A. Bhimsingh

A. Bhimsingh or Bhim Singh (15 October 1924–16 January 1978) was an Indian filmmaker who worked predominantly in Tamil cinema. Apart from Tamil, he made films in other languages that include 18 films in Hindi, 8 films in Telugu, 5 films in Malayalam and 1 film in Kannada. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, he started his film career as an assistant editor with the film-making duo Krishnan–Panju in the late 1940s. Later, he became an assistant director before evolving as an independent director. His films mainly dealt with family and relationships. He made a series of films all of which started with the Tamil syllable pa, mainly with Sivaji Ganesan.

A. Bhimsingh
Born	(1924-10-15)15 October 1924 Rayalacheruvu, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	16 January 1978(1978-01-16) (aged 53) Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)	editor, director, producer, writer
Years active	1949–1978
Spouses	Sona ​ (m. 1949)​ Sukumari ​ (m. 1959)​
Children	B. Lenin B. Kannan
Relatives	Travancore family

Personal life

Bhimsingh married Sona, the sister of Krishnan, in 1949. He had eight children with her; one of his eight children, B. Lenin is a film editor, and another son of his, B. Kannan, is a cinematographer, who is known for his frequent collaborations with many of Bharathiraja. Later, Bhimsingh's eldest son Naren married Panju's daughter. Bhimsingh was also married to actress Sukumari in 1959 and has a son Suresh Bhimsingh.^[1]

