TRIBUTE PAID TO FILM MAKER AND ANIMATOR BHIMSAIN KHURANA

TRIBUTE PAID TO FILM MAKER AND ANIMATOR BHIMSAIN KHURANA

Bhimsain was most famous for his animated film, Ek Anek Ekta. He passed away aged 81 on 17^th ,April,2018 night at a Juhu hospital due to renal failure.A founding icon of animation cinema in India. He is survived by wife Neelam and sons Himaanshu and Kireet Khurana. Recognized as a pioneer in both television and films, Bhimsain was primarily known for his animation work during the golden period of Doordarshan. Bhimsain was born in 1936 in Multan (modern-day Pakistan).

Bhimsain obtained his diploma in Fine Arts and Classical Music from Lucknow University. In 1970, he made his directorial debut with his first animation short, The Climb, which won the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival. Ek chidiya, anek chidiyaan is one of the most popular songs from Bhimsain’s animation film Ek Anek Ekta, which he co-created with Vijaya Mulay in 1974. Bhimsain has also directed and produced several animation and ad films such as Na, Ek-Do, Fire, Munni, Freedom is a Thin Lie and Mehman.He made his feature film debut in 1976 with Gharaonda, starring Zarina Wahab and Amol Palekar. The screenplay of the film was written by Gulzar. Gharoanda was followed by Doooriyan and Tum Laut Aao. Also Read: Manish Malhotra fondly remembers late Sridevi, 'Boney, Janhvi and Khushi's best friend'

The filmmaker returned to television in 1985 with popular sitcom, Choti Badi Baatein. He is also credited as the maker of India’s first computer-aided animation serial Lok Gatha in 1991, whose success led him to make India's largest animation project Vartaman.Khurana obtained his diploma in Fine Arts and Classical Music from Lucknow University. In 1970, he made his debut with his first animation short “The Climb”, which earned him the Silver Hugo Award in the Chicago Film Festival.Soon after, he directed and produced several animation and ad films. He further established his repute as a director and producer with his landmark animation short “Ek Anek Ekta”, which won him a National Award.

He ventured into feature film production with “Gharaonda”, which got Filmfare Awards. This was followed by two other successful films – “Doooriyan” and “Tum Laut Aao”.Khurana also tried his hand at TV show production. His first tryst was in 1985 with popular sitcom “Choti Badi Baatein”, based on superstitions. He also made documentaries.In 1991, he made computer-aided animation serial “Lok Gatha”, based on folk tales, and then a 26-episode series “Vartaman”, aired on Doordarshan.Khurana was also a writer, and penned six books.

Prof. John Kurakar