RayfordFvx at 08:54, 10 November 2025

2025-11-10T08:54:25Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian filmmaker (1921–2004)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = H. S. Rawail
| birth_name = Harnam Singh Rawail
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|8|21}}
| birth_place = [[Faisalabad|Lyallpur]], [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab Province]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2004|9|17|1921|8|21}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| occupation = Film director
| yearsactive= 1940–1982
| children = [[Rahul Rawail]]
| relatives = [[Rajat Rawail]] (grandson)
}}

'''Harnam Singh Rawail''' (21 August 1921 – 17 September 2004), often credited as '''H. S. Rawail''', was an Indian filmmaker. He debuted as a director with the 1940 [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Dorangia Daku]]'' and is best known for romantic films like ''[[Mere Mehboob]]'' (1963), ''[[Sunghursh]]'' (1968), ''[[Mehboob Ki Mehndi]]'' (1971) and ''[[Laila Majnu (1976 film)|Laila Majnu]]'' (1976). His son [[Rahul Rawail]] and grandson [[Rajat Rawail]] (through daughter Roshni Rawail) are also film directors; the former paid tribute to his father's film ''Sunghursh'' by titling one of his films as ''[[Jeevan Ek Sanghursh]]'' (1990).

== Personal life and career ==

Rawail was born in [[Faisalabad|Lyallpur]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]] and moved to Mumbai to aspire to be a filmmaker. Later, he moved to [[Kolkata]] where he wrote several film scripts and debuted as a director with ''[[Dorangia Daku]]'' (1940). His three consecutive films; ''[[Shukriya (1944 film)|Shukriya]]'' (1944), ''[[Zid (1945 film)|Zid]]'' (1945) and ''[[Jhoothi Kasmein]]'' (1948); were commercial failures. His next film ''[[Patanga (1949 film)|Patanga]]'' (1949) was successful and was the seventh highest grossing [[Bollywood films of 1949|Bollywood film of 1949]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Box Office 1949|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|publisher=Box Office India|accessdate=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016234445/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=154&catName=MTk0OQ==|archive-date=16 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film is still remembered for the song "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" performed by [[Shamshad Begum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niticentral.com/2013/04/24/legendary-singer-shamshad-begum-dies-at-94-69796.html|title=Shamshad Begum, voice behind Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon, passes away|publisher=niticentral|date=24 April 2013|access-date=5 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725055508/http://www.niticentral.com/2013/04/24/legendary-singer-shamshad-begum-dies-at-94-69796.html|archive-date=25 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Later, Rawail's nine consecutive films from 1949 till 1956 did not perform well on the box office. In March 1956, Rawail started with two new projects, ''Chaalbaaz'' with [[Meena Kumari]] and ''Baazigar'' with [[Vyjayanthimala]]. Both the films were dropped eventually. However, in 1958 director [[Nanabhai Bhatt]] revived both projects starring [[Nirupa Roy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.loksatta.com/daily/20090628/lr03.htm|title=स्मरणरंजन|trans-title=Memories|publisher=The Indian Express|work=Loksatta|date=28 June 2009|accessdate=5 October 2013|language=Marathi}}</ref> Rawail took a three-year sabbatical and returned in 1959 with a comedy film ''Shararat'', starring [[Raaj Kumar]], [[Kishore Kumar]] and Meena Kumari. The film was a commercial failure along with his next two films, ''[[Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1961 film)|Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja]]'' (1961),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=167&catName=MTk2MQ== | title=Box Office 1961 | publisher=Box Office India | accessdate=7 October 2013}}</ref> starring [[Dev Anand]] and [[Waheeda Rehman]] and ''Kanch Ki Gudiya'' (1963) starring [[Manoj Kumar]]. However, Manoj Kumar did gain recognition from tae film after hving starred in various unsuccessful films before.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&pg=PT609 | title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema | publisher=Popular Prakashan | author=[[Gulzar]], [[Govind Nihalani]], Saibal Chatterjee | year=2003 | page=585 | isbn=8179910660 }}</ref>

Rawail's major success came with 1963 musical film ''[[Mere Mehboob]]'' starring [[Rajendra Kumar]] and [[Sadhana Shivdasani]]. Kumar had earlier worked as an assistant director to Rawail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/jul/09dinesh.htm|title=Bollywood's Jubilee Star|work=[[Rediff.com]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref> The film was praised for Rawail's direction and is remembered for the title song composed by music director [[Naushad]] and performed by singers [[Mohammed Rafi]] and [[Lata Mangeshkar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/jfh9p/mere-mehboob|title=Mere Mehboob|publisher=[[Radio Times]]|accessdate=5 October 2013}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> His next film ''[[Sunghursh]]'' (1968) was based on a novel written by the Bengali author [[Mahashweta Devi]]. The film was set in the 19th century and showcased the lives of bandits. It was praised for the "exceptional performances" by its actors [[Dilip Kumar]], Vyjayanthimala, [[Balraj Sahni]], [[Sanjeev Kumar]] and [[Jayant (actor)|Jayant]].<ref name=sify>{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/h-s-rawail-death-of-a-faded-giant-news-bollywood-kkfvH8fifge.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527233452/http://www.sify.com/movies/h-s-rawail-death-of-a-faded-giant-news-bollywood-kkfvH8fifge.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 May 2014|title=H.S. Rawail: Death of a faded giant|author=Subhash K. Jha|website=[[Sify]]|date=24 September 2004|accessdate=5 October 2013|author-link=Subhash K. Jha}}</ref> The actor-director [[Rakesh Roshan]] worked as an assistant director on the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/i-have-never-worked-with-latecomers/1067404/|title=I have never worked with latecomers|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=4 February 2013|accessdate=5 October 2013}}</ref>

