Eternal Anand
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Common man's genius Hrishikeshda will always be remembered.
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HOME TRUTH Hrishikesh Mukherjee made realistic films.
In the annals of Indian cinema, there have been only a few people who have managed to surpass the craft, go on to become icons in their own lifetime.
Foremost among the chosen few is Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who belonged to an era when most filmmakers were socialist by ideology.
He picked the ropes of filmmaking from none other than the legendary Raj Kapoor, in the process becoming a pupil who made the teacher proud, albeit treading a somewhat different path.
Hrishida, as he was fondly called in the fraternity, pioneered a genre of filmmaking which the Indian screens had not witnessed before.
Thus, while greats such as the socialist tramp Raj Kapoor (who later veered towards flamboyant collectivism), the majestic Mehboob Khan and the brooding Guru Dutt, used their interpretation to concoct cinema with a larger message, it was Hrishida, who laid the foundation of what is sometimes termed as `parallel cinema'.
His was a genre inspired by common people, living normal lives, what can be termed as the R.K. Laxman of celluloid.
Most of his masterpieces were crafted in an idiom that trod the fault line between entertainment and a social cause with the grace of a trapeze artist - narrated with finesse, and subtle humour to a spellbound viewer. Fine examples of his sheer genius are "Bawarchi", "Chupke Chupke" and several others.
But, as so often happens with great artistes across fields, there is one magnum opus, which towers above other creations.
Thus, while the world of cinema is blessed with a number of jewels polished to perfection by the ace craftsman, it is for "Anand" (Happiness, in English), his tour de force, that Hrishida will be remembered most. Directed to a level, which can be termed as a perfect ten, if one were to use the parlance of gymnasts, it is easily the pinnacle of filmmaking.
Repeat value
A film which retains its repeat value about four decades after it was made by virtue of its poignant portrayal of emotions, the complexities of human relationships and above all, a message of optimism, delivered with such verve that it can be a case study for psychologists and new age gurus. This film was "Anand".
The hand of genius was visible, aptly, in the last scene, when the whole context of the film was summarised in one sentence, where a new actor Amitabh Bachan numb with pain at the death of his close friend, renders a potent message in his baritone voice, profound words laced with age-old wisdom, `Anand mara nahin; Anand kabhie marte nahin!' which, when translated in English literally means `Happiness did not die, Happiness never dies!'
They certainly don't come better than Hrishida. Thanks for all the moments of simply joy.
APS MALHOTRA
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