Gope (actor)

Gope (11 April 1913–1957) was an Indian actor of Hindi cinema. Starting his career with a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan (1933), directed by Moti Gidwani and produced by Eastern Arts Production, Gope went on to act in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957.[1] Several of his films were released following his death. Best known for his comedy roles, he is stated to be one of Hindi cinema's "most popular comedians". His acting in comic roles won him "critical and popular acclaim" and he soon became "the leading comedian of his time". His popularity assured him of being mentioned in the credit roll of films along with the main cast.[2] He became famous for lip-syncing the popular number "Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon" (My Beloved Has Gone To Rangoon) from Patanga, playbacked by C. Ramchandra for Gope and by Shamshad Begum for Nigar Sultana.[1]

Gope
Gope in Baadbaan (1954)
Born
Gope Vishandas Kamlani

11 April 1913
Died1957 (aged 4344)
OccupationActor
Years active1933–1957
SpouseLatika (actress)

He formed a popular comic pairing with Yakub, in the "Laurel-and-Hardy" style, and the producers used them in several films.[1] Their most famous films together were Patanga (1949), followed by Bazar (1949), Beqasoor and Sagai (1951)

Early years

Gope was born Gope Vishandas Kamlani, on 11 April 1913, in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India.[1] He was one of nine children. With K. S. Daryani's help, Gope moved to Mumbai and started his acting career in a small role in Insaan Ya Shaitaan (1933), which starred Jaddanbai, Ermeline and the then reigning comedian, Dixit.[2]

Career

Gope acted in other memorable roles in films such as Hindustan Hamara, Mirza Sahiban, Patanga and Chori Chori. Gope also tried playing negative roles. In the 1951 Dilip Kumar-Madhubala starrer film Taraana, he teamed up with Jeevan to play the villain's role in comic style. He started Gope Productions in the 1950s, which made films such as Hangama and Biradari. Some of these films were directed by Gope's brother, Ram Kamlani. Gope married actress Latika and continued to act in films until his premature death in 1957 on the set of Kundan Kumar's Teesri Gali, which was eventually released in 1958.

Personal life

Gope married actress Latika on 5 February 1949 under the Civil Marriages Act.[3] Latika had earlier acted in the film Gopinath (1948) opposite Raj Kapoor. According to a Filmindia magazine report, "a grand reception was given to the newly wedded couple at the Shree Sound Studios in which many film people participated. There was also a moonlight party later on the Juhu sands."[4] Gope born a Hindu became a Jehovah's Witness. He had two sons with Latika. After his death, his widow Latika relocated to the United Kingdom with their two young sons.[4]

Filmography

Gope acted in over one hundred forty films in a career spanning twenty-four years from 1933 to 1957. A partial list:[5]

