Hindi movies in India are celebrating hundred years of film making. In this centenary year it is worth recalling the contributions of the directors the real creators of the films. It is rightly said that films are a directors medium. It is direction which elevates a movie or drowns it. Many directors have made a name for themselves by directing path breaking movies which are remembered by audiences long after their releases. Many directors have specialized in family dramas, some in social causes, some in pure entertainment and so on.
There are hundreds of directors who have made thousands of Hindi movies in the last hundred years. I have chosen my ten top favourites, which can differ with reader's individual choices. This is an attempt to recall their immense contributions and pay humble tributes to them.
The ten directors are as follows in no particular order of preferences:
1. Sohrab Modi:
Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Sohrab Modi was famous for producing, directing and acting in historical movies beginning in the pre-independence era. He was loved for the manner in which he delivered his dialouges while playing the roles of Kings and common persons.
He was born on November 2, 1897 in a Parsi family in Mumbai. His full name was Sohrab Merwanji Modi. After finishing his schooling at the age of sixteen he joined his elder brother Keki Modi in the latter's exhibition business in Gwalior. At the age of 26 he set up his theatrical company and made a mark as a powerful Shakespearean stage actor. He performed all over the country and became well known. It was the era of silent movies. However when sound films came in 1831 the appeal of theater started declining.
Modi formed a film company and made two of his stage plays into movies namely Khoon Ka Khoon and Saed-e-Hawas both based on Shakespeare's plays Hamlet and King John resp. Both movies flopped. He then set up Minerva Movietone in 1936. In 1938 it produced Meetha Zaher and Talaq dealing with the issues of alcoholism and women's right for divorce. Both did well at the box office.
Then came the historical movies which catapulted Modi to high pinnacle of fame especially his powerful oratory in dialouge delivery. The triology of spectacular historical movies most of which were shot on actual locales consisted of Pukar (1939), Sikander (1941) and Prithvi Vallabh (1943). Pukar was a Mughal period film based on Jehangir's court and his dispensation of justice. Sikander is seen as his greatest film. In it he acted the role of Porus and Alexander's role was played by Prithiviraj Kapoor. The movie was made on a lavish scale and its poduction values were comparable with the best of Hollywood movies at that time. The dramatic dialogue deliveries by Modi and Kapoor were to mesmerise the audiences and created a patriotic atmosphere in the then British India. The then government did not allow its screening near military cantonments. The trhird movie Prithvi Vallabh was to tell the story of a mighty queen played by Durga Khote versus Vallabh played by Modi whom she wants condemned but instead falls in love.
Some of the other movies produced by him were Jailor (1938 and remade in 1958), Bharosa (1940), Sheesh Mahal (1950), Nausherwan-e-Adil (1957), Jhansi Ki Rani (1953), Mirza Ghalib (1954), Kundan (1955) and Yahudi (1958).
He was awarded the Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1980.
His movies consisted of magnificient sets, strong historical or other characters, a social theme or an current issue with powrrful dialogues delivered in a very effective style. Some of his dialouges have become legendary like the one " Kya Tumhare Liye Hi Chamkte Hai Yeh Chand Sitare, Kya Tumhare Liye hi Hai Mojoon Main Ravani, Tumhara Khoon khoon aur Hamara Khoon Pani', spoken with Parsi accent
Modi was a product of the strong Parsi Theater movement and had the stage style of acting in his film roles. In the times he lived and worked it was a powerful style . He had his share of die hard followers
He passed away in Mumbai at the age of 86 in January, 1986.
2. V. Shantaram;
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre popularly known as V Shantaram was another great writer, actor, director and producer of the pre and post 1947 era. He was born on November 18, 1901 in Kolhapur in a Marathi family.
He started his journey into films from Kolhapur itself where he worked in a film company doing odd jobs. He made his acting debut in the silent era by acting in the film Surekha Haran in 1921. He went on to act, direct and produce nearly 55 films in a career which lasted more than six decades. He used films as a means of social change and most of his films would have stories revolving around social issues or exposing the injustices prevalent in society.
