Ram Kamal Mukherjee
Encyclopedia
Ram Kamal Mukherjee is an Indian journalist, film critic and historian, and author. He is best known for his coffee-table book on actress Hema Malini
, Diva Unveiled-Hema Malini (2005), the first biographical work about her. He has been a journalist for Screen Film Weekly, The Asian Age, Stardust
and the Mumbai Mirror
, and is the current Vice President of Pritish Nandy Communications
.
. In 2003, he moved to Mumbai
, where he became a Senior Correspondent at Stardust
magazine.
Mukherjee is best known for his coffee-table book on actress Hema Malini
, Diva Unveiled-Hema Malini (2005), becoming the youngest Bollywood biographer in India at the age of 27.The book, the first biographical insight into the life of Malini, is a collector's edition and includes posters of Malini's films since 1970 and more than 500 rare photographs, including unpublished photographs of Hema's childhood, and a letter written by Hema Malini to her daughter Esha in 1983.Mukherjee spent a great deal of time researching the book, interviewing almost 30 important people involved in Malini’s life. The forward to the book is written by Amitabh Bachchan
, her co-star in Baghbaan. Mukherjee had met and interviewed Malini previously as reporter for Stardust and was asked by Nari Hira
to write a book about her. Malini approved of the book, saying, "As an actress I have received lots of awards and recognition throughout my acting career. But what makes this moment significant is the fact that Mr. Mukherjee has attempted to recreate me through this book and has given a new meaning to my life and my career. He has made considerable effort in writing this beautiful coffee table book. However, there is more to me. My political career has just begun and I may some day write an autobiography." Although the book garnered Mukherjee the Best Author Award and the Best Journalist Award in Kolkata, the book divided opinion. Whilst Suresh Kohli of The Hindu noted that the book was "comprehensive", he described it as "almost an insult to the most enduring diva of the Hindi screen." He said "But it is such books that result in killing a concept. And, unfortunately, behind all such endeavours are some of the most seasoned signatures in mainstream film journalism of the pedestrian kind, a tribe whose total claim to posterity is sustained mediocrity. It is a treasury of contradictions - full of grammatical, factual, printing errors and a lot of repetition. There are duplicate references even in the filmography, and the second entry invariably bears a different release date, apart from a different cast."
Mukherjee later joined the tabloid Mumbai Mirror
as an Assistant Editor in Mumbai Mirror and in his column "Ram Katha" he has developed as a film journalist and critic. He has also contributed as a columnist to Mid-Day
and several other publications.
He is the current Vice President of Pritish Nandy Communications
, an entertainment, news and media content corporation, and a maker of Indian movies, based in Mumbai.
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
, Diva Unveiled-Hema Malini (2005), the first biographical work about her. He has been a journalist for Screen Film Weekly, The Asian Age, Stardust
Stardust (magazine)
Stardust is an Indian monthly Bollywood news and gossip magazine published in English and Hindi. It also sponsors the Stardust Awards.-History:...
and the Mumbai Mirror
Mumbai Mirror
Mumbai Mirror is a largest compact newspaper in the city of Mumbai with a daily circulation of over 600,000 copies. Its first issue was published on May 30, 2005 by the Times Group, the publishers of The Times of India newspaper....
, and is the current Vice President of Pritish Nandy Communications
Pritish Nandy Communications
Pritish Nandy Communications, often abbreviated to PNC, is an entertainment, news and media content corporation, and a maker of Indian movies, based in Mumbai, India. It was one of the first Indian media and entertainment companies to be publicly listed on a stock exchange. The company went public...
.
