Basu Chatterjee

2021-04-05T10:38:03Z

2409:4060:30C:5C0D:7314:8002:DB3E:1548:

{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Basu Chatterjee
| image = Basu Chatterjee image.jpg
| imagesize = 240 px
| caption = Basu Chatterjee
| nationality = Indian
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1927|01|10}}
| birth_place = [[Ajmer]], [[Rajasthan]], [[British India]]
| occupation = Film director
| children = 2 daughters
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2020|06|04|1927|01|10}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
}}

'''Basu Chatterjee''' ({{lang-bn|বাসু চ্যাটার্জ্জী}}; 10 January 1927 – 4 June 2020) was an Indian film director and screenwriter.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, Chatterjee became associated with what came to be known as middle cinema or middle-of-the-road cinema filmmakers, such as [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]] and [[Basu Bhattacharya]], whom he assisted on ''[[Teesri Kasam]]'' (1966). Like their films, his films dealt with light-hearted stories of middle-class families often in urban settings, focusing on marital and love relationships,<ref name="Somaaya">{{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Cinema Images And Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SGaNuOL8Ob4C&pg=PT143|publisher=Rupa Publications|isbn=978-8129103703|pages=143–}}</ref> with exceptions such as ''[[Ek Ruka Hua Faisla]]'' (1986) and ''[[Kamla Ki Maut]]'' (1989), which delved into social and moral issues. He is best known for his films ''[[Us Paar]]'', ''[[Chhoti Si Baat]]'' (1975), ''[[Chitchor]]'' (1976), ''[[Rajnigandha]]'' (1974), ''[[Piya Ka Ghar]]'' (1972), ''[[Khatta Meetha (1978 film)|Khatta Meetha]]'', ''[[Swami (1977 film)]]'', ''[[Baton Baton Mein]]'' (1979), ''[[Priyatama]]'' (1977), ''[[Man Pasand]]'', ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]'', ''[[Shaukeen]]'' (1982),<ref>{{cite web | title = Classics should be taken on, but correctly: Basu Chatterjee | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Classics-should-be-taken-on-but-correctly-Basu-Chatterjee/articleshow/19253612.cms |date=28 March 2013| access-date = 28 April 2014 | work = The Times of India}}</ref> and ''[[Chameli Ki Shaadi]]'' (1986), which was his last commercially successful movie.<ref>https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/celebrities-mourn-the-demise-of-basu-chatterjee-6442148/</ref>

Chatterjee directed the Bengali film ''[[Hothat Brishti|Hothath Brishti]]'' (1998), which featured actors from both [[Bangladesh]] and [[India]]. The film featured [[Ferdous Ahmed]] from Bangladesh, and [[Priyanka Trivedi]] and Sreelekha Mitra from [[West Bengal]]. Chatterjee continued to cast Ahmed in subsequent Indian-Bengali films, including Chupi Chupi (2001), [[Tak Jhal Mishti]] (2002) and Hotath Shedin (2012), another joint production of Bangladesh and India. He wrote the script for the Bangladeshi film Ek Cup Cha, directed by Noyeem Imtiaz Neamul.<ref>https://www.thedailystar.net/arts-entertainment/news/renowned-filmmaker-and-screenwriter-basu-chatterjee-passes-away-1908833</ref><ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52919810</ref>

== Early life ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2020}}
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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Basu Chatterjee Obituary |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2020/jun/4/25913 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

== 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]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Director Profile: Basu Chatterjee |publisher=Cinemas of India, NFDC |url=http://www.cinemasofindia.com/director/view/33 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726223123/http://www.cinemasofindia.com/director/view/33 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=28 April 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

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 (1978 film)|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 (1979 film)|Ratnadeep]]'', ''[[Safed Jhooth]]'', ''[[Man Pasand]]'', ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]'', ''[[Kamla Ki Maut]]'' and ''Triyacharitra''.

He has also directed many [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali]] films such as ''Hothat Brishti'', ''Hochcheta Ki'' and ''Hothat Shei Din''.

Chatterjee directed the television series ''[[Byomkesh Bakshi]]'' and ''[[Rajani (TV series)|Rajani]]'' for [[Doordarshan]]. He was a member of the jury at the [[10th Moscow International Film Festival]] in 1977<ref name="Moscow1977">{{cite web|url=http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1977 |title=10th Moscow International Film Festival (1977) |access-date=7 January 2013 |work=MIFF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116194935/http://www.moscowfilmfestival.ru/miff34/eng/archives/?year=1977 |archive-date=16 January 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref> 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 of 2011.

