Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Hrishikesh Mukherjee (হৃষিকেশ মুখোপাধ্যায়/মুখার্জী Hrishikesh Mukhopaddhae/Mukharji (see naming conventions)) (30 September 1922–27 August 2006) was a famous Indian film director known for a number of films, including Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Aashirwad, Bawarchi, Namak Haraam and an entertaining good suspense movie Buddha Mil Gaya.

Popularly known as Hrishi-da, he directed 42 films during his career spanning over four decades, and is named the pioneer of the 'middle cinema' of India. Renowned for his social films that reflected the changing middle-class ethos, Mukherjee "carved a middle path between the extravagance of mainstream cinema and the stark realism of art cinema".

He also remained the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC),. The Government of India honoured him with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1999 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. He received the NTR National Award in 2001.

Early life and background
Hrishikesh Mukherjee was born in city of Calcutta now Kolkata, he studied science and graduated in chemistry from the University of Calcutta. He taught mathematics and science for some time.

Career
Mukherjee 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, where he learned his skills from Subodh Mitter ('Kenchida'), a well known editor of his times. He then worked with Bimal Roy in Mumbai as film editor and assistant director from 1951, participating in the landmark Roy films Do Bigha Zamin and Devdas.

His debut directorial venture, Musafir (1957), 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 Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan made him one of the golden directors.

In the following years he made numerous films. Some of his most notable films include: Anuradha (1960), Asli-Naqli (1962), Anand (1971), Chemmeen, Anupama (1966), Aashirwad (1968), Satyakam (1969), Guddi (1971), Bawarchi (1972), "Namak Haraam" (1973), Mili (1975), Chupke Chupke (1975), Khubsoorat (1980) and Bemisal (1982). He was the first to introduce Dharmendra in comedy roles, through Chupke Chupke, and gave Amitabh Bachchan his big break with Anand in 1970, along with Rajesh Khanna, he also introduced Jaya Bhaduri to Hindi cinema in his film Guddi. Having worked with his mentor, Bimal Roy as an editor, in films like Madhumati, he was much sought after as an editor as well.

Later life
Hrishikesh Mukherjee was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Government of India, in 1999. Mukherjee was chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and of the National Film Development Corporation. He was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema by government of India 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 but there is one point. All the famous comedy films made by him like 'Chupke Chupke, Golmaal', 'Khoobsurat, Kisi se Na Kehna, Bowarchi, Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kate'' were not based on situation, but false characters. He failed to make a real and situation based comedy. Therefore, although many comedy films are to credit which were really fully entertaining and liked by viewers, but he lacked the magic which Gulzar achieved in making 'Angoor'. It is said that he did not like crime and violance, but he directed 'Buddha Mil Gaya' starring Navin Nischol, Deven Verma, Brahma Bharadwaj, Archana, Aruna Irani and Om Prakash which was a comedy-crime film. It was directed in a different manner therefore, Buddha Mil Gaya is one of the best films he has made. For the first time, Shetty played a positive role in a very different manner. 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 they usually include 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. He did not belong to any "camp" but worked with a variety of producers, lyricists and music directors - including Hemant Kumar, Pandit Ravi Shankar, S D Burman, R D Burman, Vasant Desai, Salil Chaudhury, Madan Mohan and Laxmikant-Pyarelal.

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

Death
Hrishikesh Mukherjee was suffering from chronic renal failure and would go to Lilavati Hospital for dialysis. He was admitted to Leelavati Hospital in Mumbai early on Tuesday, 6 June 2006 after he complained of uneasiness. Mukherjee died ten weeks later on 27 August 2006.

Personal life
Hrishikesh Mukherjee was married and has three daughters and a son. His son died at Delhi railway station in 2001 due to asthma attack. His wife died more than three decades before him. He was an animal lover and had many dogs and sometimes an odd cat at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. He used to stay alone with servants and pets in his last phase of life. Family members and friends would visit him regularly.

Awards

 * 2001: Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
 * 2001: NTR National Award


 * Berlin International Film Festival
 * 1961: Golden Bear: Nomination: Anuradha


 * Filmfare Awards
 * 1956: Filmfare Best Editing Award: Naukari
 * 1959: Filmfare Best Editing Award: Madhumati
 * 1970: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award: Anokhi Raat
 * 1972: Filmfare Best Movie Award: Anand shared with N. C. Sippy
 * 1972: Filmfare Best Editing Award: Anand
 * 1972: Filmfare Best Story Award: Anand
 * 1981: Filmfare Best Movie Award: Khubsoorat shared with N. C. Sippy


 * National Film Awards
 * 1957: Certificate of Merit for Third Best Feature Film in Hindi - Musafir
 * 1959: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi - Anari
 * 1960: President's Gold Medal for the All India Best Feature Film - Anuradha
 * 1999: Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Films as Director

 * Musafir (1957)
 * Anari (1959)
 * Anuradha (1960)
 * Memdidi (1961)
 * Chhaya (1961)
 * Asli-Naqli (1962)
 * Aashiq (1962)
 * Sanjh Aur Savera (1964)
 * Do Dil (1965)
 * Gaban (1966)
 * Biwi Aur Makaan (1966)
 * Anupama (1966)
 * Majhli Didi (1967)
 * Aashirwad (1968)
 * Satyakam (1969)
 * Pyar Ka Sapna (1969)
 * Anand (1970)
 * Guddi (1971)
 * Buddha Mil Gaya (1971)
 * Sabse Bada Sukh (1972)
 * Bawarchi (1972)
 * Abhimaan (1973)
 * Namak Haraam (1973)
 * Phir Kab Milogi (1974)
 * Mili (1975)
 * Chupke Chupke (1975)
 * Chaitali (1975)
 * Arjun Pandit (1976)
 * Alaap (1977)
 * Kotwal Saab (1977)
 * Naukri (1978)
 * Gol Maal (1979)
 * Jurmana (1979)
 * Khubsoorat (1980)
 * Naram Garam (1981)
 * Bemisal (1982)
 * Kissi Se Na Kehna (1983)
 * Rang Birangi (1983)
 * Achha Bura (1983)
 * Jhoothi (1985)
 * Lathi (1988)
 * Namumkin (1988)
 * Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate (1998)

TV Serials

 * Hum Hindustani (1986)
 * Talaash (1992)
 * Dhoop Chhaon
 * Rishte
 * Ujaale Ki Or