I picked up this topic as I had nothing really to do and found that there are just two opinions on this topic and none by a man. What a pity said my mind and I set about typing this review. This is a list of 10 directors who in my view influenced Hindi Film industry and through it the way I see movies. Some of these directors are no more but their movies will still remain as poetries on celluloid, for the world to wonder and ponder….
1.Rajaram Vanakudre Shantaram : More popularly known as V.Shantaram , to me he was Bollywood’s first showman - a person who excelled in movies as a director, actor and producer. His earlier movies were all ones with strong social messages. His movies were a reflection of society through his looking glass. He made movies where in the woman was not just an accessory ( Amar Jyoti, Duniya Na Mane, Shakuntala and Aadmi ), religion was not something to squabble about ( Amrit Manthan, Padosi ). He will be most remembered for Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (India’s first Technicolor movie) Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani and Do Aankhen Barah Haat . Towards end of his career though, the showman in him took over the social thinker in him.
2.Guru Dutt : Guru Dutt Shiv Shankar Padukone was born in Mangalore, now that’s not the reason that he is here on this list. He was a trend-setter in his own rights. He brought to screen a protagonist with multiple shades. His first directorial venture was with Dev Saab as Hero in a film by the name Baazi . Another person who came up trumps as an actor, director and producer, the name Guru Dutt conjures up in me many moods. He was the one who introduced Waheeda Rehman (someone whom I consider as the most beautiful woman to have been on Celluliod). He will be best remembered for his movies like Aar Paar , Mr And Mrs 55, Pyaasa , Kaaghaz Ke Phool as a director and as an actor for movies like Chaudvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.
3.Raj Kapoor: The man who was ahead of his time, Raj Kapoor needs no introduction to Indian movie goers. Ranbirraj Kapoor started his career on the stage with his illustrious father, Prithviraj Kapoor . He possessed a magic touch and was one of the most successful movie makers in Bollywood if not financially at least aesthetically. Another in the series of successful actor, director producer, the first film RK directed was Aag , which was a moderate success and followed it up with Barsaat , which was an instant hit. He will be remembered for a lot of movies in which he has acted. His directorial gems in my view are movies like Awara, Mera Naam Joker and Sangam . He was accused of exploiting his heroines’ physique … but I am not complaining about that.
4.Bimal Roy : Brilliant, that’s one word to describe this wonderful gift to Indian cinema. He started off as a cameraman and his first film was Maa based on a novel by Sharath Chandra Chaterjee. He made movies like Biraj Bahu and Devdass before he went to make a classic called Madhumati following it up with yet another big hit Yahudi. The best of his movies indisputably is Do Bheega Zamin , I would also recommend his Sujata and Bandini both starring Nutan to all you movie lovers.
5.Shyam Benegal : One of the most forceful directors that Hindi cinema. His film has often been brushed aside as being too arty or non-commercial. He is the nephew of Guru Dutt and he was the one who introduced Shabana Azmi to Hindi movies with Ankur. Most of his films are set in a realistic canvas and speaks about social issues in the strongest possible words. His movies have made India proud at many festivals abroad. His memorable gifts to the movie-goer are Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Junoon, Trikaal, Suraj Ka Satwaan Ghoda and Samar (1998)
6.Hrishikesh Mukherjee : Now where do I start from, he is one of the best story tellers Hindi cinema has seen. He stared off with the movie by the name Musafir but got noticed with his movie Anari with RK in the lead. He won the Presidents medal with Anuradha . He will remembered for his association with Amitabh Bachan and stories that were about the “angry young man ” … but to me he stagnated at this period in his career. I will remember him for a period that came just before the “angry young man” movies came up, with movies like Anand, Guddi , Bawarchi, Abhimaan, Namak Haram, Chupke Chupke, Mili , Golmaal and Khubsoorat
7.Yash Chopra: Starting as an assistant to his bother B.R. Chopra, Yashji’s first directorial venture was Dhool ka Phool , a social issues movie, that enhanced the status of Mala Sinha in Bollywood. Waqt, and Ittefaq were some of his initial movies. He is known for his sense of music and excellent song visualizations. His class is visible from movies like Deewar, Khabie Khabie, Silsila, Chandini, Lamhae and Dil To Pagal Hai.
8.Mani Rathnam : Born to family that was involved in film making, this Business management graduate took naturally to film making. His first few ventures in Tamil and Malayalam did not bring in any recognition. A Tamil movie by the name Mouna Ragam was what brought this director into focus and since then he has not looked back. Brilliant music, great cinematography and breath taking sets are something that’s been associated with this tech-savvy director from south. Roja, Bombay and Dil Se remain his biggest contribution to Hindi films, while I will strongly recommend his Tamil movies like Nayakan (which was murdered oops remade as Dayavan Starring Vinod Khanna) and Anjali to anyone who hasn’t seen them.
9.Ram Gopal Verma: Though he will be remembered for his movies Satya , I have enjoyed all his offerings including Mast and Daud which bombed at the box office. A director from Andhra Pradesh, he has shown a flair for experimentation in the mainstream commercial movie field, I love him for his technical brilliance and freshness in approach. Only place where he falters according to me is in not ensuring a tighter screen play in some of his movies. Shiva, Rangeela, Kaun and Company other notable contributions from him.
- I will leave the 10th spot open to some brilliant, young and up coming directors. Of whom, I would love to see more of and then decide. They include
a. John Mathew Mathan : Film Sarfarosh
b. Farhan Akhtar : Film: Dil Chata Hai
c. Meghana Gulzar : Film Filhaal
PS: I have left out Satyajit Ray as I was concentrating on directors who have at least made 3 or more movies in Hindi. Satyajit Ray was a truly master craftsman and his “ Shataranj Ke Khiladi” ranks high amongst my favorite all time movies. Also left out are directors like Mira Nair, Deepa Mehta and Nagesh Kukkunoor who , for some strange reasons do not represent Bollywood to me (though each one of them is brilliant in their own way.).
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