One of the most underrated directors in Indian cinema: Pratim D Gupta on Basu Chatterjee

While the entire film industry continues to pour in its tribute to late Basu Chatterjee, director Pratim D Gupta feels the master storyteller was one of the most underrated directors in the history of Indian cinema.
“One of the most underrated directors in Indian cinema. His films are right up there with the all time best. Very few understood human relationships like he did.You can still watch any Basu Chatterjee movie and grin from ear to ear,” says Pratim who has been a huge admirer of Chatterjee’s middle of the road films.

Basu Chatterjee, best known for directing cult classics like ‘Choti Si Baat’, ‘Rajnigandha’, ‘Baaton Baaton Mein’, ‘Ek Ruka Hua Faisla’ and ‘Chameli Ki Shaadi’ to name a few, breathed his last this morning in Mumbai, following age-related ailments. He was 93. The iconic filmmaker and screenwriter’s last rites will be performed today at Santacruz crematorium at 2 PM.
Chatterjee had kick-started the middle-of-the-road movies in Indian cinema. His genre of films taking the middle path, didn’t care about the over-the-top treatment in mainstream Indian cinema and the harsh reality of art cinema.