Related Trivia

The year marked the launch of what has come to be known as the 'Indian New Wave,' small films produced bythe Government of India through the NFDC, that were engaging with the possibility of a renewed realism in film aesthetic. In 1969, Mrinal Sen's Bhuvan Shome, among other significant films of this movement, such as Uski Roti by Mani Kaul, were completed. Amitabh Bachchan gave the voice over for Bhuvan Shome and was credited as 'Amitabh.'

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We were put up at the government guest house and all the seven actors and the technicians shared one huge hall where everyone slept on the floor. —Amitabh Bachchan

Film Synopsis

The coveted Saraswati Award is presented to Dr. Bhaskar Banerjee for his maiden novel, portraying the life of an unconventional character, Anand Saigal. Whilst accepting the award, Bhaskar reveals that his protaganist is not a fictional character but his dear friend, Anand. Banerjee recalls the first time he met Anand - so full of life and energy - it was impossible to believe that he was suffering from an incurable lymphosarcoma of the intestines. Bhaskar explains that he understood the gravity of Anand's illness and was reluctant to take up the case but Anand insisted and Bhaskar relented. He cherished the few months they stayed together. In the short span that Anand lived, he managed to spread happiness in the lives of everyone he met: Dr. Kulkarni, his wife Suman, Dr. Banerjee, his girlfriend Renu, the hospital staff and domestic help at Bhaskar's home.

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Hrishikesh Mukherjee was against actors preparing for a role but as a newcomer I pleaded with him to give me my lines for the climax scene beforehand. It was the first and the last film Hrishida consented to my request. He believed preparation destroyed spontaneity. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

When Amitabh went to meet Hrishikesh Mukerjee at his residence, Hrishida was laid up with a back problem. As Amitabh bent over the veteran and introduced himself, the filmmaker liked his lanky figure from the top angle. Hrishida instantly cast him for Guddi and even began shooting for the film. However, a few days later Hrishida discovered that Amitabh had done Saat Hindustani. He was very clear he wanted a newcomer for the character and so replaced him with Samit Bhanja. Hrishida liked Amitabh's personality, and cast him as the brooding doctor in his next film, Anand. In those days, Amitabh owned a small car and would frequent a particular petrol pump in Juhu. On the day of the film's release when he stopped by to take fuel, everyone turned and recognized him. Says the actor, “Three shows had altered my destiny. I was a transformed man.”

Related Trivia

In 1970, Raj Kapoor completed Mera Naam Joker, his most ambitious and personal work till that time. The film bombed terribly at the box office. In Hollywood, a phase of making studio-produced experimental films followed the success of Dennis Hopper's Easy Rider (1969). In 1970, the Italian great, Michelangelo Antonioni made Zabriskie Point, his most contested and controversial work. Meanwhile, Satyajit Ray had launched into Pratidwandi, where his lead character Siddhartha serves as a precursor to Amitabh Bachchan's 'angry young man.

Film Synopsis

Kumar Sen, an eminent sculptor, is secretly in love with Asha, his friend Ashok Verma's daughter, whom he has known since childhood. Unaware of his feelings for her, Asha falls in love with a tea-magnate, Rajeshwar Singh, whom she meets in Bangalore while participating in a concert. It is a whirlwind romance and when Kumar Sen gets to know about their involvement he is consumed with jealousy. He goes to explain his feelings to his friend and in a heated argument, unintentionally strangles Ashok Verma who dies on the spot. Now frightened of losing Asha's friendship forever, Kumar Sen misleads the police by pointing all evidence of the murder towards Rajeshwar.

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It was an intelligent screenplay and my role had many shades but unfortunately, the film didn't do well. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Not yet in a position where he could pick and choose his roles, Amitabh grabbed what was offered to him, including negative roles. His passionate performance in the film evoked sympathy for the character. He didn't know then that this was the beginning of many memorable gray and black roles to come.

Related Trivia

Pakeezah, Kamal Amrohi's penultimate film, created waves for its exceptional craft in story telling and its spellbinding music. While it was reasonably sober in its representation of 'kothas,' the film was mainly acclaimed for Meena Kumari's towering performance just before she passed away. The film went on to become the first Bombay film to appear in the Sight and Sound decennial poll of Top Ten films of all time.

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I was a replacement for Jeetendra who couldn't do the film because those days there was a ceiling law preventing actors from doing more than six films at a time. — Amitabh Bachchan

Film Synopsis

The bubbly daughter of an affluent father is trusting and spontaneous and as a result grossly misunderstood by the entire community. Described as immoral by the neighbours, she is a source of embarrassment for her upright brother who prefers to leave home rather than face social stigma. Then, just when all seems lost for the girl, a man arrives in the small town and falls in love with her. He is the first man in her life who is not judgemental of her and accepts her as she is.

Between The Shots

Amitabh reveals that he had to be very alert on the sets because co-star Tanuja was a spontaneous performer and he never knew what she was going to come up with in the take. But it is to his credit that 30 years later he remains as fresh when working with Tanuja's daughters Kajol (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham/2001) and Tanishaa (Sarkar/Sarkar Raj/2005-8). Pyar Ki Kahani saw the first two songs lip-synched by the actor on screen, Koi aur duniya mein tumsa haseen hai and Ek pate ki baat sunaoon, both sung by Mohammed Rafi, written by Anand Bakshi and composed by R.D.Burman.

Related Trivia

Robert Mulligan's Summer of '42 was made in 1971 and stands out today as being one of the greatest Hollywood romantic dramas of all time. In the same year, Peter Bogdanovich's masterpiece The Last Picture Show which was structured much more like an early 50s Hollywood film, was made.Dev Anand's Hare Rama Hare Krishna, a representation of hippie subcultures in India made in the same year was suitably over the top, going on to become a cult film amongst a similar class of audience that welcomed Bogdanovich's film.

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Doing the film was an ecstatic experience for me because Waheeda Rehman was someone I held in high esteem and we were working in close proximity. To do a film with her was like a dream come true. — Amitabh Bachchan

Film Synopsis

Sagat Singh is the chief of the Karada clan. One day his sons arrive in Jaisalmer to attend the dassera mela and decide that it is an opportune moment to avenge the death of their brother. They want to kill their enemy's son, but the hero, Shera Singh is against the idea and warns them not to indulge in any violence. Meanwhile, Shera falls in love with the beautiful Reshma, daughter of the enemy clan. The lovers are convinced that they can end the hostility between the two clans, but one untoward incident leads to another and the messengers of peace become martyrs.

Between The Shots

It is said that Amitabh was cast in this film after common friend Prime Minister Indira Gandhi wrote a letter to Nargis requesting a role for him. Nargis' husband, filmmaker-actor Sunil Dutt agreed to help him but was not confident of his deep voice and cast him as a mute character! Waheeda Rehman was Amitabh's favourite heroine and he could not get over the fact that he was in the same film with her. Waheeda Rehman was extremely courteous towards him. Later, the two were to star in many films together, sometimes as a romantic pair (Kabhi Kabhie, Adalat, Mahaan) and sometimes as mother and son Reshma aur Shera was Amitabh's first film with Raakhee, Ranjeet and Vinod Khanna.

Related Trivia

Although the war against Pakistan was considerably successful, it served as a step to isolate India from First World powers. Reshma Aur Shera and its refusal to sanction patriarchal violence discouraged any jingoism that may have emerged after the '71 war.

Film Synopsis

Two strangers meet and soon get married. Later, due to circumstances, they part ways and meet again as strangers. A lot has changed and a lot remains unchanged. This time the wife is a district collector and the husband, her subordinate, an ordinary clerk in the same office.

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My heroines - Malaji and Aruna Irani - both extremely efficient actresses, never gave any retakes. As a result I was always conscious that I shouldn't have to give retakes either. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Amitabh was shooting for Gemini's Sanjog in Madras at the same time as Jaya was shooting for Devar's Gaai Aur Gori. Sanjog co-starred Mala Sinha and Aruna Irani (again after Bombay To Goa) and Amitabh felt privileged to be working with talented actors who always came prepared on the sets. While this was the only film in which he co-starred with Mala Sinha in his long career, Aruna Irani later starred with him in many more films.

Related Trivia

Raj Mabros' work Trisandhya, an adaptation of an Uroob novel, starring Waheeda Rehman, was significant only for the fact that it had sublime music (courtesy of) Ustad Bahadur Khan) and employed John Abraham as its first unit assistant director. John Abraham would go on to making two significant works Agraharathil Kazhuthai and Amma Ariyan.

Film Synopsis

Birju is a well-known poet who falls in love with Bansi, a courtesan. Despite the dissimilarities in their backgrounds, they are likeminded and discover that they cannot live without each other. Their union is not easy because society will not accept Bansi, a nautch girl as a wife for the poet, and the nawabs and the gharwali ruling the kotha will not allow their golden goose to escape so easily.

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It was a story of innocent love but went unnoticed. The film brings back fond memories because it was Amit's and my first film together. — Jaya Bachchan

Related Trivia

Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, was completed in this year. The film starred Marlon Brandon and Al Pacino as two generations of mafia. Amitabh Bachchan till date emphasizes his admiration for both actors.

