Hrishikesh Mukherjee | |
|---|---|
 Mukherjee on a 2013 stamp of India | |
| Born | (1922-09-30)30 September 1922 |
| Died | 27 August 2006(2006-08-27) (aged 83) |
| Occupations |
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| Honours | Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1999) Padma Vibhushan (2001) |
Hrishikesh Mukherjee (30 September 1922 – 27 August 2006) was an Indian film director, editor and writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers ofIndian cinema. Popularly known asHrishi-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 hissocial films that reflected the changing middle-class ethos, Mukherjee "carved a middle path between the extravagance of mainstream cinema and the stark realism ofart cinema".[1][2][3][4]
He is known for a number of films, includingAnari,Satyakam,Chupke Chupke,Anupama,Anand,Abhimaan,Guddi,Gol Maal,Majhli Didi,Chaitali,Aashirwad,Bawarchi,Khubsoorat,Kissi Se Na Kehna, andNamak Haraam.
He also remained the chairman of theCentral Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and of theNational Film Development Corporation (NFDC).[5] TheGovernment of India honoured him with theDada Saheb Phalke Award in 1999 and thePadma Vibhushan in 2001. He received theNTR National Award in 2001 and he also won eightFilmfare Awards.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee was born in the city of Calcutta (nowKolkata) in pre-independence India to aBengali Brahmin family.[6] He studied science and graduated in chemistry from theUniversity of Calcutta. He taught mathematics and science for some time before taking up filmmaking as a career.
Mukherjee chose to begin working, initially as a cameraman, and then film editor, inB. N. Sircar's New Theatres inCalcutta in the late 1940s, where he learned his skills from Subodh Mitter ('Kenchida'), a well known editor of his times.[7] He then worked withBimal Roy inMumbai as film editor and assistant director from 1951,[8] participating in the landmark Roy filmsDo Bigha Zamin andDevdas.
His debut directorial venture,Musafir (1957), was not a success, but he persisted and received acclaim for his second filmAnari in 1959. The film, crew and cast won fiveFilmfare Awards, with Mukherjee only losing the Best Director Award to his mentor, Bimal Roy.
In the following years he made numerous films. Some of his most notable films include:Anuradha (1960),Chhaya (1961),Asli-Naqli (1962),Anupama (1966),Aashirwad (1968),Satyakam (1969),Guddi (1971),Anand (1971),Bawarchi (1972),Abhimaan (1973),Namak Haraam (1973),Mili (1975),Chupke Chupke (1975),Alaap (1977),Gol Maal (1979),Khubsoorat (1980) andBemisal (1982). He was the first to introduceDharmendra in comedy roles, throughChupke Chupke, and gaveAmitabh Bachchan his big break withAnand in 1970, along withRajesh Khanna, he also introducedJaya Bhaduri toHindi cinema in his filmGuddi.[5] Having worked with his mentor,Bimal Roy as an editor, in films likeMadhumati, he was much sought after as an editor as well.[9]
Mukherjee was honoured with theDadasaheb Phalke Award by theGovernment of India, in 1999.[10] Mukherjee was chairman of theCentral Board of Film Certification and of theNational Film Development Corporation. He was also awarded thePadma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema by government of India in 2001 . TheInternational 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.
His last film wasJhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate. Since his original heroAmol Palekar had grown old he had to castAnil Kapoor. He has also directed TV serials likeTalaash.
In later life, Mukherjee suffered from chronickidney failure and would go toLilavati Hospital for dialysis. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital inMumbai early on Tuesday, 6 June 2006 after he complained of uneasiness. Mukherjee died few weeks later on 27 August 2006.[11][12]
Mukherjee was married and has three daughters and two sons.[13] His wife died more than three decades before him. His younger brother Dwarkanath Mukherjee helped write the screenplay for many of his films. He was an animal lover and had many dogs and sometimes an odd cat at his residence inBandra, Mumbai. He was staying with only his servants and pets in the last phase of his life. Family members and friends would visit him regularly.
| Year | Film | Production Function | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Tathapi | ||
| 1950 | Pehla Aadmi | Editor, Assistant Director | |
| 1952 | Maa | Editor, Assistant Director | |
| 1953 | Do Bigha Zamin | Scenario, editor, Assistant Director | |
| 1953 | Parineeta | Editor | |
| 1954 | Biraj Bahu | Editor | |
| 1955 | Devdas | Co-editor with Das Dhaimade | [25] |
| 1955 | Garam Coat | Editor | |
| 1958 | Madhumati | Editor | |
| 1959 | Heera Moti | ||
| 1961 | Char Diwari | Editor | |
| 1961 | Ganga Jumna | Co-editor with Das Dhaimade | |
| 1965 | Chemmeen | Editor | |
| 1968 | Mere Hamdam Mere Dost | Editor | |
| 1974 | Nellu | Editor | |
| 1970 | Dastak | Editor | |
| 1977 | Alaap | Story, producer | |
| 1977 | Anuroopa | One and onlyKannada Film as editor | |
| 1981 | Professor Pyarelal | Editor | |
| 1983 | Coolie | Editor |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
