Shakti Samanta -Bengali Film Maker Passes Away

Shakti Samanta -Bengali Film Maker Passes Away

Shakti Samanta, the famous film maker, Producer and Scriptwriter, passed away in Mumbai on Thursday after a brief illness. He was 83 years old. Mr. Samanta received a stroke about two months back and slowly recovering from it. Shakti Saanta produced numerous box office blockbusters in Bollywood including ‘Kati Patang’, ‘Amar Prem’ and ‘Aradhana’ starring Rajesh Khanna. Shakti Samanta made his debut as a director with the film “Bahu” in 1954. After the successful returns of Bahu starring Karan Dewan, Usha Kiron, Shashikala and Pran, he later directed films like ‘Inspector’ (1956), ‘Sheroo’ (1956), ‘Detective’ (1957). Shakti Samanta is also remembered for introducing Sharmila Tagore in movie world. He also worked with the heartthrob of 1960’s, Shammi Kapoor and worked together in films like ‘An Evening in Paris’ and ‘Chinatown’.

In all, Samanta directed 43 feature films, including 37 Hindi, and 6 Bengali films. His best known films include Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali and An Evening in Paris. He is credited for starting the trend of making double version films in Hindi and Bengali with Amanush in 1974, and also made the first co-produced film between India and Bangladesh in 1984.
Samanta received Filmfare Awards for “Best Film” for Aradhana, Anuraag and Amanush. He has also received several Lifetime Achievement awards, including the Zee Cine Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2002 and several other awards from Zee and other Indian organizations. Some of his films have been shown at international festivals in Berlin, Tashkent, Moscow, Cairo and Beirut.
Samanta was President of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association for 5 years, Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for 7 years and was Chairman of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata for 2 years.

Born in Burdwan West Bengal, he received his education at Dehradun, staying with his uncle. He graduated in 1944 from Calcutta University. After completing his education he wanted to become an actor in Hindi film industry at Bombay, so moved closer to the city. He took a school teacher’s job in Dapoli, about 200 kilometres from Mumbai. He eventually joined the film industry in 1948 as an assistant director to directors like Gyan Mukherjee, Satish Nigam and Phani Majumdar at Bombay Talkies.
Please take a moment and pray for the imortal soul of Shakti Samanta with us.

Filmography: (Incomplete)
Director:

1. Devdas (2002/II) … aka Debdas (India: Bengali title: alternative transliteration) – Bengali Version Starring Prosenjit and Tapas Pal
2. Geetanjali (1993/I)
3. Dushman (1990)
4. Alag Alag (1985)
5. Aar Paar (1985)      … aka Anyay Abhchar (India: Bengali title: dubbed version)
6. Anyay Abichar (1985)
7. Awaaz (1984)
8. Ayaash (1982)
9. Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981)      … aka Anusandhan (India: Bengali title)
10. Khwab (1980)
11. The Great Gambler (1979)
12. Anand Ashram (1977/I)
13. Anand Ashram (1977/II)
14. Anurodh (1977)
15. Mehbooba (1976)
16. Amanush (1975/I)
17. Amanush (1975/II)
18. Ajanabee (1974)
19. Charitraheen (1974)
20. Anuraag (1972)
21. Jaane-Anjaane (1971)
22. Amar Prem (1971)      … aka Immortal Love
23. Kati Patang (1970)
24. Pagla Kahin Ka (1970)
25. Aradhana (1969)
26. An Evening in Paris (1967)      … aka Paris Ki Ek Shyam (India: Hindi title)
27. Sawan Ki Ghata (1966)
28. Kashmir Ki Kali (1964)
29. Ek Raaz (1963)
30. China Town (1962)
31. Isi Ka Naam Duniya Hai (1962)
32. Naughty Boy (1962)
33. Jaali Note (1960)
34. Singapore (1960)
35. Insan Jaag Utha (1959)
36. Detective (1958)
37. Howrah Bridge (1958)
38. Hill Station (1957)
39. Sheroo (1957)
40. Inspector (1956)
41. Bahu (1955)

Producer:

1. Devdas (2002/II) (producer)      … aka Debdas (India: Bengali title: alternative transliteration)
2. Ankhon Mein Tum Ho (1997) (producer)
3. Geetanjali (1993/I) (producer)
4. Aakhri Baazi (1989) (producer)
5. Palay Khan (1986) (producer)
6. Aar Paar (1985) (producer)      … aka Anyay Abhchar (India: Bengali title: dubbed version)
7. Main Awara Hoon (1983) (producer)
8. Aamne Samne (1982) (producer)
9. Ayaash (1982) (producer)
10. Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981) (producer)      … aka Anusandhan (India: Bengali title)
11. Anand Ashram (1977/I) (producer)
12. Balika Badhu (1976) (producer)      … aka The Young Wife (International: English title)
13. Amanush (1975/I) (producer)
14. Anuraag (1972) (producer)
15. Jaane-Anjaane (1971) (producer)
16. Amar Prem (1971) (producer)      … aka Immortal Love
17. Kati Patang (1970) (producer)
18. Aradhana (1969) (producer)
19. An Evening in Paris (1967) (producer)      … aka Paris Ki Ek Shyam (India: Hindi title)
20. Sawan Ki Ghata (1966) (producer)
21. Kashmir Ki Kali (1964) (producer)
22. China Town (1962) (producer)
23. Naughty Boy (1962) (producer)
24. Insan Jaag Utha (1959) (producer)
25. Howrah Bridge (1958) (producer)

Writer:

1. Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981) (screenplay)      … aka Anusandhan (India: Bengali title)
2. The Great Gambler (1979) (scenario)
3. Amanush (1975/I) (screenplay)
4. Baadbaan (1954) (dialogue) (screenplay)

Miscellaneous Crew:

1. Ajanabee (1974) (presenter)

Thanks:

1. Le Chal Apne Sang (2000) (grateful thanks) (as Shri Shakti Samanta)
2. Andaz Apna Apna (1994) (acknowledgment) (as Shri Shakti Samanta)
3. Rudaali (1993) (acknowledgment: member N.F.D.C.) (as Shri Shakti Samanta)      … aka The Mourner (India: English title)
4. Lakhon Ki Baat (1984) (acknowledgment) (as Shri Shakti Samanta)      … aka Rare Talk

Self:

1. Taccuino indiano (2006) (TV) …. Himself

Web Resources: WIKI on Shakti Samanta