Writer Pandit Mukhram Sharma: Just like today, S.S. Rajamouli has the status of a star screenplay writer because of Bahubali and RRR. Or in the past, Salim-Javed had got that status for Sholay, Deewar and Zanjeer. Much before all this, there was a screenplay writer in the film industry, whose name used to sell films. Or say that his name itself was a guarantee of selling films. This was Pandit Mukhram Sharma of Meerut, who wrote the screenplay for 24 films including ‘Sadhna’, ‘Dhool Ka Phool’ and ‘Humjoli’. At that time, he was number one in the film world in terms of story, screenplay and dialogue writing. Film distributors from all over the country used to call Mukhram Sharma and ask him what his next film was and which actors and actresses were working in it. At that time, Mukhram Sharma’s answer used to be a guarantee of selling all the rights of a film overnight.
Who was Pandit Mukhram Sharma
According to Bharat Discovery, Mukhram Sharma was born on 30 May 1909 in Poothi village of Parikshitgarh area of Meerut district. After completing his studies, he became a teacher in Meerut. He enjoyed teaching, but still he felt something missing. Actually, he was very fond of films. He liked films made by Prabhat Film Company and New Theatre. By that time, Mukhram Sharma had started writing stories and poems for magazines. Now he decided that he would work on writing for films. In 1939, Mukhram Sharma came to the Maya city Mumbai.
In 1939 he headed to Mumbai
On his friend’s invitation, Mukhram Sharma came to Mumbai with his wife and children, but initially he did not get any work. Disappointed, he went to Pune. There he taught Marathi to the artists of V. Shantaram’s Prabhat Films. He was paid 40 rupees a month for this work. He got his first work in films in the year 1942 when he was asked to write songs for the film Das Baje. Directed by Raja Nene, this film had Urmila as the heroine and Paresh Banerjee as the hero. The film became a superhit. Raja Nene gave him the opportunity to write the story of his next film Taramati. This film was based on the love story of Raja Harishchandra and Taramati. Now success started kissing the feet of Mukhram Sharma. His next two films ‘Vishnu Bhagwan’ and ‘Nal-Damayanti’ were also hits.
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When the films became hits, did the desire arise?
After becoming successful as a writer, Mukhram Sharma’s heartfelt desire was to write the story of a film based on a social issue. He soon got this opportunity too. This opportunity was also given to him by Raja Nene. But this film made in Marathi did not work. But his next Marathi film ‘Stri Janma Tujhi Kahani’ became a hit. This film was later made in Hindi with the name ‘Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani’. After this, Mukhram Sharma became so famous that there was a queue of film makers at his house in Pune. This was the time when he decided to go to Mumbai again.
After the success of ‘Aulaad’ he kept climbing the ladder of success
His first film after coming to Mumbai from Pune was ‘Aulaad’. This film was a huge success. He received the Filmfare Award for the first time in 1955. After being successful as a writer, he also produced films. In 1958, Mukhram Sharma made half a dozen films including ‘Talaq’ and ‘Santaan’. He used to raise social issues in his films. This is why his films were liked a lot.
‘Sadhana’ gave him a different identity
‘Sadhna’ was one of Mukhram Sharma’s famous films. In this film, he has thrown light on the life of a prostitute. The success of this film proved that Mukhram Sharma was an expert in understanding the pulse of the audience. There is an interesting story related to this film. Mukhram Sharma wanted Bimal Rai to direct this film, but Bimal Rai wanted to change its ending. Bimal Rai said that the audience would not accept its ending. But Mukhram Sharma, on hearing this, got down from his moving car and went to B.R. Chopra. B.R. Chopra was ready to film his story without any changes. After this, both of them worked together for a long time. B.R. Chopra used to call him ‘Author of our success’. The friendship between the two remained till life.
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He also became a star writer in the South
Mukhram Sharma also worked in the South film industry. There too he had the status of a star writer. There he wrote ‘Devta’ for Naidu and many films one after the other for L.V. Prasad. The main ones among these are ‘Dadi Maa’, ‘Jeene Ki Raah’, ‘Mai Sundar Hoon’ and ‘Raja Aur Rank’. Apart from this, he wrote films like Do Kaliyan, Gharana, Grihasthi, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya and Humjoli for other producers and directors. All these films are counted among the hit films of their time. In the year 1980, he did the films ‘Naukar’ and ‘Sau Din Saas Ke’ and after that he returned to his hometown Meerut. He breathed his last in the year 2000.
Received Filmfare Award thrice
Mukhram Sharma won the Filmfare Award three times for his brilliant work between 1950 and 1970. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1961. He was also awarded the Zee Lifetime Achievement Award before his death in February 2000.
Tags: Bollywood news, Film industry, Hindi Writer, meerut news
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 30, 2024, 16:14 IST