If asked to name at random Hindi movies you find warmly funny — chances are that Gol Maal and Chupke Chupke will top the list. One movie that touches you deeply — Anand. The film you find the most sensitive and romantic — Abhimaan. A tearjerker — Mili. And naughty? Khubsoorat, Guddi...

Well, all directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee!

This powerhouse of talent was ailing for long and recently ‘retired’ Upstairs, but what he’s left us, his films, will undoubtedly keep him alive forever. He wasn’t just a great director, he was adept in varied roles behind-the-screen. Mukherjee was at the same time an editor (he started off as one), a producer, a writer, a technician all rolled in one. Want to be a part of the exotic world of Hrishikesh Mukherjee? Here’s a treasurehouse of VCDs and DVDs which popped up in the market after his death, and at a very affordable price.

The 1959 film, Anari (Shemaroo, DVD, Rs 349) was friend Raj Kapoor all the way. This film was a huge award winner. With five Filmfare awards for best actor Raj Kapoor, the ‘Anari’, the best supporting actress Lalita Pawar, Mrs D’Sa, the best music director, Shankar-Jaikishan, the best lyricist, Shailendra, and the best singer, Mukesh, the film was a huge success. Unforgettable are the songs, Kisi ki muskurahoton pe ho nisaar, Woh chaand khila woh taare hanse, and Sab kuch sikha humne na seekhi hoshiyari.

Hrishikesh Mukherjee, in the year 1961, brought back ‘Mrs D’sa’ Lalita Pawar in Mem-didi (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 88) as the main protagonist. She had by then become a fixture in his films. With a young Tanuja and first- timer Kaysi Mehra in tow it was a film showcasing the acting prowess of Lalita Pawar. Another movie that was released in the same year was the Sunil Dutt and Asha Parekh starrer, Chhaya (T-Series;VCD, Rs 50). The film had hit songs like Itna na mujhse tu pyar badha and Yeh kehde hum insaan nahin among others.

The three films, Anuradha, 1960 (Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 349), Anupama, 1966 (Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 199) and Aashirwad, 1968 (Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 199) are all National Award winners. The Balraj Sahni-Leela Naidu starrer, Anuradha, has scintillating music by Ravi Shankar. It’s a touching story of an idealist doctor and his talented wife who leaves house in search of a place in the sun. Anupama is dedicated to Mukherjee’s guru Bimal Roy who passed away that year. The film has Sharmila Tagore and Dharmendra giving outstanding performances.Sharmila as an emotionally damaged girl is virtually silent throughout the movie and Dharmendra plays a sensitive writer. Some fabulous songs composed by Hemant Kumar here are Ya dil ki suno, Bheegi bheegi fiza and the ethereal Kuchh dil ne kaha. Aashirwad with Ashok Kumar is a wonderfully touching movie. To Hrishikesh Mukherjee goes the credit of making Ashok Kumar sing again — Railgaadi railgaadi and Naani ki nao chali, can be termed as ‘the father of rap songs’ all sung by Ashok Kumar himself.

Of the triumvirate Dev-Raj-Dilip, Mukherjee went on to make a hardcore commercial movie, Asli-Naqli, 1962 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) with Dev Anand. Story of a rich young man posing as jobless, penniless person with things falling neatly into place in the climax. Dev Anand and Sadhana were arresting. And so were the songs by Shankar-Jaikishan and the Shailendra-Hasrat team — Chheda mere dil ne taraana tere pyaar ka, Kal ki daulat aaj ki khushiyan, Tujhe jeevan ki dor se baandh liya hai, Tera mera pyaar amar, and Gori zara hansde tu. Aashiq, 1962 (Aakash; VCD, Rs 69) released the same year starring Raj Kapoor and Nanda.

About Dharmendra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee had stated, “I simply fail to understand why Dharmendra failed to win any award for either film (Anupama and Satyakam). Satyakam, 1969 (Captain; VCD, Rs 99) had Dharam playing the role of an upright and honest man, who refused to be moved from his principles. He marries Sharmila, a rape victim.

