under the name "The Mighty Chang" and was a popular attraction in the UK wrestling scene during the 1950s and 1960s. Reid passed away in 1987 at the age of 70.

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Rajen Tarafdar

Rajen Tarafdar (June 7, 1917 Rajshahi-November 23, 1987) also known as Rajen Tarafder was an Indian film director, actor and screenwriter.

He is primarily remembered for his work in the Bengali film industry, where he directed several acclaimed films such as 'Bhikkhuto' (1954), 'Nishipadma' (1970), and 'Sakhi Tumi Kar' (1978). Tarafdar began his career in the film industry as an actor, working alongside the likes of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. Some of his notable performances include his roles in 'Basu Parivar' (1952) and 'Sabar Uparey' (1955).

In addition to his work in films, Tarafdar was also a well-known theater personality in Kolkata during the 1940s and 1950s. He founded the theater group "Abhipta" and directed several plays for them, including 'Nisiddha', 'Nashtanir', and 'Baidurya Rahasya'.

Tarafdar received several awards for his contributions to Indian cinema, including the BFJA Award for Best Director for 'Sakhi Tumi Kar' in 1978. Despite his successes, he remained humble and grounded throughout his career, and is remembered fondly by his colleagues and fans alike.

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Nabendu Ghosh

Nabendu Ghosh (March 27, 1917 Dhaka-December 15, 2007) also known as Nabendhu Ghosh, Nabyendu Ghosh, Nobendu Ghosh, Nebendhu Ghosh, Nebendu Ghosh or Navendu Ghosh was an Indian writer, actor, screenwriter and film director. He had two children, Shubhankar Ghosh and Ratnottama Sengupta.

Nabendu Ghosh was a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, having written the screenplays for several critically acclaimed movies, including Devdas (1955), Sujata (1959), Bandini (1963) and Abhimaan (1973). He was also known for his work as a director, having helmed films such as Trishagni (1988) and Padma Nadir Majhi (1999).

Apart from his work in films, Ghosh was a prolific writer, having authored several novels and short stories. Some of his notable works include the novel That Long Silence and the short story collection Tales of Frustration. Ghosh was also actively involved in the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and was a regular contributor to the literary magazine Desh.

Ghosh's contributions to the Indian film industry were recognized with several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Sujata in 1960 and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Mumbai International Film Festival.

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Asit Sen

Asit Sen (May 13, 1917 Gorakhpur-September 18, 1993) a.k.a. Ashit Sen was an Indian actor and film director. His children are called Sujit Sen and Abhijeet Sen.

He started his career as an actor in Bengali films in the 1940s and later transitioned into directing films in the 1950s. As a director, Asit Sen is best known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful films such as "Safar" (1970), "Mamta" (1966), and "Khamoshi" (1969). He received the Filmfare Award for Best Director for his work in "Safar" and "Khamoshi".

In addition to filmmaking, Asit Sen was also a prolific stage actor and performed in several popular plays. He was known for his versatile acting skills and his ability to portray a wide range of characters. Throughout his career, he collaborated with some of the most iconic actors and actresses of his time, including Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, and Ashok Kumar.

Asit Sen passed away in Kolkata in 1993 at the age of 76. He is remembered as a talented filmmaker who made significant contributions to Indian cinema.

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Sajjad Hussain

Sajjad Hussain (June 15, 1917 Sitamau-July 21, 1995) also known as Sajjad, Sayed Hussain or Sajjad Hussain was an Indian film score composer and actor. His children are called Mustafa Hussain, Yusuf Hussain, Noor Mohammad, Nasir Ahmmad and Abdul Karim.

Sajjad Hussain started his career in the 1930s and went on to score the music for over 50 Bollywood films. He was known for his melodious and innovative style of music that blended Indian classical music with Western arrangements. Some of his most popular soundtracks include the songs from the films 'Barsaat', 'Amar', and 'Shardhanjali'.

Besides composing music, Sajjad Hussain also ventured into acting and appeared in a few films like 'Rustam Sohraab', 'Railway Platform', and 'Mere Huzoor'. He also worked as a music director for a couple of films in Pakistan.

Sajjad Hussain was a recipient of several awards including the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the film 'Choti Bahen'. He was also honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1986 for his contribution to Indian music.

In his later years, Sajjad Hussain suffered from a stroke, which left him paralyzed. He breathed his last on July 21, 1995, at the age of 78, leaving behind a rich legacy of music that is still cherished by music lovers across the world.

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