Who was Kundan Shah?

The 80s and 90s saw the golden era of Indian television and in many ways, Kundan can be credited for the same. Along with his peers, Saeed Akhtar Mirza and Aziz Mirza, Kundan Shah presented some of the best shows of that era.

Kundan Shah directed acclaimed TV shows like ‘Nukkad’ (1986) and ‘Wagle Ki Duniya’ (1988). ‘Nukkad’ dealt with the everyday struggles of the working class who are trying to make ends meet in an increasingly difficult social and economic climate. Their conversations at the street corner (Nukkad) formed the plot of the show. The show became an instant hit on Doordarshan. ‘Wagle Ki Duniya’ (1988) was based on cartoonist R. K. Laxman’s famous character ‘the common man’ and dealt with the household issues of a middle-class family. This show, again, was a hit.

Apart from directing these gems, he was closely involved in the making of TV shows like ‘Umeed’, ‘Circus’ and ‘Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi’. This was the time when Indian television was still in its infancy stage but Kundan was a huge contributor in making it memorable for generations to come.

After spending some glorious years at making some classic shows, Shah took a break. He returned to the director’s chair with the SRK-starrer ‘Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa’ (1993). The film can easily be credited as one of Shah Rukh Khan’s best performances till date. The film was made on a small budget and was shot in Goa and Mumbai. This was the time when Shah Rukh Khan had not become ‘King Khan’ yet and the story of Sunil (his character in the film) was not particularly heroic but nevertheless, he was loved. The film recovered its money over the next 12 years but for what it’s worth, the film is appreciated till date.

Kundan Shah followed it up with 2000’s ‘Kya Kehna’ which presented the subject of teenage pregnancy and starred Preity Zinta in the lead role. He later directed films like ‘Hum To Mohabbat Karega’ (2000), ‘Dil Hai Tumhara’ (2002), ‘Ek Se Badhkar Ek’ (2004), ‘The Three Sisters’ (2005) and ‘Persai Kehte Hain’ (2006). His last directorial venture, ‘P Se PM Tak’ released in 2014.

Kundan Shah was a legend in Indian films and television. His legacy will always be cherished and his immortal work will be treasured by generations to come.