Tribute to the Legendary Makeup Artist Pandhari Dada: ‘Pandhari Ke Rang’

New Delhi : The film ‘Pandhari Ke Rang,’ directed by Sachin Shirke and Pankaj Sharma, was screened at the Samvet Auditorium of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) under the IGNCA Film Circle event, which is held once every month. In the Indian cinema world, the spotlight is so focused on stardom that other departments of filmmaking, especially technicians and makeup artists, are rarely discussed. However, many individuals have enriched cinema with their contributions. Narayan Harishchandra Jukar, also known as Pandhari Dada, was one such person. A master of makeup artistry, he was an iconic makeup artist and, in the true sense, a school of makeup art. He enhanced hundreds of faces with his art, touching countless hearts. Active in the film industry since 1948, he worked with numerous stars, including Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Madhubala, Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Meena Kumari, Dharmendra, Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Aishwarya Rai, Manisha Koirala, and Ashwini Bhave.

Pandhari Dada passed away on February 18, 2020, at the age of 88. The Films Division of India has produced a film, ‘Pandhari Ke Rang,’ dedicated to his artistry. This approximately half-hour film showcases Pandhari Dada’s journey as a makeup artist. In it, Dada himself talks about his makeup art, and renowned actors like Waheeda Rehman, Juhi Chawla, Ashwini Bhave, Gulshan Grover, and Manisha Koirala share their thoughts. Notable filmmaker Subhash Ghai also highlights Pandhari Dada’s contributions as a makeup artist. Additionally, several famous makeup artists and Pandhari Dada’s disciples discuss his working style. The way he transformed makeup into an art form with the touch of his fingers was extraordinary. The film also conveys the message that makeup artists play a crucial role in enhancing the impact of a film. An actor brings a character to life with facial expressions and body language, and a makeup artist amplifies that impact with their makeup skills, a point the film illustrates with several examples. This well-crafted film is a heartfelt tribute to the great artist Pandhari Dada, who played a significant role behind the scenes.