Mukhram Sharma

Mukhram Sharma Biography

Mukhram Sharma was a lyricist, screen writer and story writer associated with Bollywood in the classic era. He won the first ever Filmfare Award in the Best Story in 1955 for the film Aulad. Vachan (1955), Sadhna (1958), Talaq (1958) and Dhool Ka Phool (1959) are some of his best works as a story writer. He frequently worked with Jubilee star Rajendra Kumar during his early days in Hindi cinema, and wrote story and script for many of his movies. He also produced Rajendra Kumar starrer - Talaq (1958), for which he wrote story, and also Santaan, and Diwana (1967). He passed away on 25 April 2000 aged 90.

Mukhram Sharma was born on 29 May 1909 in Poothi village of Uttar Pradesh. He was brought up in Meerut, where he studied Sanskrit. He worked as a Hindi and Sanskrit language teacher for a while, and also wrote stories and poetry for local magazines, before he forayed into films in the 1940s. As a writer he earned recognition with 1950s, when film industry just started to flourish.

Once Sharma narrated a story to his friend associated with film world, who insisted him to visit Mumbai. Though he visited Mumbai in 1939, he didn’t get any work and then moved to Pune.   He joined Prabhat Films owned by filmmaker V. Shantaram. He worked as a tutor to newcomers to the industry. He was given a salary of rupees 40 per month.

In 1942, he got his first break as a dialogue writer and lyricist for Hindi-Marathi bilingual film, Das Baje, a film directed by Raja Nene. He worked with Nene for a few more films. He worked on mythological films most during his early days in cinema world. He received initial success as a writer through Marathi film, Stree Janma Hee Tujhi Kahani (1952) and the movie was later remade in Hindi as Aurat Teri Yehi Kahaani (1954). He worked with many production houses later, after moving to Mumbai.

He then moved to Mumbai, where he got the biggest break in the form of 1954 film, Aulad. From there on, he wrote many social dramas throughout 1950s and later, and earned a place in Bollywood as a successful story teller. Vachan, Ek Hi Rasta, Dushman, Sadhna, Santaan, Do Behneh, Talaq, Dhool Ka Phool, Samadhi, Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya (1963), Humjoli, Daadi Maa, Raja Aur Runk, Jeene Ki Raah, Main Sunder Hoon, Do Kaliyaan, Gharana, Grahasti, Nauker (1979) and Sau Din Saas Ke (1980) are among his noted works.

Published: October 15, 2018

Updated: October 15, 2018