{"product_id":"dadamoni-the-life-and-times-of-ashok-kumar-9789354472053","title":"Dadamoni the Life and Times of Ashok Kumar","description":"\u003cp\u003eDescription\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAshok Kumar (1911-2001), fondly known as Dadamoni, is one of the great icons of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHindi cinema. This warm, intimate biography traces his remarkable journey, from\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ereluctant actor to Bollywood's first superstar and, in his later years, a much-loved\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epresence on national television.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBorn in Bhagalpur (then in the Bengal Presidency), Ashok Kumar was enthralled by\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe 'bioscope' as a child. In his twenties, he quit his law studies and came to Bombay\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eto become a film director. But life-rather, Himanshu Rai, the founder of Bombay\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTalkies-had different plans for him. Despite the director's reservations, he was cast\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ein the lead role opposite Devika Rani in the 1936 film Jeevan Naiyya when the original\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehero went missing. The same year, Ashok Kumar was paired with Devika Rani again\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ein Achhut Kanya, which was a blockbuster. The transformation of the accidental\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehero into a charismatic star-actor had begun. Over the next six decades, he proved\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehimself to be a master of the craft, playing cop and thief; genial grandfather and sly\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ematchmaker; villain and hero; heartbroken lover and suave rake with equal ease in\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003enumerous films, including Kismet, Mahal, Parineeta, Kanoon, Gumrah, Chalti Ka Naam\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGaadi, Aashirwad, Mamta, Jewel Thief, Khoobsurat and Khatta Meetha. But as Nabendu\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGhosh writes, Ashok Kumar's world was much larger-he was also a charming\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003econversationalist, mentor, homeopath, astrologer, painter, linguist, limericist and, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eabove all, loyal friend and devoted husband and father. This book is also a mini-history\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eof the early decades of Bombay's Hindustani cinema, and its pages are rich with\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003elittle anecdotes featuring legends like-besides Devika Rani-Saadat Hasan Manto, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSashadhar Mukherjee, Leela Chitnis, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eB.R. Chopra. Sarojini Naidu and Jawaharlal Nehru make brief appearances too, as\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003edoes Morarji Desai.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor anyone interested in Hindi cinema of yesteryears-in its cosmopolitanism, \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecamaraderie and charm-this thoroughly engaging book is a must read.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Speaking Tiger Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/10\/2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9789354472053\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 232\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.54lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.58d\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nabendu Ghosh","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42325156233397,"sku":"9789354472053","price":29.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_13ac1190-c9bf-4daa-a196-b1934176db69.jpg?v=1660016684","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/dadamoni-the-life-and-times-of-ashok-kumar-9789354472053","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}