One of the most successful and influential filmmakers of Hindi and Bengali cinema, Shakti Samanta directed classics like Howrah Bridge (1958), China Town (1962), Kashmir Ki Kali (1964), An Evening in Paris (1967), Aradhana (1969), Kati Patang (1970), Amar Prem (1972), Amanush (1975) and many more.
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Willum Skeener
Shakti Samanta was born in the village of Bokra, Purba Bardhaman, Bengal. He completed his early education in Dehradun before graduating from Calcutta University in 1944.
About 200 km from Bombay, in Dapoli, he accepted a position as a school teacher, The reason behind this was its proximity to Bombay, since he always wanted to be an actor. In 1948, He finally got the chance to work as an assistant director on Raj Kapoor’s “Sunhere Din”, directed by Satish Nigam. He also assisted Gyan Mukherjee and Phani Majumdar.
In 1957, Shakti Samanta started his own production company, Shakti Films, with the murder mystery “Howrah Bridge” starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala. The film had the music of O. P. Nayyar, and its crooning number ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’ sung by Asha Bhosle which picturised on Madhubala became a rage, making the film a big success.
Shakti Samata’s next was the social drama “Insaan Jaag Utha (1959)” starring Sunil Dutt and Madhubala, which got a lukewarm response despite its important message. After the failure of Insan Jag Utha, he went on to do many successful films in the following decade like “Jaali Note (1960),” “Singapore (1960),” “China Town (1962),” “Kashmir Ki Kali (1964),” “Sawan Ki Ghata (1966),” and “An Evening in Paris (1967).”
Most of his films were big blockbusters, and his collaboration with Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore bing most fruitful, he continued to work with Shammi ji in films like Pagla Kahin Ka (1970), Jaane-Anjaane (1971).
In 1969, Samata added a new feather in his cap with “Aradhana,” where he gave the nation its new heartthrob and superstar “Rajesh Khanna.” The film became a rage, paving the way for a long working relationship with Khanna, which produced gems like Kati Patang (1970), Anurodh and Amar Prem (1971), Mehbooba (1976), Anurodh (1977), Ajanabee (1974), Awaaz (1984) and Alag Alag (1985).
In 1975, Shakti Samanta directed bilingual film “Amanush,” which was a rare film where “the Mahanayak” Uttam Kumar as the lead with Sharmila Tagore, Utpal Dutt and Asit Sen. The film went on to be a success, especially its songs like “Dil Aisa Kisi Ne Mera Toda,” Bipinbabur Karansudha and Ki Asha-y Baandhi Khelaghar. are still hummed fondly. Samanta again cast Uttam Kumar in Anand Ashram (1977) with Ashok Kumar and Sharmila Tagore.
Samanta directed 43 feature films, including 37 Hindi, and 6 Bengali films.
His other notable films are “Anuraag (1972) with Moushumi Chatterjee and Vinod Mehra, “Charitraheen (1974) with Sanjeev Kumar and Sharmila Tagore,” The Great Gambler (1979) Amitabh Bachchan, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh, Khwaab (1980), Barsaat Ki Ek Raat (1981) with Amitabh Bachchan, Raakhee, Aar Paar (1985) with Mithun, Anyay Abichar (1985) and Geetanjali (1993) with Rekha. He also produced Balika Badhu (1976), and Achena Atithi (1997).
In early 2009 he suffered a stroke but survived it due to timely medications and therapy. On April 9, 2009, at around five o’clock in the evening, Samanta passed away from cardiac arrest at his suburban Santa Cruz home while receiving physical therapy.
