By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
On His Birth Anniversary
बागों में फूलों के खिलने से पहले
तेरे मेरे नैनों के मिलने से पहले
कहाँ की ये बातें
मुलाकातें
ऐसी रातें
टूटा तारा था ये मन मेरा
बन गया चांद होके तेरा
कोरा कागज़ था ये मन मेरा
लिख लिया नाम इस पे तेरा
Shakti Samanta has been one of the most successful directors of the Hindi cinema. In fact he is a name synonymous with success & musical hits. As a producer director he made many a musical, suspense and social film with the same passion and precision. His masterpieces include Howrah Bridge, Aradhana, Anuraag, Amar Prem, Kati Patang and Amanush.
Shakti’s first passion was to become an actor and to fulfil his dream he landed in Bombay in late 1940s; and instead became an assistant to Gyan Mukherjee famous for directing “Jhoola” (1941), and super-hit ” Kismet” ( 1943) . He did a few films as an assistant director before setting-up his own production house ‘Shakti Films’ in 1957. The same year he ventured to direct “Howrah Bridge” known for picturization of an exotically sensuous club number “Aaiye Meherbaan” on Madhubala in the voice of Asha Bhonsle. The other memorable song was ” Mera Namm Chin Chin Choo” sung by Geeta Dutt, picturized on Helen. A song “Gora Rang Chunariya Kali Motian Wali, Ke Dil Mera ” was also picturized on Mahmood and his sister Minoo Mumtaz, composed by O. P. Nayyar.
In 1964 Shakti Samanta produced and directed “Kashmir Ki Kali” (sixth-highest-grossing film of the year) starring Shammi Kapoor and newcomer Saira Bano, a musical hit with many crispy and scintillating songs like ‘Kahin Na Kahin Dil Lagana Padega’, ‘Taarif Karoon Kya Uski Jisne’, ‘Yeh Chand Sa Roshan Chehra’, ‘Isharon Isharon Men Dil Lenewale’ and ‘Diwana Hua Badal’.In between he produced and directed “Insaan Jaag Utha” (1959), “Jaali Note”, “Singapore'( 1960) and “China Town” (1962) again featuring Shammi Kapoor and Shakeela, another crime-thriller followed by “Sawan Ki Ghata” (1966).
“An Evening In Paris” ( 1967) was another successful film featuring Sharmila Tagore in a swim-suit. Exotic locations, haunting music coupled with racy screenplay were the other factors adding to its success at the box office.
The early 70s proved to be the luckiest and the finest period for Shaktida. He produced and directed “Aradhana”( 1969-highest grossing film of the year), “Kati Patang”( 1970), and ” Amar Prem”( 1971)- three hits in succession featuring Rajesh Khanna as hero followed by “Anuraag” (1972). Moushumi Chatterjee made her film debut and the film won Filmfare Award for Best Film. It was later remade in Telugu and Malayalam respectively. “Aradhana” won 3 Filmfare Awards Best Film ( Shakti Samanta ), Best Actress ( Sharmila Tagore) and Best Male Playback (Kishore Kumar). ‘Mere Sapno ki Rani’ and ‘Roop Tera Mastana’ were two hit numbers of the film. Asha Parekh won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her role in ” Kati Patang’ in 1972. Shakti Samant, on his part, won three Filmfare Awards for Best Film viz. ‘Aradhana’, ‘Anuraag’ and ‘Amanush’. Charitraheen & Ajanabi (1974), Mehbooba (1976) & “Anand Ashram (1977) were his other notable movies. Directed 43 films including 6 Bengali films.
Samanta remained President of the IMPPA for 5 years and Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification for 7 years. His two films- “The Great Gambler” and ” Barsaat Ki Ek Raat ” featuring Amitabh Bachchan did not do well .Died 9 April, 2009.
Born 13 January 1926.
