Raghunath Jhalani – Bollywood director known for the films, Anamika & Aaye Din Bahar Ke

Raghunath Jhalani, also pronounced as Raghunath Jalani is a Bollywood director of yesterdays who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. Started off his career in the 1950s as an assistant director under the legendary director Bimal Roy, he later directed a few memorable hits starring big stars of Bollywood. Though he has directed a very few films, they are memorable and also include some classic songs.

He worked as assistant director of Bimal Roy for more than a decade

Raghunath Jhalani, also credited as R. Jhalani started his Bollywood career in the 1950s. He worked as assistant director to Bimal Roy in the 1950s and 1960s. He assisted the ace director in some of the best films of his career such as Madhumati, Yahudi, Parakh, Sujata, Bandini, Prem Patra etc. He served as assistant editor for the director’s classical film, Sujata. R. Jhalani is also credited to co-scripting Asit Sen’s suspense thriller, Apradhi Kaun? Ironically, his debut film Aaye Din Bahar Ke got released exactly the same year when Bimal Roy deceased.

Anamika & Aaye Din Bahar Ke – Raghunath Jhalani’s major musical hits

Bahon Mein Chali Aa Song featuring Sanjeev Kumar and Jaya Bhaduri

Raghunath Jhalani is best known for the musicals – Anamika (1973), Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969), Aankhon Aankhon Mein (1972) & Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966). Most of his early film titles began with alphabet ‘A’, and emerged as commercial hits too. His other movies are Be-Reham (1980), Jaan Hatheli Pe (1987), Jal Mahal (1980) etc, which were not as successful as his early hits. He directed a total of 10 films which include – Man Ki Aankhen (1970), Badaltey Rishtey (1978) and Uljhan (1975).

Dharmendra, Asha Parekh, Jaya Bhadhuri, Sanjeev Kumar – Some of the big names of R. Jhalani’s films

Asha Parekh featured in Suno Sajna for the movie Aaye Din Bahar Ke

His debut film Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) was the biggest hit of his career. It stood 7th in box office collection list that year. Except a few hits in the early phase of his career, though majority of his films flopped at box office, he worked with almost all leading music composers of his time like Shankar Jaikishen, R. D. Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal etc.

Big stars like Dharmendra, Asha Parekh, Jaya Bhadhuri, Sanjeev Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, Reena Roy, Jeetendra etc featured in many of his films. He directed two of the memorable hits of Dharmendra and Asha Parekh as lead pair in the ‘60s – Aaye Din Bahar Ke (1966) and Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1969). Popular songs of both these movies were composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal.