Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan (9 September 1907 – 28 May 1964) was a prominent Indian film director and producer. He is best known for directing the social epic Mother India (1957), which won the Filmfare Awards for Best Film and Best Director, two National Film Awards, and was a nominee for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He set up his production company – Mehboob Productions, and later a film studio – Mehboob Studios in Bandra, Mumbai in 1954. He also created the dacoit film genre with Aurat (1940) and Mother India, and is also known for other blockbusters including the romantic drama Andaz (1949), the swashbuckling musical Aan (1951), and the melodrama Amar (1954).

Early life

Khan was born Mehboob Khan Ramzan Khan in Bilimora in Gandevi Taluka of Navsari district (now Gujarat) on 9 September 1907.

Industry influence

Khan introduced and helped establish the careers of many actors and actresses who went on to become big stars in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s such as Surendra, Arun Kumar Ahuja, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Nargis, Nimmi and Nadira. In 1961, he was a member of the jury at the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival. He remained the president of the Film Federation of India from 1963 through 1964.

Mehboob Khan was known for having been influenced by Hollywood, and his films often featured lavish sets in the style of the Hollywood at that time. The oppression of the poor, class warfare and rural life are recurring themes in his work.

Mehboob Khan was awarded the title of Hidayat Kar-e-Azam by the Indian government. With his first wife Fatima, he had three sons: Ayub, Iqbal and Shaukat. After separation from his first wife, he married the famous Indian film actress Sardar Akhtar (1915–1986) in 1942. He adopted Sajid Khan (born 28 December 1951), who has starred in Indian and foreign English films.

Filmography

As a director

  • Son of India (1962)
  • A Handful of Grain (1959)
  • Mother India (1957)
  • Bahen (1941)
  • Alibaba (1940)

;National Film Awards

  • 1958 – All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film – Mother India
  • 1958 – Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Hindi – Mother India
  • 30 March 2007, India Post released a commemorative stamp showing Maheboob Khan and a scene of 'Mother India' depicting Raaj Kumar & Nargis

References

Further reading

  • Mehboob Khan@SPICE
  • Mehboob Khan profile at Cineplot.com website - Archived