Gajanan Jagirdar

Gajanan Jagirdar (2 April 1907 – 13 August 1988) was a veteran Indian film director, screenwriter and actor. He worked in Hindi Cinema, also called Bollywood, as well as Marathi cinema. The period of 1942 to 1947, saw his rise as a film director with Prabhat Films.

He was appointed as the first director (then principal) of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in 1960 which was known as Film Institute of India then. Jagirdar served as the director of the FTII for just over a year, from 1961 to 1962. He was associated with the Prabhat Film Company three decades before his FTII role, when the campus was the base of the Prabhat.

He became a well-known pedagogue applying the acting theories of Stanislavsky to the prevailing local conditions.

At the 1962 National Film Awards his film Vaijayanta was awarded the Second Best Marathi Feature Film.

Early life Gajanan Jagirdar was born on 2 April 1907 in Amravati, a city in Amravati district, which was a part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency of British India. He started acting as a child actor in the amateur stage. Gajanan was a teacher before joining the film industry.

Film career Gajanan began his film career in 1931 as a scenarist and assistant director in Prabhat Film Company and became a full-fledged film director only two years later in 1934. His first Bollywood film was Sinhasan (1934) as a director. Gajanan Jagirdar's role of Ramshastri in the movie Ramshastri (film) won him immense appreciation and popularity.

Filmography

As director Honhar (1936) Main Hari (1940) Charnon Ki Dasi (1941) Vasantsena (1942) Ramshastri (1944, Marathi) Behram Khan (1946, Hindi) Jail Yatra (1947) Umaaje Naik (1961, Marathi) (as producer) Vijayanta (1961, Marathi)

