>Nathan2055 at 18:54, 14 May 2021

2021-05-14T18:54:31Z

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{{Short description|Indian actor and director}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Abdur Rashid Kardar
| honorific_suffix =
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| image = A.R.Kardar.jpg
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| birth_date = 2 October 1904
| birth_place = [[Lahore]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British India]] (present-day [[Pakistan]])
| disappeared_date = 
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1989|11|22|1904|10|02}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
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| nationality = Indian
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| occupation = Film Director, Film Producer
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| organization = [[Bollywood]]
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| spouse = Akhtar Sultana Kardar
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'''Abdur Rashid Kardar''' (1904–1989), was an [[India]]n actor, director and producer. He is credited as establishing the film industry in the [[Bhati Gate]] locality of [[Lahore]], [[British India]] (now in [[Pakistan]]).<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra">http://cineplot.com/lollywood-1896-1931/, 'The Silent Era (1896-1931)' on cineplot.com website, Retrieved 15 March 2017</ref>

==Early career==
Kardar started as an arts scholar and a [[calligraphist]] making posters<ref name="CITEREFOurFounders">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmtvguildindia.org/founders.html#apkardar|title=Our Founders|publisher=Film and TV Guild of India website|access-date=15 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330062416/http://www.filmtvguildindia.org/founders.html#apkardar|archive-date=30 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> for foreign film productions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vijaybhatt.net/beginning.html|title=The Beginning|publisher=Vijay Bhatt's official site|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref> and writing for newspapers of the early 1920s. His work would often lead him to meet [[Filmmaking|filmmakers]] around [[British India|India]].

In 1928, the first silent film, ''[[Daughters of Today (1928 film)|The Daughters of Today]]'' was released in Lahore at a time when the city only had nine operational cinema houses. Most of the films shown in theatres in Lahore were either made in [[Mumbai|Bombay]] or [[Kolkata|Calcuta]], besides ones made in Hollywood or London. ''The Daughters of Today'' was the brain-child of G.K. Mehta, a former officer with the [["Little" North Western Railway|North-Western Railway]], who had imported a camera into the country for this very project from London. He asked Kardar to assist him as an assistant director on the project and ended up giving Kardar his début role in his film as an actor.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> [[Muhammad Ismail]], his friend and fellow [[Calligraphy|calligraphist]],<ref name="CITEREFOurFounders"/> accompanied Kardar in the making of the film.

The film was produced in the first open studio in the city near the Bradlaw Hall. It is believed that some other films had been produced indigenously at the studios which had to be closed down for financial reasons. After finishing shooting for the film, Kardar was not approached for another role for a long time. Hailing from the [[Bhati Gate]] locality, where it was not unusual to find writers and poets, Kardar saw a viable future for a film industry.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/>

==Laying foundations for a film industry==
In 1928, with no work left after their maiden venture, Kardar and Ismail sold their belongings to set up a studio and production company under the name of ''United Players Corporation'', the foundation stone for the film industry in Lahore. After scouting for locations, they settled for their offices to be established at Ravi Road. Although, the dim-lit area presented with much difficulties after the studios were established. Shootings were only possible in the day-light but nevertheless the area had some very important landmarks like the Ravi Forest and the tombs of [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Jahangir]] and his wife [[Nur Jahan]].<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/>

It is reported that the team working at the studios would commute on [[tanga (carriage)|tanga]]s and even lost equipment once while travelling on the bumpy roads on the horse-drawn carriage.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/> However basic and crude their working conditions, Kardar believed in his work and in 1930 he produced the first film under the studio's banner.<ref name="CITEREFOurFounders"/>

With this film, ''[[Husn Ka Daku]]'' a.k.a. ''Mysterious Eagle'',<ref name=IMDb>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0231768/|title=Husn Ka Daku|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=15 March 2017}}</ref> Kardar made his first directorial début. He also cast himself as an actor in the male lead opposite Gulzar Begum with Ismail in a supporting role. The film featured an American actor, Iris Crawford, as well. The film had mild success at theatres but prominently established Lahore as a functioning film industry. Kardar vowed on not acting in any other film and instead focusing on direction.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/>

