Past glories

I was happy to read about A.K.Hangal (to whom I was introduced by the late Hrishikesh Mukherjee years ago in Mumbai). I should bring to the notice of the Screen readers,that there is a little known biography about him Life & Times of A.K.Hangal (Sterling Paperbacks,Rs 150/1999).

The short essay on Bhojpuri film was also welcome. A recent book Cinema Bhojpuri by Avijit Ghosh (Penguin/Rs 399/2010) does a good job of recording its history.

Incidentally,longish photo essays about Kumkum,the first popular Bhojpuri heroine,who worked in Hindi films under great filmmakers like Bhagwan (he made her a heroine along with her sister Radhika) Mehboob (Son Of India) and Ramanand Sagar (Jalte Badan) would be most eagerly awaited by old-timers. Her Chhalke chanda ka paimana from Bhagam Bhag was a showstopper. Where is she now?

V.A.K.Ranga Rao | Madras