As actor

Talaq (1938) - Chhabilelal Meetha Zahar (1938) Shejari (1941) - Mirza Payachi Dasi (1941) - Nokheram Padosi (1941) - Mirza Vasantsena (1942) - Shakar Kanoon (1943) Ramshastri (1944) - Ramshastri Kiran (1944) Jhumke (1946) Behram Khan (1946) Dhanyawad (1948) Lekh (1949) Sabak (1950) Chhatrapati Shivaji (1952) - King Aurangzeb Armaan (1953) Mahatma (1953, Marathi) Gajanan Maharaj Ki Jai (1954) Malka-e-Alam Noorjehan (1954) Mahatma Kabir (1954) Maan (1954) Angarey (1954) - Singoba Ghar Ghar Mein Diwali (1955) - Seth Mohanlal Ramshastri Ka Nyay (1956) Chhoo Mantar (1956) - The King Yahudi Ki Ladki (1957) Talaash (1957) Paying Guest (1957) - Public Prosecutor Dayal Apradhi Kaun? (1957) - Shree Nath / Dina Nath Trolley Driver (1958) Karigar (1958) - Shankar's Employer Dulhan (1958) - Seth Dhanpal Raj Tilak (1958) - Sardar Mangal Sen Qaidi No. 911 (1959) - Jailor Chacha Zindabad (1959) - Judge Khanna Hum Hindustani (1960) - Verma Babar (1960) - Shehenshah Jaheeruddin Babar Hum Dono (1961) - Mita's Father Main Chup Rahungi (1962) - Ratan Kumar Aarti (1962) - Deepak's Father Grahasti (1963) - Maya and Radha's dad Ek Don Teen (1964) Guide (1965) - Bhola Tu Hi Meri Zindagi (1965) Saiyan Se Neha Lagaibe (1965) Kaajal (1965) - Saxena Ek Saal Pehle (1965) Yugo Yugo Mi Vaat Pahili (1965, Marathi) Shankar Khan (1966) - Lala Kedarnath Suraj (1966) - Ram Singh Amrapali (1966) - Kulpati Mahanam Hum Kahan Ja Rahe Hain (1966) - Principal Dillagi (1966) - Raibahadur Chhota Bhai (1966) - Poojary Mera Naam Johar (1968) - Lalji Dil Aur Mohabbat''' (1968) - Hostel Warden Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) - Shankarlal Khanna Humsaya (1968) - Sharma - Intelligence Office Chief Farishta (1968) Beti Tumhare Jaisi (1969) Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969) - Judge Ittefaq (1969) - Dr. Trivedi Sajan (1969) - Guruji Paisa Ya Pyaar (1969) - Shankarlal Nanak Naam Jahaz Hai (1969) - Judge Insaan Aur Shaitan (1970) - Shankar Chauhan Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani (1970) - Padma's brother Devi (1970) - Ram Singh (Driver) Chingari (1971 film) Veer Chhatrasal (1971) Bahake Kadam (1971) Nate Jadale Don Jiwaache (1971) Chingari (1971) - Advocate Jwala (1971) - Sardar Hulchul (1971) - Padma's Father Albela (1971) Chori Chori (1972) - Komal's Father Zindagi Zindagi (1972) - Mr. Sharma Sub Ka Saathi (1972) - Sevak Ram Sonal (1973) Bandhe Haath (1973) - Seth. Harnam Das Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973) - Dr. Saxena Badi Maa (1974) Woh Main Nahin (1974) - Judge Raja Shiv Chhatrapati (1974) Hamrahi (1974) Archana (1974) - Gopal Kaka Aashiana (1974) Awara Ladki (1975) Mutthi Bhar Chawal (1975) Dafaa 302: Indian Penal Code Section 302 (Section of Murder) (1975) - Judge Badnaam (1975) - Shankerlal Gumrah (1976) - Professor Vaidya Aaj Ka Ye Ghar (1976) Immaan Dharam (1977) - Barkat Chacha Dhoop Chhaon (1977) - Abdul Shankar Hussain (1977) - Mir Irshaad Hussain Ram Bharose (1977) Paradh (1977) Naami Chor (1977) Mera Vachan Geeta Ki Kasam (1977) - Swamiji Mandir Masjid (1977) Aadmi Sadak Ka (1977) - Retd. Commissioner Upendra Nath Des Pardes (1978) - Mr. Sahni Saajan Bina Suhagan (1978) - Doctor (uncredited) Karmayogi (1978) - Principal Dost Asava Tar Asa (1978) - Retired Commissioner Ankh Ka Tara (1978) - Karim Anjaam (1978) - Maharaja Saanch Ko Aanch Nahin (1979) - Hariram Naiyya (1979) - Sarpanch of Lakhipur Maan Apmaan (1979) - Parvati's dadBeqasoor (1980 film) - Jagmohan Sinha Premika (1980) Manokaamnaa (1980) - Jain (Ex-DFO) Chambal Ki Kasam (1980) - Radhu Kaka Dostana (1980) - High School Principal Maan Abhiman (1980) - Money-lender Prabhu Dayal Gupta Dahshat (1981) - Elderly Doctor Kaalia (1981) - 1st Defense Attorney Umrao Jaan (1981) - Maulvi Maan Gaye Ustaad (1981) - Prosecuting Lawyer Khud-Daar (1982) - Judge Dharam Kanta (1982) - Mukhiya Sun Sajna (1982) - Doctor Love in Goa (1983) - Mr. D'Souza Rishta Kagaz Ka (1983) - Professor Sharma Lal Chunariya (1983) - Kundan's dad Laila (1984) Maan Maryada (1984) - Police Commissioner Bepanaah (1985) - Brahmprakash Bharadwaj Aap Ke Saath (1986) - Parsaji (oldman in "Aged Home") Sutradhar (1987) - Headmaster Soorma Bhopali (1988) Pyase Nain'' (1989) - Senior Police Inspector (final film role)

Awards and honors Gajanan Jagirdar was awarded the best actor award for his portrayal of the poet Parshuram in the film Shahir Parshuram by Government of Maharashtra in 1962. The Bengal journalists Association in 5th Annual BFJA Awards bestowed upon him the best actor award for his performance in the film's Padosi. The same Bengal journalists Association in 8th Annual BFJA Awards honoured him doubly in 1944 by citing him both as Best Actor of the Year and Best Director of the Year for his film Ramshastri.

Death Gajanan Jagirdar died of a heart attack on 13 August 1988 at his residence in Bombay (now Mumbai), aged 81.