Immediately afterwards the studio released the film ''Sarfarosh'' aka ''Brave Heart'', with [[Gul Hamid]] playing the lead rold with more or less the same cast as in the previous film. This production proved equally appealing but was able to stir noise about this industry in film production circles throughout India. Roop Lal Shori, a resident of Brandreth Road in [[Lahore]], upon hearing of a new film industry in the city, returned to his hometown. He later produced ''Qismat Ke Haer Pher'' aka ''Life After Death'' which would firmly ground the new industry's reputation as being in line with other film industries of the time.<ref name="CITEREFSilentEra"/>

==Setting up of Kardar Productions==
Kardar shifted to [[Kolkatta|Calcutta]] in 1930; and joined the East India Film Company, where he made about seven films for them. After the company closed down in 1937 he moved to [[Mumbai|Bombay]] and joined Film City (in [[Tardeo]]) where he made one film Baaghban. It won the Gohar Gold Medal starring Bimla Kumari, B. Nandrekar and [[Sitara Devi]].

Subsequently, he joined [[Ranjit Studios|Ranjeet Movietone]] towards the end of 1937 and made only three movies with them. From here he moved to Circo Productions Ltd., but just one year later, in 1939, when Circo Productions Ltd. went into liquidation Kardar bought out the company and started Kardar Productions. In the same compound, he also started Kardar Studios and started making movies under the Kardar Productions banner from 1940 onwards. Kardar Studios was one of the best equipped studios in those days and also the first to have air-conditioned make up rooms.<ref name="CITEREFARKardarMemories">{{cite web|url= http://cineplot.com/memories-a-r-kardar/|title= A R Kardar Memories}}</ref>

==Later years==
In 1946, Kardar gave a commercially successful film with [[K. L. Saigal]] and composer [[Naushad]], ''[[Shahjehan]] (1946)''.<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014">{{cite book|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|author3=Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA306|year=2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-94318-9|page=306}}</ref> Claimed as a "masterpiece"- all songs of the film songs became hits.<ref name="Raj2009">{{cite book|author=Ashok Raj|title=Hero Vol.1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgo9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT81|year=2009|publisher=Hay House, Inc|isbn=978-93-81398-02-9|page=81}}</ref>

Following [[Partition of India|partition]] in 1947, A. R. Kardar and his brother-in-law [[Mehboob Khan]] both left for [[Pakistan]]. However, according to Bunny Reuben, as quoted by Mihir Bose, they returned to [[India]], but no reason was given for their return.<ref name="Bose2008">{{cite book|author=Mihir Bose|title=Bollywood: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hN6mBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT240|year=2008|publisher=Roli Books Pvt. Ltd|isbn=978-93-5194-045-6|page=240}}</ref>

Kardar went back to film making and directed ''[[Dard (1947 film)|Dard]]'' (1947), which starred [[Suraiya]] and had music by [[Naushad]]. ''[[Dillagi (1949 film)|Dillagi]]'' (1949), a romantic tragedy, was a commercial success at the box-office.<ref name="Rishi2012">{{cite book|author=Tilak Rishi|title=Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r623sWyGm0sC&pg=PA106|year=2012|publisher=Trafford Publishing|isbn=978-1-4669-3963-9|page=106}}</ref> Inspired by ''[[Wuthering Heights (1939 film)|Wuthering Heights]]'' (1939),<ref name="Garga1996">{{cite book|author=Bhagwan Das Garga|title=So many cinemas: the motion picture in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wXRZAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Eminence Designs|isbn=978-81-900602-1-9}}</ref> Kardar later used the plot in ''[[Dil Diya Dard Liya]]'' (1966).{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} ''Dillagi's'' music by Naushad became extremely popular, especially Suraiya's song "Tu Mera Chand".<ref name="Ranade2006">{{cite book|author=Ashok Damodar Ranade|title=Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI1wqkWsIjYC&pg=PA340|year=2006|publisher=Bibliophile South Asia|isbn=978-81-85002-64-4|page=340}}</ref> ''[[Dulari (film)|Dulari]]'' (1949) had equally popular music, with a memorable [[Mohammed Rafi]] song "Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki". It starred [[Geeta Bali]], [[Madhubala]] and Suresh (not Shyam as people mistakenly put his name). Suresh used to be a child artist and has acted in several films like Basant (starring Mumtaz Shanti, Ulhaas and baby Madhubala then).

