Mumbai, late 1950s. An Agra lad, scant rupees in pocket, doctor aspirations in heart, lingers at Filmistan. PMT failure shattered medical hopes, thrusting him into cinema’s surgical suite. Ravi Tandon became the virtuoso who read stories’ vital signs.
February 17, 1935, Agra: Born to a noted Punjabi family, Tandon started small in Mumbai—100-rupee roles as extras. ‘Love in Simla’ (1960) revealed camera wizardry.
RK Nayyar’s assistant role built his foundation; Manoj Kumar’s faith led to ‘Balidan’ (1971) directorial bow. Amid action dominance, Tandon innovated with cerebral thrillers and music-infused mysteries.
Sanjeev Kumar’s ‘Anhonee’ (1973) grips with its fragile psyche narrative. ‘Majboor’ (1974) humanized Amitabh’s Vijay, its suspense timeless.
‘Kh el Khel Mein’ (1975) married campus capers, RD Burman beats, and murder mayhem, etching Rishi Kapoor-Neetu Singh in history.
Tandon exemplified merit over nepotism: Raveena Tandon rose independently via ‘Patthar Ke Phool’, mirroring his diversity in ‘Shool’, ‘Daman’. Family-centric, her name blends Ravi-Veena.
Praised for succinct storytelling, Tandon’s music ties with Laxmikant-Pyarelal and Pancham yielded enduring hits: ‘Khullam Khulla Pyar Karenge’, ‘Angrezi Mein Kehte Hain’.
Death came February 11, 2022. Legacy lives in Juhu’s ‘Ravi Tandon Chowk’ and Braj Ratna 2020. Tandon’s films pulse eternally.