National
Jayalalithaa condoles Ashok Kumar's death
By Our Special Correspondent
CHENNAI, DEC. 11. The AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa, in her condolence message, on the demise of the veteran actor, Ashok Kumar, said, ``in his death, the Indian film industry has lost one of its truly great proponents of the art of cinema.''
``Ashok Kumar, winner of many laurels, including the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award for outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, was renowned for both his versatility and the finesse with which he portrayed varied characters in Hindi films. He brought a rare sensitivity to acting throughout his artistic career, spanning more than six decades,'' Ms. Jayalalithaa said.
British daily pays tributes
PTI reports from London:
The prominent British daily, The Times, today paid glowing tributes to Ashok Kumar who etched himself in the country's public consciousness as `Dadamoni' (respected elder brother).
``The Indian film industry is the largest in the world and Ashok Kumar was its grand old man,'' the daily said in its tribute.
The face of Bollywood in the 1940s and 1950s, Kumar starred in more than 250 movies in a career that spanned more than five decades and became one of India's best-loved stars, the daily added.
The German director, Franz Osten, who in 1936 directed Kumar's debut, `Jeevan Naya', had once told him: ``You will never make it in films because of your tremendous jaw.'' But many among the appreciative audience thought he was one of the best-looking actors to grace the screen and Osten himself went on to direct Kumar in several hits.
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