Filmography

Year	Film	Banner	Language	Screenwriter	Notes
1954	Ammaiyappan	National Productions	Tamil	M. Karunanidhi	Directorial debut
1956	Raja Rani
1958	Pathi Bakthi	Budda Pictures		Valampuri Somanathan	screenplay, dialogues and editor credits
	Thirumanam	Valampuri Pictures		M. S. Solamalai
1959	Ponnu Vilaiyum Bhoomi	Oriental Pictures
	President Panchatcharam	Savitri Pictures		B. S. Ramaiah
	Bhaaga Pirivinai	Saravana Films		M. S. Solamalai
	Sahodhari	Carnatic Films		Murasoli Maran
1960	Aai Phirse Bahar		Hindi	M. Karunanidhi
	Padikkadha Medhai	Bala Movies	Tamil	Asha Poorna Devi
	Kalathur Kannamma	AVM Productions		Javar Seetharaman	Dubbed in Telugu as Mavoori Ammayi
	Petra Manam	National Pictures		Mu. Varadarajan
1961	Pava Mannippu	Budhdha Pictures		M. S. Solamalai	National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film Dubbed in Telugu as Papa Pariharam
	Pasamalar	Rajamani Pictures		K. P. Kottarakkara
	Paalum Pazhamum	Saravana Films		G. Balasubramaniam, Pasumani	Remade as Saathi
1962	Paarthaal Pasi Theerum	AVM Productions		A. C. Tirulokchandar
	Padithaal Mattum Podhuma	Ranganathan Pictures		Tharashankar Bandopadhyay
	Rakhi		Hindi		Remake of Pasamalar
	Senthamarai	Madras Pictures	Tamil	Rama Arangannal
	Bandha Pasam	Santhi Films		Valampuri Somanathan
	Main Chup Rahungi	AVM Productions	Hindi		Remake of Kalathur Kannamma
1963	Paar Magaley Paar	Kasturi Films	Tamil	Pattu	Based on stage play Petralthan Pillaiya
1964	Pachchai Vilakku	Vel Pictures		G. K. Suriyam
	Pooja Ke Phool	AVM Productions	Hindi	K. S. Gopalakrishnan	Remake of Kumudham, directed by Adurthi Subba Rao
1965	Pazhani	Bharatha Matha Pictures	Tamil	G. V. Iyer
	Santhi	ALS Productions		M. S. Solaimalai
	Khandan	Vasu Films	Hindi		Remake of Bhaaga Pirivinai
1966	Sadhu Mirandal	Sunbeam Productions	Tamil	Writer and producer
1967	Pattathu Rani		Tamil	Producer
	Mehrban	AVM Productions	Hindi		Remake of Padikkadha Medhai Nominated, Filmfare Award for Best Director
	Paaladai	Kamala Pictures	Tamil	Bilahari (T. Raman)
	Aalayam	Sunbeam Productions			Writer and producer
1968	Gauri	Sivaji Films	Hindi		Remake of Santhi
	Aadmi	PSV Pictures		Akhtar ul Iman Kaushal Bharati Ramarao Shamanna	Remake of K. Shankar's Aalayamani
	Sadhu Aur Shaitaan			Usilai Somanathan	Remake of Sadhu Mirandal
1969	Manishichina Maguva		Telugu
	Bhai Bahen		Hindi
1970	Paadhukaappu	Sunbeam Productions	Tamil	Paasumani
	Gopi		Hindi		Remake of B. R. Panthulu's Chinnada Gombe
	Oke Kutumbham		Telugu
1972	Sub Ka Saathi		Hindi
	Maalik
	Maa Inti Jyothi		Telugu
	Joroo Ka Ghulam		Hindi
1973	Loafer	Century Films		Jagdish Kanwal
1974	Paadha Poojai	Kasiram Pictures	Tamil
	Naya Din Nai Raat		Hindi	A. P. Nagarajan	Remake of A. P. Nagarajan's Navarathiri
1975	Raagam	Jammu Films	Malayalam	S. L. Puram Sadanandan
	Bhagyashalulu		Telugu
1976	Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal	ABS Productions	Tamil	Jayakanthan
	Kanavan Manaivi	Sri Umachitra Combines		Kalaignanam	Remade as Haisiyat
	Chiranjeevi		Kannada
	Bangaru Manishi
1977	Yaaron Ka Yaar		Hindi
	Nirakudum	Swapna Films	Malayalam	Surasu	Remake of Bhaaga Pirivinai
	Sneham	JS Films		Sreekumaran Thampi
	Nee Vazha Vendum	Fathima Amuda Combines	Tamil
	Amaanat		Hindi
	Evaru Devudu		Telugu
1978	Vamsha Jyothi	Sri Rama Enterprises	Kannada
	Oru Nadigai Natakam Parkiral	Girnar Films	Tamil	Jayakanthan
	Mishiha Charitram		Malayalam		Dubbed into Tamil and Telugu
	Kai Pidithaaval	Ganeshanjali Productions	Tamil
	Maattoly	Swapna Films	Malayalam	R. Balakrishnan
	Iraivan Kodutha Varam	Raja Cine Arts	Tamil
	Karunamayudu	Vijayachander Rev. Louis F. Knoll STBC	Telugu	Fr. Christopher Coelho, O.F.M.	Bhimsingh also acted as Judas Iscariot. Dubbed in Hindi as Daya Sagar, Tamil as Karunamoorthy and English as Ocean of Mercy.
	Karunai Ullam	MSV Movies	Tamil

Pa series

Many of Bhimsingh's films began with the syllable Pa, starred Sivaji Ganesan, had music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and lyrics by Kannadasan.^[2] According to Ganesan, Bhimsingh hardly imagined that he would make a series of films that began with the letter Pa, implying that he "might have thought about it at first because his name starts with the same letter in Tamil. Later he might have decided to stay on with this letter for sentimental reasons."^[3]

