Here are 11 famous actors from India died at 74:
J. C. Daniel (November 28, 1900 Agastheeswaram taluk-April 29, 1975 Nagercoil) otherwise known as Joseph Chellayya Daniel Nadar was an Indian film director, film producer, actor, screenwriter and dentist. His children are called Sundaram Daniel, Lalitha Daniel and Haris Daniel.
Considered as the father of Malayalam cinema, J.C. Daniel made his directorial debut with the film Vigathakumaran in 1928, which is also considered the first Malayalam film ever made. Despite facing financial and technical hurdles, Daniel made two more films, Marthanda Varma (1933) and Ramayanam (1933). However, faced with financial difficulties and competition from Tamil and Hindi films, his film career came to an end.
Daniel was awarded the prestigious J.C. Daniel Award posthumously in 1992 for his significant contributions to Indian cinema. In 2013, a biographical film titled Celluloid was made on his life and achievements, which was well-received critically and commercially. Apart from being a filmmaker, he was also a dentist by profession and had completed his studies in the United States.
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K. Balaji (August 5, 1934 Chennai-May 2, 2009 Chennai) also known as Balajee, Balaje, Balaji, K. Balaji Late or K. Balajee was an Indian film producer and actor. His children are Suresh Balaje, Suchitra Mohanlal and Sujatha Balaji.
He died as a result of renal failure.
K. Balaji was one of the pioneers of Tamil cinema and produced many successful films under the banner Sujatha Pictures. He started his career as an actor and appeared in supporting roles in several films. However, he soon shifted his focus to production and went on to become one of the most successful producers in the industry.
Some of his notable productions include "Paava Mannippu", "Naanum Oru Penn", "Bama Vijayam", "Server Sundaram", and "Karnan". He also produced the Malayalam film "Devaraagam", which marked the debut of his daughter-in-law, actress Shobana.
Apart from his successful career in cinema, K. Balaji was also actively involved in politics and was a member of the Indian National Congress. He served as a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council from 1974 to 1980.
K. Balaji was known for his philanthropic activities and was involved in several charitable organizations. He was also a recipient of many awards and honors for his contributions to the film industry.
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Premankur Atorthy (January 1, 1890 Faridpur District-October 13, 1964) was an Indian film director, novelist, journalist, screenwriter and actor.
Born in present-day Bangladesh, Premankur Atorthy began his career as a journalist and later shifted to film direction. He made his directorial debut with the silent film "Phera" in 1930, which was also the first film to feature the legendary actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Some of his notable films include "Draupadi" (1931), "Bhakta Dhruva" (1934), and "Shahi Lutere" (1936).
In addition to directing, Atorthy also acted in several films, including "Chandidas" (1934) and "Amar Jyoti" (1936). He was also a prolific writer, with several novels and short stories to his credit.
Atorthy was known for his innovative storytelling techniques and his use of music and dance in films. He was a founding member of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and was actively involved in the Indian independence movement.
Premankur Atorthy passed away in 1964, leaving behind a rich legacy in Indian cinema and literature.
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Eric Maturin (May 30, 1883 Nainital-October 17, 1957 London) was an Indian actor.
Born to British parents in India, Eric Maturin grew up in a family with a strong theatrical tradition. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and made his professional acting debut in 1904. Over the course of his career, he appeared in dozens of stage productions, including plays by Shakespeare and Shaw, and worked with leading theatre companies such as the Old Vic and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Maturin also had a successful career in film and television. He made his screen debut in the silent film "Heritage" (1935) and went on to appear in several British films and TV shows throughout the 1940s and 1950s. He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Mr. Poole in the 1945 film adaptation of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," starring Ingrid Bergman and Spencer Tracy.
Alongside his acting work, Maturin was a respected drama critic and wrote for magazines such as The Observer and The New Statesman. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Literature and published a number of books and essays on Shakespeare and other literary topics.
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M. K. Radha (November 20, 1910 Chennai-August 29, 1985) otherwise known as M.K. Radha was an Indian actor.
He began his acting career in 1928 in the silent film era with Keechaka Vadham. M.K. Radha went on to appear in over 500 Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films, earning him the title of "Nadigavel" (King of Acting).
Known for his versatility, he played a wide range of roles, from hero to villain to character roles, in films like Pavalakkodi, Manthiri Kumari, and Lava Kusha. He was also an accomplished stage actor and performed in many Tamil plays, including the popular "Manonmani" and "Velaikari."
Aside from his acting career, M.K. Radha was also a prominent political figure, and was a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1967. He was also a fervent supporter of the Dravidian political ideology and was a close associate of its founder, E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar).
Unfortunately, M.K. Radha's life and career were cut short when he was assassinated in 1985 at the age of 74, due to his controversial political affiliations. However, his contributions to Tamil cinema and politics continue to be remembered and celebrated by fans and followers to this day.
