Mumbai: Veteran filmmaker and animation pioneer Bhimsain, best known for his
film "Gharaonda" and animation short films like "Ek Anek Ekta", has died
at the age of 81.
Bhimsain died last night at a Juhu hospital
here due to renal failure. He is survived by wife Neelam and sons
Himaanshu and Kireet Khurana.
A versatile artiste who enriched the medium of both television
and films with his contribution, Bhimsain was primarily known for his
work in the world of animation during the golden period of Doordarshan.
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 earned him the Silver Hugo Award in the Chicago Film
Festival.
'Ek chidiya, anek chidiyaan' is one of the most popular
songs from animation film 'Ek Anek Ekta', which he made with Vijaya
Mulay in 1974.
He also directed and produced several animation
and ad films such as 'Na', 'Ek-Do', 'Fire', 'Munni', 'Freedom is a Thin
Lie', 'Mehman', 'Kahani Har Zamane Ki' and 'Business is People'.
In 1976, the director made his feature film debut with
"Gharaonda", starring Zarina Wahab and Amol Palekar. The screenplay was
by Gulzar. It is one of the best known films from the middle-of-the-road
cinema of the '70s.
He followed it up with two other successful films "Doooriyan" and "Tum Laut Aao".
The
filmmaker returned to television in 1985 with popular sitcom, "Choti
Badi Baatein". He also made several documentaries like "Der Aaye Durust
Aaye", "Shaadi Shaadi", "Jeevan Rahasya", "Setu", "Roshhni" and "Kathani
Karni Ek Si".
Bhimsain is credited with making the country's
first computer aided animation serial "Lok Gatha" in 1991, whose success
led him to make India's largest animation project "Vartaman".
PTI