Between The Shots

Bansi Birju was the first film Amitabh and his future wife Jaya shot together but Ek Nazar was released before. Yogesh had earlier written two haunting numbers in Anand but both were filmed on Rajesh Khanna. This time his lyrics were filmed on Amitabh and in the coming years, the writer was to pen more memorable songs for him in Mili and Manzil

Film Synopsis

A damsel in distress boards a bus driving out of the depot on a scheduled run to Panjim, Goa. A few stops later, a playboy, who had earlier met the heroine in a restaurant, takes the seat beside her and a love story blossoms. Goa is 616 kms from Bombay and the journey is filled with romance, adventure, highs and lows for the lead pair as well as their co-passengers.

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Those days I lived with my friend Anwar (Mahmood bhaijaan's brother) and bhaijaan recommended me to S. Ramanathan. The shooting of the film was an enjoyable experience. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Everybody knows that comedian Mehmood and his entire family were a big emotional and financial support to Amitabh in his early days. When Mehmood was launching his home production no hero was ready to do his film. Mehmood's brother Anwar Ali suggested that he sign his friend Amitabh in the lead and Mehmood agreed. While Mehmood faced no problems with the actor in his emotive scenes, the song sequence proved to be a nightmare! Amitabh was very stiff and it took innumerable retakes by the time the peppy Dekha na haaye re socha na… was completed. The shooting went on for days and was actually shot inside a bus on the Bombay-Goa route. Not surprisingly, after all these years, Amitabh still remembers every nook, cranny and lane on the route. A full decade later, as a mega-star, Bachchan was to essay the title-role in Khud-Daar, co-produced by Mehmood's brother Anwar Ali, who played the bus-driver in Bombay To Goa.

Related Trivia

Bombay To Goa marks the first example of the Bollywood 'road movie.' Later examples of the Bollywood road movie include Hum Saath Saath Hain in the family drama segment, Road in the romantic thriller segment and Burning Train in the thriller segment. Meanwhile the true master of the 'road movie' genre produced arguably his best work, Anxiety, of a goalkeeper before a Penatly kick. The film about a professional football goalkeeper who leaves the playing field to loiter around the city won critical acclaim and paved the way for Wender's next film and masterwork Kings of the Road (1974).

Film Synopsis

A courtesan is in love with a poet whom she has never met. One evening, while passing by an infamous locality, the poet Akash overhears his composition rendered by a melodious voice and is curious to meet the singer. That one meeting becomes the turning point in his life. Akash's parents are outraged when they hear of his decision to marry Shabnam. The caretaker of the kotha,Aminabai plots to sell Shabnam to a nawab which leads to a murder and a controversial court case. The love story ends as a court drama.

Between The Shots

Veteran actress Nadira was quick to notice that romance was in the air when hero Amitabh preferred to hang around on the sets even when not required in the shot. On one occasion, Nadira noticed that Jaya and he were not talking to each other and the mood was gloomy. She decided that it was time to play cupid and after pack up, invited both of them for dinner to her room. Amitabh and Jaya, though in the midst of a lovers' quarrel, could not refuse her and the rest is history. The film was Bachchan's first with Majrooh Sultanpuri, who later wrote songs for home production Abhimaan. The film was also a first with Laxmikant-Pyarelal, who went on to compose many popular songs for Amitabh in the future.

Related Trivia

Maya Darpan, often called India's only successful experiment in colour, met with huge public rejection. The film attempted to create an Indian film aesthetic with its deliberate rhythms on the soundtrack as well as the editing. The film was defended by critics across India but its director, Kumar Shahani, could not complete his next film till 1984, when he made Tarang.

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The film was shot extensively in Pune and that's where Jaya and I fell in love. The city has remained special ever since. — Amitabh Bachchan

Film Synopsis

A simple, office-going man is the owner of a posh apartment for which he is exploited by his colleagues who are forever looking for opportunities to use his flat for their rendezvous. The protagonist is a noble man who cannot say 'no' and is subjected to a lot of trauma until things get out of control. Finally the protagonist takes charge and rebels.

Between The Shots

Late director Mukul Dutt had the distinction of signing Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha for three films but all of them proved to be jinxed. Raaste Ka Pathar was a non success, Patthar never got completed and Yaar Meri Zindagi though complete, was not released.

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It's a performance I'm immensely proud of, but sadly, it didn't make an impact on the audience. The film taught me not to pin my hopes on any project. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

In South India, Adoor Gopalkrishnan was creating waves with his debut Swayamvaram which emphasized the importance of the collective in its representation of society instead of laying emphasis on the repressed individual. Gopalkrishnan would continue to make award winning films such as Elipatthayan, Mukhamukham and Nizalkuththu. Today the film maker is considered to be the heir apparent to Satyajit Ray in with his consistency of producing masterworks.

Film Synopsis

A notorious thief, Shamu, takes shelter inside a theatre, impersonating a playwright, Deepak, to evade police inspector Kumar. As fate would have it, Deepak dies in an accident and Shamu is now stuck with a borrowed identity. Unaware of the truth, theatre actress Mala falls in love with Shamu. Things become complicated when Deepak's girlfriend Rajni arrives and is determined to expose Shamu. To prevent her from doing so, Shamu pretends to be in love with Rajni, which makes Mala furious.

Between The Shots

This was, for the record, Amitabh Bachchan's first dual role. Mumtaz, considered a hit pair with colleagues Rajesh Khanna and Jeetendra, co-starred with him for the first and only time.

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One day during the shooting of the film I told Mumu (Mumtaz) that it was my life's ambition to drive a Mercedes. After pack up I discovered that she had driven home in my rickety Fiat, leaving behind her Merc for me. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Jean Eustache's The Mother and the Whore marked the end of French New Wave cinema. The movement influenced Indian directors as diverse as Mani Kaul, Ravikant Nagaich (director of Pyar Ki Kahani) and Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Meanwhile, the genre of cinema today known as 'Bollywood' is inaugurated by Nasir Husain's Yaadon Ki Baaraat.

Film Synopsis

An angry police inspector is frequently shifted out of his district because every time he has an important assignment, he loses control over his temper and creates a commotion. There is a reason for his rage. As a child he witnessed the brutal murder of his parents which he cannot forget. Hiding behind the door, he saw a bracelet with a galloping horse which keeps haunting him. A girl who is a knife sharpener is an eye witness to an accident and her life is endangered. The police inspector offers her refuge and in the process falls in love with her. When the pressures become unbearable a pathan who is a dear friend of the hero helps him unleash his repressed rage and get even with his parents' killers.

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I'm eternally grateful to the SalimJaved team for the fabulous role and their immense contribution in my career. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

The role was offered and refused by every top actor in the business at that time. Then one day, writers Salim-Javed watched Bombay To Goa and were impressed by the lanky newcomer. They liked the way he did his action sequence and the way he vented his anger. The duo recommended him to director Prakash Mehra and after watching the film, Mehra was convinced. Amitabh was signed for the role but no heroine was ready to pair opposite him. Prakash Mehra approached Jaya Bhaduri and admitted that the role wasn't worthy of her caliber. Jaya said she did not mind.Amitabh had decided that the day his film was declared a hit, he would get married. Zanjeer was a blockbuster and Jaya and Amitabh got married.Zanjeer set multiple trends, establishing the 'angry young man,' the male bonding trend, the vendetta sagas and the Amitabh-Jaya and Amitabh-Pran teams besides Salim-Javed as major forces. It was also Bachchan's first with Kalyanji-Anandji, who had encouraged him during his struggling days, and later scored for him some of his biggest hits. It was the first of Bachchan's many super-hits with both Mehra and the writer duo.

Related Trivia

If Zanjeer marked the beginning of the most significant cults of Indian popular cinema, that of the 'angry young man' as played by none other than Bachchan, the same year saw the completion of Shyam Benegal's Ankur which adapted psychological realism and naturalist acting to the conventions of mainstream Hindi cinema.

Film Synopsis

The cashier of a reputed bank is strangled to death by his manager. To the world outside it is projected that he committed suicide after being nailed on corruption charges. His son and daughter find it difficult to believe that their father could do anything illegal but they have no evidence to disprove his colleague's claims, until a childhood friend of theirs, slightly mysterious but devoted to the family arrives as a house guest. During his long stay, there are a lot of misunderstandings, which eventually get resolved.

Between The Shots

This Madras action drama portrayed Amitabh as the outright villain. The film was shot pre Zanjeer and post Seeta aur Geeta; as a result, the distributor insisted that the climax should be only on Hema Malini, who was by then the undisputed top actress. Amitabh recalls how Jeetendra and he sat on the sets watching Hema do all the action sequences. In Hindi films whenever a pair is cast as siblings this usually prevents it from becoming a popular romantic pair. Amitabh and Hema played brothersister but this didn't come in the way of their romantic pairing in films to follow.

