Sashadhar Mukherjee

Sashadhar Mukherjee
Born 29 September 1909
Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Died 3 November 1990 (aged 81)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Filmmaker
Spouse(s) Sati Devi
Children 6 (inc. Joy, Deb, and Shomu)
Family Mukherjee-Samarth family

Sashadhar Mukherjee (29 September 1909 – 3 November 1990) was a producer in Hindi films. He started his career with Bombay Talkies in 1930s, and later established Filmistan Studio with Rai Bahadur Chunilal, Ashok Kumar and Gyan Mukherjee in 1943. In the 1950s, he went on to start his independent studio, Filmalaya. He is noted for films like Dil Deke Dekho (1959), Love in Simla (1960), Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962) and Leader (1964). He is part of the distinguished Mukherjee clan of Bollywood.

He won the Filmfare Award for Best Film for Jagriti (1954). In 1967, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian honour by the Government of India.[1]

Family

He was born on 29 September 1909 in Jhansi. Sashadhar was the brother-in-law of Ashok Kumar, Anoop Kumar and Kishore Kumar, being married to their only sister, Sati Devi. He was also instrumental in getting Ashok Kumar into films. His children are Rono Mukherjee, Joy Mukherjee, Deb Mukherjee, Shomu Mukherjee, Shibani Maulik/nee Mukherjee, and Subir Mukherjee. Shomu married actress Tanuja and together they had two children: Kajol and Tanisha. Sashadhar's grand niece is actress Rani Mukerji, whose grandfather Ravidramohan Mukherjee was Sashadhar's older brother. Sashadhar had two more brothers, film director Subodh Mukherjee and film producer Prabodh Mukherjee. His grandson, son of Deb Mukherjee, is film director Ayan Mukherjee, who directed Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani (2013).[2]

Career

He was a producer for Bombay Talkies, and after the death of Himanshu Rai in 1940, was involved in a tussle for control of Bombay Talkies with Devika Rani, actress and widow of Himanshu.[3][4]

In 1943, Sashadhar Mukherjee formed a partnership with Rai Bahadur Chunilal, Ashok Kumar and Gyan Mukherjee, and they started the studio Filmistan in Goregaon.[5] The first film they planned at Filmistan was Chal Chal Re Naujawan with Naseem Bano and Ashok Kumar who had by then become a star. Sadat Hassan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, Pt. Pradeep and so many other intelligent, talented, and creative people were associated with Filmistan. Filmistan gave breaks and made stars out of Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand and many more. Mukherjee made unforgettable and classic films there like Anarkali, Nagin, Tumsa Nahin Dekha, Munim ji, and Paying Guest. He groomed Nasir Hussain as a Director.

In the 1950s, Sashadhar formed his own production house called Filmalaya in Andheri, near Amboli. He also ran an acting school and was instrumental in giving actresses like Asha Parekh and Sadhana a break in films. Sanjeev Kumar was also a product of Filmalaya Acting school. Nasir Hussain was a director involved with his productions as were R. K. Nayyar and Gyan Mukherjee; music director O. P. Nayyar was also associated with his solo productions. He launched his son Joy with the film Love in Simla (1960); he also produced films like Ek Musafir Ek Hasina to further his son's career. When Dilip Kumar wanted to make a film on corrupt politicians he came to Mukherjee and made Leader. Sambandh was his last production. Mukherjee died on 3 November 1990.

Filmography

Dedication in Memory

As founder of Filmalaya Studio,[6] the film Pathar Ke Insan, was dedicated to the memory of Sashadhar Mukherjee.

References

  1. ↑ "Padma Awards Directory (1954–2009)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "Ayan Mukherjee wants to remake grandpa's 'Love in Simla'". The Times of India. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
  3. ↑ The inimitable Dadamoni. The Tribune. 15 December 2001.
  4. ↑ Roshmila Bhattacharya. Kismet: The crook and the cripple. Screen magazine.
  5. ↑ Gulzar, p. 593
  6. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Filmalaya-Studio/515055895186717
  7. ↑ Mukherjee-Samarth family

Bibliography

  • Gulzar; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.


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