Gujarati songs played at actor's funeral

Rajkot (Gujarat), May 12 (IANS) In an unusual practice, Gujarati film songs were played at the funeral here of comedian Ramesh Mehta, who passed away here Friday. He was 78.

Mehta, a popular Gujarati actor since 1969, was famous for his comic timing. He worked in over 200 Gujarati films.

He was also a script and dialogue writer and a theatre artist.

At his funeral and the subsequent prayer service famous songs from his movies, including a popular 'Tari maa ne bazaar nu bandhaan (Your mother is addicted to going to the market)'.

Family sources said that when he was -admitted to the hospital two months back due to old age related problems, he told his son that wanted songs from his films to be played at his funeral and rituals after death.

Born in Navagam village near Gondal in Saurashtra, Mehta was a school drop-out. He set off for Mumbai very early in his life without completing his formal education. In Mumbai, he joined the Indian National Theatre and initially served as a lighting man in several plays.

Mehta had written scripts of a number of successful Gujarati films, including 'Hast Melap', 'Jesal Toral', 'Ghunghat', 'Raja Bharathari', 'Hothal Padamani' and 'Valo Namori'. He was the recipient of many awards, including the Gujarat Gaurav.

Mehta is survived by sons Kanu and Atul and daughters Kiran and Harsha.