Veteran filmmaker Lekh Tandon passes away at 88

This month didn't quite start on a good note. It has been plucking jewels from the heart of Indian filmdom. The week before last saw the demise of the versatile actor Tom Alter, last week, the maestro filmmaker Kundan Shah breathed his last and yesterday 15 October, at 5:38 p.m, Veteran filmmaker Lekh Tandon, who directed iconic film like Amrapali, Jhuk Gaya Aasmaan passed away. He was 88. Tandon passed away at his residence in Powai in presence of his family. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit tweeted, "Sad to know about the demise of one of the finest tv and film directors Lekh Tandon ji. Your work is immoral. Will miss U. #RIP". The ace filmmaker, Tandon was bed-ridden for the last five to six months and fed fed through a pipe. The end came at 5.38 p.m., he said. Born in Lahore in 1929, Tandon directed many Bollywood stalwarts like Shammi Kapoor (Professor, 1962; Prince, 1969), Rajender Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Shabana Azmi, Rekha, Rajesh Khanna to name a few. His Amrapali (1966), featuring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala, that was selected as Indian entry for the best foreign language film at 39th Academy awards. He also bagged Filmfare Best Screenplay Award for his movie Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaye, along with Vrajendra Gaur and Madhusudan Kalekar in 1978. He directed his first television serial Dil Dariya in 1988 through which he was also credited for discovering Shah Rukh Khan. Tandon also acted in films like Swades, Chennai Express, Rang De Basanti among others. His last rites will commence from his Lake Superior residence in Powai and his funeral will be held in Hindu Shamshaan Bhoomi, Tagore Nagar, Vikhroli east at 12 p.m. today, 16 October.