Hrishikesh Mukherjee

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Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Born September 30, 1922
India
Died August 27, 2006

Hrishikesh Mukherjee (Bengali: হৃষিকেশ মুখোপাধ্যায়/মুখার্জী Rhishikesh Mukhopaddhae/Mukharji (see naming conventions), Hindi: ऋषिकेश मुखर्जी Riṣhikesh Mukharjī) (September 30, 1922–August 27, 2006) was a famous Hindi film director known for a number of films, including Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Aashirwad, Bawarchi, and Namak Haraam. He was popularly known as Hrishi-da.

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[edit] Early life

Hrishikesh Mukherjee studied science in college, and graduated in chemistry. He taught mathematics and science for some time, but chose to begin working, initially as a cameraman, and then film editor, in B. N. Sircar's New Theatres in Calcutta in the late 1940s. He worked with Bimal Roy in Mumbai as film editor and assistant director from 1951, participating in the landmark Roy films Do Bigha Zameen and Devdas.

His debut directorial venture, Musafir, was not a success, but he persisted and received acclaim for his second film Anari in 1959. The film, crew and cast won five Filmfare Awards, with Mukherjee only losing the Best Director Award to his mentor, Bimal Roy.

His string of hits with Amitabh made him one of the golden directors who had a special working relationship with Amitabh Bachchan ( Ramesh Sippy ,Prakash Mehra,Manmohan Desai, and Yash Chopra being the other four).

In the following years he made numerous films. Some of his most notable films include: Anuradha 1960, Asli-Naqli 1962, Anupama 1966, Aashirwad 1968, Satyakam 1969, Guddi 1971, Bawarchi 1972, Mili 1975, Chupke Chupke 1975 and Bemisal 1982. He was the first to introduce Dharmendra in comedy roles. Mukherjee was also responsible for casting Amitabh Bachchan in a prominent role in Anand (film) 1970, along with Rajesh Khanna.He introduced Jaya Bhaduri to Hindi cinema in his film Guddi.

[edit] Later life

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Government of India, in 1999. [1] Mukherjee was chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and of the National Film Development Corporation. He was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema in 2001. The International Film Festival of India honoured him with a retrospective of his films in November 2005. He holds the distinction of working with almost all the top Indian stars since independence of India in 1947.

The films were realistic and unlike the other Bollywood films do not have crime, violence. The simple plots contain deeper meaning, but are generally straightforward in form, theme and treatment. He directed around 50 films most of which were valued by audiences and critics alike because of their middle-of-the-road accessibility, heart-warming irony and literary sensibilities. His characters inhabited a middle-class, urban, educated milieu. One more characteristic of his films was that it had a character engrossed in music. Such as Anuradha, Aashirwad, Chupke chupke, Abhimaan, Khubsoorat, GolMaal, Alaap, Bawarchi, Aashiq, Mili, Saanjh Aur Sawera and Phir Kab Milogi to name a few.

His last film was Jhoot Bole Kauwa Kaate. Since his original hero Amol Palekar had grown old he had to choose Anil Kapoor. He has also directed TV serials like Talaash. Another director making films akin to him is Basu Chatterjee.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Death

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was admitted to Leelavati Hospital in Mumbai early on Tuesday, 6th June 2006 after after he complained of uneasiness. Mukherjee died ten weeks later on August 27, 2006. [2] He is survived by three daughters and a son.

[edit] Selected filmography

[edit] Films as Director

[edit] Films as Editor, Writer and/or Assistant Director

[edit] TV Serials

  • Hum Hindustani
  • Talaash
  • Dhoop Chhaon
  • Rishte
  • Ujaale Ki Or

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hrishikesh Mukherjee wins Dadasaheb Phalke Award
  2. ^ Staff report (27 August 2006). Hrishikesh Mukherjee is dead.Times of India

[edit] External links