Amitabh Bachchan consoling Prakash Mehra’s son
Legendary film maker Prakash Mehra, who was known for giving the first hit film to Amitabh Bachchan and making history with Zanjeer, passed away in a Mumbai hospital on Sunday morning after a prolonged illness.
The 69 years old producer-director, came into the industry in 1950’s and directed Haseena Maan Jayegi with Shashi Kapoor in 1969. But, it was his association with Amitabh that brought both of them name and fame. Apart from Zanzeer, Hera Pheri, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Namak Halal and Sharaabi were some other films where both of them worked together and needless to say that all these films were a grand success at the Box office. In fact, when Amitabh Bachchan was at the peak of his career, he gave most of his hits with only two directors, Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra.
The duo of Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan was seen together for the last time in Jaadugar, which hit the screen in 1989.
Though, afterwards Prakash Mehra tried his hand both in direction and production, with Bal Brahmachari in 1996 and produced Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao in 2001 respectively. It was when similar to Jaadugar, these two films also failed to draw people to cinema halls that Prakash Mehra realized that his style of film making had probably become out of times in this fast moving world. It was then that he decided to slowly fade away from this glittering world of Bollywood.
Prakash Mehra will always be remembered as a complete film maker, who knew what his viewers wanted. For example, with Zanzeer, which was a trend-setter, Mehra was able to showcase the kind of frustration the youth of 1960-70 was going through. You may recall that it was Zanjeer that got Amitabh Bachchan the title of Angry Young Man. Later, when comedies were in demand, it was the excellence of Prakash Mehra that changed Mr. Bachchans image from an angry young man to the guy next door, in Namak Halaal.
Agreed, his last few films didn’t create the kind of magic he was otherwise known for, Prakash Mehra will always be remembered as one of the best directors of his times.
Image Source: nowrunning.com
