Hrishikesh Mukherjee

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".[1][2] He is known for a number of films, including Anari, Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Majhli Didi, Chaitali, Aashirwad, Bawarchi, Khubsoorat, Kissi Se Na Kehna, and Namak Haraam. 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[10] honoured him with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1999 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. He received the NTR National Award in 2001 and won eight Filmfare Awards.

• Name — Hrishikesh Mukherjee • Born — 30 September 1922 • Birthplace — Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India) • Died — 27 August 2006 • Place of death — Mumbai, Maharashtra, India • Occupation — * Film director • editor • screenwriter • Honours — Dada Saheb Phalke Award (1999) Padma Vibhushan (2001) • Notable Works — * Anari • Anupama • Majhli Didi • Satyakam • Anand • Guddi • Chupke Chupke • Chaitali

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was born in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in pre-independence India to a Bengali Brahmin family.[5] He studied science and graduated in chemistry from the University of Calcutta. He taught mathematics and science for some time before taking up filmmaking as a career.

Mukherjee initially worked 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 at the time.[6] He later worked with Bimal Roy in Mumbai as a film editor and assistant director in 1951,[7] participating in the landmark Roy films Do Bigha Zamin and Devdas. His debut directorial venture, Musafir (1957), was not a success, but he later 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. 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) 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.[8] Having worked with his mentor, Bimal Roy as an editor, in films like Madhumati, he was much sought after as an editor as well.[9]

In 1999, Mukherjee was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Government of India. Mukherjee was the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and of the National Film Development Corporation. In 2001, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award for his contribution to Indian cinema by the Government of India. The International Film Festival of India honoured him with a retrospective of his films in November 2005. He holds the distinction of working with many of the top Indian stars since the independence of India in 1947. His last film was Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate. Since his original hero, Amol Palekar, had grown old, he opted to cast Anil Kapoor. He has directed TV serials including Talaash.

In later life, Mukherjee suffered from chronic kidney failure and would go to Lilavati Hospital for dialysis. He was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai early on Tuesday, 6 June 2006 after he complained of uneasiness. Mukherjee died a few weeks later on 27 August 2006.[11]

Mukherjee was married and has three daughters and two sons.[13] His wife died over 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 occasionally cats at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. In his final years, Mukherjee was exclusively staying with his servants and pets. Family members and friends would visit him regularly.

• Hum Hindustani (1986) • Talaash (1992) • Dhoop Chhaon • Rishte • Ujaale Ki Or • Agar Aisa Ho Toh