Nandini Karnataki
Born as Nandini Karnataki ( but famously known by her screen name -Nanda ) was a very beautiful, charming and a highly talented and famous hindi film actress of 1950s , 60s and early 70s .
She was born on 8th, , January 1939 at Kolhapur in a hindu Maharashtrian family to her father family – Vinayak Damodar Karnataki who was a well known name in Marathi stage shows and films .He was the maternal cousin of legendary film director V. Shantaram and he is the one who introduced Lata Mangeshkar to the film industry through his film -Pahilee Mangalagaur.
Nanda lost her father in 1947 when she was just seven years old and to overcome the financial hardship, she started working in films as a child artist and with her earnings educated and brought up her seven brothers and sisters .
She debuted as baby Nanda in film Mandir in 1948 which was followed by films Jaggu ,Angaarey and Bandish बंदिश and she remained as a child actor till 1956 .
Her big break came when her uncle V.Shantaram cast her in his famous film – Toofan aur Diya तुफान और दीया in 1956 which depicted the struggle of a forlorn brother and sister and with the success of this film, doors opened for Nanda to get one offer after another in films . Initially she did side roles in films like Bandi , Bhabhi, Agra Road ( all in 1957) and Dulhan in 1958 . For film Bhabi she got nomination for film fare award of best actress . In 1959 she acted in seven films including hit films Chhoti Behen छोटी बहन and Dhool ka Phool .She played the title role in film Chhoti Bahen as a blind girl and this hit film turned her in to a star .
She also acted as the heroine in B.R. Chopra’s hit film Kanoon (1960), a film with no songs, which was then a rare thing .
This was followed by her appearance in Devanand’s film – Kala Bazar in 1960 .
Again her 1960’s film Anchal आंचल fetched her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Side by side she did several successful films in Marathi language.
She then played lead role in Dev Anand’s film Hum Dono हम दोनों ( 1961) and Teen Deviyan तीन देवियां ( 1965) . Both the films were acclaimed as hits. Film Hum Dono was relaunched in colour after 50 years on 4 February 2011.
She then acted superbly in 1965 famous and hit film Gumnam गुमनाम of Raja Nawathey , starring herself and Manoj kumar . This thrilling movie was first of it’s kind in hindi cinema and was a box office hit .
She was a hit pair with Shashi kapoor with whom she acted in eight films including the famous films
Like Jab Jab Phool Khile (1965), Neend Hamari Khwab Tumhare (1966), Raja Saab (1969) and Rootha Na Karo (1970 ) .
She did a small role in Manoj kumar’s hit film -Shor शोर of 1972 acting for the famous song – Ek pyar ka nagma hai एक प्यार का नगमा है ।
She acted with young Rajesh Khanna successfully in the songless suspense thriller super hit film -Ittefaq इत्तिफ़ाक़ (1969), for which she received nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress . It was followed by another hit film – The train ( 1970) , produced by Rajendra kumar and in which she acted as Neeta and Geeta .
In her career, Nanda shared screen space with noted actors like Ashok Kumar, Kishore Kumar, Raj kapoor, Dev Anand, Manoj kumar , Waheeda Rehman, Rajesh Khanna and Shashi Kapoor .
After early 1070s , she noticed her incompatibility with young flourishing heros like Amitabh, Vinod khanna, Rajesh khanna , Rishi kapoor etc and wisely withdrew herself from cinema world .
Her last films were -Ahista Ahista in 1981 and then Super hit film – Prem Rog produced and directed by Raj kapoor . She displayed very very impressive performance in the film as mother of Rama रमा -the heroine, Padmini Kolhapure and got nomination for best supporting actress .
Nandaji remained unmarried . On the insistence of her close friends loke Waheeda Rehman , she in her late years got engaged to very famour director , Manmohan desai in 1992 but unfortunately, Desai Sahab died through an accident ( some say suicide) in 1994 before the marriage could take place .
She died at her mumbai home on 25th,March, 2014 of massive heart attack and left millions of her fans in despair and condolence. Her performances will remain immemorial .
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Five stars
( Tributes )
Famous Actor Manoj kumar had the following to say about actress Nandaji :-
QUOTE :
I have never come across an actress who was such a simple person with no airs of being a big star. All those who loved the films of the ‘ 50s-‘ 60s era, would remember Nanda as an actor who would make a strong presence on screen in the most understated manner. That’s how she was in her real life. I would call her an angel who lived among us as a human being. Unlike several actresses of the times, Nanda was completely different – just like any simple girl next door. Nobody would ever recall any instance of her throwing a tantrum or getting melodramatic . Her directors would vouch for her ability to be completely at ease as the camera rolled. She would read the script and would promptly understand her character.
Her choice of scripts was distinct; she mostly played the roles of simple people as that’s what she enjoyed the most.
My wife ( Shashi Goswami) and Nanda were great friends and it was because of their friendship that Nanda accepted the role in my film Shor ( 1972) and she had no reservation that this role was already refused by Sharmila tagore . I still remember her shooting the famous song ‘ Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai , in this film.
UNQUOTE
Nanda has done some unforgettable and splendid work in Bollywood and has given famous films like Dhoo Ka Phool , Dulhan, Bhabhi , Jab Jab Phool Khile , Gumnaam, Shor, Parineeta , Itefakh , Joru ka gulam , the train and Prem Rog . She was the second highest paid Hindi actress along-with Nutan from 1960-1965 and in 1966-1969 along-with Nutan and Waheeda Rehman.
The charming and soft spoken Nanda, had a glorious career in cinema world and interestingly had some of her biggest hit films released at the virtual end of her career like inttefaq, The Train and Joru Ka Ghulam opposite Superstar Rajesh Khanna . At box office these films earned more than her earlier and previous films .
Nanda as an actress perhaps never got her due. She redefined the feminine grace, maturity and womanhood. It is difficult to see an actress, from any era, who could do the avatar of an Indian woman भारतीय नारी better than her. She would be rarely seen at public events and film functions and in the later part of her life , she would prefer to be in her own world and that is what gave her comfort and peace .
She will remain in the hearts of her fans for ever .
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