Karan Dewan

Karan Dewan (born Dewan Karan Chopra; 6 November 1917 – 2 August 1979) was an Indian cinema actor in Hindi film industry. He worked in over seventy films from 1939 to 1979. He started as a journalist while still in college, editing a film-based magazine in Urdu. His brother was the film producer and director Jaimani Dewan.

His decisive film was Rattan (1944), which was produced by his brother Jaimini Diwan, and this movie turned out to be the biggest hit of 1944. He also sang songs in this movie under music director Naushad, and his song "Jab Tum Hi Chale Pardes" became popular. He sang in films such as Piya Ghar Aaja (1947), Mitti Ke Khiloune (1948) and Lahore (1949). His other important films were Zeenat (1945), Lahore (1949), Dahej, Pardes (both 1950), Bahar (1951) and Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953). Known as a "jubilee star", about twenty of his films are stated to have been jubilee (twenty-five weeks or more) hits. He continued to work in the 1960s and 1970s playing supporting parts in films such as Apna Ghar (1960), Shaheed (1965), Jeene Ki Raah (1969) and Nadaan (1971), with the last film in which he was credited being Sohanlal Kanwar's Atmaram (1979).

Early life Dewan Karan Chopra, youngest of three brothers was born on 6 November 1917, at Gujranwala, Punjab (now in Pakistan), British India. He studied in Lahore, where he became interested in journalism and started editing a film magazine in Urdu, Jagat Lakshmi. One of the local distributors he met was Tarachand Barjatya, who was then the Manager of Chandanmal Inder Kumar's distribution office at Lahore. Through his connection with Barjatya he landed in Calcutta, and in 1939, made his acting debut as Puran in the Punjabi language feature film Puran Bhagat (1939). Gaali (1944) was a social film, written and directed by Rama Chowdhary, for producer Nanubhai Desai, under his N. R. Desai Productions banner. It co-starred Dewan with Manjula and Yakub. The film was stated to have been a commercial success at the box office.

In 1945, Bhai Jan was a successful Muslim social family melodrama, which starred Dewan with Noor Jehan, Shah Nawaz, Meena Shorey and Anees Khatoon. The music was composed by Shyam Sunder. The film was a debut from a small production company called United Films, and was praised for quality and content. Another Muslim social, which was a big success the same year, especially for its leading lady Noor Jehan, was Zeenat. Directed by Shaukat Hussain Rizvi, it had music by Mir Saheb with several popular songs sung by Noor Jehan. In 1947, Nargis, Begum Para and Dewan starred in Mehndi, directed by S. Faizal.

1948 had Dewan acting in films such as Phir Bhi Apna Hai, Chand Chakori with Swaranlata, and Piya Ghar Aaja with Meena Kumari. Piya Ghar Aaja was a social film directed by Prahlad Dutt for Ranjit Movietone. It co-starred Dewan with Meena Kumari, Aga Jan and S. N. Tripathi, with music composed by Bulo C Rani. The film was stated to be a "clean picture from Ranjit" free from "cheapness and vulgarity". Meena Kumari, who was then working in her second film as a lead, was praised for her acting. Chaman (Garden, 1948), the first post-Partition Punjabi film in India, directed by Roop Shorey, and starring Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey and Kuldip Kaur, became a major hit. The "melodious" music by composer Vinod became "instantly popular".

Duniya (1949), directed by S. F. Hasnain, under the Fazli Brothers banner, had music by C. Ramchandra and starred Suraiya with Karan Dewan, Yakub, and Shakila. Lahore (1949), a film based on the effect partition had on people, had Dewan co-star with Nargis. It was produced by his brother Jaimani Dewan.

1950s In 1950, Dewan acted in six films, three of which were with M. Sadiq. Anmol Ratan (Rare Jewel), directed by M. Sadiq, was produced by Jaimini Dewan. It co-starred Meena Shorey (as Meena) and Nirmala. The film had music composed by Vinod, who used Talat Mehmood for his first Hindi film venture. However, since Arzoo (1950), a film in which music was composed by Anil Biswas was released earlier, the first Talat song became "Ae Dil Mujhe Aisi" from Arzoo. Pardes, a silver jubilee hit, directed by Sadiq, had Madhubala and Rehman in a social family drama with music by Ghulam Mohammed. Sabak directed by Sadiq for his own Sadiq Productions, starred Dewan with Munawwar Sultana and Shyama; the music was by Alla Rakha.

Dahej (1950) was a melodrama about the evils of the dowry system. It was directed by V. Shantaram for his Rajkamal Kalamandir. This was the first of two films Dewan worked in for Shantaram. The cast included Prithviraj Kapoor, Karan Dewan and Jayshree, with music by Vasant Desai.

In 1951, Karan was cast in the box office success Bahar, which had Vyjayantimala acting in her debut Hindi film. It was directed by M. V. Raman for AVM Productions. The music was composed by S. D. Burman in association with N. Dutta. The film's success in Vyjayantimala's words made her a "national star overnight".