He directed his first movie Netaji Pulkar in 1927 and formed The Prabhat Film Company in 1929 along with many partners. In 1942 he founded his own Rajkamal Kala Mandir in Mumbai which was at one time one of the most sophisticated studios in the country.
He had the distinction of directing the first ever Marathi film Ayodyecha Raja in 1932.
Shantaram was also called a visionary director who had a mastery over the art of film making. He also had a good sense of music and songs of some of his movies are evergreen. His film Amar Bhoopali won the Grand Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1951. Some of his note worthy films are Teen Bhatti Char Rsata (1953), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Toofan Aur Diya (1956), Do Aankhen Aur Barah Hath(1957), Navrang (1959), Stri (1961), Sehra (1963), Geet Gaya Pathroon Ne (1964), Boond Jo Ban Gayi Moti (1967), Jal Bin Machli Nritya Bin Bijlee (1971), and Pinjra (1973) among others.
His 1946 film Dr Kotnis ki Amar Kahani was to become very famous as it told the real story of Dr Kotnis's service to humanity in China. He played the role of Dr Kotnis. His Do Aankhen Barah Hath was a story on open jail system for reforming hardened criminals and was very well received all over the world and brought him lot of fame and laurels both for his acting and direction. it also had the iconic song "Aey malik Ter Bandhey Hum--". It went on to win many Awards in India and foreign Film festivals.
He introduced his daughter Rajshree and Jeetendra in Geet Gayta Patharoon Ne in 1964. He had the distinction of marrying three times to Vimla and two actresses Jayshree and Sandhya.
He passed away in October 1990 leaving behind a very rich body of socially relevant films
3. Mehboob Khan
A young boy runs away from his home in Billimoria, Gujarat and starts doing odd jobs in Mumbai film studios. He rises to being an assistant in the silent era and graduates to an extra thereafter. But after the coming of sound in 1931, he directs his first movie Judgement of Allah. In 1945 he sets up his own Mehboob Productions.
He started churning hit romantic and swashbuckling films like Andaz (1949), Aan (1951), Amar (1954), and the social Mother India (1957). It was the last movie that was to catapult him to global fame and bring him immense laurels and national and international recognition and awards. The movie was a remake of his earlier directed Aurat (1940). Mother India is now considered to be the number one classic Hindi movie ever produced. The story of a rural widow who has to fight all odds to bring up her two children and ward off the advances of a lecherous moneylender while in poverty, choses honour and sides the truth even while she has to kill her son for upholding the cause of justice. The super effective acting by the leading lady Nargis was the high point of the movie. Another high point was the melodious music by Naushad especially the holi song "Holi Aayi re--- " sung by Shamshad Begum. It was also on the sets of Mother India that Sunil Dutt fell in love with Nargis and later married her.
Mehboob Khan played an important role in the acting careers of many actors of his time like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Nargis, Nimmi and Nadira. His last directed movie was Son of India in 1962.
Born in 1907 he passed away on May 28, 1964 in Mumbai at the age of 57. For some one who ran away from home as a child his filmy career was indeed magnificent and he will always be remembered for many excellent films and especially Mother India, which moves audiences today also love to watch..
4. Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy or Bimalda was born near Dacca now in Bangladesh. He migrated to Calcutta at a very young age. After starting his filmy career as a camera assistant he got a chance to direct his first movie Udayer Pathyr in Bengali in 1943. However in 1950 he had to leave Calcutta for Bombay as the film activity in the former was going down. These dislocations were perhaps instrumental in his making Do Bhiga Zameen (1953), the graphic tale of a small rural farmer who is uprooted from his land by a city based industrialist who wants to set up an industry on his and others land. The hapless farmer knows no other trade and is forced to earn his living by driving a cycle rickshaw in Calcutta. The travails he has to go through are portrayed on the screen with great pathos by Balraj Sahni under the able direction of Bimalda. The neo classic movie went on to become his signature and earned him laurel and fame throughout the cinema world besides fetching prestigious Awards.
