A. K. Hangal

A. K. Hangal
A. K. Hangal in 2011
Born	Avtar Kishan Hangal (1914-02-01)1 February 1914[1] Sialkot, Punjab, British India
Died	26 August 2012(2012-08-26) (aged 98) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Cause of death	Respiratory disease
Other names	Padmabhushan Avtar Krishna Hangal
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1929–1947 (freedom fighter), 1936–1965 (theater actor), 1965–2005 (film career), 1980–2012 (television career)
Notable work	Ram Shastri in Aaina Inder Sen in Shaukeen Imaam Saa'b in Sholay Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam Brinda Kaka in Aandhi
Children	Vijay (Retired Bollywood photographer)

Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012),^[2] popularly known as A. K. Hangal, was an Indian freedom fighter^[3] from 1929–1947 and also stage actor from 1936–1965 and later became a character actor in Hindi language films from 1966–2005.^[4][5] His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in Aaina (1977), as the Inder Sen in Shaukeen, as Bipinlal Pandey in Namak Haraam, as Imaam Saa'b in Sholay, as Anokhelal in Manzil and the antagonist in Prem Bandhan and the 16 films he did with Rajesh Khanna.^[6] He has acted in around 225 Hindi films in a career spanning from 1966 to 2005.^[7]

Early life

Born into a Kashmiri Pandit family, he spent his childhood and youth in Peshawar, where he had performed in theatre for some major roles.His family home was inside Reti Gate as mentioned in his memoirs. His father's name was Pandit Hari Kishan Hangal.^[8] However, his primary occupation for the early part of his life was that of a tailor.^[9] He was an active participant in the Indian freedom struggle from 1929–1947. He joined Shree Sangeet Priya Mandal, a theatre group in Peshawar in 1936 and continued to act in many plays in undivided India till 1946.^[10] Following his father's retirement, the family moved from Peshawar to Karachi. He moved to Bombay after the Partition of India in 1949 after 3 years in prison in Pakistan. He was involved with the theatre group IPTA along with Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi, both of whom had Marxist leanings. He was jailed because he was a communist^[5] in Karachi for two years from 1947–1949 and after his release came to India and settled in Mumbai.^[11] He later acted in many plays in theatres in India from 1949–1965.

Hindi cinema career

He started his Hindi film career at the age of 50 with Basu Bhattacharya's Teesri Kasam in 1966 and Shagird, and went on to play as the man of principles playing the on-screen father or uncle of the leading men/women in the films in the 70's 80's 90's or sometimes the quintessential meek and oppressed old man. His pivotal roles in the films like Chetan Anand's Heer Raanjha (1970),Namak Haraam, Shaukeen (1981), Sholay, Aaina (1977), Avtaar, Arjun, Aandhi, Tapasya, Kora Kagaz, Bawarchi, Chhupa Rustam, Chitchor, Balika Badhu, Guddi, Naram Garam are considered to be among his best. He, as a character actor was part of 16 films with Rajesh Khanna as the lead hero like Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Naukri, Prem Bandhan, Thodisi Bewafaii, Phir Wohi Raat, Kudrat, Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar, Bewafai till Sautela Bhai in 1996.^[6] His best performances in his later years was in Shararat (2002) his character roles in Tere Mere Sapne (1997) and Lagaan.In movies he has played a very large number of character roles, mostly positive, with rare exceptions where his negetive roles became famous like in Manzil and Prem Bandhan . According to film expert Rajesh Subramanian, the producer Debika Mitra had signed Madan Puri for Inder Sen's role but a friend advised that A K Hangal would be a better choice. The superlative performance went on to become one of the most cherished acts of Hangal.

On 8 February 2011, Hangal 'walked' the ramp in a wheelchair for fashion designer Riyaz Ganji for his summer line in Mumbai.^[12]

Hangal made his last appearance in the television series Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon in May 2012, in which he had a cameo.^[13] Madhubala – Ek Ishq Ek Junoon was a tribute to 100 years of Indian cinema. The episode that featured Hangal aired on 1 June at 22:00 on Colors.^[14] In the early 2012, Hangal also gave his voice for the character of King Ugrasen in the animation film Krishna Aur Kans which was released on 3 August 2012. This was final work in his career before his death.^[15] His expressions for character of Ugrasen was much appreciated by critics.^[16]

Awards

The government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Hindi Cinema in 2006.^[17][18]

Old age problem

Hangal, who had more than 200 films to his credit in a career that spanned nearly five decades, due to his old age post 2007 found it difficult to meet his medical expenses. His son Vijay, a retired cameraman and former Bollywood photographer, himself is 75 and has not had a full-time job since 2001. As a result, the family had financial difficulties. Though previously Vijay would take up small jobs but later in like he suffered from back problems and was unable to work. After 2007, Hangal has been suffering from an illness and could not afford the treatment. At this point, following a media spotlight on 20 January 2011, many filmstars and directors promised to help him financially. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan also pledged to give him Rs 50,000.

