Truly a great, conscience-keeping filmmaker, who always believed that social messages can be put across even within the ambit of commercial and entertaining cinema. He started his career with Afsana in 1951, a film he co-produced (which was remade later in 1972 as Dastaan. He established his own banner in 1956 with Ek Hi Rasta (remade as Babul in 2006), and had a string of hits like Naya Daur, Sadhna, Kanoon, Gumrah, Humraaz, Dhund. He also shaped the director in his brother Yash, giving him significant films like Dhool Ka Phool, Dharamputra, Waqt, Aadmi Aur Insaan, and Ittefaq. He was responsible for shaping the career of Mahendra Kapoor, and his musical team of composer Ravi and lyricist Sahir weaved exquisite songs that enhanced the narrative of his films. The subjects that he tackled were quite both relevant and revolutionary for those times, like infidelity (Afsana, Gumrah), widow remarriage (Ek Hi Raasta), communal strife (Dharamputra), the stigma attached to an illegitimate child (Dhool Ka Phool), rehabilitation of a prostitute (Sadhna), and inclusive economic progress (Naya Daur). Debunking the myth that songless films don’t work, he made gripping murder mysteries Kanoon and Ittefaq. The court was often the climax venue of his films, apparently in reference to his lawyer aspirations. His films should always be considered compulsory viewing for both students and enthusiasts of cinema. May his soul rest in peace.
Truly a great, conscience-keeping filmmaker, who always believed that social messages can be put across even within the ambit of commercial and entertaining cinema. He started his career with Afsana in 1951, a film he co-produced (which was remade later in 1972 as Dastaan. He established his own banner in 1956 with Ek Hi Rasta (remade as Babul in 2006), and had a string of hits like Naya Daur, Sadhna, Kanoon, Gumrah, Humraaz, Dhund. He also shaped the director in his brother Yash, giving him significant films like Dhool Ka Phool, Dharamputra, Waqt, Aadmi Aur Insaan, and Ittefaq. He was responsible for shaping the career of Mahendra Kapoor, and his musical team of composer Ravi and lyricist Sahir weaved exquisite songs that enhanced the narrative of his films. The subjects that he tackled were quite both relevant and revolutionary for those times, like infidelity (Afsana, Gumrah), widow remarriage (Ek Hi Raasta), communal strife (Dharamputra), the stigma attached to an illegitimate child (Dhool Ka Phool), rehabilitation of a prostitute (Sadhna), and inclusive economic progress (Naya Daur). Debunking the myth that songless films don’t work, he made gripping murder mysteries Kanoon and Ittefaq. The court was often the climax venue of his films, apparently in reference to his lawyer aspirations. His films should always be considered compulsory viewing for both students and enthusiasts of cinema. May his soul rest in peace.
One of the finest film maker. Today's generation will remember him for Mahabharata. Most of his films carried social messages. Dharam putr, Dhool ka phool, Gumrah, Naya Daur, Waqt are some of his films which should be showed to the new generation of film makers.
Re: B R Chopra
by laturam khotua on Nov 05, 2008 01:32 PM
B.R.Chopra....and the Golden era of Hindi Cinema will be remembered forever. How one can forget that famous song of 'WAQT' ....aagey bhee jaaney na tu.
B.R. Chopra was a social reformative flim makers his films like Naya Daur or Baghaban always provided social message along with entairment. He was not like his brother who believed in showing only romance. His films were really social reformative and entertaining
this is the great loss to bollywood. though he was not active but still his presence was there. one of the old legend of hindi film industry who brought the naya daur has passed away. may his soul rest in peace.
Naya Dour is a film that depicts the social trauma of that era, when new machines was being introduced replacing the several men.But in that film nothing like criticising the mechanization.The focus of film is only to the basic rights of the men who may lost their because of machine. Only Mr. B.R. Chopra had the vision to present the situation like that.
His Mahabharat always be more than mythical epic. The dialogue of Mahabharat is in highest category consideoring the language and meaningful.