The Bengali director turned to Bengali literature many times to make fils based on women characters like Parineeta (1953), Sujatha (1959), Parakh (1960) and Bandhini (1963). These films are acclaimed for their superb direction in effectively telling their stories. He made Devdas with Dilip Kumar and Vyjantimala in the lead roles in 1955. He had earlier in 1944 assisted P C Baruah in making his version of Devdas (1935) starring K L Saigal. Both the versions were well received.
However it was his Madhumati (1958) which brought him commercial success. The movie was based on the theme of reincarnation and had very melodious music which is heard with relish today also. He also produced Kabuliwala(1961) with Balraj sahni in the lead. It was a touching story of a Pathan living far away from his native kabul and pining for his homeland. The Manna Dey sung 'Aey Mere Pyare Watan---" is a song which brings nostalgic feelings in the listener.
He won 11 Filmfare Awards, three of them in a row. Madhumati won a record nine Filmfare Awards and it was after 37 years another picture matched it.
Bimal Roy's movies had excellent music either by Salil Chaudhry or S D Burman. The songs composed by them are evergreen and will be listened with pleasure for ever.
Bimal Roy passed away in 1965 aged 55 but left behind a very decent body of work which was to inspire other film makers who followed him.
5. Guru Dutt
At the age of 39 Guru Dutt committed suicide. An extraordinarily sensitive person he perhaps became a victim of his obsession with the complex, of his feelings being injured and being misunderstood. Many of his movies showed the hero a misfit in the society and suffering from neglect and isolation. He was not always like that. His earlier movies as an actor or director were fast paced, full of energy and were indeed lighthearted with good music and melodious songs.
Vasanth Kumar Shivshankar Padukone popularly known as Guru Dutt was born in Bangalore in 1925. He spent his childhood in Calcutta and became fond of Bengali literature and culture. He adopted the name Guru Dutt under Bengali influence. He had a tough childhood in which he faced financial difficulties and also the fact that relations between his parents were not good. He also faced lot of hostility from his maternal uncle and saw a small brother die. All this was to affect him and his later films. From childhood itself acting interested him. After schooling he joined the famous troupe of Uday Shankar and learned dance, drama and music from him.
He began his journey in the film world as an employee under a three year contract with the Prabhat Film company, Pune from 194 to 1947. It was there he met Dev Anand and character actor Rehman and they became lifelong friends. In 1944 he acted in a small role in the film Chand. When Dev Anand formed his Navketan Films he offered Dutt the job of directing his first movie Baazi starring Anand and Waheeda Rehman. The movie became a huge hit. It was during the manking of the movie that he met Geeta Dutt and after a three year courtship they got married.
Jaal and Baaz follwed the success of Baazi but did not perform well at the box office. However the 1854 Aar Paar was a super hit and so where the films that followed namely Mr & Mrs 55, C.I.D and Sailab. However the real Guru Dutt that we all ow emerged in 1957 with his movie Pyasa starring himself and Waheeda Rehman. The story of a struggling poet who gets recognition only after his false death, catapulted him as a sensitive director who was ahead of his times. The next movie Kagaz Ke Phool (1959) made with heavy investment told the story of an ageing and fading director and an upcoming young actress. It bombed at the box office. His next two films Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Cahudvin Ka Chand were not directed by him but produced and he played the lead roles. Both were well received and were commercial hits. He received the Filmfare Best Director Award for his role in Sahi Bibi Aur Ghulam.
While he was succeeding in making melancholy and depressing films his own personal life was in turmoil. His married life was in shambles and he separated from Geeta Dutt. He was a heavy smoker, heavy drinker and had sleeping problems. It is alleged that he also had a one sided crush on aleading lady of his times. All this was to take a heavy toll of his health and life. He had to take sleeping pills to fall asleep. One such evening he took a heavy dose of drink and sleeping pills, not to wake up next morning. Accident or suicide will never be known.