== 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 (1977 film) |Swami]]''
* 1978: [[Filmfare Best Director Award]] – ''[[Swami (1977 film)|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 Akash]]''<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Screenplay Award |url=http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_screenplay.htm |publisher=Filmfare Award Official Listings, [[Indiatimes]] |access-date=28 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080308/http://recipeguide.indiatimes.com/awards2001/ex_screenplay.htm |archive-date=29 April 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>

== Filmography ==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="6" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Multi roles
|-
!Year !! Film !!Director!!Screenplay!!Producer !!Notes

|-
|1969
| ''[[Sara Akash]]''
|{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|||<ref name="Kasbekar2006">{{cite book|author=Asha Kasbekar|title=Pop Culture India!: Media, Arts, And Lifestyle|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sv7Uk0UcdM8C&pg=PA198|access-date=29 October 2012|year=2006|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-85109-636-7|pages=198–}}</ref>
|-
|1971
| ''[[Piya Ka Ghar]]''
|{{yes}}||
|[[Tarachand Barjatya]]
|
|-
|1974
| ''[[Rajnigandha]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal
|
|-
|1974
| ''[[Us Paar]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||{{yes}}
|
|-
|1976
| ''[[Chitchor]]''
|{{yes}}||
|[[Tarachand Barjatya]]
|
|-
|1976
| ''[[Chhoti Si Baat]]''
|{{yes}}||
|[[B. R. Chopra]]
|
|-
|1977
| ''[[Safed Jhooth]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Ashim Kumar
|
|-
|1977
| ''[[Swami (1977 film)|Swami]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Jaya Chakravarthy||
|-
|1977
| ''[[Priyatama]]''
|{{yes}}
|||T C Dewan||
|-
|1978
| ''[[Khatta Meetha (1978 film)|Khatta Meetha]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Gul Anand, Romu Sippy
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Dillagi (1978 film)|Dillagi]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Tumhare Liye]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Raj Tilak
|
|-
|1979
| ''[[Do Ladke Dono Kadke]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Jayant Mukherjee, [[Hemant Kumar]]||
|-
|1979
| ''[[Manzil (1979 film)|Manzil]]''
|{{yes}}
|||||
|-
|1979
| ''[[Chakravyuha (1978 film)|Chakravyuha]]''
|{{yes}}
|||||
|-
|1979
| ''[[Prem Vivah]]''
|{{yes}}
|||||
|-
|1979
| ''[[Ratnadeep (1979 film)|Ratnadeep]]''
|{{yes}}
|||||
|-
|1979
| ''[[Baton Baton Mein]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|{{yes}}||
|-
|1980
| ''[[Man Pasand]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Amit Khanna||
|-
|1980
| ''[[Apne Paraye]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Mushir Alam||
|-
|1981
| ''[[Jeena Yahan]]''
|{{yes}}
|||N.P. Ali||
|-
|1982
| ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Shyamsunder Seksaria
|
|-
|1982
| ''[[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}}
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[Kirayadar]]''
|{{yes}}
|||[[B. R. Chopra]]
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[Chameli Ki Shaadi]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||Ramesh Ningoo, Sushil Gaur
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[Sheesha (1986 film)|Sheesha]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Sattee Shourie
|
|-
|1989
| ''[[Kamla Ki Maut]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}||[[National Film Development Corporation of India|NFDC]]
|
|-
|1990
|''Hamari Shadi''
|{{Yes}}
|{{Yes}}
|
|
|-
|1997
| ''Triyacharittar''
|{{yes}}
|||
|
|-
|1997
| ''[[Gudgudee]]''
|{{yes}}
|||[[Mahesh Bhatt]]
|
|-
|1998
| ''[[Hothat Brishti]]''
|{{yes}}
|||Bangladesh and India joint production
|[[Bengali language]] film
|-
|2001
| ''Chupi Chupi''
|{{yes}}
|||
|Bengali language film
|-
|2002
| ''[[Tak Jhal Mishti]]''
|{{yes}}
|||
|Bengali language film
|-
|2007
| ''Prateeksha''
|{{yes}}
|||
|
|-
|2007
| ''Kuch Khatta Kuch Meetha''
|{{yes}}
|||
|
|-
|2008
| ''[[Hochheta Ki]]''
|{{yes}}
|||
|Bengali language film
|-
|2011
| ''Trishanku''
|{{yes}}
|||
|Bengali language film
|-
|}
=== Dialogue writer ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Dialogue writer
|-
!Year !! Film !!Producer !!Notes
|-
|1972
| ''[[Piya Ka Ghar]]''
|[[Tarachand Barjatya]]
|
|-
|1974
| ''[[Rajnigandha]]''
|Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Khatta Meetha (1978 film)|Khatta Meetha]]''
|Gul Anand, Romu Sippy
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Dillagi (1978 film)|Dillagi]]''
|Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh
|
|-
|1982
| ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]''
|Shyamsunder Seksaria
|
|-
|1984
| ''[[Lakhon Ki Baat]]''
|Basu Chatterjee
|
|-
|}

