Basu Chatterjee

 He was a director I first encountered with Rajnigandha. Tightly edited, a simple story about a girl who has to make a choice between two suitors. And does. But the filming of this story leaves an impact felt for a long time. Vidya Sinha got a great role.

Then I saw Chhoti si Baat, where a trainer teaches the hero how to beat competition and win a lady love. Ashok Kumar played the trainer. A comedy handled in a breezy fashion. Again, with great music to accompany the story. 

Chitchor was next. Set in rural India, it was a musical, with a simple story yet again. Zarina Wahab was never so impressive. Amol Palekar scored a hat-trick- he was in all three.

After that I also saw a few more films (Priyatama, Shaukeen) and TV (Rajni, Byomkesh Bakshi) serials he directed. Very impressive, making him my favourite director among a few others I like- Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar, Vijay Anand. Editing and screenplay were his forte, I believe.

The Lesser Players of Bollywood

There are a lot of character actors in Bollywood who add their charming little acts to the proceedings. Here is recounting a few from their heyday-

Iftikhar- usually playing the Commissioner of Police, he lightened up in Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye..

Om Shivpuri played many small but important characters, like in Don (the Amitabh original).

A.K. Hangal made Ramukaka, the homely servant popular, but played a horny old man in the comedy "Shaukeen" with panache too.

Om Prakash was an endearing character in most films, Chupke Chupke being one of his best roles as the jeejaji who is a stickler for Shuddh Hindi.

Nazneen excelled at the sister act- the hero or the heroine always had a sister in old Hindi films.

Keshto Mukherjee was the eternal drunk, and made this act his own.

David was the uncle or elderly equivalent in countless films, particularly noticeable in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's and Basu Chatterjee's films.

Ashok Kumar played many important roles long after he stopped being a hero, adding charm to lots of films.

Lalita Pawar, known as the mother-in-law without a heart, played a wonderful contrarian role in Anand, the Rajesh Khanna starrer. 

Sudhir, Mac Mohan, Viju Khote, Paintal, are some others that come to mind.

Shaukeens- Film Review

There is a feeling I get when I watch remakes of good films done amateurishly or in a crass manner. I got that with this film. Last time I had it was with Humshakals, which was not a remake, but crass and stupid nevertheless.

There was this movie called Shaukeen directed by Basu Chatterjee in the eighties sometime, which had three very good actors in the lead roles, Rati Agnihotri as the object of their affection (or lust, if you prefer), and a hilarious series of events unfolding. At the time it was made, this theme was quite novel, but apart from that, the three oldies (Ashok Kumar, AK Hangal and Utpal Dutt) brought such class to the proceedings, that it would be tough to emulate. And Shaukeens shows how true that is.

The stories are similar- the three lustful old men going off into the woods to get themselves a girl, and funny ending to their attempts. Whereas the first one made you laugh or smile, this one ends in a whimper. Akshay Kumar tries his best to infuse life into the second half, but that only brings on a half-smile. Maybe I'll go read Chetan Bhagat's Half-girlfriend to get over this one.

David- A Tribute

They also play a pivotal role in many films. rarely do they get talked about, such is the hero-worship in the world of Bollywood and its media coverage.

One of the delightful cameo artists was simply known as David (others, a few I can recall off-hand, were Durga Khote, Dina Pathak, Leela Mishra, Nazneen, AK Hangal, Om Prakash, Utpal Dutt, and many comedians along the way). He was inconspicuous, but when he came on to the scene, he radiated a charm and positive energy, making you smile. He did not seem like he was acting too- a natural.

Many a film benefited from his unique charisma (non-heroes have it too, you know)- a partial list of which is here-

• Khubsoorat (1980)
• Gol Maal (1979)
• Baton Baton Mein (1979)
• Hamare Tumhare (1979)
• Khatta Meetha
• Chupke Chupke (1975)
• Abhimaan (1973)        

The playful guy in Golmaal who tips off Amol Palekar on how to 'patao' Utpal Dutt with moustaches and a penchant for our 'pavitra sanskaar' brings tears of laughter even today. Similarly he is an easy foil to the 'khadoos' Dina Pathak in Khubsoorat. Ashok Kumar is of course, the other. 

In Abhimaan, when the egos of the husband and wife clash, he is one of the sober voices. In Chupke Chupke, he is one of the active plotters along with Dharmendra, to teach Om Prakash a thing or two about Shuddh Hindi ka prayog, leading to a lot of hasta prakshalan (hand-washing) and hand-wringing. Memorable roles all.