Hrishikesh Mukherjee, a celebrated filmmaker of his time, directed the comedy ‘Golmaal’ in 1979. While the current generation might associate the title with the Rohit Shetty-Ajay Devgn series, the original, featuring actors like Utpal Dutt and Amol Palekar, was a comedic masterpiece. The film, with its witty dialogues and social commentary, set the tone for Mukherjee’s approach to filmmaking.
Mukherjee’s filmography is a testament to his simple yet effective methods. He preferred straightforward storytelling, cast big stars but maintained simplicity, and created grand sets while keeping expenses low. This approach resulted in artistic excellence and commercial success.
His philosophy was straightforward: a superstar would be cast, but their presence would be dictated by the script’s needs. This approach is evident in the 1971 classic, ‘Anand.’ The film featured Rajesh Khanna, a superstar, while Amitabh Bachchan was still establishing himself.
Mukherjee’s direction is evident in his bold choices. The initial part of the film focuses on Amitabh Bachchan, exploring the character of Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee in detail. If another director had been at the helm, they might have hesitated to give a newcomer so much screen time, especially when working with a superstar like Khanna. Mukherjee’s decision, based on the script’s demands, paid off, leading to a classic film.
This characteristic of Mukherjee continued in his later films. In 1973’s ‘Namak Haraam,’ he repeated the pairing, even though Amitabh Bachchan had become a recognizable face by then. He gave a supporting character, played by Raza Murad, a respectable place alongside the two superstars.
Mukherjee was a mentor to many artists, including Amitabh Bachchan. While directors like Yash Chopra and Salim-Javed contributed to Bachchan’s stardom, Mukherjee’s films, such as ‘Mili,’ ‘Abhimaan,’ and ‘Bemisaal,’ portrayed him as a simple hero, adding another layer to his persona. Mukherjee discovered Jaya Bachchan and launched her in ‘Guddi.’
He was a father figure to Dharmendra, Deven Verma, Amol Palekar, and Rajesh Khanna, who affectionately called him ‘Pintu Baba.’ Madhuri’s founder-editor, Arvind Kumar, remembered Mukherjee, noting his simple lifestyle and his preference for ‘Hrishikesh’ over ‘Rishikesh,’ as the name reflects the meaning, ‘Lord of the senses.’ His films were far from the glitz and glamour.
Mukherjee was born on September 30, 1922, in Kolkata. He studied mathematics and science and was influenced by filmmakers like P.C. Barua and Bimal Roy. He started in New Theatres, working as a cameraman, editor, and assistant director before becoming a celebrated director. He attracted all the superstars of his time. Any actor would be eager to work in a Hrishikesh Mukherjee film. Working in his films meant that his actors would get recognition. Glamour and money were secondary to the experience of working in a Hrishikesh Mukherjee film.
In the 1950s, when Bimal Roy moved from Kolkata to Mumbai, his team followed, including writer Nabendu, editor Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and director Asit Sen. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s suggestion led Bimal Roy to open his production house. He made films like ‘Do Bigha Zamin’ with Balraj Sahni-Nirupa Roy and ‘Devdas’ with Dilip Kumar-Suchitra Sen. Hrishikesh Mukherjee was the assistant director and editor for these films.
Mukherjee developed a unique identity. He deeply understood the social aspects of cinema under Bimal Roy, incorporating those emotions into stories of middle-class families. His films showcased the various aspects of life—sorrow, dreams, competition, employment, unemployment, and also pure comedy, as seen in ‘Chupke Chupke.’ He worked with Dilip Kumar in ‘Musafir,’ Raj Kapoor in ‘Anari,’ Dev Anand in ‘Asli-Naqli,’ and Guru Dutt in ‘Sanjh Aur Savera.’
Hrishikesh Mukherjee gave films like ‘Anupama’ and ‘Satyakam’ with Dharmendra. Dharmendra says that in his films directed by Hrishikesh, he provided an actor’s stature and gave a new height to his career. Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan also believed this. In ‘Bawarchi,’ Rajesh Khanna’s role is unforgettable. Hrishikesh Mukherjee was one of the few directors whose legacy did not progress after his time.