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During the long outdoor shoot, I formed a deep bond with Jeetu (Jeetendra) and Prem Chopra and the association continues even now. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Yash Chopra made his seventh feature Daag in 1973 under the now famous Yash Raj banner. His friend and financier, Gulshan Rai, warned him about a lukewarm box-office response and released the film in a low profile manner. Within six days of the film's release, the number of prints had to be tripled.

Film Synopsis

Subeer is a popular playback singer revered for his versatility in the music world. However, despite his
success, there is a vacuum in his life, an aching loneliness which doesn't allow him to sleep at night. One day, while visiting his aunt in the village, he overhears the chanting of Saraswati Vandana in a temple and is drawn to the voice. He discovers the singer is Uma, the daughter of a legendary singer. Subeer is drawn to Uma. He feels that she sings from the heart while the music one hears in the city lacks soul. The two get married and life is rosy till Subeer insists that Uma sing with him. Soon Uma becomes a bigger star than him and his ego cannot accept that. Despite tremendous love for each other, pride comes in the way and they part. By the time Subeer repents his mistake, it is too late but he doesn't give up without making one last effort.

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The entire film was shot before our marriage; only the last shot of the film, where Jaya and I are walking
away from the stage performance with the crowds mobbing us, was shot after our marriage, in fact we drove directly to the shooting from our honeymoon. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Released after their marriage, this was a film in which Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya had invested their own money, and was earlier titled Raag Ragini. To this date, there is speculation that a sequel will be made.

Related Trivia

If Abhimaan was to the point in its unfolding of drama, it was matched by Mani Kaul's Duvidha, which employed form and text to move away from conventional representation. The film was remade as Paheli by Amol Palekar in 2005, and Amitabh Bachchan made a short guest appearance in the film.

Film Synopsis

Set in a small village, the film tells of a skilled tapper, Moti. Every winter, he hands over pots of date palm sap to a young widow, who prepares jaggery for him. Moti is in love with Phoolbanu and wants to marry her, but her father demands Rs. 500 as meher in advance. Moti tries his best to raise the money but when everything fails, as a last resort, he marries the widow to save on his labour money. The coming winter, Moti earns a lot of money to be able to afford the meher and divorces his wife to marry Phoolbanu. The two expect to live happily ever after, however that is not what happens.

Between The Shots

Amitabh was cast opposite Nutan.
His other leading lady in the film was dancer/supporting actor Padma Khanna. Interestingly Amitabh co-starred with a number of them like Aruna Irani, Bindu and Helen in the coming years. This was his only film with the Rajshri banner but 30 years later, Barjatya's sons and grandson Sooraj were to work with his son Abhishek Bachchan in Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon. Similarly, director Sudhendu Roy later designed sets for many of his movies. In time, his daughter Sharmistha followed her father's footsteps by working with Bachchan in all of Yash Chopra's and Karan Johar's films.

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Nutanji was the most professional actress I've ever worked with. She had a fetish for punctuality. I'm punctual too, but I could never beat her to the clock. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Raj Kapoor made Bobby, arguably popular cinema's most successful representation of modern India and its jagged logic. The film debuted Dimple Kapadia and Raj Kapoor's son Rishi and has influenced dozens of popular films as well as avant-garde works such as Xav Laplae's I'm Bobby (2004).

Film Synopsis

An industrialist's son is the best friend of a poor man living in a slum. A union worker in the industrialist's factory confronts the rich boy who is forced to apologise to the leader. He takes this as an insult and vows to take revenge on the union leader. His friend and he plan a scheme, but soon realise that they have become pawns in a much bigger game.

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In Hindi films the one who dies is considered a hero and Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh were both keen on being heroic. I didn't reveal the end to either of them until the day of the shooting. I wanted it to be a secret. — Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Between The Shots

The film was a continuity of the Anand team and the director was keen that the actors play a reversal of roles. Though Namak Haram was Bachchan's first film with Rekha, there was no romantic angle between them. Amitabh recalls that all the expensive props used in the film like the video camera during the song sequence Diye jalte hai belonged to Rajesh Khanna. The duo were friends in the film but not in real life. The equations had begun to change subtly and when Namak Haram was released, Bachchan was as big a star as his co-actor.

Related Trivia

The pro-left stance of Namak Haraam was matched with the same criticism seen in Mrinal Sen's Padatik made in the same year. Through both these films, the cynicism caused by the re-election of Indira Gandhi and the ineffectiveness of such programs as 'Garibi Hatao' was first reflected. In two years time this cynicism would culminate in Bachchan's portrayal of the anti-hero as seen in Deewar, Don and Trishul.

Film Synopsis

To escape her unpleasant environment, Sapna, a slum dweller in a metropolis, moves in with her childhood friend Neeta who works with an underworld gang. Amit is an educated, happy-go-lucky taxi driver who saves Sapna from the gangsters. Sapna is accused of the murder of her foster father and sent to prison. On her release from jail, Amit proposes marriage but Amit's father refuses to accept an ex-convict as his daughter-in-law. Not wanting to create a rift between father and son, Sapna walks out of Amit's life. Amit goes looking for her but to no avail. She has become a dancer in Kolkata and in due time, theatre manager Ashok Babu proposes marriage to her.

Between The Shots

This was Amitabh's first romantic film with Hema Malini and the first time music directors Kalyanji Anandji composed a song lip synched by the actor namely, Ho jata hai pyaar pyaar.

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I was doing double shifts those days and arrived invariably late for the shooting. Amitabh would be waiting patiently on the sets and when I'd apologise he would nod politely. It was our first film as a romantic pair. — Hema Malini

Related Trivia

Shakti Samanta, who would later make The Great Gamblerand Barsaat Ki Ek Raat, made Amanush with Uttam Kumar, Sharmila Tagore and Utpal Dutt which was the first indication of Bombay cinema's takeover of Bengali cinema. The film was a hit and its catchy number Dil aisa kisine mera toda, sung by Kishore Kumar, in the Hindi version is considered a classic today.

Film Synopsis

One night when Amit and his wife Sheela are returning home from a party, they witness an attempted murder on the street. They behave like responsible citizens and drive the unconscious man to a hospital but life isnever the same for the couple. The family is hounded by a mysterious caller threatening Amit to return a scrap of paper the dying man left behind in his car. Amit dismisses the phone-call as a prank but when the threats continue, he reports the matter to the police. Soon afterwards, their dog is killed and their son kidnapped. Finally, the blackmailer offers the hero a deal: if he kills the dying man in the hospital, his son will be set free.

Between The Shots

This film could truly be called a neorealistic film of its time for its concept and treatment. Bachchan played a middle class executive in the film. The other heroine from Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, Moushumi Chatterjee, played his wife, and in one sequence in the film, she stands on top of a bed to sew a buttton on his shirt because he is so tall – an intimate gesture later used by Karan Johar in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where Jaya Bachchan stands on a stool to knot Amitabh's neck tie.Benaam also marked the low-profile beginning of the actor's very long and fruitful association with writer Kader Khan, who was to write for him in multiple blockbusters.

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A very tautly written screenplay and amazingly shot. It had a very gripping climax. It's surprising why it didn't click. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

In 1974, the legendary Ritwik Ghatak's last complete feature film, Jukti Takko Aar Gappo was released, and shocked all in its uninhibited approach to film form and contemporary politics.

Film Synopsis

After the retirement of his father it becomes Bharat's responsibility to look after his college-going brothers, Vijay, Deepak and sister Champa. Although Bharat himself is a college graduate, the only work he can find is as a low-paid singer, much to the frustration of his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Vijay has turned to crime as a last option to provide for the family, but after an argument with Bharat, he leaves home to join the army.It's a story of a family and their struggle to survive against all odds. The elder son Bharat is willing to fight injustice till the end without compromising on his values but the younger son Vijay becomes a rebel.

Quote

When the film was first released, the billboards had a mug-shot of Amitabh's. When they re-released it a few years later, his face dominated the posters. — Shashi Kapoor

Between The Shots

The film began Amitabh Bachchan's long on-screen association with both Shashi Kapoor and multi-star films. He played a small role in the film, but later, because of his status as a mega-star, his face dominated the re-runs of the film publicity. The film had three eligible bachelors but both the heroines in the film starred opposite Manoj Kumar who was also the writer-producer-director-editor of the film. Bachchan was to later form a hit team with Zeenat Aman.

Related Trivia

Basu Chatterjee's Rajnigandha was the only interface between the 'Nai Kahani' movement in Hindi literature, which included such authors as Mohan Rakesh, Nirmal Varma and Manu Bhandari. Bhandari was the story writer of Rajnigandha, which starred Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha and was Basu Chatterjee's breakthrough into commercial Hindi cinema.

Film Synopsis

Ravi is the sole earner of his family that includes his widowed mother, disabled sister and a minor brother. He is devastated when the doctor informs him that he is suffering from a brain tumor and could die in a few months. Concerned for his family, he takes up the challenge of winning the Rs. 5,00,000 offered to trace the murderer of a rich man. He pins the murder on himself, risking a death sentence, so that the money can go to his family. In this mission, he encounters Michael, a professional robber, also tracing the murder. The two turn friends and Ravi's influence transforms Michael into a better human being.

