Prakash Mehra(1939-2009)

Prakash Mehra, Born on 13th July 1939 in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh was a legendary film maker of Indian Cinema, also known as the Godfather of Amitabh Bachchan, a public and media given title, at which he often frowned upon, always clarifying that he was nobody's Godfather, fate introduced talent to talent, and history was created. Mehra started his career and life, literally from scratch, after running away from his home and village, landing up in the city of Bombay In early 1950's. As a kid, aiming for the stars, with just 13 rupees in his pocket, he began his new life, sleeping hungry on railway stations, being his first address in the city of dreams. Destiny and perseverance, guided him to the sets of Hindi cinema, where he began by observing from the sidelines, whilst doing odd jobs, starting from serving tea to the stars, then getting a chance to become a production controller, then an assistant and so on. Mehra who was never formally educated beyond grade 5, in his village school, somehow always had a knack of writing in his broken words and especially penning down his emotions, backed by years of painful experiences of an orphan child who had lost both his parents, (mother who died when he was 5, father abandoned him when he was 8) and grew up on the mean streets. As luck would have it, Mehra's creativity and hard work was not going unrecognized by his peers and seniors, who spread the positive word, finally getting him a break that turned his fortunes in 1968, when he got his directorial debut with Haseena Maan Jayegi starring Shashi Kapoor and Babita. The film which along with its music, became a huge box office money spinner, steered him on to the path of success from where there was no looking back. From here on, he went on to direct Mela (1971), which became a silver jubilee, starring Feroz and Sanjay Khan, followed by another very successful venture, Samadhi (1972), starring Dharmendra, Asha Parekh and Jaya Bhaduri. It was after the success of "Samadhi", that destiny again played a huge hand through a series of events, that lead to a phenomenal collaboration of a director and actor, the likes of which was never seen before in the history of Indian cinema, the Mehra, Bachchan collaboration. In May of 1973, with everything mortgaged, including his home and wife's jewelry, facing the very real possibility of returning to the streets, as it was also the debut of his production house "Prakash Mehra Productions", Mehra released "Zanjeer".

The idea was that "Zanjeer", originally was to be made with Dharmendra as the lead star, after the success of "Samadhi". Dharmendra being the top super star at the time, opted out due to date constraints. This sent Mehra on the quest to find a replacement, and the expectations of the distributors of the time was, that a super star must be replaced by a super star, but fate would have none of it. One by one, due to some reason or the other, it just didn't workout with any of the top stars of the time. Then one fine day, Mehra received a call from the legendary actor "Pran", who Mehra not only respected as a senior and guide, but also genuinely loved and admired, fondly addressing him as "Pran sahab". Pran, asked Mehra, to check out a new kid on the block, whom he felt had talent, his name was Amitabh, also offered to accompany Mehra to a nearby theatre (Ambar Oscar) to watch his latest film, starring the great Mehmood in the lead. The two went on their way to watch the film. The wheels of fortune were set in motion, destiny through the guidance of a blessed soul "Pran", just introduced its super brilliant diamond in the rough, to its super brilliant jeweler with a keen eye. Talent was introduced to talent, Prakash Mehra was just introduced to Amitabh Bachchan.

Upon the announcement of the new hero of Zanjeer, every distributor dropped the film, none would want it. Trade pundits wrote the obituary of Mehra's career, from their point of view, not only was Bachchan, not a star, but a total disaster. Not only that, there wasn't even one song in the film, where the lead hero would sing or dance, this was not only unheard of but almost incomprehensible at the time. Mehra was dubbed senile.

From Mehra's point of view, there was no other star, and this is exactly how the film would be.. This also being the launch of his production house, Mehra had only 2 choices, all or nothing. It was the easiest choice he made, the jeweler knew the value of his diamond. He went all in, he released Zanjeer, with his own money on the line, in most of the major territories.

The movie had an abysmal opening, empty theaters the first few days, Mehra would sit on the wall of Worli sea face in those days and contemplate, "now what"?. Bachchan suffered from a high fever, staring at oblivion himself. Then week two onwards, the phone at Mehra's small office, started ringing, it was calls from exhibitors from Calcutta, it was a phenomenon they had never seen before, there were lines longer than trains at the box office. The same story repeated in various other territories of India, cash registers at the box office went ballistic. Fortune smiled upon the little orphan kid from Bijnor. History was created, and the superstar of the millennium was born.

Thereafter Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan began a journey, which resulted in 6 more, massive blockbuster hits: Hera Pheri, Khoon Pasina, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Laawaris, Namak Halaal and Sharaabi.

Prakash Mehra was aided In creating cinema history by some of the best talent as part of his team. His blockbusters were a collaboration of super talents and legends of the time, such as music maestro duo "Kalyanji Anandji", who's music compositions are untouchable till date. Lyricists such as the great Anjaan. Mehra himself a powerhouse of writing talent, penning many of his super hit songs, such as "Apni toh jaise taise" from Laawaris, etc.. Later addition, the one and only Bappi Lahiri, who became a permanent part of Mehra's team after giving some of the best chart buster music, in Namak Halal, followed by Sharaabi. The fantastic writing duo Salim Javed were the writers of Mehra's Zanjeer. The super talented Kader Khan, wrote some of the most phenomenal dialogues of Muqaddar ka Sikandar.

Apart from being work colleagues and peers, whom he greatly respected, he considered the late great Amjad Khan as one of his best friends and like family. Same was his relationship with late great Pran, legend Raj Kapoor, music maestro duo Kalyanji Anandji, and Bappi Lahiri amongst others.

The final collaboration between Mehra and Bachchan was Jaadugar, which bombed at the box office and ended their untouchable successful streak, bringing an end to an era of a collaboration, the likes of which were never seen before or since.

Prakash Mehra, went on to Produce and Direct "Zindagi Ek Juaa" starring Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit in 1991, in 1993 produced Dalal, directed by Partho Ghosh, Starring Mithun Chakraborty in two languages, Bengali and Hindi, along with its music by Bappi Lahiri, it was a huge box office success.

Mehra received a lifetime achievement award from the India Motion Picture Directors Association (IMPDA) in 2006. He also received Lifetime Achievement as Producer from IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association) on 19 September 2008.

Mr Prakash Mehra passed away on the 17th of May 2009, from complications arising out of pneumonia followed by multiple organ failure at Mumbai's Kokilaben hospital.