National Award-winning director Kundan Shah, best known for his dark satire Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and coming-of-age comedy Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, passed away at his residence early today. Shah died of a heart attack, sources close to the family told PTI.
Born on October 19, 1947, Shah studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his directorial debut with Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron in 1983. The movie featuring Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Satish Kaushik, Bhakti Barve and Neena Gupta went on to achieve a cult status despite a poor response at the box office.
Shah received his first and only National Award―Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director―for the movie that is now celebrated as one of the best satires ever made in Indian cinema. The movie revolved around two struggling photographers, who fall into a dirty nexus of corruption and murder.
Shah made a switch to television after Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro. He teamed up with Saeed Akhtar Mirza for his debut TV show Nukkad. One of the most popular shows in the 1980s, Nukkad gave Indian audiences memorable characters like Khopdi, Kaderbhai and Ghanshu Bhikari. His next TV show was Wagle Ki Duniya, which was based on cartoonist R.K. Laxman's character, the common man.
Shah made his Bollywood comeback in 1993 with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa. The film received critical acclaim and is counted among Shah Rukh's best performances. His next, Kya Kehna, was once again a story that was ahead of its time and dealt with teenage pregnancy and the stigma attached to it.
The director made a number of films after Kya Kehna, but commercial success eluded him.
Shah's sudden demise has shocked his friends in the industry. His friend and colleague Satish Shah, who played one of the principal characters in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, told PTI, "I just got to know about Shah's demise. I have reached his house. It is really sad."
Director Hansal Mehta paid tribute by posting a black and white photograph of the Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro team. “'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' RIP Kundan Shah. Sad news,” he wrote.
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt remembered Shah as a brave man "who added vigour to the alternate cinema stream with movies like 'Jaane bhi do yaaro'".
Farhan Akhtar wrote, "Saddened to learn that Kundan Shah is no more. Will never forget his genuineness, his cinematic knowledge and his unique sense of humour. RIP"
Karan Johar said, "RIP Kundan Shah... A cult filmmaker ... A solid story teller."
Sudhir Mishra said the director was a huge influence of him when he was a 22-year-old and helped him find his voice.
"It's probably wrong but I can't help but imagine Kundan Shah and Renu Saluja meeting and arguing over a cut and maybe Ravi Baswani is mediating!" he added.
Riteish Deshmukh said, "RIP Kundan Shah.... A master storyteller no more. Condolences to the family and loved ones."