His next film ''[[Mehboob Ki Mehndi]]'' (1971), featuring [[Rajesh Khanna]] and [[Leena Chandavarkar]], performed well at the box office. The film was counted among the 17 consecutive hits of Khanna and was recognised for its music composed by [[Laxmikant–Pyarelal]]. Later his 1976 film ''[[Laila Majnu (1976 film)|Laila Majnu]]'', starring [[Rishi Kapoor]] and [[Ranjeeta Kaur]] in lead roles, became a success. Rawail's last film as director ''Deedar-E-Yaar'' (1982) was a commercial failure after which he took a break from the film industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gomolo.com/h-s-rawail-biography/449/503635|title=biography of H. S. Rawail|publisher=gomolo.com|date=11 August 2008|accessdate=5 October 2013|archive-date=3 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103222614/http://www.gomolo.com/h-s-rawail-biography/449/503635|url-status=dead}}</ref>

His son [[Rahul Rawail]] is also a film director and is best known for the films ''[[Love Story (1981 film)|Love Story]]'' (1981), ''[[Betaab]]'' (1983), ''[[Arjun (1985 film)|Arjun]]'' (1985) and ''[[Anjaam]]'' (1994). He paid tribute to his father's "best work" ''Sunghursh'' (1968) by titling one of his film as ''[[Jeevan Ek Sanghursh]]'' (1990).<ref name=sify/> Rawail's grandson Bharat Rawail is an up-and-coming director, who recently assisted [[Yash Chopra]] for his last film, ''[[Jab Tak Hai Jaan]]'' (2012).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/SRK-Anushka-Adi-to-attend-Rahul-Rawails-sons-wedding/articleshow/21485139.cms|title=SRK, Anushka, Adi to attend Rahul Rawail's son's wedding|work=[[Times of India]] |date=31 July 2013|accessdate=27 September 2013}}</ref> Rawail died on 17 September 2004 at the age of 83 in Mumbai.<ref name=sify/>

=== Filmography ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Director !! Other
|-
| 1940 || ''[[Dorangia Daku]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1944 || ''[[Shukriya (1944 film)|Shukriya]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1945 || ''[[Zid (1945 film)|Zid]]'' || {{Yes}} || Cinematographer
|-
| 1948 || ''[[Jhoothi Kasmein]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1949 || ''[[Patanga (1949 film)|Patanga]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1949 || ''[[Do Baatein]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1951 || ''[[Sagai (1951 film)|Sagai]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1951 || ''[[Jawani Ki Aag]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1952 || ''[[Saqi (film)|Saqi]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Shagufta (film)|Shagufta]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1953 || ''[[Lehren (film)|Lehren]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1954 || ''[[Mastana (1954 film)|Mastana]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1955 || ''[[Teerandaz (1955 film)|Teerandaz]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1956 || ''[[Pocket Maar (1956 film)|Pocket Maar]]'' || {{Yes}} || Writer
|-
| 1959 || ''[[Shararat (1959 film)|Shararat]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja (1961 film)|Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1961 || ''Kanch Ki Gudiya'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1963 || ''[[Mere Mehboob]]'' || {{Yes}} || Producer<br/>Screenplay Writer
|-
| 1968 || ''[[Sunghursh]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Mehboob Ki Mehndi]]'' || {{Yes}} || Producer
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Laila Majnu (1976 film)|Laila Majnu]]'' || {{Yes}} || Screenplay Writer
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Deedar-E-Yaar]]'' || {{Yes}} ||
|-
| 1987 || ''[[Dacait]]'' || || Presenter
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Bekhudi]]'' || || Presenter
|-
| 1994 || ''[[Anjaam]]'' || || Presenter
|}

== Awards ==

; [[National Film Awards]]

* 1963 – [[11th National Film Awards]] – [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film]] – ''[[Mere Mehboob]]'' as both producer and director.<ref name="11thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx|title=11th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|accessdate=4 October 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170502124428/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm11thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=2 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

; [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards]]

* 1968 – 32nd Annual BFJA Awards – [[Bengal Film Journalists' Association – Best Indian Films Award|Fourth Best Indian Film]] – ''[[Sunghursh]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=1969: 32nd Annual BFJA Awards: Awards For The Year 1968 |url=http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196932.htm |publisher=bfjaawards.com |access-date=4 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506034230/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196932.htm |archive-date=6 May 2008 }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0712540}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rawail, H. S.}}

[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:People from Faisalabad]]
[[Category:People from Bandra]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

H. S. Rawail - Revision history

RayfordFvx at 08:54, 10 November 2025