Year Film Cast Director Studio/Producer
1933Insan Ya ShaitanJaddanbai, DixitMoti GidwaniEastern Arts Production
1934Prem ParikshaJaddanbai, Hari Shivdasani, RajkumariG. R. SethiEastern Arts Production
1935Dharam Ki Devi (Religious Lady, Suhag Ki Raat)Sardar Akhtar, Kumar, Hari Shivdasani, Anant MaratheHiren BoseEastern Arts Production
1935Bharat Ki Beti (India's Daughter)Rattan Bai, Gul Hamid, Yasmin, Amirbai KarnatakiPremankur AtorthyEastern Arts Production
1936Pratima (The Idol Of Love, Prem Murti)Sardar Akhtar, Nazir, Omkar DevaskarRam DaryaniDaryani Productions
1937Gentleman Daku (Gentleman Bandit)Leela Chitnis, Yusuf Effendi, KokilaRam DaryaniDaryani Productions
1938Rajkumari (The Princess)Lalita Pawar, Nazir, Ameena, O. K. DarDwarka KhoslaKrishna Movies
1939Kaun Kisi Ka (Who Belongs To Whom?)Shobhana Samarth, Nazir, Padma Devi, Khurshid, Mubarak, K. N. SinghC. M. Luhar (Chimanlal Muljibhoy Luhar)Hindustan Cinetone
1940Laxmi (Lakshmi)Bibbo, Kumar, Jeevan, Maya DeviMohan SinhaCirco Productions
1940Hindustan Hamara (Our India)Jamuna Barua, Nandrekar, Padma Devi, Hari ShivdasaniRam DaryaniFilm Corporation of India
1941Laheri Jeevan (Life Is A Comedy)Husn Banu, Harishchandra Rao, W. M. KhanS. M. YusufHarishchandra Pictures
1942SocietySitara Devi, Rajkumari Shukal, Nazir, MajidS. NazirHind Pics
1942Umar Marvi (Meri Duniya)Mazhar Khan, Kaushalya, Ashiq Hussain, Hari ShivdasaniMazhar KhanNational Artists
1942Duniya Ek Tamasha (The World's A Show)Sardar Akhtar, W. M. Khan, Shyam, UrmilaDwarka KhoslaSaubhagya Pictures
1943JhankarChandra Mohan, Pramila, Kumar, AzurieS. KhalilSilver Films
1943Muskurahat (The Smile)Motilal, Vanmala, Hari Shivdasani, Leela MishraDwarka KhoslaSaubhagya Pictures
1943Nai Zindagi (Gharonda)Sheikh Mukhtar, Anees Khatoon, YakubS. KhalilUnited Films
1943School MasterKaran Dewan, Kaushalya, Maya Bannerji, Rajkumari ShukalC. M. LuharSun Art Pictures
1944Biswi SadiMotilal, Nargis, Mazhar KhanM. D. Bhavnani (Mohanlal Dayaram Bhavnani)Bhavnani Productions
1944Aaina (Mirror)Trilok Kapoor, Husn Banu, Yakub
1944Krishna Bhakta Bodana (Krishna Worshipper Bodana)Sheikh Mukhtar, Meera, Ranjit Kumari, Rani PremlataJ. B. H. WadiaWadia Movietone
1945KhiladiE. Billimoria, Agha, RajkumariA. H. EssaEmpire Pictures
1946Chalis Karod (Forty Crores)Nirmala Devi, Yakub, Arun, AghaNanabhai BhattChandra Art
1946Laat Saheb (Big Lord)Latika, Harishchandra Rao, Anees Ktoon, DalpatK. P. BhaveHarishchandra Pictures
1947Mirza SahibanNoorjahan, Trilok Kapoor
1947Dak Bangla (Rest House)Suraiya, Wasti, Kamal KapoorM. SadiqIndian National Pictures
1948Ghar Ki Izzat (Honour Of The House)Dilip Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti, Manorama, JeevanRam DaryaniMurli Movietone
1948PugreeKamini Kaushal, Wasti, Gope, Dixit, Ram Avatar, JeevanAnant ThakurAll India Pictures
1948Pyar Ki Jeet (Love's Victory)Suraiya, Rehman, Raj Mehra, Manorama, Leela MishraO. P. DuttaFamous Pictures
1949Patanga (The Moth)Nigar Sultana,Khairati,Shyam, Yakub, Purnima, RandhirH. S. RawailVarma Films
1949BazaarShyam, Nigar Sultana, Yakub, CuckooK. AmarnathK. Amarnath
1950Bhai BahenGeeta Bali, Nirupa Roy, Prem Adib, Bharat BhushanRam DaryaniKrishna Movies
1950BeqasoorMadhubala, Ajit, YakubK. AmarnathMadhukar Pictures
1950 Hanste Aansoo Madhubala, Motilal, Manorama
1950Anmol Ratan (Rare Jewel)Karan Dewan, Meena Shorey, Nirmala, Madan PuriM. SadiqJaimini Dewan for Dewan Productions
1951Tarana (Tune)Dilip Kumar, Madhubala, Shyama, JeevanRam DaryaniK. S. Daryani
1951SazaaDev Anand, Shyama, Nimmi, Durga KhoteFali MistryG. P. Productions
1951Nagina (The Jewel)Nutan, Nasir Khan, Bipin GuptaRavindra DavePancholi Productions
1951Sagai (The Engagement)Rehana, Premnath, YakubH. S. RawailVarma Films
1951Sanam (Beloved)Suraiya, Dev Anand, Meena Kumari, K. N. SinghNandlal JaswantlalUnited Technicians
1956Chori Chori (The Theft)Raj Kapoor NargisAnant Thakur L.B. Lachman
1958Teesri Gali, Gope died on the movie setPram Adib Abhi Bhattacharya Shyama Mohan ChotiKundan KumarRadiant Movies

References

  1. Sanjit Narwekar (12 December 2012). "Lost In The Shadows". Eena Meena Deeka: The Story of Hindi Film Comedy. Rupa Publications. p. 40. ISBN 978-81-291-2625-2. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  2. Gulazāra; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). "Gope". Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 578–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  3. Patel, Baburao (March 1949). "At Home And Abroad". Filmindia. 15 (3): 63. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  4. "Gope, the cherubic comedian".
  5. "Gope". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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