Anand, 1970 (Shemaroo, DVD Rs 349) won the National Award, as also the Filmfare awards. It won accolades for the excellently portrayed character of Anand. On the verge of death he is one unique person who could manage a smile. A hearty ‘Ki Babumoshai’ has a lasting ring days after seeing the film. The songs are awesome and so is the message — absolutely overwhelming. Guddi, 1971 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) gave Jaya Bhaduri a flying start, playing a schoolgirl obsessed with the silver screen star, Dharmendra, and there was no looking back for her. Bawarchi, 1972 is again Rajesh Khanna but in fun mode. This was one of Hrishida’s few remakes of a Bengali hit, Tapan Sinha’s Golpo Holeo Sotti. Namak Haraam, 1973 (Ultra, VCD, Rs 69) is the only film after Anand to put Rajesh and Amitabh together. It was also the first major break for Raza Murad. Jurmana, 1979 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) is Amitabh Bachchan again, this time playing a spoilt Casanova opposite Raakhee.

Mili,1975 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) is another heart-wrenching movie, and had Jaya playing a cancer patient opposite Amitabh. A theme close to Anand, but with the opposite sex as the main protagonist.

Chupke Chupke,1975; Gol Maal, 1979; Khubsoorat, 1980 (all three, Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 349) and Naram Garam, 1981 (Everest; VCD, Rs 69) are in one word, hilarious. Chupke Chupke saw Amitabh excelling in comedy, the hero is Dharmendra, though. Gol Maal has Utpal Dutt all the way with his ‘muchh nahin to mard nahin’ doctrine and Amol Palekar playing games with this cranky boss. Khubsoorat again is a lovely movie with Rekha at its helm. And Naram Garam is Amol Palekar once more, pitted against Shatrughan Sinha and Utpal Dutt.

Here’s some more of the Hrishikesh Mukherjee brand of comedy — Kissise Na Kehna, 1983 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) starring Farooque Shaikh, Deepti Naval and Utpal Dutt; Rang Birangi, 1983 (T-Series; VCD, Rs 38) starring Amol Palekar, Parveen Babi and Deven Verma; and Buddha Mil Gaya, 1971 (Shemaroo; VCD, Rs 99) starring Navin Nishol, Sonia Sahni, Deven Verma and Archana.

Alaap, 1977 (Shemaroo, VCD, Rs 88) is a serious film with Amitabh in the lead. Amitabh, son of an advocate, has a penchant for music which is banned by his father. But he still goes to Sarjubai where he finds peace. Naukri,1978 (T-Series, VCD, Rs 38) with Rajesh as hero is quite an artistic film, but lesser known. This film has Rajesh in a role completely opposite to what he portrayed in Anand, and here he’s a pessimist and suicidal. Raj Kapoor is the positive force and his love interest is Zaheera. Bemisal, 1982 (Shemaroo, VCD Rs 99) captures Amitabh as an angry yet soulful young man, at his best. There’s also Raakhee and Vinod Mehra. And finally the Anil Kapoor-Juhi Chawla starrer Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate, 1998 (Eagle; VCD, Rs 72) is his last film to be released.

HRISHIKESH MUKHERJEE AS WRITER

Do Bigha Zamin (Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 349) directed by Bimal Roy is a classic movie and has earned accolades for its sensitive handling. Hrishikesh Mukherjee is the screenplay and dialogue writer in this movie.

HRISHIKESH MUKHERJEE AS EDITOR

Madhumati (Shemaroo; DVD, Rs 349) directed by Bimal Roy is an eerie romantic movie with beautiful songs and Gunga Jumna (Captain; VCD, Rs 99) directed by Nitin Bose is about two brothers on the opposite side of the law, Dilip Kumar and Nasir Khan. Both were edited by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. His close association with Bimal Roy, whom he assisted, left an indelible impression on his mind and it showed clearly in his thoughts, his films, his characterisations and in all his works.