''[[Dastan (1950 film)|Dastan]]'' (1950) a tragic melodrama, was inspired from the film ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)|Enchantment]]'',<ref name="Garga1996" /> and was cited as "one of the biggest commercial hits".<ref name="Patel2012">{{cite book|author=Bhaichand Patel|title=Bollywood's Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQL4dkVAnPIC&pg=PA70|year=2012|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-670-08572-9|page=70}}</ref> ''[[Jadoo (1951 film)|Jadoo]]'' (1951) and ''[[Deewana (1952 film)|Deewana]]'' (1952) marked the parting of ways between Kardar and Naushad.<ref name="Bharatan2013">{{cite book|author=Raju Bharatan|title=Naushadnama: The Life and Music of Naushad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mg09BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT16|year=2013|publisher=Hay House, Inc|isbn=978-93-81398-63-0|page=16}}</ref> ''[[Dil-E-Nadaan (1953 film)|Dil-E-Nadaan]]'' (1953) had popular music by [[Ghulam Mohammed (composer)|Ghulam Mohammed]].<ref name="Ranade2006 p. 224">Ranade2006, p. 224</ref> He made three more films before starting ''[[Dil Diya Dard Liya]]'' (1966), which again had music by Naushad.<ref name="Ranchan2014">{{cite book|author=Vijay Ranchan|title=Story of a Bollywood Song|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3h2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT105|year=2014|publisher=Abhinav Publications|page=105|id=GGKEY:9E306RZQTQ7}}</ref> Kardar's last film was ''[[Mere Sartaj]]'' (1975).{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

==Contributions==
He introduced many artists to the Hindi film industry who went on to become renowned in their own right, such as [[Naushad]], [[Majrooh Sultanpuri]], [[Suraiya]]. The legendary singer [[Mohammad Rafi]] got his first hit from the song, 'Suhani raat dhal chuki' – from Kardar's film [[Dulari (film)|Dulari]]. He also started the Kardar-Kolynos Contest, to find new talent and through this contest he discovered and introduced to the industry, [[Chand Usmani]] and [[Mahendra Kapoor]].<ref name="CITEREFARKardarMemories"/>

==Family and death==
Mehboob Khan's wife [[Sardar Akhtar]] was the sister of Bahar, Kardar's wife.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} Kardar was the step-brother of Pakistan's famous cricketer [[Abdul Hafeez Kardar|A. H. Kardar]] (Abdul Hafeez Kardar)

Kardar, who lived in Marine Drive, died at the age of 85 years, on 22 November 1989, in Mumbai, Maharashtra.<ref name="Vidura">{{cite book|title=Vidura|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JZZAAAAMAAJ|volume=27|year=1990|publisher=C. Sarkar.}}</ref><ref name=mpaop>{{cite web|title=Obituary-A. R. Kardar|url=http://www.mpaop.org/mpaop/artists/obituaries/search-obituaries/|website=mpaop.org|publisher=mpaop|access-date=22 March 2015|ref=Motion Picture Archive of Pakistan}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===As a film director===

