Aadmi musafir hai aata hai jaata hai
Aate jaate raste me yade chhod jaata hai
This super hit song sung from the film Apnapan (1977) fittingly encapsulates the life of film veteran J Om Prakash Incidentally, Apnapan was produced and directed by J Om Prakash and as the song goes Aate jaate raste me yade chhod jaata hai….Truly J Om Prakash has left many Memories!
Om Prakash’s Cult Classics
It is unfortunate that upon his tragic death, we remember filmmaker J Om Prakash merely ass ‘Hrithik Roshan’s Grandfather’. He made several super hit films, incuding Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964), Aye Din Bahar Ke(1966), Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969), Aap Ki Kasam(1974), and Aasha(1980).
The media should be ashamed that while they use Hrithik Roshan’s name to generate TRP and gain maximum Google search, they must know that filmmaker J Om Prakash gave Hrithik Roshan‘s father, Rakesh Roshan, his career’s first hit film as a solo hero in Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972). Notably, Rakesh Roshan had been struggling to become an actor in Bollywood.
Aankhon Aankhon Mein’s Critical Acclaimation
Aankhon Aankhon Mein made Rakesh Roshan a star. However, the industry discarded him as a poor actor. This forced to do B-grade films like Hotel, Aahuti, Dhongee,. J Om Prakash, concerned by the downfall of his son-in-law, Rakesh Roshan, suggested him to try film production. To boost Rakesh Roshan‘s career as a successful producer, J Om Prakash even directed Bhagwaan Dada (1986). The film became a hit, and opened doors of stardom for Rakesh Roshan.
The first super hit film that Rajendra Kumar gave as a solo hero was Aas Ka Panchhi (1961). J Om Prakash directed the film. Interestingly the pairing of Rajendra Kumar and, J Om Prakash became such a rage that the duo delivered a series of hit films, including Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964). The success of these film earned Rajendra Kumar the prestigious title of ‘Jubilee Kumar‘ as all his films would celebrate Silver Jubilee ( a consecutive run of 25 weeks in a single theatre).
J Om Prakash gave Dharmendra, a struggling actor but handsome actor, a chance. He gambled on him, casting him opposite superstar Rajendra Kumar in a film.
Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964). The film proved a hit and Om Prakash and Dharmendra did many films like Aye Din Bahar Ke (1966), Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969), etc. Thus the film industry got a charming and dashing hero Dharmendra thanks to J Om Prakash.
J Om Prakash – The Man Behind The Career Of Rajesh Khanna
J Om Prakash also gave a major impetus major impetus to Rajesh Khanna‘s career in the ’80s when Khanna was passing through a rough stage. Few know that J Om Prakash started his film Production Company, Filmyug with Aap Ki Kasam (1974), starring Rajesh Khanna when he was at his peak. The film became a hit, and the duo shared a good relation.
In the ’80s after Bollywood literally erased Rajesh Khanna, J Om Prakash gave him a big hit film Aakhir Kyon? (1985), The film was a huge hit and revived Khanna‘s career!
Filmmaker J Om Prakash is always emembered for his obsession to make films with starting Letter ‘A’ despite few flops like Aashiq Hoon Baharon Ka (1977), Aasra Pyaar Da (1983). He proved his magic with Aasha (1980), Arpan (1983) and Aakhir Kyon? (1985).
Paying tribute to J Om Prakash, superstar Amitabh Bachchan said, “J Om Prakash was not only a filmmaker of eminence but was a humble and kind human being.”
Paying tribute to Master Filmmaker J Om Prakash, Indian Film History (IFH) concludes with the lines of the same song from Apnapan that aptly goes ….
Dil bhool jaata hai jab kisi ko
Woh bhool kar bhi yaad aata hai
Truly, we will remember J Om Prakash eternally!!!
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