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It was a very unusual role for a hero at that time and every time I watch the film, I feel proud of his performance. — Ravi Tandon

Between The Shots

Majboor was Amitabh Bachchan's second film with Salim-Javed and his first with very popular co-star-to-be Parveen Babi. Its director Ravi Tandon later worked with him in Khud Daar, and Bachchan later signed Raveena Tandon, Ravi's daughter, for a crucial lead in his home production Aks.

Related Trivia

Majboor's desperation was matched by Mrinal Sen's tackling of the same problems through the fantastical mythological film Chorus.
Interestingly enough the unstable turbulent times of the early 1970s found gritty exposition in a mainstream Bombay film like Dev Anand's Heera Panna that is now cherished for its remarkable score by the legendary R.D. Burman.

Film Synopsis

Vijay is a tormented soul bearing the stigma of his father's indiscretion. Marked for life with a tattoo on his arm, the little boy grows up to become an angry young man, unable to forget his traumatic past. He turns into a rebel and an underworld don. When his mother hears of his wayward ways, she leaves his home to live with her younger son Ravi, an honest law abiding police officer. A time comes when the only link of affection between the brothers is the mother.

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I had signed him for KABHI KABHIE, but being a multistarrer, the film was taking long to get started. In the meanwhile, Salim-Javed narrated the story of a don and his relationship with his family. The screenplay was brilliant and I decided to shoot DEEWAAR instead. —Yash Chopra

Between The Shots

The film kick started Amitabh's association with filmmaker Yash Chopra, a relationship that continues for two generations on both sides (Yash and his son Aditya and senior and junior Bachchan). Deewar was his second consecutive hit with Shashi Kapoor and the first that really set them going as a team. The film was also the first of many superhits with Nirupa Roy as his mother. It was a tailor made role for her and today it is difficult to imagine that Vyjayanthimala was Yash Chopra's first choice for the mother's role.

Related Trivia

Deewar's 'well meaning misguided son' was reflected in the contemporary works of the time including Satyajit Ray's Jana Aranya, Shyam Benegal's Charandas Chor and Jabbar Patel's Saamna. Perhaps popular cinema's only successful escapist answer to the turbulent times was Vijay Sharma's Jai Santoshi Maa, the biggest hit of the year alongside Sholay and Deewar.

Film Synopsis

A gang of poachers raid Maharaj Singh's farm to steal his pride horses from the stud farm. He fights the gang single handedly but unintentionally kills the gang leader's son. To take revenge, the poachers kidnap Maharaj Singh's young son. Many years later, the ageing couple is still waiting for their son's return. The hero planted as an imposter, arrives in their stable farm and wins them over. In the process, he loses his heart to the daughter of the home and is now in conflict about whether to confess the truth or sacrifice his love and complete the mission. It is a story of conscience crisis and how the hero resolves his conflict.

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This was my first film with Amitabh. On the sets, one day, he asked me what he could offer me. I was in a teasing mood and said, 'Champagne'. A little foxed he somehow arranged for Champagne on the sets but when he offered it to me I smiled and said, 'I don't drink.' He was so bewildered. I can never forget that expression. — Saira Banu

Between The Shots

The post-Zanjeer and superstardom phase marked the beginning of many memorable first-time associations for the force that was Amitabh Bachchan. Zameer also marked a first with BR Films, director Ravi Chopra, Shammi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna.

Related Trivia

The Indian documentary scene, traditionally dominated by the Film Division and therefore government sponsored, saw its first stringently critical documentary, Anand Patwardhan's Waves of Revolution. Pramod Chakravorty started his exploration of lower class spaces through popular cinema with Warrant.

Film Synopsis

A newlywed botany professor is envious of his wife hero worshipping her elder brother-in-law. The wife's sister and the brother-in-law are unable to attend the wedding and invite the newlyweds to spend a few days with them instead. The brother-in-law mentions to his friend that he is in need of a well-behaved chauffeur who can speak chaste Hindi. The hero seizes this opportunity of making a point to his wife and arrives there in the guise of a chauffer. What follows is a series of hilarious and chaotic situations involving four couples.

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I wanted to cast newcomers in Amit and Jaya's roles, but they said they didn't mind playing second fiddle and even refused to take money for the film. — Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Between The Shots

The film primarily revolved around Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore and Om Prakash. The original cast did not feature Amitabh and Jaya but when they came back from their honeymoon they insisted on being a part of Hrishida's film, not worrying about the length of their role. Hrishikesh Mukherjee was hesitant because the roles didn't do justice to their status but had to relent. As it turned out, Bachchan was brilliant as the English professor masquerading as a Botany teacher. It was the first Amitabh and Om Prakash pairing. The latter had worked with him in his early film from South India and predicted that if destiny favoured him he would become as revered an actor as Dilip Kumar.

Related Trivia

The same year saw another comedy hit, this time in Marathi, Pandu Havaldar. This musical comedy featuring Dada Kondke can be considered Indian cinema's answer to actor-director Jacques Tati and his trademark character Monsieur Hulot.
Gulzar's Aandhi was instrumental in establishing him as a significant film maker critical of Indian society's short-sighted biases. The film had a significant poignancy that would become its maker's trademark.

Film Synopsis

Mili, an exuberant and a fun-loving girl, is attracted to her introverted new neighbour Shekhar, a man with a haunting past. Mili helps Shekhar to shed his inhibitions and face life. Her extraordinary courage fails her however when she discovers that she is suffering from pernicious anemia and doomed to die shortly. It is time for Shekhar to instill hope in Mili. He marries her and takes her abroad for treatment.

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Hrishida describes the film as an antithesis of ANAND. I loved my character in the film; it's one of the most complex and multi-layered personalities. That was Hrishida'sforte... he always portrayed his actors as human beings, not heroes. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Bachchan's penchant for working with supporting actresses and vamps in meaty, image-breaking roles (like Padma Khanna in Saudagar and Bindu in Abhimaan) came to the fore yet again in his third major film with Aruna Irani, who played a pivotal role as the woman who inspires him to take a courageous stand. This was AmitabhJaya's third and last film together for common mentor Hrishikesh Mukherjee as well as with S.D. Burman.

Related Trivia

Made in the next year, Nina Shivdasani Rovshen's Chattrabhang was remarkable in its exploration of rural exploitation through feminist critique. A certain Amrish Puri gave the voice-over for the film. Puri would go on to be Bombay cinema's most expensive villain after his appearance in Shekhar Kapur's Mr India.

Film Synopsis

A retired police officer, Baldev Singh, enraged by the massacre of his entire family by dacoit Gabbar Singh, vows to take revenge. He seeks the help of two adventurers, Veeru and Jai. In the village, Veeru meets the charming tongawali Basanti and falls in love with her while Jai is drawn to Radha, the widowed daughter-in-law of Baldev Singh. The film narrates the transformation of the two criminals who change the lives of the villagers.

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The film is special because my daughter Shweta was born during the making of the film. Jaya was pregnant during the shooting so in a way Shweta has starred in the film too. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Legendary producer GP Sippy's idea to make the biggest film ever and to cast the lanky and unconventional looking Amitabh Bachchan catapulted him to the top. Bachchan was only given the role after Dharmendra, the reigning matinee idol, agreed. He then became a hot favorite of Sippy's dynamic writing duo – Salim-Javed. Sholay was a mega success globally and is still a hot favorite with TV audiences and cinemagoers.

Related Trivia

Sholay was influenced by the legendary director Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. By the '70s Kurosawa had achieved cult status. However he was unable to find funding since 1970, after his film Dodesukaden flopped. In 1975, Kurosawa finally completed Derzu Uzhala, based on Vladimir Arseny's novel, only after recieving funding from the Russian government through the government sponsored Mosfilm.

Film Synopsis

A sex maniac murders Raj's sister and is declared innocent by the court. Raj vows to avenge the murder and in a mad fury kills the culprit. Fleeing from law, he seeks refuge at the residence of the local police officer, little knowing that he is the husband of his one time beloved Mala, today the mother of a charming son, Bobby. The film, though a thriller was also a heart breaking story of the attachment between a culprit and a little boy.

Between The Shots

The film saw Amitabh Bachchan in a gray role, but he evoked sympathy because of his intense performance. Bachchan never could form a hit romantic pair with Sharmila Tagore and this was the first of their few films together. Gulzar, who had co-written Anand, Namak Haram and Chupke Chupke, attempted to write this crime drama-cum-love story solo, but the film did not work.

Related Trivia

Steven Spielberg completed Jaws, about a shark which menaces the residents of a beach resort and kicked off the tradition of the Hollywood blockbuster.
Although Sohanlal Kanwar's Sanyasi may have featured composers and actors, such as Shankar-Jaikishen and Manoj Kumar, who were considered old school at the time, the plot's emphasis on deception was very relevant to 1975 and the Emergency.

