Basu Chatterjee was a renowned Indian film director and screenwriter associated with the middle cinema movement alongside filmmakers like Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Bhattacharya. Known for his light-hearted stories of urban middle-class families, his notable films include Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Chitchor (1976), Rajnigandha (1974), and Chameli Ki Shaadi (1986). He also explored social themes in films like Ek Ruka Hua Faisla and Kamla Ki Maut. Chatterjee directed the Bengali film Hothath Brishti (1998), featuring actors from Bangladesh and India, and worked on several cross-border productions highlighting his versatile impact on Indian and Bengali cinema.
Early life
Basu Chatterjee was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, in a Bengali family. His middle class upbringing reflected in his movies that explored areas which were far removed from the glitz and glamour of the blockbusters of the time.3
Career
In 1950s, Chatterjee arrived in Bombay (now Mumbai) and started his career as an illustrator and cartoonist for the weekly tabloid Blitz published by Russi Karanjia. He worked there for 18 years before changing career paths to filmmaking, when he assisted Basu Bhattacharya in the Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman starrer Teesri Kasam (1966), which later won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film. Eventually, he made his directorial debut with Sara Akash in 1969, which won him the Filmfare Best Screenplay Award.4
Some of his most critically acclaimed films are Sara Akash (1969), Piya Ka Ghar (1971), Us Paar (1974), Rajnigandha (1974), Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Chitchor (1976), Swami (1977), Khatta Meetha, Priyatama, Chakravyuha (1978 film), Jeena Yahan (1979), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Apne Paraye (1980), Shaukeen and Ek Ruka Hua Faisla.
Other films include Ratnadeep, Safed Jhooth, Man Pasand, Hamari Bahu Alka, Kamla Ki Maut and Triyacharitra.
He has also directed many Bengali films such as Hothat Brishti, Hochcheta Ki and Hothat Shei Din.
Chatterjee directed the television series Byomkesh Bakshi and Rajani for Doordarshan. He was a member of the jury at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival in 19775 and a member of the International Film And Television Club of the Asian Academy of Film & Television. A retrospective of Chatterjee's work was held as part of the Kala Ghoda Art Festival Mumbai in February 2011.
A book on the work of Basu Chatterji, titled Basu Chatterji: And Middle of the road cinema, written by author and music historian Anirudha Bhattacharjee, has been published by Penguin Random House in 2023.
Awards
- 2007: IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1992: National Film Award for Best Film on Family Welfare - Durga
- 1991: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award – Kamla Ki Maut
- 1980: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie – Jeena Yahan
- 1978: National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment - Swami
- 1978: Filmfare Best Director Award – Swami
- 1977: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award - Chitchor Nominee
- 1976: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award – Chhoti Si Baat
- 1975: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie – Rajnigandha
- 1972: Filmfare Best Screenplay Award – Sara Akash6
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credited as | Producer | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | ||||
| 1969 | Sara Akash | Yes | Yes | 7 | |
| 1971 | Piya Ka Ghar | Yes | Tarachand Barjatya | ||
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Yes | Yes | Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal | |
| Us Paar | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1975 | Chhoti Si Baat | Yes | B. R. Chopra | ||
| 1976 | Chitchor | Yes | Tarachand Barjatya | ||
| 1977 | Safed Jhooth | Yes | Yes | Ashim Kumar | |
| Swami | Yes | Jaya Chakravarthy | |||
| Priyatama | Yes | T C Dewan | |||
| 1978 | Khatta Meetha | Yes | Yes | Gul Anand, Romu Sippy | |
| Dillagi | Yes | Yes | Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh | ||
| Tumhare Liye | Yes | Yes | Raj Tilak | ||
| 1979 | Do Ladke Dono Kadke | Yes | Jayant Mukherjee, Hemant Kumar | ||
| Manzil | Yes | ||||
| Chakravyuha | Yes | ||||
| Prem Vivah | Yes | ||||
| Ratnadeep | Yes | ||||
| Baton Baton Mein | Yes | Yes | |||
