Early years
Born on 12 Feb 1920 in Lahore, Pran Krishan Sikand remains one of the greatest icons of Indian films. Born to Kewal Krishan Sikand, a civil engineer, and Rameshwari, Pran was academically gifted but did not harbour any ambition to follow in the footsteps of his father.
Ram aur Shyam Ram aur Shyam (1967)Cinemaazi
Having grown up across the undivided India thanks to his father’s transferable job, Pran attained a great understanding of people from different walks of life that helped him create memorable characters across a career that spanned nearly six decades.
Sudhir, Helen, Pran, Amjad Khan, Man MohanCinemaazi
It was in the early 1940s while working at a photographer’s studio, Pran got a taste of the spotlight when he played a significant character of Sita in the traditional Ramlila, during his visit to Shimla.
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Pran made his debut as an actor in the Punjabi film Yamla Jat (1947) that also featured Noor Jehan and Durga Khote. Pran soon became a well-known name in Lahore’s film industry and worked in over twenty films before shifting base to Bombay after the partition of India in 1947. Two of Pran’s pre-Partition films, Taraash (1951) and Khanabadosh (1952) released only in Pakistan.
Film Still showing PranCinemaazi
Once in Bombay, Pran befriended the famous writer Sadat Hasan Manto, who recommended the actor’s name to filmmaker Shahid Lateef. Lateef’s film Ziddi (1948) became Pran’s first film in the newly independent India and cast him opposite Kamini Kaushal and Dev Anand. The success of the film kick-started Pran’s career and there was indeed no looking back.
Kashmir Ki KaliCinemaazi
Although Pran played the leading man in films such as Grihasti (1948), Putli (1950), Jashan (1955), and Halaku (1956) through the 1950s and 1960s he established himself as Hindi cinema’s leading villain. He featured opposite all the top-leading men of the era, such as Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, followed by Shammi Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, and Manoj Kumar.
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The 1970s also unleashed the comic genius within Pran with films such as Victoria No. 203 (1972) and Jangal Mein Mangal (1972).
Ram aur Shyam Ram aur Shyam (1967)Cinemaazi
A list of Pran’s iconic roles from these decades reads nothing less than encyclopedic entries in an all-time great list- Aah (1953), Azaad (1955), Devdas (1955), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956), Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Madhumati (1958), Amar Deep (1958), Chhalia (1960), Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Dil Hi Toh Hai (1963), Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966), Ram Aur Shyam (1967).
Half Ticket (1962)Cinemaazi
What truly separated Pran was his ability to make the typical villain rise about the trappings of the script.
In films such as Munimji (1955) and Half Ticket (1962), where he played the villain, he infused certain comic elements that were unimaginable in the era.
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In the late 1960s, Pran transformed with Manoj Kumar’s Upkar (1967), where he played one of the first ‘sympathetic’ characters of his career that ended up fetching him not only his first Filmfare Award but also changed the trajectory of his career. By the time leading men that he started with had almost worn themselves out, Pran’s Malang Chacha, a war veteran, in Upkar gave him a new lease of life and ushered in a great phase.
Poster of Zanjeer showing Amitabh Bacchan, Pran, Bindu and Jaya BhaduriCinemaazi
In the 1970s, Pran shifted to play what the industry called character roles but in films such as Johny Mera Naam (1970), Purab Aur Paschim (1970), Zanjeer (1973), Bobby (1973), Majboor (1974), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Don (1978) and
Des Pardes (1978) he portrayed myriad characters with great aplomb and redefined the supporting actor tag.
He also excelled as the bad guy with Heer Raanjha (1970)
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In a career started in the 1940s with the likes of Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, and Dilip Kumar, Pran continued to keep pace with leading men and women through the course of the next six decades.
He continued to shine through the 1980s with excellent performances in Karz (1980), Kaalia (1981), Souten (1983), and Sharaabi (1980). He also featured opposite the next generation of superstars such as Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Sunny Deol, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan.
GuddiCinemaazi
The actor’s whose onscreen aura made parents swore off the name “Pran” when it came to christening their children, Pran remains a peerless icon.
A family fan, Pran’s off-screen persona, was nothing less than a true hero. In 1972, his refusal to accept the award stating that the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director should have gone to Ghulam Mohammed for Pakeezah (1972) and not to the musical duo Shankar-Jaikishan for Be-Imaan (1972), a film in which he acted, is the stuff of legend.
Showcard of Zanjeer showing Amitabh Bacchan, Jaya Bhaduri and PranCinemaazi
In 2013, the government of India conferred Pran Krishan Sikand with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honour for cinema in India. Pran was unable to attend the ceremony due to ill health. The fact that then Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Manish Tiwari, presented the award to the actor at his home is a testimony to his greatness.
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