=== Screenplay ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Screenplay
|-
!Year !! Film !!Producer !!Notes
|-
|1969
| ''[[Sara Akash]]''
|Basu Chatterjee
|
|-
|1974
| ''[[Rajnigandha]]''
|Suresh Jindal, Kamal Saigal
|
|-
|1974
| ''[[Us Paar]]''
|Self
|
|-
|1977
| ''[[Safed Jhooth]]''
|Ashim Kumar
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Khatta Meetha (1978 film)|Khatta Meetha]]''
|Gul Anand, Romu Sippy
|
|-
|1978
| ''[[Dillagi (1978 film)|Dillagi]]''
|Bikram Singh Dehal, Kanwar Ajit Singh
|
|-
|1982
| ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]''
|Shyamsunder Seksaria
|
|-
|1984
| ''[[Lakhon Ki Baat]]''
|Basu Chatterjee
|
|-
|}

=== Producer ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Producer
|-
!Year !! Film !!Director !!Notes
|-
|-
|1979
| ''[[Baton Baton Mein]]''
|Self
|
|-
|1983
| ''[[Pasand Apni Apni]]''
|Self
|
|-
|1984
| ''[[Lakhon Ki Baat]]''
|Basu Chatterjee
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[Ek Ruka Hua Faisla]]''
|Self
|TV film
|-
|}

===Director (TV series)===

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Director TV series or film
|-
!Year !! Show!!Channel !!Notes
|-
|1985
| ''[[Rajani (TV series)|Rajani]]''
|[[DD National]]
|
|-
|1985
| ''Darpan''
|[[DD National]]
|
|-
|1986
| ''[[Ek Ruka Hua Faisla]]''
|[[DD National]]
|(TV film)
|-
|1988
| ''[[Kakaji Kahin]]''
|[[DD National]]
|
|-
|1990-91
| ''Bheem Bhavani''
|[[DD National]]
|
|-
|1993 & 1997
| ''[[Byomkesh Bakshi (TV series)|Byomkesh Bakshi]]''
|[[DD National]]
|2 seasons 32 episodes
|-
|2005
| ''Ek Prem Katha''
|[[DD National]]
|26 episodes
|-
|}

=== Assistant director ===
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background:#bfd7ff"|Assistant director
|-
!Year !! Film !!Producer !!Notes
|-
|1966
| ''[[Teesri Kasam]]''
|[[Shailendra (lyricist)|Shailendra]]
|Directed by [[Basu Bhattacharya]]
|-
|1968
| ''[[Saraswatichandra (film)|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/rajnigandha-director-basu-chatterjee-dies-at-93/story-jZGNtjCIjr4Qgo2nVHj9PP.html|title=Basu Chatterjee, director of Baaton Baaton Mein and Rajnigandha, dies at 90|publisher=HINDUSTAN TIMES| date=4 June 2020 |access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0154113|name=Basu Chatterjee}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061205051045/http://basuchatterji.com/ Official website]

{{FilmfareAwardBestDirector}}
{{FilmfareAwardBestScreenplay}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Basu}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Film directors from Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Bengali film directors]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:People from Ajmer]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:University of Calcutta alumni]]
[[Category:Indian television directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment National Film Award]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Film on Family Welfare National Film Award]]

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Basu Chatterjee