Dilip Mukherjee's directorial contribution in Bengali films.

Dilip Mukherjee’s directorial contribution in Bengali films.

Dilip Mukherjee was known for his innovative films and decent performances in Bengali celluloid. He started his directorial debut with Tarun Majumdar and Sachin Majumdar under the name of Jatrik. Their film Chawa Pawa in 1959 with Bengali superstar Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen stormed tollywood.

Chawa Pawa was based on the romantic Hollywood blockbuster Roman Holiday, where Gregory Pegg and Audrey Hepburn mesmerized the international viewers in the 50s. Uttam Kumar played the role of the journalist who reached Suchitra Sen, the daughter of wealthy industrialist Chabi Biswas, to her father’s house, before she left the house for avoiding arranged marriage. Sandhya Mukherjee’s song “ei to kache chawa” became super hit.

While Dilip Mukherjee made the romantic film during his early days, he shifted to realistic films in early 60s. His film Sriti Tuku Thaak with Suchitra Sen, Bikash Roy and Asitboron appealed to the audience. Suchitra Sen played a double role in the film. She lost her memory, and after knowing that her sister married her husband Asit Boron, she sacrificed her life for him. Sandhya Mukherjee’s song “monero madhuri mishaye” composed by Robin Chatterji became super hit in early 60s.

Dilip Mukherjee’s film Kacher Swargo, related to the unemployment problem in Bengal and related to a very abstract story moved the intellectuals of the country. Critics feel that Dilip Mukherjee, who played the central character in the film had given his best performance in Kancher Swarga. In the mid-60s, Jatrik got divided and Tarun Majumdar independently directly super hit films like Palatak, Sriman Prithviraj, Dadar Kirti, etc.

Dilip Mukherjee continued his direction after retaining the Jatrik Banner. His notable film Ekhane Pinjor with Uttam Kumar got critically acclaimed. Dilip Mukherjee came to Uttam Kumar in Kolkata to get a job. Uttam Kumar could not help him and he committed suicide. Uttam Kumar went to his house in the village and saw his needy mother and sister Aparna Sen. Uttam Kumar felt pity for the family as they lost the single bread-earner Dilip Mukherjee, so he stayed in their house financially helped them.

Uttam Kumar played double role in Dilip Mukherjee’s film Chinna Patra. Dilip Mukherjee acted in the role of villain who killed one of the brother played by Uttam Kumar. The other Uttam Kumar had facial similarities with the deceased and went to his native place to take revenge. Supriya Choudhury, the wife of Uttam Kumar got killed in the process.

Dilip Mukherjee’s film Nagar Darpane also stormed Bengali celluloid in the mid-70s. Uttam Kumar played a very dynamic role in the film. He was the brother of Dilip Mukherjee, who became insane at the end of the film after seeing the degrading value system in the society. Dilip Mukherjee played the role of a police officer who assaulted Uttam Kumar in the film.

Dilip Mukherjee also did shine as an actor. He had provided many notable performances in films like Uttar Falguni, Kancher Swargo, Thana Theke Aaschi, etc. His films both as director and actor should be restored.

Uttam Kumar was outstanding in Nagardarpane.

Uttam Kumar was outstanding in Nagardarpane.

By mid-70s Uttam Kumar transformed himself from a stylish romantic actor to a powerful character artist. Nagardarpane was an experiment done by director Dilip Mukherjee under the banner of Jatrik in 1975. Ashutosh Mukherjee, the epic writer wrote a challenging story which was directed by Dilip Mukherjee.

Uttam Kumar played the role of the elder brother of the family. He was asked to stay in his uncle’s house after the death of his father. He sacrificed his childhood to establish himself to take care about the family. He got a decent job in Kolkata and also continued his career as a novelist.

He brought up his two brothers, Dilip Mukherjee being the second brother. Dilip Mukherjee joined the police. He married Kaberi Bose and got a child. But in his office he could not compromise against the evil practices of his boss played by Haradhon Banerjee who misused his PA played by Supriy Choudhury. He had to resign from his job.

Uttam Kumar’s mother Chaya Debi died. He took pains to send his youngest brother abroad after paying all the money he had saved for his life. But his brother returned back abroad after failing in all the subjects in higher studies.

The youngest brother also developed illicit relationship with the wife of Dilip Mukherjee. At every level of the society Uttam Kumar found only corruption and lack of human values. When he tried to protest about all this back in the house he was beaten up by his younger brother played by Dilip Mukherjee. Uttam Kumar wanted to send his child to RK Mission to learn discipline. Instead his brother Dilip Mukherjee send him to Convent School in Darjeeling.

His wife Kaberi Bose also did a job to support the family. At the end of the family when Uttam Kumar was send to a mental asylum, he told everyone in the house that was there a bigger mental asylum where each and every family member could not send because he found lack of values in all of them. The film got box-office success inspite of being related to philosophical thoughts of Asutosh Mukherjee. Uttam Kumar was unparallel and brilliant in his role. For those reasons the film should be restored.