| 1980 | Man Pasand | Yes | Amit Khanna | ||
| Apne Paraye | Yes | Mushir Alam | |||
| 1981 | Jeena Yahan | Yes | N.P. Ali | ||
| 1982 | Hamari Bahu Alka | Yes | Yes | Shyamsunder Seksaria | |
| Shaukeen | Yes | Yes | Senmit Movie Visuals | ||
| 1983 | Pasand Apni Apni | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1984 | Lakhon Ki Baat | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 1986 | Ek Ruka Hua Faisla | Yes | Yes | ||
| Kirayadar | Yes | B. R. Chopra | |||
| Chameli Ki Shaadi | Yes | Yes | Ramesh Ningoo, Sushil Gaur | ||
| Sheesha | Yes | Sattee Shourie | |||
| 1989 | Kamla Ki Maut | Yes | Yes | NFDC | |
| 1990 | Hamari Shadi | Yes | Yes | ||
| 1997 | Triyacharittar | Yes | |||
| Gudgudee | Yes | Mahesh Bhatt | |||
| 1998 | Hothat Brishti | Yes | Bangladesh and India joint production | Bengali language film | |
| 2001 | Chupi Chupi | Yes | |||
| 2002 | Tak Jhal Mishti | Yes | |||
| 2007 | Prateeksha | Yes | |||
| Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha | Yes | ||||
| 2008 | Hochheta Ki | Yes | Bengali language film | ||
| 2011 | Kalidas o Chemistry | Yes | |||
| Trishanku | Yes | ||||
Dialogue writer
| Dialogue writer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Producer | Notes |
| 1972 | Piya Ka Ghar | Tarachand Barjatya | |
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal | |
| 1978 | Khatta Meetha | Gul Anand, Romu Sippy | |
| Dillagi | Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh | ||
| 1982 | Hamari Bahu Alka | Shyamsunder Seksaria | |
| 1984 | Lakhon Ki Baat | Basu Chatterjee | |
Screenplay
| Screenplay | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Producer | Notes |
| 1969 | Sara Akash | Basu Chatterjee | |
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal | |
| Us Paar | Self | ||
| 1977 | Safed Jhooth | Ashim Kumar | |
| 1978 | Khatta Meetha | Gul Anand, Romu Sippy | |
| Dillagi | Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh | ||
| 1982 | Hamari Bahu Alka | Shyamsunder Seksaria | |
| 1984 | Lakhon Ki Baat | Basu Chatterjee | |
Producer
| Producer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Director | Notes |
| 1979 | Baton Baton Mein | Self | |
| 1983 | Pasand Apni Apni | ||
| 1984 | Lakhon Ki Baat | Basu Chatterjee | |
| 1986 | Ek Ruka Hua Faisla | Self | TV film |
Director (TV series)
| Director TV series or film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Show | Channel | Notes |
| 1985 | Rajani | DD National | |
| Darpan | |||
| 1986 | Ek Ruka Hua Faisla | (TV film) | |
| 1988 | Kakaji Kahin | ||
| 1988 | Jodi Emon Hoto | DD Bangla | |
| 1990-91 | Bheem Bhavani | DD National | |
| 1993 & 1997 | Byomkesh Bakshi | 2 seasons 32 episodes | |
| 2005 | Ek Prem Katha | 26 episodes | |
Assistant director
| Assistant director | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Producer | Notes |
| 1966 | Teesri Kasam | Shailendra | Directed by Basu Bhattacharya |
| 1968 | Saraswatichandra | Vivek | Directed by Govind Saraiya |
Death
Chatterjee died due to an age-related illness at his house in Mumbai on 4 June 2020. He was 93 years old.8
External links
References
"Classics should be taken on, but correctly: Basu Chatterjee". The Times of India. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Classics-should-be-taken-on-but-correctly-Basu-Chatterjee/articleshow/19253612.cms ↩
"Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan and others remember Basu Chatterjee". 4 June 2020. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/celebrities-mourn-the-demise-of-basu-chatterjee-6442148/ ↩
"Basu Chatterjee Obituary". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2020/jun/4/25913 ↩
"Director Profile: Basu Chatterjee". Cinemas of India, NFDC. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726223123/http://www.cinemasofindia.com/director/view/33 ↩
"10th Moscow International Film Festival (1977)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194935/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1977 ↩
"Best Screenplay Award". Filmfare Award Official Listings, Indiatimes. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080308/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_screenplay.htm ↩
Asha Kasbekar (2006). Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, And Lifestyle. ABC-CLIO. pp. 198–. ISBN 978-1-85109-636-7. Retrieved 29 October 2012. 978-1-85109-636-7 ↩
"Basu Chatterjee: Bollywood's 'chronicler of simple romances' dies at 93". BBC News. 4 June 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52919810 ↩