Kumudlal Ganguly was well-known by his filmi name Ashok Kumar , people of film industry called him DADAMONI with love and respect.He received ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’ in 1988 and ‘Padma Bhushan’ in 1998 for his contribution in Indian film industry.

He was born 13 October 1911 in Bhagalpur,Bihar.His father Kunjilal ganguly was a lawyer.Ashok Kumar was elder,after Ashok his sister sati Devi & brother Anoop and Kishore.

His father want him become a lawyer but he is not interested in law so he came to Mumbai and started working as lab assistant in Bombay Talkies .After working some years as lab assistant,one day ashok got a chance to work in the film ‘ Jeevan naiya’ accidentally when the hero NAJM-Ul hasan run away due some circumstances in 1936.

Ashok kumar works with Devika Rani in jeevan naiya in 1936 but he got success from film ‘Achhut Kanya’ which was also released in 1936 with co-star Devika Rani. Achhut kanya was a film about a Brahmin boy who loves a girl of untouchables .A song from film, ‘main ban ka panchhi’ was big hit at that time.

Ashok Kumar practice homeopathy along with his acting career .He could tackle illness that doctors can’t.He was first anti-hero in Gyan Mukherjees’s ‘kismet’ (1943).He plays the role of pick pocketer who later falls in love.KISMET is the first film of Indian cinema which earns one crore rupees at ticket window. A song from film kismet ‘ Door hatoo ae duniya waalo’ was a big hit.

In 1948 as producer he gives break to Dev Anand , Pran & his younger brother Kishore Kumar.In 1949 his film ‘MAHAL’ introduced a new talent ‘Madhubala’ to indian cinema.

After kismet 1943 he started giving successful movies line by line Chal Chal Re Naujawan , Shikari ,Sajan , mahal mashaal Sangram & many more.after 1950 he switched to mature roles and remain active in movies till 1997.

In 1980 he anchored the first indian soap opera HUM LOG and acted the title role in bahadurshah jafar tv serial

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His last film was ‘Aankhon mein tum ho’ in 1997 .He acted in several movies giving indian every shade of acting starting as a hero moving to dumdaar character roles including ‘Jewel THIEF’ undercover villian no one can guess watching this movie for first time.

10th December 2001 was the DAY when Dadamoni ( big brother) has heart failure at his residence at Chembur and he left the Bollywood crying.

Image source: google,Wikipedia

First superstar and singer kundanlal sehgal was born on 11th April 1904 in jammu. His father Amarchand sehgal was tehsildar in jammu and kashmir court.

K.L sehgal started singing at very early age as he got a chance to sing at the court of jammu-kashmir maharaja Pratap Singh .maharaja was impressed and blessed him for his bright future in singing.But At the age of thirteen his voice get cracked and he remains silent for months. His worried mother take him to a saint who told sehgal to keep practicing.After that he practiced for three years in guidance of three great singers of that time.

Sehgal works as Timekeeper in Punjab railways,salesman & manager in a company before choosing singing.At an occasion of singing K.L. sehgal was recognized by a representative of Hindustan Record company ,who agrees K.L. sehgal to make a contract with that company.This contract flourishes the carrier of K.L. sehgal in singing .

‘Jhulna jhulao’ sung by K.L. sehgal for Hindustan record company was a big hit in early days.In 1932 he acts in his first film ‘Mohabbat ke ansoo’ followed by ‘Subah ka Sitara’and zinda laash.

IN 1935 Devdas was released and K.L. sehgal reaches the top of film industry.His performance in devdas was legendary. Balam Aaye Baso more man mein’ and ‘ dukh ke din ab bitat nahi’ were huge hit.

Some of the top songs of legend sehgal are: ek bangla bane nyara ,jab dil he toot gaya,diya jalao,gam diye mustqil,,so jaa rajkumari,babul mora…… 1932 to 1946 was called sehgal era.he gave his golden voice to more than hundreds of songs.he worked in 36 films ( 28-Hindi,7-Bengali 1-Tamil).

In 1940 he shifted to bombay and worked in unforgettable movies like Tansen & Shahjahan.At that stage this legend is totally addicted to alcohol,it is impossible for him to quit drinking.

On 18 th January 1947 K.L. sehgal passed away at the age of only forty two years.Industry looses one of his golden voice but still he alive in his memorable songs and films after his death of 73 years

Image:Wikipedia & google