B. P. Singh, creator of long-running TV crime show CID and horror series Aahat, dies at 77
Television director-producer Brijendra Pal Singh, the creator of CID and Aahat, died on the morning of 27 October after a heart attack, according to filmmaker Ashoke Pandit.
Brijendra Pal Singh, the veteran director and producer better known as B. P. Singh, who created the long-running detective series CID, died on the morning of Tuesday, 27 October, aged 77. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit announced the death on Instagram, saying Singh had suffered a massive heart attack early that day. His last rites were scheduled for Wednesday, 28 October, India.com reported, with further details to be shared later. The news has made CID and its creator one of the most searched topics in India over the past day.
The man behind CID
Born in Dehradun, Singh created, directed and produced CID, the crime drama that premiered in 1998 and followed a team of officers from the Mumbai crime branch as they solved cases through investigation and forensics. The show became one of the most recognisable programmes on Indian television, and Singh himself occasionally appeared on screen as DCP Shamsher Singh Chitrole, according to India.com.
He was also the producer of Aahat, the horror anthology that ran on Sony TV between 1995 and 2015. His other television work included Khaaki, Abhay and SuperCops Vs Super Villains. India.com noted that the CID Gallantry Awards were introduced in 2010.
Beyond his own productions, Singh served as president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), Pandit said. Actor Dayanand Shetty, who plays Daya in CID, described him as one of the finest cameramen the industry had, a reminder that Singh’s craft began behind the lens.
Health and cause of death
Reports cite a massive heart attack as the cause, attributing this to Pandit’s post and an NDTV report. Those who worked closely with him also pointed to longer-standing health concerns. Actor Amit Behl, a CINTAA representative, told The Hollywood Reporter India that Singh had been dealing with multiple health complications for several years. Shetty, speaking to HT City, said the death was age-related and that Singh had not been well for quite some time. The place of death has not been stated in the reports reviewed.
Tributes from colleagues
Pandit called Singh an ace producer-director and a dear friend, recalling their close association during Singh’s tenure at IFTDA, and said his work would inspire future generations.
Behl, who said he began his career under Singh and worked with him on CID and Aahat for close to 30 years, described him as a father figure. Shetty, one of the show’s best-known faces, said Singh had no other life, other than making content, describing him as deeply dedicated and passionate about his work.
A lasting legacy on Indian television
For audiences who grew up watching CID’s investigators at work, Singh’s name was closely tied to the format he built and sustained over many years. His shows helped shape the crime and thriller genre on Indian television, and their catchphrases and characters became part of popular culture. Colleagues’ tributes suggest he remained closely involved with content creation until late in his life.
Sources
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