* 1929 [[Husn Ka Daku]]<ref name=IMDb/>
* 1930 [[Sarfarosh (1930 film)|Sarfarosh]]
* 1930 [[Safdar Jung (film)|Safdar Jung]]
* 1930 [[Farebi Shahzada]]
* 1931 [[Farebi Daku]]
* 1931 [[Khooni Katar]]
* 1932 [[Heer Ranjha (1932 film)|Heer Ranjha]]
* 1933 [[Aurat Ka Pyar]]
* 1934 [[Chandragupta (film)|Chandragupta]]
* 1934 [[Sultana (film)|Sultana]]
* 1936 [[Baghi Sipahi]]
* 1937 [[Mandir (film)|Mandir]]
* 1937 [[Milap (1937 film)|Milap]]
* 1938 [[Baghban (1938 film)|Baghban]]
* 1939 [[Thokar]]
* 1940 [[Holi (1940 film)|Holi]]
* 1940 [[Pagal (film)|Pagal]]
* 1940 [[Pooja (1940 film)|Pooja]]
* 1941 [[The Saint (1941 film)|Swami]] a.k.a. The Saint
* 1942 [[Nai Duniya]]
* 1942 [[Sharda (1942 film)|Sharda]]
* 1943 [[Kanoon (1943 film)|Kanoon]] a.k.a. The Law
* 1943 [[Sanjog (1943 film)|Sanjog]]
* 1944 [[Pehle Aap]]
* 1945 [[Sanyasi (1945 film)|Sanyasi]]
* 1946 [[Shahjehan]]
* 1947 [[Dard (1947 film)|Dard]]
* 1949 [[Dillagi (1949 film)|Dillagi]] (as A.R. Kardar)
* 1949 [[Dulari (film)|Dulari]]
* 1950 [[Dastan (1950 film)|Dastan]] (as A.R. Kardar)
* 1951 [[Jadoo (1951 film)|Jadoo]]
* 1952 [[Deewana (1952 film)|Deewana]]
* 1953 [[Dil-E-Nadaan (1953 film)|Dil-E-Nadaan]]
* 1955 [[Baap Re Baap]] (as A.R. Kardar)
* 1955 [[Yasmin (1955 film)|Yasmin]]
* 1958 [[Do Phool (1958 film)|Do Phool]] (as A.R. Kardar)
* 1966 [[Dil Diya Dard Liya]] (as A.R. Kardar)
* 1975 [[Mere Sartaj]]

===As a film producer===

* 1931 Bhatakta Joban a.k.a. Awara Raqasa/Wandering Dancer (producer), directed by J. K. Nanda<ref name=FilmTV>{{cite web|title=A. R. Kardar|url=http://filmtvguildindia.org/Founders.html#apkardar|website=filmtvguildindia.org|publisher=Film and TV Guild of India|access-date=21 March 2015|ref=Founder Members|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330062416/http://www.filmtvguildindia.org/founders.html#apkardar|archive-date=30 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1944 ''[[Geet (1944 film)|Geet]]'' a.k.a. The Song (producer)
* 1947 [[Dard (1947 film)|Dard]] (producer)

===As a writer===

* 1938 [[Baghban (1938 film)|Baghban]] (dialogue / screenplay)
* 1940 [[Pagal (film)|Pagal]] (story)

===As an actor===

* 1928 [[Daughters of Today (1928 film)|Daughters of Today]]
* 1929 [[Husn Ka Daku]]
* 1929 [[Heer Ranjha (1932 film)|Heer Ranjha]]

===As an assistant film director===

* 1928 [[Daughters of Today (1928 film)|Daughters of Today]] (assistant director)

==Trivia==
Recently some photographs by ''Life'' magazine's James Burke emerged which showed the prevalence of the casting couch in the Hindi Film Industry way back in the 1950s as well. Kardar was auditioning young women for roles in his films and the photographs showed the women posing in front of him in various stages of undress.<ref>[http://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/james-burke-reveals-the-murky-world-of-casting-couch-in-bollywood/ James Burke reveals the murky world of casting couch in Bollywood!]</ref>

==See also==
* [[A. J. Kardar]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=nm0439074}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kardar, Abdur Rashid}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:Film directors from Lahore]]
[[Category:Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian film producers]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]

Abdur Rashid Kardar - Revision history

>Nathan2055 at 18:54, 14 May 2021