By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His 86th Birth Anniversary.
लिख दो किताब-ए-दिल पे कोई ऐसी दास्ताँ
जिस की मिसाल दे न सके सातों आसमां
बाहों में बाहें ड़ाले, हज़ारों में ले चलूँ
दिल झूम जाए ऐसी, बहारों में ले चलूँ
आओ हुज़ूर तुमको सितारों में ले चलूँ
दिल झूम जाए ऐसी बहारों में ले चलूँ
Manmohan Desai is a name synonymous with making entertaining films for the masses right from the day he debuted as director with “Chhlia” ( 1960) starring Raj Kapoor, Nutan & Rehman with many hit numbers like “Sab kuch seekha humne na seekhi hoshiari” & “Meri Jaan Kuchh Bhi Kijiye” , ” Dum Dum Diga Diga” & “Teri Rahon Mein Khade Hai” to boast. The film had music by Kalyanji Anandji and both Raj Kapoor & Nutan were nominated for Filmfare Best Actor & Actress Awards. It was followed by two films with Shammi Kapoor and two hits with Rajesh Khanna- ” Sacha Jhootha”( 1970) & “Roti”( 1974). Interestingly most of his earlier movies were produced by his elder brother Subhash Desai.
His “Kismat”( 1969) featuring Biswajeet was also a super hit movie with melodious numbers like- ‘Ao Huzoor Tum Ko, Sitaro Me Le Chaloo’, ‘Kajaraa Muhabbat Vaalaa’, & ‘Laakhon Hai Yahaan Dilavaale, Aur Pyaar Nahin Milataa’ under the music score by O. P. Nayyar.
Manji was one of the major forces behind the success of Amitabh Bachchan to his envious and phenomenal stardom; the others being Prakash Mehra, Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy & Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His hits with Amitabh Bachchan in the 70s and early 80s included the likes of “Amar Akbar Anthony”, “Parvarish”, “Suhaag”, “Naseeb”, “Desh Premee”, “Coolie” & “Mard”.
After the death of his wife in 1979 he was engaged to actress Nanda in 1992 until his death in 1994. The veteran director died prematurely in an accident in 1994 after he fell from the balcony of his flat. His son Ketan Desai was not lucky enough to match the histrionics of his father.
This writer met the veteran filmmaker in 1990 last time, presumably at his Lamington Road office. His former PRO & then General Manager #Prakash Pange had formally introduced me to him. I had earlier met him & covered the shooting of his 1977 release “Amar Akbar Anthony at locations Bandra & Ranjit Studio, as far as I remember, during my second visit to Bombay. It was his first film as #Producer-Director. I had taken many pictures during the shooting which are still in my possession. I was also present on the sets of “Suhaag” (1979) starring Shashi Kapoor, Amzad Khan & Nirupa Roy.
