Remembering Shakti Samanta- Director With A Midas Touch
Remembering Shakti Samanta- Director With A Midas Touch
Shakti Samanta was one of the most successful and influential filmmakers of Hindi and Bengali cinema. His classics directorial has been Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali,
An Evening in Paris, Aradhana Kati Patang, Amar Prem Amanush and many more. His films with Rajesh Khanna has been Aradhana, Kati Patang,
Amar Prem and Rajesh Khanna has been very lucky for him. He even entered into distribution with Rajesh Khanna as
Shakti Raj Film Distributors
Shakti Samanta was born in the village of Bokra, Purba Bardhaman, Bengal. He completed his early education in Dehradun before graduating from Calcutta University in 1944.
About 200 km from Bombay, in Dapoli, he accepted a position as a school teacher, the reason behind this was its proximity to Bombay since he always wanted to be an actor. In 1948 He finally got the chance to work as an assistant director on Raj Kapoor’s “Sunhere Din”, directed by Satish Nigam. He also assisted Gyan Mukherjee and Phani Majumdar.
He made his successful directorial debut in the 1954 film “Bahu” starring Karan Dewan, Usha Kiron, Shashikala and Pran followed by “Inspector (1956) with Ashok Kumar and Geeta Bali,” “Sheroo (1956) with Ashok Kumar and Nalini Jaywant,” “Detective (1957) with Pradeep Kumar and Mala Sinha” and “Hill Station (1957) with Pradeep Kumar and Bina Rai”.
In 1957, Shakti Samanta started his own production company, Shakti Films, with the murder mystery “Howrah Bridge” starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala. The film had the music of O. P. Nayyar, and its crooning number ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’ sung by Asha Bhosle which picturised on Madhubala became a rage, making the film a big success.
Shakti Samata’s next was the social drama “Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)” starring Sunil Dutt and Madhubala, which got a lukewarm response despite its important message. After the failure of Insan Jag Utha, he went on to do many successful films in the following decade like “Jaali Note (1960),”
“Singapore (1960),” “China Town
Most of his films were big blockbusters, and his collaboration with Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore bing most fruitful, he continued to work with Shammi ji in films like Pagla Kahin Ka and Jaane-Anjaane
In 1969, Samata added a new feather in his cap with “Aradhana” where he gave the nation its new heartthrob and superstar “Rajesh Khanna.” The film became a rage, paving the way for a long working relationship with Khanna which produced gems like Kati Patang (1970), Anurodh and Amar Prem (1971), Mehbooba (1976), Anurodh (1977), Ajanabee (1974), Awaaz (1984) and Alag Alag (1985).
In 1975, Shakti Samanta directed bilingual “Amanush,” which was a rare film where “the Mahanayak” Uttam Kumar as a lead with Sharmila Tagore, Utpal Dutt and Asit Sen. The film went on to be a success, especially its songs like “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Toda” Bipinbabur Karansudha and Ki Asha-y Baandhi Khelaghar. are still hummed fondly. Samanta again cast Uttam Kumar in Anand Ashram (1977) with Ashok Kumar and Sharmila Tagore.
Samanta directed 43 feature films, including 37 Hindi, and 6 Bengali films.
His other notable films are “Anuraag (1972) with Moushumi Chatterjee and Vinod Mehra, “Charitraheen (1974) with Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore,” The Great Gambler (1979) Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh, Khwaab (1980), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981) with Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Aar Paar (1985) with Mithun, Anyay Abichar (1985) and Geetanjali (1993) with Rekha. He also produced Balika Badhu (1976), and Achena Atithi (1997).
In early 2009 he suffered a stroke but survived it due to timely medications and therapy. On April 9, 2009, at around five o’clock in the evening, Samanta passed away from cardiac arrest at his suburban Santa Cruz home while receiving physical therapy.
News Edit K.V.Raman