His body of work was relatively small but its quality was very high. His Kagaz Ke Phool and Pyaasa have almost become cult movies. His movies when re-released go houseful even in Germany, France and Japan. His movies were also supported by very fine performances by Rehman and Johnny Walker the comedian and music.
He left this world on 10 October, 1964 at the age of 39. Many years later his friend and star Dev Anand is supposed to have said "He was a young man who should not have made depressing movies."
6. Raj Kapoor :
At the age of 24 in 1948, Raj Kapoor established the R K Films and became the youngest director in his debut venture Aag starring besides himself Nargis, Kaminini Kaushal and Premnath. The future showman went on to make many more movies under the famous banner, almost all of them went on to become blockbusters and are remembered to this day especially for their super music.
Born in Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1924 his father was the great stage and film actor Prithviraj Kapoor. Raj acted in small roles in many films before getting a break in Neel Kamal opposite Madhubala in 1947. However it was Andaz made by Mehboob Khan and starring Raj, Dilip and Nargis which brought him recognition and success as an actor in 1949.
He went on to make blockbuster movies like Barsaat (1949), Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), Chori Chori (1956), Jagte Raho (1956) and Jis Desh Main Ganga Behti Hai (1960). These had thematic stories many of which were written by the leftist ideologist K A Abbas. Hia Awaara became hugely popular not only in India but in the whole communist world especially Russia and China. Its song 'Aawaara hoon---" is hugely popular in these countries today also. Jagte Raho was the one night story of a village simpleton who wants a glass of water in a modern city. Shree 420 was the story of how the poor are swindled by builders and Jis desh Main Ganga Behti Hai told the story of bringing the Chambal Dakus into the mainstream.
Music was a very strong point in his films. Shankar-Jaikishen have given immmortal music in most of his films and the songs are going to be popular always. Mukesh wa his voice and has sung almost all his sfilm songs. Shailendra was his favourite lyracist and has penned many immortal songs. He reportedly had a crush on Nargis and she starred with him in all his early movies.
Later on he went on to produce and direct the super blockbuster Sangam in 1964 his first movie in colour with himself, Rajinder Kumar and Vyjantimala in the lead roles. The movie went on to become a cult movie and celebrated 75 week runs in many cities.
However it was Mera Naam Joker (1970) that was to give him a taste of box office failure and put him into financial pressure. Made over a period of six years it starred circus artistes from Russia and launched his son Rishi Kapoor who played Raj's childhood role. It was an autobiographical movie and many say was his attempt at taking a farewell from movies. But it flopped at the box office. However today it is considered a classic.
He bounced back with producing and directing Bobby (1973) in which he launched his son Rishi in the lead role opposite 16 year old Dimple Kapadia. The film was a smash hit and went to break many records. He went on to produce women oriented films like Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), Prem Rog (1982) and Ram Teri Ganga Maili ( 1985) all of which met success at the box office.
He had also launched his elder son Randhir Kapoor in Kal Aaj Aur kal in 1971 along with his to be wife Babita. He also acted in movies made by other directors and some of them were notable like Anari (1959), Chalia (1960) and Teesri Kasam (1966).
In his earlier films he had modeled himself as a tramp on Charlie Chaplin and it was this image which made him very famous worldwide. He made films on a lavish scale with great visuals. His movies had evergreen music and songs. Many of his movies had patriotic themes which the audiences loved. One of Indian movies all time hit song ' Mera Joota Hai Japani ---- Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' summed up the life of an average Indian very aptly.
He received 2 national Awards and ( Filmfare Awards. He was conferred with Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award by Government of India. He laso received international Awards for Boot Polish,Jagte Raho and Awaara.
He was a real showman also famous for his celebration of Holi festival in his R K Film studios. His two brothers Shammi kapoor and Shashi Kapoor also went on to make a name for themselves as superb actors.
He passed away in 1988 at the age of 63 suffering from asthama attacks leaving behind a great body of fantastic movies and music for ages to come.
