Shakti Samanta was Indian film director and producer, who founded Shakti Films in 1957.

Shakti Samanta completing his education he wanted to become an actor in the Hindi film industry  at Bombay, so moved closer to the city. He eventually joined the film industry in 1948 as an Assistant Director starting with Satish Nigam in  Raj Kapoor  starrer  Sunhere Din, subsequently he worked with directors like  Gyan Mukherjee, and  Phani Majumdar  at Bombay Talkies, in Tamasha,  Baadbaan  and  Dhobi Doctor.

Eventually he got his break as an independent director when Samanta directed his first feature film,  Bahu in 1954, starring Karan Dewan, Usha Kiron, Shashikala and Pran  and after the success for his next few films,  Inspector (1956),  Sheroo (1956),  Detective (1957) and  Hill Station (1957).

He started his own production company,  Shakti Films, in 1957, and the first release of his independent banner was the murder-mystery  Howrah Bridge, with  Ashok Kumar  and Madhubala  as the lead. It has been specially for its soundtrack, which consists the chartbusters ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chin’ and ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’ with music by O. P. Nayyar. Upon the film’s release, the soundtrack became very popular and was one of the biggest reasons of the film’s success. The reviews of Howrah Bridge were predominantly positive, with Samanta’s direction, Madhubal’s performance and Nayyar’s music. According to Box Office India, the film was one of the biggest hits of the year. Its success established Shakti Samanta as a leading director.

Insaan Jaag Utha  (Mankind has awoken) is a 1959 social drama film, produced and directed by Samanta. Shoma A. Chatterjee of Upperstall found the film’s storyline to be “powerful” and its songs to be “beautiful”. Filmfare had mentioned Madhubal’s performance as Gauri in the film among her best performance. Film was hit with audience and eventually emerged as the thirteenth highest – grossing film of 1959.

China Town is a 1962 romantic comedy thriller film directed and produced by Samanta. It si a black-and -white movie, starring Shammi Kapoor in a double role, as a gangster and his look-alike. The movie soundtrack by the name of “Baar Baar Dekho” by Mohammed Rafi went on to become a classic, which is remembered and hummed still to date.

Kashmir Ki Kali (The Bud of Kashmir) is a 1964 film directed by Samanta. It is loosely based on the American film Come September (1961). An Evening in Paris is a 1967 film directed by Samanta. Tight screenplay, fine acting, beautiful locations and haunting music made this film a big hit. Sharmila Tagore’s appearance in a bikini in film set off a cultural wave in India. The film’s claim of the first bikini appearance of an Indian actress remains one of its most notable aspects.

Aradhana (Worship) is a 1969 romantic drama film directed by Samanta. The “Roop Tera Mastana” song sequence, which lasted more than three minutes and 30 seconds, was filmed in a single take. This film won Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Actress and Best Male Playback Singer at 17th Filmfare Awards.

Kati Patang (The Severed Kite) is a 1971 musical drama film produced and directed by Samanta. The film stars Asha Parekh as a woman pretending to be a widow, and her ensuing trials and tribulations opposite her charming neighbour, played by Rajesh Khanna. Parekh’s performance as Madhavi was critically acclaimed and earned her a Filmfare Award of Best Actress. The film was successful at the box office, becoming the sixth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1971. According to Hindu, “On screen, Rajesh Khanna never appeared to lip-syncing. So convincing were his expressions. His presence, backed by the music, remained the main source of strength for a movie’s success.

Amar Prem (Immortal Love) is a 1972 film directed by Samanta. The film portrays the decline of human values and relationships and contrasts it by presenting an illustrious example of a boy’s innocent love for a neighbourhood courtesan. The movie is about a school boy, who is ill-treated by his step mother, and becomes friends with a prostitute neighbour. The film went on to receive several awards and nominations. At the 1973 Filmfare Awards, film won Best Screenplay, Best Dialogue, Best Sound. Rajesh Khanna’s dialogue “Pushpa, I hate tears”, which appeared five times in the film, was not only parodies over the years, but also went on to become one of the epic dialogues of Indian Cinema. The film’s success also affected the fashion trends of the time, the puff-sleeved blouses, which Sharmila Tagore’s character, Pushpa wore them through the film.

Amanush (Inhuman) is a 1975 Indian action drama film made in both Hindi and Bengali languages, produced and directed by Samanta. Both the versions were hits. Filmfare Award in 1976, film won Best Lyricist Award, Best Playback Singer Award, and Filmfare Special Award – Uttam Kumar. Film nominated for Best film, best director, best actor, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, best story and best playback singer, female.

Samanta was President of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association for 5 years, Chairman of the Central Board of the Satyajit Ray’s Film and Television Institute, Kolkata for 2 years.

Photos courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from.