KOLKATA -- Veteran film director Aurobindo Mukherjee passed away today at his residence. He was 97.
Mukherjee was ailing from geriatric problems for some time. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. His wife died earlier.
Mukherjee was the maker of cult Bengali classics like Agniswar (1975), Mouchak (1975) and Nishipadma (1970) -- all starring matinee idol Uttam Kumar -- in the early 70s.
Shakti Samanta's Amar Prem (1972), starring Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore, was inspired by Nishipadma.
Mukherjee had also discovered a young Jaya Bhaduri -- who would later become famous as a Bollywood actress and married superstar Amitabh Bachchan -- in Dhanyee Meye in 1971.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has condoled Mukherjee's death.
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