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This was my first film with Sanjeev Kumar who I always admired. Later, Shashi Kapoor, he and I were to do a number of memorable films together. — Amitabh Bachchan

Film Synopsis

A poor farmer, Dharma saves Ajit Singh and his two friends from an accident while hunting. Impressed by his fearless fight with the tiger, Ajit Singh offers Dharma a chance to come and work with him in the city. A few years later, after a severe drought in the village, Dharma migrates to the city and begins working for Ajit Singh as the caretaker of his godown. One day, Dharma discovers that the man he is working for is a criminal and responsible for his sister's rape. The episode transforms Dharma into a bitter man who is now all set to take revenge on his enemies.

Between The Shots

Mukesh had sung for Bachchan in Raaste Kaa Patthar, but in 1976, the year he passed away, the singer gave him two immensely popular numbers - Adalat and Kabhi Kabhie. The Adalat album also marked Bachchan's first credit on a gramophone record, for he recited a few passages in the song Humka aisa waisa na samjho and was billed with Mukesh. Bachchan later sang many songs in the films he acted in. Bachchan played his first father-and-son dual role in the film. Bachchan's co-star Neetu Singh, doing their first film as a romantic pair, recalls how his aura was so forceful that in one sequence, she kept saying “Amitji” instead of using his character's name during the take!

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The first double role of my career where I starred as the father and the son...Neetu Singh and I did a Kung-fu dance in the film and Abhishek rags me about my KungFu dance to this day. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Martin Scorsese had already become a significant American filmmaker, who used catharsis and violence to represent a particular urban American psyche. In 1976, Taxi Driver, written by Paul Schrader, was and still is his most acclaimed film. The film went on to win the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival 1976.

Film Synopsis

A middle-class man marries an avaricious woman who has ambitions of becoming a dancer. Though she is the mother of a little boy, she is not content being home bound. Her husband's rich friend recognizes her weakness and lures her to showbusiness. But before that he gets her husband drunk and pushes him out of a running train. Over the years, the wife becomes a succesful film star. One day, a very intriguing man enters her life and offers her a film that changes her life.

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It was a powerful story and the form of a screenplay within a screenplay was unusual. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Though they had worked together in Namak Haram, this Dulal Guha-directed film was Bachchan's first on-screen romantic tryst with Rekha. One of his most superior films in terms of story and his performance, it had the first of his many popular songs with kids in Luk chhip luk chhip jaaon na.

Related Trivia

François Truffaut was thought to be the most reputed European arthouse filmmaker in Bombay when his films were shown at New Excelsior at Fort in Bombay. His work Day for Night was similar to Do Anjaane in its treatment of a film within a film.
Pramod Chakravorty's Barood continued his eccentric exploration of violence across India's lower class.

Film Synopsis

An educated but unemployed Vijay meets another educated and unemployed youth, Ajay who is contemplating suicide. Vijay saves him and the two become partners in crime. Soon, Ajay meets the police commissioner's sister and her love inspires him to give up the world of crime. Vijay is supportive of Ajay's stand but feels that he must first become financially independent before giving up a life of crime. Ajay persuades Vijay to follow in his footsteps but Vijay will not give up until he has settled scores with his father's murderer. One day, Ajay introduces Vijay to his father who is in fact the man Vijay has been waiting for all these years, his father's murderer. Suddenly the two friends find themselves at crossroads. Is it the end of a relationship or will they be able to ride the tide?

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My first film with Vinod Khanna was RESHMA AUR SHERA. Later we did several films together. This film was also the beginning of a long association with Prakash Mehra. — Amitabh Bachchan.

Related Trivia

Ingmar Bergman, amongst the foremost names in European arthouse cinema, alongside Fellini and Truffaut, completed Face to Face with his muse Liv Ullmann. The film was the most personal out of the several wryly self critical films the pair made together.
The great Bombay cinema master, Shakti Samanta makes amongst his last masterpieces, Mehbooba. The film also marked the end of Rajesh Khanna's career as a superstar as he played his last major role here.

Between The Shots

In Zameer, Vinod Khanna made a special appearance, but Hera Pheri was the first of his full-fledged pairings with Amitabh Bachchan in five major hits. It was Bachchan's second consecutive blockbuster with filmmaker Prakash Mehra and his first film with lyricist Anjaan, with whom he developed a special family equation that continues today with the latter's lyricist son Sameer.

Film Synopsis

Amit and Pooja fall in love while in college but sacrifice their love. Pooja marries a construction engineer while Amit settles down in a hill station with his family. Years pass by. Pooja's son and Amit's daughter have grown up and meet under unusual circumstances. Pooja and Amit meet after several years and introduce their spouses to each other. It is a story of love and regret, passion and pain that spans two generations.

Between The Shots

This film completed a hat-trick with Shashi Kapoor and gave an impetus to his screen pairing with Raakhee. It was also Bachchan's first film for the Yash Raj Films banner and marked the 'serious' start of a later successful masala pairing with Rishi Kapoor. Mukesh's title-song, of course, remains among his top five hits of all time.

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Yash Raj Films outdoor shootings have always been special because everyone travels with families, eats great food, sings and plays dumb charades. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Chitchor, Basu Chatterjee's sixth film was produced by Tarachand Barjatya in 1976. The film was outstanding, although critics claimed it had a redundant story, and had outstanding music by Ravindra Jain. Barjatya's son Sooraj would make films like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Hum Saath Saath Hain, which were similar to Kabhi Kabhie, in their 'honeymoon'-like production schedules.

Film Synopsis

Aloke Prasad, son of a powerful lawyer, is obsessed with music. His father disapproves of his passion and forces him to pursue a career in law instead. Aloke does not openly oppose his father but secretly pursues it under the tutelage of Sarjubai, a legendary singer now fallen upon bad times and living in a slum colony. When Aloke's father learns about his secret, he destroys the basti and gets Sarjubai evicted. Deeply hurt by his father's action, Aloke walks out of his home and lives with Sarjubai, eventually marrying Raadhiya, her adopted daughter.

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The original script had a different ending but the gloom of the Emergency had turned me pessimistic and the hangover reflects in the film. — Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Between The Shots

Hrishikesh Mukherjee was perhaps the only big-name filmmaker who steadfastly cast Amitabh Bachchan in roles that went against the star's popular 'angry young man' and action hero images. He is also the only filmmaker who never named his character Amit or Vijay (his two most popular screen names) on screen. In this film, he was cast for the second time by the filmmaker as a singer, but it is said that the gloom of the ongoing Emergency in the country hung like a dreary pall on the film and led to a morbid product that flopped badly.Lyrics of two songs in the film were penned by Amitabh's father Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan.

Related Trivia

With the release of George Lucas' Star Wars, cinema entered the era of special effects. This would be carried forward by Lucas' contemporaries Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott.

Film Synopsis

Three sons of a happy family get separated in childhood. Destiny brings them together again and again, but they fail to recognise each other, until they discover the truth in the climax.

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This is undoubtedly amongst Amitji's best performances. You can watch the drunken scene a hundred times and never tire. — Neetu Singh

Between The Shots

The 'angry young man' morphed into the one-man all rounder entertainer with this cult Manmohan Desai film. Bachchan perfected the comic streak touched upon in spurts in Bombay To Goa, Chupke Chupke and Hera Pheri. The film was so popular that Manmohan Desai had the logo painted on his car windscreen.

Related Trivia

John Abraham's Agraharathil Kazuthai about a donkey that mistakenly strays into a Brahmin village recalls the cinema of Luis Bunuel for its use of surreal narrative style that successfully used repetition to comic effect, in order to provide a riveting study of class. The film was rejected by the public even though it received a national award.

Film Synopsis

Different characters come together and lend meaning to each others' lives. Mohan and Ahmed live by perjury and have no qualms about it. Kabir is the idealist son of a rich man. Balvir Singh is a brave citizen who can live and die for his country. A courageous blind girl Shamli's life is engulfed in darkness but is forever willing to help others. Govinda believes work is worship and Durga believes life is friendship. Barkat chacha is a selfless man who will starve to feed others around him. And finally, Jenni is a mother deprived of acknowledging her own daughter.

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There's a scene in the film I'm very proud of, but nobody ever mentions it or refers to it. It taught me that what I rate as excellent is not what the audience thinks. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Imaan Dharam marked yet another Bachchan film that showed his tendency to work with unconventional romantic co-stars – this time with Helen. It also was his second film after Saudagar to be directed by an art director – Desh Mukherjee. In the coming years Bachchan was to be a part of many films made by technicians like writer Prayag Raj (Coolie, Geraftaar), cinematographer Nariman Irani (Don) and action choreographer Veeru Devgan (Hindustan Ki Kasam).

Related Trivia

Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khilari, the Bengali director's first and only Hindi feature length film was not allowed a normal release. The film covered the events leading to the annexation of Oudh (Awadh) and boasted of a cast as diverse as Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Amjad Khan and Richard Attenborough. Amitabh Bachchan provided the voiceover for the film.

