Raja Nawathe

Raja Nawathe Biography

Raja Nawathe was a famed director associated with Bollywood in the 1960s, who shot to fame with the suspense thriller, Gumnaam released in 1965. The movie, adapted from And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is still regarded as one among the best thrillers ever made on Hindi screen. The movie starring Manoj Kumar and Nanda also includes many memorable songs composed by Shankar Jaikishen. In fact "Jaan Pehechan Ho” song pictured on Laxmi Chhaya became popular in the western music circuit later and has been used several times.

Basant Bahar starring Bharat Bhushan, Patthar ke Sanam starring Manoj Kumar, Aag starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis are the best among his works. Bhai-Bhai (1970), Manchali (1973) and Sohni Mahiwal (1958) are other releases. After the comedy film, Manchali starring Sanjeev Kumar and Leena Chandavarkar he retired from film industry. He died on 15 November 2005 in Mumbai aged 1981. Basant Bahar received National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 1956.

Raja was born on 14 October 1924 in Ratnagiri of Bombay Presidency in British India. He started his film journey as an assistant director in the late 1940s with Raj Kapoor's debut film. Aag (1948) was his first film as an assistant director and later he worked under R. K. Films for the movies, Barsaat (1949), and Awaara (1951). In 1953, Raj Kapoor gave him the first break as a director. The movie was Aag, starring Nargis and Raj Kapoor himself. The movie still remembered for the romantic pairing of its lead pair was not a big hit at box office. But its songs were well appreciated.

In 1956, he directed the musical, Basant Bahar starring Bharat Bhushan which was a box office hit. He experimented with the same lead pair for the movie, Sohni Mahiwal (1958). However it’s the cult classic ‘Gumnaam’ for which he earned great appreciation. The movie is still watched by millions. He was married to noted Marathi actress Chitra. The couple had one son, who died in an accident few years before his death.

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Updated: March 20, 2016