In 1953, Dewan acted in his second film with Shantaram; Teen Batti Char Raasta. A social family comedy-drama on national integration, it starred Dewan with Dewan Sharar, Sandhya and Shashikala. The music was composed by Shivram Krishna. was a 1953 film directed by Roop K. Shorey for Shorey Films. It starred Prithviraj Kapoor with Meena Shorey, Johnny Walker and Dewan.

1955 was a busy year with eight films. The directors he worked with that year ranged from Om Prakash; Duniya Gol Hai, Shakti Samanta; Bahu, Roop K. Shorey; Jalwa, Dhirubhai Desai; Oonchi Haveli. M. Sadiq's rare comedy venture; Musafirkhana (Rest House) was a social comedy about three men from different places, who meet up in Bombay. Dewan, Om Prakash and Johnny Walker played the three characters. Produced by Sadiq Productions, it had music by O. P. Nayyar.

In 1956, Dewan acted in another production from M. Sadiq; Chhoo Mantar (Hocus Pocus), starring opposite Shyama, Anita Guha and Johnny Walker. The music was composed by O. P. Nayyar. Chandan in 1958, a family melodrama, was directed by M. V. Raman for Dossi films. The cast included Nutan, Mala Sinha, Kishore Kumar and Johnny Walker, with popular songs such as "Aankh Milane Ke Liye", sung by Geeta Dutt. Year Film Role Director Co-stars Composer Studio/Producer1939 Puran Bhagat (Punjabi) Puran Roshan Lal Shorey Dhummi Khan Raisaheb Sukhlal Karnani 1941 Mera Mahi (Punjabi) Shankar Mehta Ragini, Manorama Shyam Sunder1942 Tamanna Anupam Phani MajumdarLeela Desai, Paidi Jairaj, Nargis, Suraiya K. C. Dey Laxmi ProductionsShobha Kumarsen SamarthShobhna Samarth, Shahu Modak, Mubarak Vasant Desai Wadia Movietone1943 School Master Chimanla Muljibhoy Luhar Maya Banerjee, Kaushalya, JeevanNinu Majumdar Sun Art PicturesAadab Arz Virendra Chimanlal Desai Nalini Jaywant, Sulochana Chatterjee Gyan Dutt Amar Pictures1944 Ghar Ki Shobha Harshadrai Mehta Swarnalata, Jagdish Sethi, Yashodhra KatjuAllah Rakha QureshiMagnet PicturesRattan Govind M. SadiqSwarnalata, Wasti, Manju Naushad Ali Jaimani Dewan ProductionsGaali Tilak Rama Chowdhury Nirmala, Yakub, KanhaiyalalSajjad Hussain N. R. Desai Productions1945 Bhai Jaan S. Khalil Noor Jehan, Meena Shorey Shyam Sunder United FilmsZeenat Akhtar Hussain Shaukat Hussain Rizvi Noor Jehan, Yakub, Bibbo Mir Saheb Eastern Pictures1946 Phir Bhi Apna Hai Raja Nene Nalini Jaywant, Sunalini Devi, Saroj Borkar Ramchandra Pal Venus Pictures1947 Do Dil Jagdish SethiMotilal, Suraiya, Gulab Govind Ram Jamuna ProductionsPiya Ghar Aaja Prahlad Dutt Meena Kumari, Agha Bulo C. Rani Ranjit MovietoneKrishna Sudama R. Bajaj Balakram, Dulari Shyam Babu Pathak National ArtistsMehandi Sibtain Fazli Nargis, Begum Para, MuradGhulam HaiderFazli BrosGaon Dwarka Khosla Indu, Ramayan TiwariKhemchand Prakash Jamuna Productions1948 Chaman (Punjabi) Chaman Roop K. Shorey Meena Shorey, Kuldip Kaur, Om Prakash Vinod Jaimini PicturesShakti S. I. Hassan Suraiya, Mumtaz Ali, Sofia, CuckooRam Prasad, Azim Baig Greater Bombay PicturesMitti Ke Khiloune Prahlad Dutt Nigar Sultana, Nirupa Roy, Dulari Bulo C. Rani Ranjit Film Company 1949 Lahore Chaman M. L. Anand Nargis, Kanan Devi, Om Prakash Shyam Sunder Jaimani Dewan ProductionDuniya S. F. Hussain Suraiya, Yakub, Shakila, Bhudo Advani C. Ramchandra Fazli BrosRakhi Shanti Kumar Kamini Kaushal, Kuldip Kaur, Pran, Yashodhara KatjuHusnlal Bhagatram Prakash 1950 Wafa Jagatrai Pesumal Advani Shyam, Nimmi, I. S. Johar, YakubVinod, Bulo C Rani Goodluck PicturesAnmol Rattan M. Sadiq Meena Shorey, Nirmala, GopeVinod Dewan ProductionsChhoti Bhabhi Prakash Shanti Kumar Nargis, Shyam, Kuldip Kaur, Shyama Husnlal-Bhagatram FilmkarDahej Suraj V. Shantaram