Herman Benjamin

Herman Benjamin Biography

Herman Benjamin was one of the leading choreographers associated with Bollywood film industry in the 1960s. He has been associated with many iconic songs of Shammi Kapoor in the 1960s, most notably Aaja Aaja and O Haseena from Teesri Manzil, Badan Pe Sitare of Prince, Aaj Kal Tere Mere and Dil Ke Jaroke from Brahmachari and films like Dil Deke Dekho, Janwar, and many more. Jhumroo, Gumnaam, Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai, Mere Sanam, Do Badan,Upkar, Izzat, Pyar Hi Pyar, Raaz, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi  etc other major works. He passed away in 1969 at the peak of his career, and many of his films got released posthumously in the early 1970s. He used to appear in song sequences choreographed by him.

Benjamin was a Bene Israel from the Umer Khadi area from Mumbai. He was married to Sheba and had a son. He started his career in Bollywood in the late 1950s, an era when western tunes and dance steps had slowly started creeping into Bollywood films. He played a magnificent role in grooming Shammi Kapoor as a dancing actor in Bollywood, and majority of his chartbuster foot tapping numbers exclusively belong to none other than Herman Benjamin. Dil Dekhe Dekho was one of the early associations of the choreographer with Shammi Kapoor, who was only a struggling actor in the late 1950s, and the super success of the film along with dance sequences of the title track groomed the career of both Shammi and Benjamin. Since then he regularly worked with Shammi Kapoor throughout 1960s till his death in 1969.

2001 Hollywood film Ghost World made this song and dance number from Gumnaam – Jaan Pehchaan ho featured as the opening song of the film. Benjamin was featured as the main singer with Rafi’s voice too. He was also honoured by the Indian Film Dance Directors Association (IFDDA) on January 9, 2012 for their contribution to the field of choreography.

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Updated: December 12, 2017