Jaya Bachchan, who worked with Hangal in 9 films including Guddi, Anamika, Bawarchi, Abhimaan, Kora Kagaz, Doosri Sita, Jawani Diwani, Parichay and Sholay, on getting to know about his condition, said: "Please tell Hangal saab that his daughter was not aware of his condition and I am really sorry about it. My office will be taking care of all his hospital expenses."^[19]

Mithun Chakraborty from the Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) asked the association to release funds for the senior actor. On 21 January 2011, Dharmesh Tiwari, the president of CINTAA concurred and said the association has helped Hangal in the past and will continue to do so and that they sending a cheque of RS 50,000. On 21 January 2011 Salman Khan contacted Tiwari on Thursday to pledge his support. Director Samar Khan used then a popular social networking site to spread the word, and by 22 January 2011 evening friends and fans had pledged about Rs 1 lakh. Tiwari said, "If the government can allot some land, we can use it as Hangal saab has suggested to build an old age home for artistes. Mumbai, which is the birthplace of Bollywood, is not paying any heed to us."

Then Ranjan Thakur, the personal secretary to I&B minister Ambika Soni said, "The minister has spoken to Ramesh Sippy and the Film Federation and has asked them to keep us updated on the funds collected for A K Hangal. We are looking at the possibility of a long-term health insurance program for retired actors. Now as per the reports of Times of India dated 24 Jan 2011, he has been offered some help from some from Bollywood fraternity for his medical expenses. On 4 March 2011, it was reported that Amitabh promised to take care of his medical expenses and Aamir Khan promised in one of the press conferences, that now, when he has known about it he would go see him and would help him in every way.

The actor had last shot for Amol Palekar's film, Paheli in 2005. In fact, he had not gone out of his house for the last eight months. "We were surprised to see him get out of home. He would have done it only for acting," said his son Vijay and added, "My father had remained at home for the past few months. The show producer Saurabh Tiwari and senior executives from the channel came to our place to offer him the role. Several filmmakers had approached him in the last few years. But father did not take those up due to health issues."

A K Hangal returned to face the studio lights after seven long years. Having reached the sets of a TV Series Madhubala - Ek Ishq Ek Junoon on a wheelchair, the then 97-year-old actor wasn't sure he would be able to handle it physically. But once the cameras started rolling, there was no stopping the actor within.

Freedom fighter

Hangal participated in the Indian freedom movement when as a student, he joined protests in the North West Frontier Province against the massacre at Jallianwala BaghHe was 5years old ?.^[20] He later moved to Karachi, where he spent three years in prison for protesting against British rule.^[21] He is also related to India's first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru. Panditji's wife, Kamla Nehru, was first cousin of A.K.Hangal's mother.

Political disputes

Hangal, a lifetime member of the Communist Party of India, was critical of what he called the role played by political parties such as Shiv Sena, particularly during the Bombay riots.^[22]

Death

Hangal was admitted to the Asha Parekh Hospital in Santa Cruz, Mumbai on 16 August 2012,^[23][24][25] three days after he fractured his thigh bone from a fall in his bathroom. His son said that he went to the hospital as he had "suffered a back injury and had to undergo a surgery. But that could not take place as later it was found that he has chest and breathing problems." On 26 August, he was put on life support. Dr Vinod Khanna, an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital said: "He is on life support system. One of his lungs is not functioning. He is also having respiratory problems." His cremation was due to be held the same afternoon at Pavan Hans crematorium.

In reaction to his death, Shabana Azmi wrote on Twitter: "An era comes to an end. Theatre and film were enriched by him."^[26] The Communist Party of India described Hangal as a committed social and political activist who withstood the Shiv Sena onslaught.^[27] The BJP's L. K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari also condoled his death.^[28]

Selected filmography

Films

TV series

Works

• Life and Times of A.K. Hangal (1999) (autobiography)

References

30. Obit by Avijit Ghosh in The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sannata-in-Bollywood-AK-Hangal-dead/articleshow/15791992.cms

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A. K. Hangal.

• A.K. Hangal at the Internet Movie Database
• The genial revolutionary. Rediff.com.
• Marxist who made it good in movies The Hindu.
• Some pictures of him at the 'Mid_Day'