Prithviraj Kapoor, Jayshree, Lalita Pawar Vasant Desai Rajkamal KalamandirPardes Sajan M. SadiqMadhubala, Rehman, Surendra, Cuckoo Ghulam Mohammed All India PicturesSabak M. SadiqMunawwar Sultana, Mijjan Kumar, Shyama, Om Prakash A. R. QureshiSadiq Productions1951 Bhai Ka Pyar Raja Nene Nalini Jaywant, Jagdish Sethi, Sunalini Devi Ramchandra Pal Charolia ProductionBahar Ashok alias Vasant Kumar M. V. Raman Vyjayantimala, Pandhari Bai, Pran, Om Prakash S. D. Burman AVM ProductionsEk Nazar Dilip "Deepu" O. P. Dutta Nalini Jaywant, Gope, Kuldip Kaur, RehmanS. D. Burman Kuldip Pictures1953 Aag Ka Dariya Roop K. Shorey Meena Shorey, Prithviraj Kapoor, Shammi VinodShorey FilmsJalianwala Baag Ki Jyot Rama S. Chowdhary Achla Sachdev, David, Kamlesh Kumari, Roopmala Anil Biswas Famous PicturesTeen Batti Char Raasta Ramesh V. Shantaram Sandhya, Shashikala, Nirupa Roy, Smriti BiswasShivram Krishna Rajkamal Kalamandir1954 Raman Hiren Bose Meena Shorey, Purnima, Om Prakash, CuckooVinodMetropolitan FilmsGuzara S. M. YusufJabeen Jalil, Paro Ghulam MohammedAina PicturesLaadla Surya Kumar Shyama, Agha, Krishna Kumari Vinod Verma Films1955 Duniya Gol Hai Om Prakash Anita Guha, Kuldip Kaur, Indu Paul, Om PrakashC. Ramchandra New Sai ProductionBahu Shakti Samanta Usha Kiran, Shashikala, Johnny Walker, Mehmood Ali, PranHemant Kumar P. R. FilmsJashan S. Shamsuddin Vyjayantimala, Kuldip Kaur, Pran, Johnny Walker Roshan National StudiosJalwa Roop K. ShoreyMeena Shorey, Begum Para, Hari Shivdasani VinodShorey FilmsSau Ka Note Yeshwant PethkarGeeta Bali, Begum Para, Krishna Kumari S. MohinderR. S. FilmsMusafir Khana Prakash M. SadiqShyama, Johnny Walker, Om Prakash, Jayant, GopeO. P. Nayyar Sadiq ProductionOonchi Haveli Dhirubhai Desai Bhagwan, Lalita Pawar, Nirupa Roy Shivram Krishna Sharad ProductionsDeewar I.S. Bali Munawwar Sultana, Bhagwan, Sheikh Mukhtar Mohammed Shafi Indralok Pictures1956 Chhoo Mantar Mahesh M. SadiqShyama, Anita Guha, Johnny WalkerO. P. Nayyar Sadiq Production1958 Chandan M. V. Raman Nutan, Shyama, Kishore Kumar, Mala Sinha, Pran Madan Mohan Dossi FilmsMiss 1958 Kuldip Kahar Suraiya, Madan Puri, Kumari Naaz, Krishna Kumari N. Dutta A. K. MoviesTaqdeer A. S. Arora Shyama, Asha Mathur, Madan PuriDhaniram Neela Productions1959 Madhu Gyan Mukerjee and S. Banerjee Meena Kumari, Kumkum, Tun Tun RoshanMaya Art Pictures School Master Ravi B. R. Panthulu Kamini Kadam, B. R. Panthulu, Shakila, B. Saroja Devi, Gemini GanesanVasant Desai A. L. S. Production1961 Jija ji (Punjabi) Baldev R. JhinganNishi, Sunder Sapan-Jagmohan S. KirpalTanhai Ram Gabale Usha Kiran, PurnimaMohammed Shafi Padma Production1962 Raj Nandini Ramchandra Pal Ameeta, Nishi, Agha Ramchandra Pal Pal Films1965 Shaheed S. Ram Sharma Manoj Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Indrani Mukherjee Prem Dhawan K. P. K. Movies1966 Daadi Maa Deenanath L. V. PrasadAshok Kumar, Bina Rai, Durga Khote Roshan L. V. Prasad1967 Aamne Samne Jeevan Suraj Prakash Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Prem Chopra Kalyanji–Anandji Suraj Prakash1969 Jeene Ki Raah A doctor L. V. Prasad Jeetendra, Tanuja, Anjali Laxmikant–PyarelalPrasad Production1972 Shehzada Rattan K. ShankarRajesh Khanna, Rakhee Gulzar, Veena R. D. Burman Surinder KapoorSeeta Aur Geeta Gupta Ramesh Sippy Hema Malini, Sanjeev Kumar, DharmendraR. D. Burman G. P. Sippy1973 Daag Dr. Kapoor Yash Chopra Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Rakhee GulzarLaxmikant-Pyarelal Yash Raj Films1976 Bhanwar A priestBhappi SonieRandhir Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Kamini Kaushal, Ashok KumarR. D. BurmanNand Mirani, Shyam Keswani