What sets 'Guddi' apart is Hrishida's characterisation of Jaya Bhaduri for the title role ::: "Abhiman" was 'similar' to the couple's life as Jaya was more successful in many films than Amitabh !!

 As a filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee had different plots and even different stars cast in his unique manner. The results were magical though the journey could have been always exciting and even risky.  

"Anupama" starring Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Shashikala, was released in 1966. 

The film was critically acclaimed and was nominated for several Filmfare Awards. 'Anupama' is a story of a father and daughter's fragile relationship.  

'Satyakam' was like a masterpiece.  Dharmendra's performance in this film is often described as the best performance of his career.

Satyakan 

Based on a Bengali novel,  'Satyakam' also stars Sharmila Tagore, Sanjeev Kumar, and Ashok Kumar. 

Hrishikesh Mukherjee considered it his favourite film. 

The film portrayed Dharmendra as a staunchly principled and honest protagonist hero who refuses all bribes, temptations and compromises. In the process, he eventually loses his life when pitted against the corrupt forces ranged against him.  

Anand

Released in 1970, 'Anand' stars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. Rajesh Khanna certainly delivered the best performance of his career. He played a cheerful, talkative character who suffers from a terminal illness. The film is considered as a masterpiece of Hrishikesh Mukherjee. 

But Amitabh left his mark as an angry doctor who fails to save his friend from the killer cancer. This marked a new beginning in Amitabh's character.  

'Anand' is also remembered for a classic one-liner from Rajesh Khanna : 

"Babumoshai, Zindagi bari honi  chahiye; Lambi nahi"  

(Life should be measured in terms of deeds and not mere longevity". 

Rajesh Khanna was Bollywood's one of the biggest romantic stars. But in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films - he did very little about romance. This was Hrishikesh's specialty. In 'Anand' - Rajesh Khanna had intense relationship with friend Amitabh - Dr Bhaskar. 'Bawarchi' also is something else and no romance for Rajesh Khanna. 

Only in 'Namak Haram' he had a romantic pair with Rekha. Here too Sonu (Rajesh Khanna) is more close to his friend Vicky (Amitabh). 

In 'Namak Haram' there is a powerful political message. Vicky's industrialist father tells his son - "Do not let these workers unite... Divide and Rule is a policy that Britishers had left for us. 

Do not let the factory workers think they are Indians".  

"Valki kaho .. tum Madrasi ho, Tum Bangali ho, Tum Punjabi ho .... Raj toh hum karenge (Only the rich shall rule this world)".  

 

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Paradoxically,  it was Namak Haram -- where Rekha and Amitabh appeared first time together in one film but had hardly any role between them. There were also little quirks --- as both Rekha and Amitabh were actually in love with Rajesh Khanna. 

Hrishikesh had an intriguing style and roadmap in using glamour girl Parveen Babi as Nimmi in 'Rang Biragi'. 

Sonu and Vicky in 'Namak Haram'

Parveen is portrayed as a sari-wearing dutiful housewife -- but neglected by workaholic husband Ajay played by Amol Palekar. 

Rekha : Tomboyish in Khubsoorat 

Released in 1970, 'Khubsoorat' stars Rekha, Rakesh Roshan and Ashok Kumar. It's a comedy but has a message of conflicting roles of discipline and freedom in family life. Rekha's portrayal of an exuberant girl won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award. 

The film also won the Filmfare Best Movie Award.

Guddi 

The film 'Guddi' is about a schoolgirl obsessed with the actor Dharmendra. Hrishikesh Mukesh makes Dharmendra play himself as a popular star.

What sets the film apart is Hrishida's winning characterisation of Guddi -- played by Jaya Bhaduri.  

He introduced Jaya Bhaduri who had different, refreshingly simple, girl-next-door look. 

Released in 1971, the film also stars genius Utpal Dutt. 

'Guddi' talks about the 'star system'. At one time speaking about popularity of stars' Dharmendra says in the film -- "Aaj kal toh main Rajesh Khanna ka naam sun raha hoon". This was almost real. 

Dharmendra was being charmingly self-deprecating.  

Dharmendra also takes a character to an old studio - where great classic movies had been made. But now it lay 'neglected' -- was it a hint that even super stars also one day may 'suffer' similar fate.  

'Abhimaan' was a story of a married couple in the same profession and male ego comes into play when the wife is more successful than him.

The film stars real life couple Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Many said -- it the film was 'similar' to the couple's life as Jaya was more successful in many films than Amitabh at that time. 

She won Filmfare Best Actress Award for the film and for many years she had stayed away from the screen.   

Anari 

Released in 1959, 'Anari' was aother sucsessful project. It stars Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Motilal and Lalita Pawar. 

Much to the credit of Hrishikesh Mukherjee; Raj Kapoor and Lalita Pawar won Filmfare award for the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively.  

Starring Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt, Golmal (made in 1979) still remains an attractive film of that era. 

Not many people may know -- in the 1950s - after he landed in Bombay (now Mumbai) - Hrishi Mukherjee (27 plus) worked for Bimal Roy's much acclaimed films such as -- Madhumati, Parineeta and 

Do Bigha Zameen as the 'editor' and also the screenplay writer. 

It was Hrishikesh Mukherjee -  who had turned Salil Choushury's story of a rickshawallah to a fine script. 

Later, urbane actor Balraj Sahani was convinced and did a magical performance as the helpless Shambhu -- the peasant. 

ends