Basu Chatterjee: This is the year 2020 has brought with itself a lorry full of agony. One side where we are fighting with this Coronavirus on the other side, major star and star makers of the cine world are leaving us. And the list now adds Basu Chatterjee. One of the greatest film directors and screenwriters of middle cinema.
His movies and serials were a dose of relief. Which had simple light-hearted stories which mainly focused on daily life, love, and relationships?
His journey
In the initial years of life, Mr. Chatterjee worked as a cartoonist and an illustrator for a period of 18 years. After continuously working for this long he switched to the cine industry where he worked as a filmmaker.
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His debut film hit the screens in the year 1969, named Sara Aakash and this movie won Filmfare’s best screenplay award. Some of his best movie collection includes Sara Aakash, Piya ka Ghar, Us Paar, Rajnigandha, Choti si Baat, Chitchor, Swami, Khatta Meetha, Priyatma, Chakravyuh, Jeena Yahan, Baaton Baaton Mein, Apne Paraye, Shaukeen, and Ek Ruka Hua Faisla. All his movies fell into the category of middle cinema. And the essence of his story was the marital and love relationship with a setup of a middle-class family in an urban area. He has directed a total of 40 movies and 2 others as an assistant director.
Being a middle cinema director he has worked with all the well known and high profile stars of the Bollywood industry and that includes Mithun Chakraborty, Amitabh Bachchan, etc. And with them, he gave blockbuster movies which are still remembered.
Along with being a filmmaker, Mr. Chatterjee has been a keen director of serials. Some of his fantastic TV series include Byomkesh Bakshi and Rajani which were the most popular serials of Doordarshan. Amid lockdown, Byomkesh Bakshi was re telecasted on this channel. A total of 7 TV serials has been created under his direction.
Awards
His exuberant work made him win a good number of awards. Some of which include:
- IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007
- National Filmfare Award for Best Film on Family Welfare for Durga movie.
- Filmfare critics award for best movie for Jeena Yahan in the year 1980.
These are a few of the awards amongst all that he has received. He has won multiple awards for direction and screenplay.
This was a short summary of the life and journey of Mr. Basu Chatterjee. His presence is not with us anymore but his work will live within us. He will be remembered as the best filmmaker till the Indian cine world survives.