Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Early life and background

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was born in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata) in pre-independence India to a Bengali Brahmin family. 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.

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.

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. 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

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.

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.

Death

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 few weeks later on 27 August 2006.

Personal life

Mukherjee was married and has three daughters and two sons. 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 in Bandra, 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.

Awards

• 2001: Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
• 2001: NTR National Award
• Rashtriya Kishore Kumar Samman from the Government of Madhya Pradesh for 1997-1998

;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
• 1994: Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award – South (1994)

;Kerala State Film Awards

• 1970: Kerala State Film Award for Best Editor: Priya
• 1974: Kerala State Film Award for Best Editor: Nellu ;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
• 1966: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Anupama
• 1968: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Aashirwad
• 1969: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Satyakam
• 1970: President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi – Anand
• 1999: Dada Saheb Phalke Award

Filmography

Films as director

Films as editor, writer or assistant director

TV serials

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

References

References

1. (2003). "Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema". Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt Ltd..
2. [http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/dec/17dinesh.htm The common man lure of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films] ''[[Rediff.com]]''.
3. [http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/28slide1.htm Hrishikesh Mukherjee's best films] Special Photo feature, ''[[Rediff.com]]'', 28 August 2006.
4. Duara, Ajit. (3 September 2006). "A touch of realism". [[The Hindu]].
5. (2006-08-28). "Hrishikesh Mukherjee".
6. [http://www.ultraindia.com/movies/awards/hrishikesh.htm Hrishikesh Mukherjee Biography] {{webarchive. link. (15 October 2007 on winning, the 31st Dada Saheb Phalke Award.)
7. [http://www.upperstall.com/people/hrishikesh-mukherjee Hrishikesh Mukherjee] ''Upperstall.com''.
8. link. (5 September 2008 ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', 26 August 2008)
9. [http://in.rediff.com/movies/2006/aug/28hm.htm Remembering Hrishida] ''[[Rediff.com]]'', 28 August 2006.
10. "Hrishikesh Mukherjee wins Dadasaheb Phalke Award".
11. [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1930646.cms Hrishikesh Mukherjee is dead].''[[The Times of India]]'', 27 August 2006.
12. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121004102108/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/filmmaker-hrishikesh-mukherjee-dead/19858-8.html Filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee dead] [[CNN-IBN]], 28 August 2006.
13. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5291132.stm?ls Veteran Bollywood director dies] [[BBC News]], 27 August 2006.
14. "क्या है 'किशोर अलंकरण', किन हस्तियों को मिल चुका है ये सम्मान".
15. (2010-10-15). "The Kishore Kumar award instituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in 1997, is given away for direction, acting, script writing and lyrics every year. Past recipients of the prestigious award have included Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Shyam Benegal and Amitabh Bachchan. This year it has been given to Yash Chopra.". The Times of India.
16. [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137362/awards Awards] ''[[Internet Movie Database]]''
17. "Best Screenplay Award". Filmfare Award Official Listings, [[Indiatimes]].
18. "Lifetime Achievement Award (South) winners down the years...".
19. Vijayakumar, B. (6 May 2012). "Old Is Gold: Priya 1970".
20. "5th National Film Awards". [[Directorate of Film Festivals]].
21. "7th National Film Awards". [[Directorate of Film Festivals]].
22. "8th National Film Awards". [[International Film Festival of India]].
23. (2018-11-15). "Prosenjit shares a throwback picture from the sets of 'Chotto Jigyasa'". The Times of India.
24. "Chotto Jigyasa (1968)".
25. "Devdas film".