Film Synopsis

Ram and Rahim are close friends and so are their sons, Shiva and Aslam. Zaalim Singh, a ruthless goonda, terrorises the villagers but no one dares to oppose him. Ram and Rahim call upon the villagers to unite and fight exploitation. Zaalim Singh plays a clever game and divides the villagers. He sets fire to Ram and Rahim's house and in this chaos the two families are separated. Rahim's wife Salma brings up Ram's son, Shiva (also known as Tiger), who grows up into a daredevil fighting for the downtrodden. A notorious goonda, Raghu joins hands with Zaalim Singh who hires Shera (Aslam) to capture Tiger. Shiva has by now mended his ways and is living the life of an honest peasant with his mother and wife. Shera is on the lookout for Tiger, not knowing that Tiger is his childhood friend.

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He never gave himself away in a rehearsal. You never knew what's coming in the final take. — Rekha

Between The Shots

His first major hit with Rekha, his second with Vinod Khanna, this film also saw the commencement of yet another association with director Rakesh Kumar. The Kalyanji Anandji-Anjaan-Bachchan-Kishore Kumar quintet became a market force to reckon with.

Related Trivia

While Ray used history to comment on contemporary politics in Shatranj Ke Khilari, Amrit Nahata's Kissaa Kursee Ka starring Utpal Dutta and Shabana Azmi, attacking Indira Gandhi's rule, was destroyed by Sanjay Gandhi's men. Strangely Nahata went on to join the Congress a few years after the film.

Film Synopsis

During an encounter between a bandit and a police officer, the bandit is arrested. The bandit's wife delivers a baby boy and breathes her last. The police officer brings the newborn home, unable to give him away to an orphanage. The bandit's son, Amit and his own son, Kishen grow up together. Fourteen years later the bandit is released from the prison and assuming Kishen to be his son, masterminds the downfall of the police officer's family. By this time Amit has discovered that he is only the adopted son of the family and that their real son, Kishen through the manipulation of the villan, is involved in a crime. Amit and his adopted father combine forces to expose the real criminals and reveal the truth to Kishen.

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The film came close on the heels of AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY and the audience was in sync with the director's style of comedy. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

This was the second hit from Manmohan Desai-Amitabh Bachchan-Vinod Khanna-Neetu Singh-Shabana Azmi in a single year with common writers Kader Khan, Prayag Raj and K.K. Shukla and composers Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Filmlore has it that when the first print was ready, Desai called his heroes and told them, “For a change the girls have done better than the boys."

Related Trivia

At Cannes '77 the Taviani Brothers, Vittorio and Paulo won the Palme D'Or for their most significant work Padre Padrone (My Father My Brother). In the same year another great, the American Robert Altman completed what is arguably his best work Three Women. Manmohan Desai completes Dharam Veer, a smash hit and a rare one for Desai without a Bachchan appearance.

Film Synopsis

Ram is an insurance agent. His father, Ram Chandrajee fights for the downtrodden while his mother is restricted to the house because she is blind. His father is elected as the Mayor of the city but soon, due to internal politics, is asked to step down from his honarary post. Haunted by charges of corruption and unable to cope with the humiliation, Chandrajee commits suicide. The event becomes a turning point in Ram's life; in frustration, he takes to crime. To seek revenge he pretends to be in love with the sister as well as the mistress of the man who caused his father's downfall. Ram's friends are appalled by his offensive ways, but understand his motive when they learn that he is working with the police to unmask the culprits

Between The Shots

Bachchan helped out filmmaker Deven Verma who had given two flops as a director, but the film lacked sparkle. Once again, his pairing with Sharmila Tagore was lacklustre.

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Him agreeing to star in my film despite my previous failed attempt as a director gave me a lot of confidence. — Deven Verma

Related Trivia

Saeed Mirza completed the last film of the Yukt CoOperative Film movement, Arvind Desai ki Ajeeb Dastan which presented urban society in India through the dynamics between the Right and the Left, and thereby linking capital with the source and means of production.This would lay ground for his next and most significant social comment, Albert Pinto ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai.

Film Synopsis

Don is a dangerous criminal wanted in eleven countries. Somehow every time he is close to getting arrested, he slips from the clutches of the law, until the much respected DSP D'Silva masterminds a trap to catch him. Roma is on the look out for Don who was behind her brother's murder. The only one who knows about Don's whereabouts is Jasjeet, the famous trapeze artist, now crippled and retired from the profession. Through a strange co-incidence D'Silva discovers Don's look-alike Vijay who helps them nab the criminal and his gang.

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It's the first time a hero plays a negative role, a smuggler without any justification. — Javed Akhtar

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For a particular shot during the Khaike paan banaraswala... song picturised on a midsummer afternoon, he wouldn't give up even after umpteen retakes until he was completely satisfied. — Zeenat Aman

Between The Shots

Stories reveal that the cult song Khaike paan Banaraswalawas not a part of the original soundtrack. Manoj Kumar had recorded the song with Kalyanji-Anandji for another film but it was not fitting in the story. Manoj felt bad to discard the song because he was certain that it would become a popular track. The same evening his ex-assistant Chandra Barot, making his own debut as a director, visited him and Manoj advised him to incorporate the song in his film. When Barot looked unsure Manoj created a sequence for the hero to sing this number. Don was Amitabh's first romantic film with Zeenat Aman. Almost three decades later, it inspired Farhan Akhtar to do a remake of the film.

Related Trivia

Nagisa Oshima followed up the explicit In the Realm of Senses with the even more ambitious Empire of Passion. The film was banned for some time but went on to win the Best Director Award at the 1978 Cannes Film Festival.Oshima's films were the cinematic equivalent of the outstanding literature being produced in Japan by such authors as Yukio Mishima, Junichiro Tanizaki and Kenzaburo Oe. Both In the Realm of Senses and Empire of Passion are similar and universally create a single character that represents behavioural patterns across classes.

Film Synopsis

Jeevan leads a simple life taking cattle for grazing in the jungle. Dhania is the vivacious daughter of a cobbler who is in love with Jeevan. Life is idyllic. Trouble begins when the zamindar falls ill and his son and daughter-in-law take charge and begin to deprive the needy farmers. A time comes when the villagers cannot take the injustice any longer and Jeevan takes it upon himself to grant justice to the farmers. One disaster leads to another and Jeevan suddenly finds himself in a vortex from which he cannot escape.

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He rode a horse on the Lakshman jhoola, a flexible, wooden bridge at Rishikesh. It is unheard of and nobody has attempted it after him. — Rekha

Between The Shots

Another hit with Rekha. Ganga Ki Saugandh marked the beginning of Amitabh's and Jaya's personal bond with actress Shammi. After the release of the film when Shammi and her husband Sultan Ahmed (the film's producer-director) got divorced, the Bachchans were a strong support for her. Today, Shammi is considered a part of the family.

Related Trivia

Whereas Bachchan continually played the odd marginalized figure representative of the backward classes, as in Ganga Ki Saugand, noted Kannada writer Ramchandrappa's debut Ondu Oorina Kathe questions the Brahmanical critique to show that when in power, rich Harijans (untouchables) exploit people as ruthlessly as their Brahmin masters did.Pramod Chakravorty's Azaad, an entertainer for its time, is considered an iconic film for 'world cinema' audiences, with its typically short cut approach which makes it uniquely watchable.

Film Synopsis

The elder brother is a professor in a college where the younger brother studies. An untoward incident in the campus results in the elder brother's death. The tragedy leaves a void in the younger brother and his to-be sister-in-law's life. Both cannot get over his demise and a pall of gloom descends over their lives until a miracle occurs.

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My father, a professor in college, dressed in suits. That's how I remember him as a child and projected the same image for my role in the film. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

The Hrithik Roshan debut Kaho Naa…Pyaar Hai is inspired by this film that marked the debut of Ramesh Behl as a director. The personal equation that developed with the filmmaker graduated to family ties and a generation later, Ramesh's son, director Goldie Behl, is Abhishek Bachchan's closest friend and associate (Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai, Drona).

Related Trivia

Muzaffar Ali's Gaman which introduced Nana Patekar continued the State-sponsored 'middle of the road cinema' with Smita Patil typically playing a rural character. Nana Patekar would go on to represent the voice of the Dalit class in popular cinema.

Film Synopsis

Sikandar, an orphan, meets an angel in the guise of Kamna. She offers him shelter, clothing and affection. It's a gesture he cannot forget. Kamna's father Ramnath, however, mistakes him for a thief and throws him out of the house. Sikandar finds solace in the words of a wise man, Darvesh who teaches him the realities of life and pain. Sikandar remembers his words and when he grows up to become a wealthy man, he carries forward the philosophy. Meanwhile, Ramnath has fallen ill and to keep the household going, Kamna has taken to teaching at a school. The family has fallen into bad times but their pride is still intact. The film is also about star crossed lovers, Sikander, Kamna, his best friend Vishal and the beautiful courtesan Zohrabai.

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The message of the film of conquering destiny and embracing tragedy was inspiring. —Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

The old guards say what worked about the film was the poignant story and the philosophy of the message. Mehra admits that his intention was to make a modern-day Devdas with Amitabh Bachchan as Devdas, Raakhee as Paro and Rekha as Chandramukhi. The film was the beginning of Rekha's idolisation in the role of a courtesan.

