Veteran filmmaker Aurobindo Mukherjee passes away

Veteran filmmaker Aurobindo Mukherjee passed away at his South Kolkata residence on Wednesday morning. He was 97. 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condoled his death. In a message, she said Mukherjee will be remembered for years to come for his films which were meant for all the members of the family. 

Younger brother of famous novelist Balaichand Mukhopadhyay, is popularly known as Bonophool. Mukherjee had joined  Tollywood in 1950s.

His films like ‘Nishipadma’ and ‘Agnishwar’ are considered to be the best films made by him. Matinee idol Rajesh Khanna had said that he saw ‘Nishipadma’ several times to see the acting style of 

Uttam Kumar before he acted in ‘Amar Prem’. Uttam Kumar’s acting in ‘Nishipadma’ took the movie to a different plane. 

Two songs of this film, “Na na na aj rate ar jatra shunte jabo na” and “Ja khushi ora bole boluk” sung by Manna De became immensely popular. Uttam Kumar’s co-actress in the film Sabitrai Chattopadhyay’s role as ‘Puspo’ revealed her caliber.

‘Agnishwar’, a film based on a story penned by Bonophool on the life of Dr Agnishwar Mukherjee, his teacher, became very popular. 

Uttam Kumar, who acted as Agnishwar and Madhabi Mukherjee in the role of his wife gave the film a twist that remains one of the best made film in Bengali.

Dhanyee  Meye, a  comedy   that shows Mukherjee’s  ability to make all sorts of films . “ Sab khelar sera Bangalir tumi football”  sung by Manna De became so popular  that he had to sing this song  almost in every function he participated.  Moluchak , another comedy featuring Uttam Kumar, Sabitri Chattopadhyay, Sekhar Chatterjee, Ranjit Mullick and Mithu Mukherjee  is still watched by members of families across age.

“ I make films for all the members of the family and  because  of God’s grace I have been successful in my venture,” Mukherjee had said in one of his interviews.