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Talat Mahmood (February 24, 1924 Lucknow-May 9, 1998 Mumbai) also known as Talat Mehmood, Mahmood, Talat, Talat Mahammud, Talaat Mahmud, Talat Mohmood or Talat was an Indian singer and actor.
He died caused by myocardial infarction.
Starting his career as a radio artist, Talat Mahmood went on to become one of the most revered playback singers of the Indian film Industry. He began his career as a playback singer in 1949, with the film ‘Arzoo’. He was known for his soulful and melodious voice that left everyone mesmerized. Talat Mahmood sang in various languages including Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi, Urdu, and Gujarati. He recorded more than 700 songs in a career spanning over four decades. Some of his famous songs include 'Tasveer Teri Dil Mein', 'Jayen to Jayen Kahan', and ‘Shaam-e-Gham Ki Qasam’. Not just a singer, Talat Mahmood also acted in a few films including 'Daag' and 'Shabnam'. He was honored with several awards during his lifetime including the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian awards in 1992 for his contribution to Indian cinema. Till date, his music continues to inspire and entertain millions of people across the globe.
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Shringar Nagaraj (July 16, 1939 Bangalore-July 16, 2013) was an Indian film producer and actor. His child is Ramkumar.
He died as a result of renal failure.
Shringar Nagaraj started his career in the Kannada film industry as a distributor and then went on to produce over 30 films. He started his own production company, Srikanth Enterprises, and produced many successful films including "Keralida Simha", "Shakthi", "Hrudaya Haadithu", and "Bangarada Jinke". In addition to producing films, he also acted in a few films such as "Keralida Simha" and "Jedara Bale". He was well-respected in the Kannada film industry for his contributions and was honored with several awards including the Karnataka State Film Awards and the Dr. Rajkumar Award. Despite his success, he remained humble and down-to-earth, earning him the love and respect of those who knew him.
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Kalyanam Raghuramaiah (February 5, 1901 Guntur district-February 24, 1975 Hyderabad) also known as Eelapata Raghuramaiah, Eelapata, Raghuramaiah, Venkatasubbaiah, Kalyanam Venkata Subbaiah or Raghuramaiah Kalyanam was an Indian actor. He had one child, Thota Satyavathi.
Kalyanam Raghuramaiah was a popular Telugu actor who appeared in over 400 films in a career spanning more than four decades. He started his acting career with the silent film "Bhakta Potana" in 1942 and went on to act in several notable films such as "Malliswari", "Mayabazar", "Lava Kusa" and "Pandanti Kapuram".
Apart from acting, Kalyanam Raghuramaiah was also an accomplished writer and playwright. He authored several plays, the most famous of which is "Kanyasulkam". He was known for his witty dialogues and ability to bring humor to his performances.
Kalyanam Raghuramaiah was honored with the Padma Shri award in 1970 for his contribution to Indian cinema. He passed away on February 24, 1975, at the age of 74.
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Govindrao Tembe (June 5, 1881 Kolhapur-October 9, 1955) also known as Govind Sadashiv Tembe was an Indian film score composer, actor and screenwriter.
He was also a renowned classical musician and a respected theater personality. Tembe was a prominent figure in the early days of Indian cinema and was one of the pioneers of Marathi cinema. He composed music for many Marathi films such as "Deccan Queen", "Vande Mataram" and "Yayati" among others. Additionally, he acted in several films like "Balidan", "Matwala Shair" and "Maza Pati Karodpati". Tembe was also a prolific stage artist and directed many plays such as "Chitramukh", "Ashadh Ka Ek Din" and "Dnyaneshwar Mauli" among others. His contribution to Marathi and Indian cinema and theatre is still remembered and revered by many today.
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Kona Prabhakara Rao (July 10, 1916 Bapatla-October 20, 1990 Hyderabad) also known as Prabhakara Rao Kona was an Indian actor.
He began his acting career in the 1940s and went on to act in over 200 films in a career spanning four decades. Prabhakara Rao was known for his versatile acting skills and played a range of characters from comedic roles to villainous ones. He was a regular in films directed by legendary Telugu director, Bapu. Prabhakara Rao was also a playwright and wrote several plays that were popular in Andhra Pradesh. He was awarded the coveted Nandi Award by the government of Andhra Pradesh for his contribution to Telugu cinema.
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C. Alvares (August 1, 1924-February 28, 1999) also known as Celestino Santana Francisco Alvares or King of Duets was an Indian actor, screenwriter, film director, singer and composer.
Born in Goa, India, C. Alvares started off as a playback singer in the 1940s and went on to become an integral part of the Indian film industry. He composed music for several films and was known for his duets with singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Geeta Dutt. C. Alvares also acted in several films, including Konkani films, and won critical acclaim for his performances. Later in his career, he directed and wrote scripts for several Konkani and Marathi films. He was a versatile artist who made significant contributions to the Indian film industry and is remembered fondly by fans and colleagues alike.
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