TAG: GS-1: HISTORY
CONTEXT: Mithun Chakraborty has been announced as the recipient of the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award on September 30, 2024, recognizing his exceptional contribution to Indian cinema. Known for his versatility, he is one of the few actors to have successfully transitioned between parallel (arthouse) cinema and mainstream commercial cinema, a rare feat in the Indian film industry.
EXPLANATION:
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- Mithun Chakraborty’s journey began with his debut in Mrinal Sen’s Mrigayaa (1976), for which he won his first National Film Award. From there, he showcased his unique ability to effortlessly transition between genres. He worked in both parallel cinema, collaborating with acclaimed directors like Mrinal Sen, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, and Goutam Ghose, as well as commercial blockbusters where he garnered mass appeal.
- While actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, and Om Puri have ventured into mainstream cinema after making their mark in parallel cinema, Mithun remains unique in maintaining sustained success in both. His adaptability and wide-ranging performances earned him three National Awards and a lasting legacy across Indian cinema.
- He gained international fame with films like Disco Dancer (1982), which became a box-office hit not only in India but also in countries like the Soviet Union, Japan, and China. His dance numbers and performances in films such as Pyar Jhukta Nahin, Agneepath, and others made him a household name. For a brief time in the late 1980s, he even rivaled Amitabh Bachchan for the top slot in Hindi cinema.
- His work in films like Tahader Katha, Kaalpurush, Swami Vivekanand, and Gudiya stands as a testament to his skill in serious, neorealist cinema, challenging the stereotype that action stars couldn’t succeed in meaningful, reflective roles. His restrained performances in these films solidified his status as a versatile actor capable of excelling in both mass appeal and serious cinema.
In the mid-1990s, Mithun innovated the economics of film making by producing low-budget films, aimed at smaller towns and less-discerning audiences. These films, shot in Ooty with a standard cast and crew, cost around ₹40 lakh and were completed within a month. While films like Jallad, Chandaal, and Hitler were not heard of in metropolitan areas, they turned out to be profitable ventures, solidifying his fan base in small towns.
About the Dadasaheb Phalke Award:
- The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is part of the National Film Awards, a highly coveted collection of honours in the film industry. The Award is named after Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, the pioneering filmmaker who gave India its first film– ‘Raja Harishchandra’, in 1913.
- The award is considered the highest honour in the Indian film fraternity. It is awarded for “its outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema.
- The award was instituted by the government in 1969, and consists of a ‘Swarna Kamal’, a cash prize of INR 10 lakh, a certificate, a silk roll, and a shawl.
- The award is presented by the President of India in the presence of the Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, the Chairpersons of the juries, the representatives of the Film Federation of India, and the Confederation of All India Cine Employees among senior officials.
- The first recipient of the award was Devika Rani Roerich in 1969.
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