An illustrator, political cartoonist, a librarian, a director and screenwriter, Basu Chatterjee is a well-known director of the yesteryears. He started as a cartoonist with the weekly tabloid Blitz where he worked for 18 years before switching his career paths and entering the film industry. Reliving the colourful films of Basu Chatterjee, Classic Legends Season 5 will celebrate his life on Zee Bollywood on Saturday 19th January at 8pm.
“To me Basu Chatterjee was one such director who filled Bollywood with a colour that was unique and different in his own way”, shares Javed Akhtar.
He started off his career by assisting Basu Bhattacharya in his first film Teesri Kasam. His directorial debut however was Sara Akash which was not only critically acclaimed but also received a lot of appreciation. It was also one of the few movies to have been regarded as one amongst those Indian films that started a new wave. Some of his best films are Us Paar, Rajnigandha, Chhoti Si Baat, Chitchor, Piya Ka Ghar, Khatta Meetha, Priyatama, Chakravyuha, Baton Baton Mein, Man Pasand, Hamari Bahu Alka and Shaukeen. Basu Chatterjee’s movies have always been remembered for excellent camera work, realistic actors as well as believable stories. His movies were not only distinct from each other but also stood out from the others. Other than Bollywood movies, Chatterjee also directed two television serials Byomkesh Bakshi and the popular Rajani and several Bengali movies which gained a lot of popularity.
“One of the unique aspects of Basu was that he did not believe in dramatic portrayal or larger than life scenes. He was one such director who would capture and portray small special moments of daily life and highlight them like using a magnifying glass. Small, precious and easy to miss moments which have been witnessed time and again by people but been overlooked by others. It was these special moments that created magic on screen.” Javed Akhtar added.
Celebrate the life of Basu Chatterjee in the upcoming episode of Classic Legends Season 5 on Saturday 19th January on Zee Bollywood at 8 PM.