Year	Film	Banner	Music	Actors
1958	Pathi Bakthi	Buddha Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, M. N. Rajam, T. S. Balaiah, J. P. Chandrababu, V. Nagayya, C. R. Vijayakumari
1959	Bhaaga Pirivinai	Saravana Films	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, M. R. Radha, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, M. N. Nambiar, M. V. Rajamma
1960	Padikkadha Medhai	Bala Movies	K. V. Mahadevan	Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, S. V. Ranga Rao, P. Kannamba, T. R. Ramachandran, R. Muthuraman, E. V. Saroja, V. Gopalakrishnan
1961	Pasamalar	Rajamani Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, M. N. Rajam, M. N. Nambiar, K. A. Thangavelu
1961	Palum Pazhamum	Saravana Films	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, Sowcar Janaki, Prem Nazir, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, V. Nagayya, Sriram, Manorama
1961	Paava Mannippu	Budhdha Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Devika, V. Nagayya, M. R. Radha, T. S. Balaiah, S. V. Subbaiah, M. V. Rajamma
1962	Bandha Pasam	Santhi Films	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Devika, S. V. Ranga Rao, M. V. Rajamma, J. P. Chandrababu
1962	Parthal Pasi Theerum	AVM	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Gemini Ganesan, Savithri, Sowcar Janaki, B. Saroja Devi, Kamal Haasan
1962	Padithal Mattum Podhuma	Ranganathan Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, K. Balaji, Savithri, Rajasulochana, M. R. Radha, S. V. Ranga Rao, S. V. Sahasranamam, P. Kannamba, M. V. Rajamma, R. Muthuraman
1963	Paar Magaley Paar	Kasturi Films	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Sowcar Janaki, R. Muthuraman, A. V. M. Rajan, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha, M. R. Radha, V. K. Ramasamy
1964	Pachhai Vilakku	Vel Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, S. S. Rajendran, A. V. M. Rajan, Sowcar Janaki, C. R. Vijayakumari, Pushpalatha, V. Nagayya, Nagesh, S. V. Ranga Rao, Sriram
1965	Pazhani	Bharatha Matha Pictures	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	Sivaji Ganesan, Sriram, S. S. Rajendran, R. Muthuraman, Devika, Pushpalatha, T. S. Balaiah, M. R. Radha
1967	Paaladai	Kamala Pictures	K. V. Mahadevan	Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini. K. R. Vijaya, V. K. Ramasamy, Nagesh, V. Gopalakrishnan, Manorama
1970	Paadhukaappu	Sunbeam Productions	M. S. Viswanathan	Sivaji Ganesan, Jayalalithaa, T. S. Balaiah, Major Sundararajan, M. N. Nambiar, Nagesh, J. P. Chandrababu, Sowcar Janaki

As an actor

• 1975: Cinema Paithyam

Recurring collaborators

Bhimsingh frequently associated with the same crew members. These included the assistant director duo Thirumalai–Mahalingam (who later became proper directors on films produced and written by Bhimsingh), cinematographer G. Vittal Rao and editor A. Paul Duraisingam.^[4][5][6] Ganesan appeared in 18 films directed by Bhimsingh, starting with Raja Rani (1956).^[7][8]

Accolades

National Film Awards

• 1959: President's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Bhaaga Pirivinai^[9]
• 1960: Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Tamil – Kalathur Kannamma^[10]
• 1961: All India Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film – Paava Mannippu^[11]
• 1961: Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Tamil – Pasamalar^[11]
• 1964: Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Tamil – Pazhani

References

1. "பாசமலர், படிக்காதமேதை, பாலும் பழமும் சிவாஜியின் சிறந்த படங்களை இயக்கிய ஏ.பீம்சிங்". Maalai Malar. 4 February 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
2. Raman, Mohan V (1 November 2019). "Why 'Pa'". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
3. Ganesan, Sivaji; Narayana Swamy, T. S. (2007) [2002]. Autobiography of an Actor: Sivaji Ganesan, October 1928 – July 2001. Sivaji Prabhu Charities Trust. pp. 141−142. OCLC 297212002.
4. "காலமானார் பால் துரைசிங்கம்". Dinamani (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
5. Guy, Randor (9 August 2017). "Aalayam (1967)". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
6. "சினிமா எடுத்துப் பார் 11 - "பீம்சிங் அல்ல பாம்சிங்"". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
7. "Brothers in arms". The Hindu. 18 September 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
8. "சிவாஜியின் செல்லமான 'பீம்பாய்'... 'குடும்பக்கதை'களின் யதார்த்த இயக்குநர்; பாடல்களில் வித்தியாசம்; காட்சிகளில் எளிமை; வசனங்களில் இயல்பு; - சிவாஜியின் இயக்குநர் ஏ.பீம்சிங் 96வது பிறந்தநாள் ஸ்பெஷல்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
9. "7th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
10. "8th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 23 November 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
11. "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2011.

External links

• A. Bhimsingh at IMDb