The Legacy of C Mohan: A Pioneer of Bollywood Design

A Cherished Memory of Bollywood's Iconic Designer

Anil Gupta fondly recalls a significant moment from his childhood: his father, renowned publicity designer C Mohan, collaborating with director Ramesh Sippy on logo designs for the 1975 film Sholay. Gupta remembers that his father explored around 14 different concepts, but one particular design captured their attention. This logo featured a narrow center that flared out at the corners, reminiscent of a 70mm widescreen format. To enhance its grandeur, they later added cracks to give the letters a stone-carved appearance.

C Mohan's Impact on Bollywood

Today, the logo created by C Mohan for Sholay is iconic, representing the essence of 1970s Bollywood cinema. However, this was just one of many memorable designs he crafted throughout his career. As a leading designer in Hindi cinema during the '60s and '70s, Mohan collaborated with notable production houses and directors, including Rajshri Productions, KA Abbas, Sunil Dutt, and Manoj Kumar, contributing to films like Geet Gaata Chal, Chitchor, and Amar Prem.

From Humble Beginnings to Stardom

Chandramohan Gupta, known as C Mohan, began his journey at the young age of 14, painting cinema banners for Jai Hind cinema in Kanpur. After completing his education, he traveled ticketless for 22 days to reach Mumbai, where he faced the harsh realities of life on the streets. Despite the challenges, he aspired to become an actor, like many others in the film industry.

Early Career and Challenges

Photographer and writer Pradeep Chandra recalls C Mohan as a young, absent-minded boy who sought work under poster artist Ramkumar Sharma at Filmistan’s art department. After a brief stint, he left to establish Naina Studio with Chandra’s brother, where they created publicity designs for lesser-known films like Mr X and Teesri Galli. Chandra reminisces about the early days, including the scars from cutting out ads for their scrapbook.

Establishing a Unique Style

Mohan's partnership with Chandra eventually dissolved, leading him to set up his own studio. He worked tirelessly, producing showcards, song booklets, and litho posters. His talent for line illustration gained recognition, and he became known for his intricate pen-and-ink drawings that captured the essence of the films.

Innovative Logo Designs

During the '60s, Mohan's reputation grew, particularly for his conceptual approach to lettering and logo designs. His work on the logo for Aradhana cleverly reflected the film's theme, while the logo for Purab aur Paschim symbolically represented cultural superiority.

A Flourishing Career

By the 1970s, Mohan had established a busy studio in Worli, attracting clients from across the industry. Anil Gupta recalls the excitement of being part of this creative environment, where he learned the ropes of the trade. Mohan's designs for Sholay were particularly notable, blending photography with painted elements to create striking visuals that resonated with audiences.

Venturing into Film Production

Having achieved success as a designer, Mohan attempted to transition into film production during the '70s. Although his first project, Aradhana, fell through, he later launched a production company to create a film about Indira Gandhi's policies. Unfortunately, the film was never completed, and its failure deeply affected him. Despite his studio's longevity, Mohan struggled to adapt to the changing landscape of the industry, ultimately passing away in 1996.

A Lasting Legacy

Rajesh Devraj is the co-author of The Art of Bollywood (Taschen, 2010), a comprehensive guide to the poster art of Hindi cinema.