Related Trivia

Raj Kapoor completed his direct and daring cinematic exploration of Indian sexuality Satyam Shivam Sundaram posing a challenge to the morality of Indian censors as well as film audiences. Although the film was rejected by Raj Kapoor's fans from the older generation, it did relatively average business as compared to his usual box office successes.

Film Synopsis

Shanti and Raj are colleagues at office who hope to get married some day. Shanti is expecting Raj's baby but Raj decides to marry the girl of his mother's choice to further his career. The mother-to-be informs her lover that she will rear her son single handedly. She leaves town and lives a life of anonymity. When Vijay grows up Shanti tells him about his past and after her demise, Vijay is determined to settle scores with his father. He heads to the city where his father, the business magnate, R.K. Gupta resides with his wife and two children.

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What was attractive about Amitabh's persona was that his anger was internal. The hero of TRISHUL was the first real illegitimate child on the Hindi screen. — Salim Khan

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Amitabh mixed anger with hurt and tears. As a result his fans were forever fascinated and looked for justification in his outbursts. — Javed Akhtar

Related Trivia

Richard Donner's Superman based on the DC comic starred Christopher Reeve as Clarke Kent. The film was the first example of the Hollywood Superhero film, a trend which would churn bigger returns at the box office and continue to have DC at the forefront.Released in '79, Rajkumar Kohli's Jaani Dushman, a cult of fantastical film making, explored mythology, horror as well as religion through mundane representation of the everyday.

Between The Shots

The film's idea was later rehashed and used in many films like Uttar Dakshin and Vansh, but somehow it never had the same impact. Trishul was a blockbuster and the credit went to the extremely gripping and intense script of Salim-Javed. Telling the story of a turbulent relationship between a father and son, the fiery dialogues exchanged between Sanjeev Kumar and Amitabh it is said were Javed's indirect attacks at his father, Jan Nissar Akhtar.

Film Synopsis

Valuable information about the country's military service is being leaked to outside sources and the Chief of Military Intelligence is being pressurised to unearth traitors. Vijay, the Chief's subordinate, gets hold of a video tape which is being smuggled out of the country. Unfortunately it is a fake tape but hope revives in the form of an anonymous caller from Rome who gives them the code number to the system used by the espionage ring in India. Vijay is chosen to go on the mission. Two spies are deputed to follow Vijay to Rome and foil his attempts to contact the seller of the code book. The plot thickens when the spies kidnap Joy, Vijay's look-alike, instead of him. By this time Vijay understands that there is a catch, but he plays along using Mala whom he accompanies to Lisbon where she lives with her father, and in the process they fall in love.

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'Amitabh Bachchan has the rare ability to belong to a situation and become the character he is portraying. It is because he surrenders to the moment. This is particularly evident in his languid body language during the song picturisation Do labzon ki hai....' — Shashi Kapoor

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This was Bachchan's first film with Shakti Samanta, a filmmaker who's favourite star was Rajesh Khanna. The dual role film was Bachchan's first to be shot outside India.

Related Trivia

As a keen aside to the revenge ridden themes of the Bachchan films, Shohei Immamura's 1979 masterpiece Vengeance is Mine marked the end of the approach-oriented phase of arthouse cinema. G. Aravindan's Esthappan is hailed as the Malayali film maker's best work alongside Kanchanseeta (1977). With Esthappan Aravindan reached a crescendo in weighing the scales between the spirit and fantasy, whilst favouring the real over the imaginary.

Film Synopsis

Indra Saxena is a playboy who believes that money can buy everything until he meets Rama Sharma, who lives in a small town with her retired father. Prakash secretly loves Rama but lacks the courage to admit it to her. Prakash and Indra are old friends and students of Rama's father, Professor Sharma. In a lighter mood, Prakash and Indra lay a bet on winning Rama's heart. The joke turns into an ugly episode and scars the father-daughter relationship.

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Our unit was shooting and staying in Pahalgam; only Amitabh was staying in Srinagar. It was much later I discovered that along with our shooting during the day he was shooting for another film in night shifts. And on both the sets, he wasn't late even once. — Hrishikesh Mukherjee

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Once again, Hrishikesh Mukherjee cast Amitabh as a lifelike rather than larger-than-life character. From Bachchan's track-record, it is abundantly obvious that the actor, though trapped in a superstar image, was drawn to real characters, and excelled in portraying them too.

Related Trivia

Francis Ford Coppola completed his harrowing account of the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now which went on to win the Palme D'Or at Cannes. Loosely based on Joseph Conrad's classic novel Heart of Darkness, the film is remembered for its climax where homage to Jim Morrison and Eisenstein occurs simultaneously whilst Willard (Martin Sheen) assassinates Kurtz (Marlon Brando).

Film Synopsis

A rich girl-meets poor boy story with a difference. The difference is that while struggling to make a living, the boy takes on the identity of his affluent friend to impress the girl and her family. It is one big celebration until the girl and her family discover the truth.

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We shot the song, Rim jhim gire saawan... in actual rains on Bombay's streets. It's the best rain song according to me. — Basu Chatterjee

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We again see Amitabh Bachchan the mega-star flirting with middle of the road cinema and real-life characters. This was Bachchan's only film as hero with Basu Chaterjee, though he did cameos in his films like Chhoti Si Baat and Khatta Meetha.

Related Trivia

Volker Schlondorff's The Tin Drum went on to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for its combination of film aesthetic as well as coding techniques to bring Gunter Grass's classic novel of the same name to the screen. The film also shared the Palme D'Or with Apocalypse Now.
Tinu Anand's Duniya Meri Jeb Mein was equally satisfying for its adaptation of James Hadley Chase's novel 'World in My Pocket', and for its sweet-sour moments which balanced spoof with spectacle. Anand, an intern under Satyajit Ray showed what he had learnt from his mentor with this work.

Film Synopsis

Every morning, when the villagers go for work into the mines, their families are not certain of their return. Every time the siren whistles to warn them of an impending disaster, a pall of gloom descends on the village. Residents collect at the entrance of the mine-shaft, awaiting the return of their loved ones. The film is about their shattered dreams and their hopeless condition.

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The film lacked soul. I concentrated too much on the form, but failed to capitalise on the charisma of a great starcast. — Yash Chopra

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This was Yash Raj Film's first de glam film before Kabul Express. The message in the film was very big, but the filmmaker was unable to strike the balance between mass appeal and the storyline and the film ended up being very depressing.

Related Trivia

Sai Paranjpe, the last filmmaker of 'middle of the road' cinema made Sparsh, her first film, about a blind man who runs a school for the blind and a woman who takes up this cause after her husbands death. The blind man, played by Naseeruddin Shah and the widow, played by Shabana Azmi eventually fall in love. Although the film had overtly sentimental touches, critics were supportive of the film for its child performances and the comic interludes.

Film Synopsis

Young Natwar idolises his brother, Inspector Girdharilal, who is awarded a medal for bravery. Natwar promises his bhabhi-maa that he will follow in his brother's footsteps. As fate would have it, Girdharilal is dismissed from service on false charges of corruption. Girdharilal continues to pursue truth and over a passage of time is declared innocent. He regains his lost pride and job. The upheavel however has a turbulent effect on little Natwar and he grows up to become an undercover smuggler. His aim is to expose his brother's culprit and he will not rest until he has accomplished his goal

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He sang his first song, Mere paas aao.... It had a very simple tune and I was convinced that he could do justice to it. In the years to come, many more songs followed. — Rakesh Kumar

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The rumours of the alleged romance between Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha first started during the making of this film. It could be because they were shooting two films simultaneously, Khoon Pasina and Mr. Natwarlal. The rugged locales of the two films look very similar, though their releases were separated by two years. The actor made his singing debut with “Mere paas aao mere doston ek kissa suno”, a song tailor-made for his range by Rajesh Roshan. The lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi, who had all of Bachchan's musical 'firsts' – the first songs lip synched by him, his debut playback song, and the first ABCL film, Tere Mere Sapne, later.

Related Trivia

Norman Jewison's …And Justice For All had Al Pacino playing an angry lawyer. Jewison, like his contemporary Alan Pakula, managed to give a relevant social message with his taut scenarios.
Mr. Natwarlal's exceptional score by Rajesh Roshan which included the cult hit song 'Pardesiya' was matched by Laxmikant-Pyarelal's score for K. Vishwanathan's Sargam.

Film Synopsis

Two brothers are separated in childhood. One, brought up by a noble man, becomes a police inspector. The other reared by a criminal, becomes a bar owner. The film is about their dreams and love for their biological father, who a little late in the day, regrets his deeds and makes up for it.

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By this time Manmohan Desai and I were doing so many films together, that he announced the project first and worked on the script later. — Amitabh Bachchan

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The success of Suhaag proved that the Manmohan Desai-Bachchan combo could get away with anything. The film had a trite script and the content was weak, yet it scored at the box-office, notching up another hit for them as well as for Amitabh-Rekha and Amitabh-Shashi.

