Haridhan Mukherjee (10 November 1907 – 26 December 2004) was an Indian actor and singer in Bengali cinema from West Bengal. He is known for his work in Bengali theatre as well as Bengali films. He brought characters to life through his versatile acting talents.
Haridhan Mukherjee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Deenabandhu Mukherjee 10 November 1907 |
| Died | 26 December 2004 (aged 97) Kolkata, India |
| Occupations | Actor, singer |
| Children | Sunil Mukherjee |
Early life
editMukherjee was born on 10 November 1907 in Khatuya village near Gobardanga in the 24 Parganas district of British India.[1] His birth name was Deenabandhu Mukherjee. His father was Bhubanmohan and his mother was Giribala Devi. His father died when he was very young, and his mother raised him and his brother. He studied at the Shyambazar A.V. School. Due to extreme financial hardship, he used to sell lozenges to his friends at school. Saving 30 rupees in a short time, he tried to do business with soap and powder, and then a rice business, but neither succeeded. Borrowing money from his elder brother's friend, he started selling potatoes in Hatibagan. He used to act in small roles in school plays, and one day received praise from the school's secretary, the playwright Amrita Lal Basu.[1]
Career
editHaridhan Mukherjee's childhood was a life of poverty and hardship, but he continued his struggle; his passions were singing and acting. Therefore, he sold potatoes during the day and attended theatre, Kavigan, Ramayana, and Panchali gatherings at night. Acting and singing the Ramayana were his obsessions since childhood; he could remember a song after hearing it just once. He also learned Kirtan from Nabadwip Brajabasi. His singing deeply impressed Ashutosh Mukherjee and Maharaja Manindra Chandra Nandy of Cossimbazar.[2] Hearing his singing, Rabindranath Tagore gifted him a Kantha-stitched shawl. He even sang for Mahatma Gandhi. He did not stop there and began acting in plays, particularly in female roles. He portrayed female characters in many plays, such as Pather Sheshe, Bibaha Bibhrat, Alibaba, and more.[2]
Haridhan played the role of Moshaheb in his first film, Khasdakhal, based on a play by Amritalal Basu.[3] Then, in 1943, he got the opportunity to play a small Baul character in the film Sahar Theke Dure, directed by the famed Sailajananda Mukhopadhyay. The song "Radhe, Bhul Kore Tui Chinli Na Tor Premer Shyamrai," sung by Dhananjay Bhattacharya and lip-synced by Haridhan, became wildly popular. Haridhan's cinematic career was truly reborn under the direction of Debaki Bose. He appeared in Debaki Bose's 1944 film Sandhi, which marked Haridhan's debut as a comedian.[3] His delivery of the dialogue "Joy Ma Japanjapini" became a massive hit. The film Sharey Chuattor marked the debut of the romantic pair Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen, with Haridhan Mukherjee playing the role of a grumpy boarding house member. Furthermore, he delivered humorous performances in numerous films, such as the second master's protege in Saheb Bibi Golam, the women's boarding house landlord in Basanta Bilap, the maternal uncle in Miss Priyambada, and the doctor in Mouchak.[4] He also acted in films like Parash Pathar, Phuleswari, Dhanyee Meye, and Bhola Moira. His final released film was Tuni Bou (1987). During his acting career, he appeared in over 140 films. He worked with prominent directors including Niren Lahiri, Debaki Bose, Satyajit Ray, Nirmal Dey, Tarun Majumdar, Arabinda Mukhopadhyay and Hiren Nag.[5]
Upon leaving films, he began dedicating his time to theatre; "theatre was his life." He acted in plays such as Kabi, Ulka, Adarsha Hindu Hotel, Ami Mantri Hobo, Krishnakanter Will, Samadhan, Devdas, Saheb Bibi Golam, and Ramer Sumati. He performed at the Rangmahal Theatre for about twenty-two years and at the Star Theatre for his final eighteen years. He also performed in radio dramas for All India Radio (*Akashvani*) at the invitation of Birendra Krishna Bhadra. His final stage performance was in the play Pasher Bari at the Star Theatre in 1991, the same year the theatre burned down. In his later years, he received numerous honors and awards from organizations such as the University of Calcutta, BFJA, West Bengal Natya Academy, Federation of Film Societies of India, and the Jogesh Mime Academy. Governor K. V. Raghunatha Reddy presented him with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.[2][6]
Death
editFilmography
edit| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Sahar Theke Dure |
| 1944 | Sandhi |
| 1950 | Vidyasagar |
| 1950 | Maryada |
| 1953 | Raja Krishnachandra |
| 1953 | Sharey Chuattor |
| 1955 | Joy Maa Kali Boarding |
| 1956 | Shyamali |
| 1957 | Harishchandra |
| 1958 | Parash Pathar |
| 1958 | Jamalaye Jibanta Manush |
| 1962 | Kanchenjungha |
| 1963 | Palatak |
| 1965 | Mahapurush |
| 1965 | Abhaya O Srikanta |
| 1967 | Balika Badhu |
| 1967 | Antony Firingee |
| 1968 | Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne |
| 1969 | Bibaha Bibhrat |
| 1971 | Dhanyee Meye |
| 1973 | Basanta Bilap |
| 1973 | Shriman Prithviraj |
| 1974 | Thagini |
| 1974 | Fuleswari |
| 1975 | Agnishwar |
| 1977 | Bhola Moira |
| 1979 | Ghatkali |
| 1980 | Hirak Rajar Deshe |
References
edit- 1 2 "Haridhan Mukherjee". Bangla Cinema 100. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- 1 2 3 Bangla, Jago (4 March 2023). "রসরাজ" [Rasaraj]. JagoBangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- 1 2 "ফিমেল রোল ছেড়ে কমেডিতে অনন্য হয়ে উঠলেন হরিধন" [Leaving female roles, Haridhan became unique in comedy]. Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ "কমেডির জাদুকর হরিধন মুখোপাধ্যায়, তাঁর 'মা কালী হ' সংলাপ আজও হিট" [The magician of comedy Haridhan Mukherjee, his 'Ma Kali H' dialogue is still a hit today]. The Wall (in Bengali). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ Ray, Pradip Kumar. মানবতার পূজারী স্বল্প পরিচিত ভারতীয়ের কাহিনী [The story of a lesser-known Indian, a worshipper of humanity] (in Bengali). Pradip Kumar Ray. ISBN 978-93-5407-770-8.
- 1 2 "Haridhan Mukherjee – The 'Mama' of Bengali cinema who fought poverty since age of 11". Get Bengal. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ↑ "Haridhan Mukherjee on Moviebuff.com". Moviebuff.com. Retrieved 29 December 2023.