7. Hrishikesh Mukherjee :
Hrishikesh Mukherjee also known as Hrishida was the pioneer of a school of cinema which offered a welcome change to the audiences who were subjected to art cinema on one side and extravagant cinema on the other side. The rising middle class and the changing social milieu needed a different cinema for ots entertainment. This was were Hrishida stepped in at a very opportune time.
He directed 42 films and gave simple entertainment to the film goers. Simple day to day stories played on the screen by real life actors gave his movies an authenticity which audiences loved to watch.
Born in 1922 in Kolkatta he was a science graduate who taught science and mathematics for a living. He entered films as a cameraman and soon became a film editor, in the late nineteen forties. He got an opportunity to assist Bimal Roy as a film editor and assistant director from 1951 onwards. He directed his first independent movie Musafir in 1957. However he established his reputationas a director with Anari in 1959 with it winning five Filmfare Awards but missing on Best director which went to his mentor Bimal Roy.
He went on to make very popular films like Anand (1971), Satyakam (1969), Mili (1975),Guddi (1971), Cheemeen (1966), Anupama (1966), Asli Naqli (1962), Anuradha (1960), Bhawarchi (1972), Namak Haram (1973), Sanjh Aur Savera (1964), Gaban (1966), Abhiman (1973), Chupke Chupke (1975), Khubsurat (1980) and Ashirwad (1966). These are all movies which are popular today also and some of them are sown on TV channels repeatedly. He introduced Jaya Bahaduri in Guddi and Amitabh Bachchan got his big break in Anand. His Gol Maal in 1979 is a trend setter with follow up movies being made today also like Gol Maal 2 and so on.
His films were realistic and light comedies. They told simple day to day stories which the country's urbane, educated middle class related to. He worked with non glamourous actors like Amol Palekar and still tasted success at the box office. He worked with all the top stars of the Hindi film industry post 1947.
He was awarded the Dada Phalke Award in 1999 and Padma Vibhushan in 2001. He also acted as the Chairman of the Censor Board.
He passed away on 27 August 2006 due to renal failure leaving behind a collection of socially relevant but simple comedy films which are watched with great interest today also.
8. Ramesh Sippy:
Ramesh Sippy made the iconic Sholay but in reality it was the other way around. This wonder film got his name etched in the hall of Fame in Hindi movies because of the extraordinary success it went on to garner in all departments of film making especially its dialouges which are famous today also. 'Kitne admi the--', 'Kalia tera kya hoga---', " Bhag Basanti Bha--', 'itna sannata kyon hai bhai--', ' basanti tumhara naam kya hai' and so on.
Sholay was released in 1975 and went on to become a legendary movie highly acclaimed by critics. Is story line and powerful dialouges made it a must see movie. Its dialouges caught the fancy of the nation and are spoken today also with great fondness and vigour. Some of its characters like Gabbar Singh, Sambha, Kalia, Rahim Chacha, Mausi have become legendary. The trio of Sanjiv Kumar, Amitabh Bhachchan and Dharmendra along with beautiful Hema Malini and the comediennes Asrani and Jagdeep gave superb performances. Its music also became a hit. Salim & Javed wrote the story and dialouges. Ramesh Sippy rightly deserves all the fame and success he got for directing such iconic movie.
However the other films of Sippy excepting Shakti, Seeta Aur Geeta and to some extent Sagar did not succeed at the box office. However he very successfully directed the highly acclaimed and popular serial Bhuniyad for Doordarshan in 1987.
Born in 1947 he now produces films and his son Rohit Sippy is also a film director. The legendary status of Sholay has granted him everlasting fame.
9 Manmohan Desai
Manmohan Desai made films purely for entertainment and most of the times his stories were based on impossible plots like a patient receiving simultaneous blood transfusion from multiple donors, a medical impossibility. High on symbolism, full of rhetoric and large star casts his movies would set the box office on fire.
Born in 1937 in a family which was into films- his father was a film producer and owner of Paramount Studios later on known as Filmalaya. His elder brother was also into production and gave young Manmohan a break in 1960, by allowing him to direct the hit movie Chalia starring Raj Kapoor, Nutan and Pran. He also directed Bluff Master (1963), Dharam Veer (1977) and Desh Premee (1982) for his elder brother Subash Desai.
