Remembering Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of India’s most loved and respected filmmakers, on his 13th death anniversary. (27/08)

Remembering Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of India’s most loved and respected filmmakers, on his 13th death anniversary. (27/08)

His movies are ageless; his stories are the story of the common man and has transcended generations.

The man who discovered Jaya Bhaduri in Guddi, gave Amitabh Bachchan his first big break in Anand, immortalized Raj Kapoor as Anari and Rajesh Khanna as Anand, gave Dharmendra his “life’s best role” in Satyakam — he is none only than the legendary filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee had directed 42 films during his career spanning 4 decades. He made films in which most of the middle-class people can find themselves; he was the pioneer of the “middle cinema” of India. His movies always echoed the middle-class ethos. He started his career under Bimal Roy, he was part of the team who made Do Bigha Zameen and Devdas.

His debut directorial venture, Musafir (1957) with Dilip Kumar, was not a success, he was much ahead of his times. but he persisted and received acclaim for his second film Anari in 1959.

In a career spanning four decades he directed films like Satyakam, Chupke Chupke, Anuradha, Asli-Naqli, Anupama, Anand, Abhimaan, Guddi, Gol Maal, Mili, Aashirwad, Khoobsurat, Bemisal, Bawarchi, Saanjh Aur Sawera, Phir Kab Milogi, Rang Birangi, Pyar Ka Sapna, Naram Garam, Namak Haraam which will remain in the history of Indian Cinema for times to come.

The country’s highest honor in cinema, Dada Saheb Phalke award acknowledged his pioneering contribution towards introducing simple, humane stories of people-next-door on celluloid. Earlier, he had won seven national awards apart from numerous Filmfare and other coveted awards.