Biography
Mukherjee was born into a conservative family in northern Kolkata (Calcutta). A self-described mediocre student, he had ambitions to become a stage artist and classical dancer. He developed an interest in actress Hema Malini after watching her films and says, "soon, that liking grew into a sort of obsession and I became a self proclaimed fan of Hema Malini." When his father Jaydeb realized that he had an interest in writing, he encouraged Ram to write a ‘letter to the editor’ on his favorite topic (Hema Malini) to Screen Film Weekly. Poorly written, his father scrapped it and showed him how to write. The letter, and a subsequent one, was published in the newspaper and led to the start of a career as a freelance journalist with them in 1995. Mukherjee graduated in Media and Film Studies at the University of Kolkata. After the period working for Screen Film Weekly, he was hired as a sub editor for The Asian Age in Kolkata in 2001. He was appointed as the official journalist for Kolkata Film FestivalKolkata Film Festival
The Kolkata Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Kolkata, India, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1995, it is second oldest international film festival in India. The festival is organized by West Bengal Film Centre under...
. In 2003, he moved to Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, where he became a Senior Correspondent at Stardust
Stardust (magazine)
Stardust is an Indian monthly Bollywood news and gossip magazine published in English and Hindi. It also sponsors the Stardust Awards.-History:...
magazine.
Mukherjee is best known for his coffee-table book on actress Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
, Diva Unveiled-Hema Malini (2005), becoming the youngest Bollywood biographer in India at the age of 27.The book, the first biographical insight into the life of Malini, is a collector's edition and includes posters of Malini's films since 1970 and more than 500 rare photographs, including unpublished photographs of Hema's childhood, and a letter written by Hema Malini to her daughter Esha in 1983.Mukherjee spent a great deal of time researching the book, interviewing almost 30 important people involved in Malini’s life. The forward to the book is written by Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
, her co-star in Baghbaan. Mukherjee had met and interviewed Malini previously as reporter for Stardust and was asked by Nari Hira
Nari Hira
Nari Hira is the owner of the Mumbai-based Magna Publishing Co. Ltd. that publishes magazines such as Stardust, Showtime, Savvy and Health. He is also into film production through Magna Films, a subsidiary of his publishing company.-Career:...
to write a book about her. Malini approved of the book, saying, "As an actress I have received lots of awards and recognition throughout my acting career. But what makes this moment significant is the fact that Mr. Mukherjee has attempted to recreate me through this book and has given a new meaning to my life and my career. He has made considerable effort in writing this beautiful coffee table book. However, there is more to me. My political career has just begun and I may some day write an autobiography." Although the book garnered Mukherjee the Best Author Award and the Best Journalist Award in Kolkata, the book divided opinion. Whilst Suresh Kohli of The Hindu noted that the book was "comprehensive", he described it as "almost an insult to the most enduring diva of the Hindi screen." He said "But it is such books that result in killing a concept. And, unfortunately, behind all such endeavours are some of the most seasoned signatures in mainstream film journalism of the pedestrian kind, a tribe whose total claim to posterity is sustained mediocrity. It is a treasury of contradictions - full of grammatical, factual, printing errors and a lot of repetition. There are duplicate references even in the filmography, and the second entry invariably bears a different release date, apart from a different cast."
Mukherjee later joined the tabloid Mumbai Mirror
Mumbai Mirror
Mumbai Mirror is a largest compact newspaper in the city of Mumbai with a daily circulation of over 600,000 copies. Its first issue was published on May 30, 2005 by the Times Group, the publishers of The Times of India newspaper....
as an Assistant Editor in Mumbai Mirror and in his column "Ram Katha" he has developed as a film journalist and critic. He has also contributed as a columnist to Mid-Day
Mid-day
Mid Day is an afternoon daily Indian compact newspaper. Editions in various languages are published in Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and Pune .-Establishment:...
and several other publications.
He is the current Vice President of Pritish Nandy Communications
Pritish Nandy Communications
Pritish Nandy Communications, often abbreviated to PNC, is an entertainment, news and media content corporation, and a maker of Indian movies, based in Mumbai, India. It was one of the first Indian media and entertainment companies to be publicly listed on a stock exchange. The company went public...
, an entertainment, news and media content corporation, and a maker of Indian movies, based in Mumbai.