A tribute to Bengali babu Joy Mukherjee

Joy Mukherjee, often referred to as Bengali candy, breathed his last here Friday. Thousands of fans will always remember this chocolaty charmer of the 1960s as Dev of Love In Simla - his debut film - who made women swoon.


He became a heartthrob thanks to his matinee idol good looks. He wore Western clothes like a fashion model and won a huge number of female fans, who remember him for his boyish looks and physique.
Some of Bollywood's best love songs, such as Woh Hain Zara Khafa Khafa (Shagrid), O Mere Shahe Khuba (Love In Tokyo) and Hamko Tumhaare Ishq Ne (Ek Musafir Ek Hasina), were picturised on Joy.
Often criticised as a bit wooden and one dimensional as a performer, he showed great comic timing. With his debut in Love In Simla, in which Joy romanced Sadhana, he became a king of love stories.


In films like Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963) and Shagird (1967), he wooed the most popular Bollywood actresses of the era - Asha Parekh and Saira Banu - respectively.
Born into an influential film family, Joy was the son of Sati Devi and Sashadhar Mukherjee who ran the famous Filmalaya Studios. Sashadhar is often credited for discovering both Sadhana and Asha Parekh.