His films were family centered with lots of action, full of song and drama and impossible situations. The masses loved his films and most of them were blockbusters. Amitabh Bhachchan was in many of his 1970/80 films and these had a big role in establishing him as an star in Hindi movies. His type of films gave rise to the term masala films.
A happy go lucky person in real life he made films which were secular in nature and appealed to Hindus, Muslims, Christians etc ensuring huge audiences. Some of the other blockbusters directed by him are Sucha Jutha (1970), Rampur Ka Laxman (1972), Roti (1974), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Naseeb (1981), Coolie (1983) and Mard (1985). Amitabh Bhachchan acted in nine of his films. The last movie he directed was Toofan in 1989.
He was also known as the "lost and found" man because most of his movies were based on this theme. However towards the late 1980's audiences were tired of this repeated theme and some of his later movies dod not do good at the box office. Music was a strong point in his movies.
In March 1994 he had a fall from the balcony of his apartment and he breathed his last. His created a separate genre of movies which became very popular and his these are a delight to watch today also.
10. Yash Raj Chopra:
Yash Chopra was the King of romance in Hindi films. He produced and directed many romantic films on a lavish scale which created an aura of love in the minds of the audience.
He was the younger brother of B R Chopra himself a director of repute. He began his career as an assistant to his elder brother, who gave himhis first directorial assignment in 1959, in form of the hit movie Dhool ka Phool starring Mala Sinha and Rajendra Kumar. The second movie he directed again for his brother was Dharamputra (1961) based on the theme of partition. However it was the third movie he directed for his slder brother Waqt which established his reputation. Waqt went on to became a mega hit and was perhaps the first multi cast Hindi film and won him his first Fimlfare Award for direction.
After directing two more movies Aadmi Aur Insan and Ittefaq for his elder brother he broke away to form his own Yash Raj Films in 1971. Its first movie Daag (1973) starring Rajesh Khanna was a commercial success. The banner gave the cult movie Deewar in 1975 starring Amitabh Bachchan and Yash Chopra won his second Filmfare Award for Best Direction. Kabhie Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Silsila (1981) were romantic films which the audiences loved to watch and hum their songs. The noted lyricist Javed Akhtar launched his career from Silsila.
After a series of setbacks he bounced back with another romantic cult movie Chandini starring Sridevi in 1989. Its titillating music and extensive outdoor scenic shots of Switzerland made the film a huge commercial success and heralded the return of romance in Hindi movies. In 1991 he made Lamhe which also wen on to become a cult classic movie starring Sridevi and Anil Kapoor it was cited by Yash as his personal favourite movie he made.
In 1993 he started his association with Shah Rukh Khan in Darr which went on to become a super hit. It was followed by the super duper evergreen romantic Dil To Pagal Hai in 1997 starring Shah Rukh, Madhuri Dixit and Karishma Kapoor. It became a global hit and did roaring business everywhere. It has also become a cult film. After a break he returned in 2004 with Veer Zara, a cross border romantic story, featuring Shah Rukh, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji. It was also a smashing hit. His last directed movie was Jab Tak Hai Jaan in 2012 starring Shah Rukh and Katrina . It was during the remaining shooting of a song in Switzerland that he passed away due to an attack of dengue in Oct. 2012 at the age of eighty.
Yash Chopra was a producer, script writer and director. He set up the most powerful Yash Raj Films which has become an international venture now. In fact he was an institution in himself. He elevated romance to new heights through his films. He shot his movies mostly in Switzerland especially the song sequences and in the process Indian tourists started flocking there. Its government always recognised Yash's role in promoting their country.
He and his films won a total of 12 Filmfare Awards besides six National Awards. He was awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2001. He received many national and international awards in his long more than five decades career in films. His two sons Aditya and Uday Chopra are also into films.
The king of romance has let behind a body of work many of which have attained a cult status.