The legendary director Basu Chatterjee died at the age of 93 on 4th June,2020 in Mumbai. He was an extraordinary film maker with an eye for detail. His work is best known for portraying the middle class families and weaving heart-warming stories.He made his directorial debut with Sara Akash(1969), which won him the Filmfare for best screenplay. His best work includes Piya Ka Ghar (1972), Rajnigandha (1974), Chhoti Si Baat (1975), Chitchor (1976), Khatta Meetha (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Priyatama (1977), and Shaukeen (1982), Chatterjee also created and directed the hit Doordarshan television series Byomkesh Bakshi.
His films were simple which depicted the lives of ordinary, middle-class men and women who were more independent on the screen. He explored the relations between husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts and nephews and nieces. He represented the thoughts of women, their needs and wants and their idea of romance.He carved a niche for himself with his gentle stories and created an identity for himself.
Basu Chatterjee’s films were a perfect alternative to the Amitabh Bacchan’s Angry young men cinema genre. His films were heart- touching which looked and sounded real unlike the violent movies produced during 70s and 80s.Piya ka Ghar(1972), about a young couple who live in cramped Bombay Chawl with no privacy in their own home, is a good example- there was a joy and sadness but without needless angst and misery of the tales told by high-minded director.
