Hrishikesh Mukherjee movies had a certain charm. They captured life. There was drama and emotion, but he didn’t go overboard or showed an accentuated version of society, Bollywood Style.
If you want to find out what was working class India like in the 1960s or 1970s through the lens of a movie director, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s movies are, perhaps, the best source of this information.
I wouldn’t say I have seen all his movies and you might like some that haven’t been listed here. But I have tried to get the best of the movies that I have seen from this legendary Director.
Anand
Many movies have been made around the subject of death and that of terminally ill patients. Anand is one such movie. However, the movie does not focus on the illness itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LpNKtJlAkc
Bhaskar Bannerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) or Babu Moshai is a Cancer specialist. The story begins with a release of a book written by Bhaskar which chronicles his experiences with his patient Anand.
The movie revolves around Anand and Bhaskar’s friendship. It also addresses many issues relating to terminally ill patients that are still relevant after four decades.
Bawarchi
India had a long tradition of big households and joint families living in a family house. But sibling rivalry and family squabbles are much older. In a household where different family members contribute unequally in terms of money and effort, disagreements are a natural consequence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGIzjOoAeZc
With as many varied preferences as members, working for the Sharma family is a minefield. Marked as the house to be avoided at all costs by local maids and cooks, Raghu (Rajesh Khanna) walks in at a time of desperate need. Is he really a cook, or does he have some ulterior motive?
Abhimaan
It is really surprising that after 40 years Indian population is still grappling with the same issues that it was long time back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id_LxxFlLV8
Abhimaan or Pride/Ego is central to this story. What happens when the wife becomes the star of the family and outshines the husband? The reaction which was rampant at that time can still be seen in households around us.
Subir (Amithabh Bachchan), a professional singer, marries a village girl and encourages her to sing too. Trouble begins when Subir’s career starts to dwindle while that of Uma (Jaya Bhaduri) flourishes.
Namak Haraam
1970s was a time when Trade Unions were up in arms with Industrialists across India. Strikes and Lockouts were a hot topic along with the politics that went on behind the scenes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBt1f5XxOtw
Namak Haraam or Traitor is a story of two friends – Somu who comes from the working class and Vicky, who is a son of a rich industrialist. The friendship and sense of loyalty come into focus when Somu infiltrates the trade union for Vicky, but responds positively to ideals of the workers he is trying to turn.
Chupke Chupke
Chupke Chupke is a RomCom of yesteryear. The movie is based on Upendranath Ganguly’s story Chhadobeshi. Professor Parimal Tripathi (Dharmendra) falls in love with Sulekha (Sharmila Tagore) who is in awe of her Jijaji (Brother-in-law). Always a practical joker, Parimal decides to get up close with Jijaji and takes the job of driver at his residence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cY3O-lTXVL4
Thus begins a string of hilarious events that the unsuspecting Om Prakash (Jijaji) fails to spot.
GolMaal
This has to be an all time favorite comedy from the 70s. Amol Palekar in double role and Utpal Dutt create an amazing spectacle for their viewers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0D99D6bNLA
Ramprasad Dashratprasad Sharma (Amol Palekar) is desperately looking for a job. The only alternative is agree to some peculiar demands of his new employer. But when the employer spots Ramprasad at a game in an avatar detested by Bhavani Shankar (Utpal Dutt) the fight to keep the job begins. What lengths will Ramprasad go to save his job?
Khubsoorat
Have you ever been to a house where things work like clockwork and and transgression is met with punishment? If you have you will feel at home when you visit Nirmala Gupta (Dina Pathak).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCuLWsazMwI
The non-humorous, sterile environment of the house is breached when Manju (Rekha) comes to visit her sister married to the Nirmala’s son. What ensues is a tussle between a strict Nirmala and a naughty Manju and the fate of the rest of the family that is left hanging in this epic battle.
Rang Birangi
Utpal Dutt has given us some amazing movies – Comedy and Drama. In Rang Birangi Utpal Dutt dons the cap of an Inspector (Dhurandar Bhatavdekar), which won him the Filmfare Award for Best Comedy actor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7In1P5Y3js
What happens when a friend decided to become an uninvited fixer and tries to bring the passion back in his friend’s mundane married life. The hilarious situations that result out of Ravi Kapoor’s insistence to become the cupid is an unending string of plots and sub-plots to keep the marriage alive.
Naram Garam
1970s and 80s was surely a time when Amol Palekar ruled the screens with his typical middle-class working characters that gelled perfectly with the stories Hrishikesh Mukherjee excelled at. This combination gave many hits and kept the viewers entertained for a decade.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo2gtcFElIY
Naram Garam is a story of a daughter-father duo that is inundated in debt from a local money lender. It is also a spin-off of Golmaal as character of Ramprasad and and Bhavani Shankar are part of the movie.
Bemisal
After many comedy movies with Amitabh, this Hrishikesh Mukherjee movie takes a serious tone. Sudhir and Adhir, twin brothers, lose their father at a young age and are adopted by the Chturvedis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IAWxz5xvFc
This noble act by the Chaturvedi acts as a hanging dept for Sudhir who eagerly takes the fall for Prashant Chaturvedi, the biological son of Magistrate Chaturvedi.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee has movies of all flavors for every audience. The timeless stories, good music, and superlative performances by the leading actors of the time make these movies engaging and enjoyable.