Related Trivia

At the 1979 Academy Awards Michael Cimino's Deer Hunter won Best Film and Best Director Award. The film was riveting for its deviations from the war genre to represent how a village in the U.S. is affected by the Vietnam war.
Meera, Gulzar's effort with Hema Malini and Vinod Khanna also starred an ageing Shammi Kapoor. The outstanding element in this film was the score by the sitar virtuoso Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Film Synopsis

Bittu is the neglected child of a business tycoon, always under tight security for fear of being kidnapped by his
father's enemies. A private teacher hired for the child is worried for his well being and suggests to his father that what Bittu needs is healthy surrounding. She recomends he be sent to a boarding school where he would be with other children of his age. The father agrees but the enemy has planted a jail bird to impersonate a music teacher and kidnap the child from the school. Another jail bird, Vijay, arrives at the school impersonating a PT teacher. It is now between the two impersonators whether they manage to save or kidnap the child.

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The interesting part about this film was that two of Mehmood's protégés – Amitabh Bachchan and music director Rajesh Roshan – were key players in the film, and Mehmood himself agreed to sing a line in a multi-singer song composed by the latter and filmed on a junior artiste! The gesture is further significant because Mehmood did not star in Do Aur Do Paanch and has, before and after this film, rendered playback only for himself.

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Shashi Kapoor and Amitji would be permanently ragging Parveen Babi and me on the sets and we had to be always alert so as not to fall prey to their pranks. — Hema Malini

Related Trivia

Bob Fosse's autobiographical film All That Jazz was masterful in its unveiling of the story of Joe Gideon, a drug abusing, womanizing dancer. The film shared the Palme D'Or at Cannes with Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha.

Film Synopsis

CID Inspector Vijay Verma is on a daring mission to bust a notorious gang of smugglers headed by the vicious
Daga. Working on a tip-off from an anonymous caller, Vijay succeeds in apprehending Daga's lieutenant, Balwant. Ravi, an eminent criminal lawyer is engaged by Daga to acquit Balwant. He is Vijay's childhood friend and now his professional foe. Things get complicated when they find that they are in love with the same woman.

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It was the last script that Salim Javed wrote together and my fourth film with Shatrughan Sinha after BOMBAY TO GOA, RAASTE KAA PATTHAR and KAALA PATTHAR. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Nobody knew it then but duo writers Salim and Javed were on the verge of a split during the making of this film. It was a turbulent time both on and off screen because even the relationship between the lead stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha, the two protagonists, seemed under strain.Dostana is also important as the first romantic hit of the Bachchan-Zeenat Aman pair, and the beginning of an enduring personal and professional association with producer Yash Johar and family. Karan, Yash Johar's son, has produced another Dostana with Abhishek Bachchan in the lead.

Related Trivia

Rabindra Dharmaraj's only film Chakra with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah caused great hype with its sequences of Smita Patil walking through Bombay's slums. Similar claims were made by Bimal Roy's 1953 classic Do Bigha Zamin. A similarly successful film, Aakrosh, was made by lensman Govind Nihalani, who adapted Vijay Tendulkar's script and Satyadev Dubey's dialogue to excellent effect.

Film Synopsis

Ram and Balram, though cousins, are closer than real brothers. Their families have died under unnatural circumstances and they are brought up by their only existing relative, Jagatpal. To suit his vested interests, Jagatpal rears one to become a criminal and the other a police officer.

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It was a fun film, my first with Vijay Anand and third with Dharmendra after SHOLAY, and CHUPKE CHUPKE. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

Rekha reveals that writer-director Vijay Anand deliberately withheld information from artistes while shooting certain scenes to extract candid reactions. She recalls a motorcycle sequence with Amitabh in the film where they visit Dharmendra and the two engage in an inane conversation seemingly discussing the bike but in reality discussing her. Rekha now confesses that all Vijay Anand told her was to look bored in the scene and the effect was outstanding. It is the first time two of Bachchan's songs – Ek rastaa do raahi and Yaar ki khabar mil gayi gayi were adapted from popular Western songs. Eleven years later, Bachchan projected another Western adaptation again composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, Jumma chumma de de in Hum when the star created a song around the Mory Kante hit.

Related Trivia

Ketan Mehta, a young director, part of the Sanchar Film Co-operative made his first film Bhavni Bhavai. The film was based on the Gujarati folk tale Achhut No Bhavai and had the top actors from the 'middle of the road cinema,' Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah playing the leads. The film was successful in its rendering of a Gujarati folk aesthetic which was backed up only by Sanjiv Shah's Hun Hunshi Hunshilal.

Film Synopsis

Police officer Shiv Kumar is assigned on a special mission to put an end to the activities of a demonic criminal Shaakaal, living on a tiny island. The film is about the fight for justice and the consequences it has on the police inspector's family, his widow and younger brothers Ravi and Vijay who promise to accomplish their brother's unfinished mission.

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After RESHMA AUR SHERA in '71 I was doing a film with Sunil Dutt after a gap of nine years. — Amitabh Bachchan

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The original cast of Shaan comprised of four members of the Sholay team – Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar. Sanjeev Kumar was to play the villain, always an important figure in Salim-Javed scripts. The final cast retained only Bachchan. Dharmendra and Hema Malini were replaced by Shashi Kapoor and Bindiya Goswami and Sanjeev Kumar was replaced by Kulbhushan Kharbanda.

Related Trivia

Robert Redford, who acted in such popular classics as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting won the Best Picture award at the Academy Award 1981 with his debut Ordinary People. The film examined the strains on a family when the older son accidentally dies. This film established the script-writing and dialogue-writing patterns that would be taken up by film makers such as Steven Soderberg, Clint Eastwood, Sean Penn and Alejandro Inarritu.

Film Synopsis

Abhijeet, living in a hill station, falls in love with Rajni, the daughter of a tea estate manager when he saves her from a mishap. When he learns that she is blind, he becomes even more protective towards her. In the same town lives Kaaliram who is obsessed with Rajni and attempts to rape her. But once again, Abhijeet saves her in the nick of the time. Kaaliram is arrested but Rajni and her father feel so tormented by his presence and decide to leave town. That's when Abhijeet proposes marriage to Rajni. The two get married and in time to come Abhijeet settles scores with Kaliram and relieves the villagers from his tortures.

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During the picturisation of a song sequence in Darjeeling, I lost grip on the mount and had it not been for Amitji's timely move, I would have fallen into the valley. — Raakhee

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This was Amitabh Bachchan's first bilingual in Hindi and Bengali. It was his second film and first success with Rajesh Khanna's all-time favourite director, Shakti Samanta.

Related Trivia

Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan with Rekha playing the famed courtesan was an instant cult classic, with popular ghazals such as Dil cheez kya hai and In aakhon ki masti which were rendered by Asha Bhosle.

Film Synopsis

Naseeb is a story of three friends trying to eliminate each other for the takings of a jack-pot. It is a story of fate playing truant with life. The story of a pop singer who has loved and lost; the story of a son who is blamed for a crime committed by his father; and the story of friendship and love.

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In my long association with Amitabh, we made some good and some bad films, but all of them made money. — Manmohan Desai

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Everyone who works with Bachchan is prepared that the lion will have his share... — Rishi Kapoor

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Reena Roy had in her long career co-starred with every top hero except Amitabh Bachchan. She was very keen to work with him and she got the opportunity, though not in the romantic lead. In Naseeb they played brother-sister and in Andhaa Kaanoon they had different partners. Interestingly all his blockbusters have inspired remakes or remixes. Mohammed Rafi's John Jani Janardhan song sequence was the inspiration for Farah Khan's song Deewangee in Om Shanti Om showcasing a film party where in Farah oneupped on Manmohan Desai and roped in greater number of stars to play themselves. Another memorable factor about Naseeb is that Bachchan sang with Mohammed Rafi for Chal mere bhai wherein Bachchan sang for himself and Rafi lent his voice for Rishi Kapoor.

Related Trivia

Aparna Sen's debut 36 Chowringhee Lane took up on Satyajit Ray's use of English in Pratidwandi and Shatranj Ke Khilari to make a full fledged English language film. The film was memorable thanks to its excellent sets by Ray's designer Bansi Chandragupta. This trend of making English language films was continued by directors such as Dev Benegal and Kaizad Gustad, who made Boom in 2003 with Bachchan.

Film Synopsis

Vidya gives birth to Kunvar Ranvir's illegitimate child and breathes her last. The child grows up deprived of love and respect. As years pass by, Kunvar Ranvir repents his folly and transforms his character. Fate brings the father and son face-to-face, even if they fail to recognize each other. Kunvar Ranvir develops a liking for the young man and wishes that his son was like him. When Ranvir discovers that the boy is his illegitimate son, he is filled with remorse, but cannot confess the truth.

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The film was shot in the wake of Sanjay Gandhi's demise in a plane crash when Amitabh was going through a low phase. — Prakash Mehra

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Alka Yagnik, who sang the female version of Bachchan's self-rendered Mere angne mein got a major break with this Kalyanji-Anandji film. Later, thanks to the hit team of K-A with Bachchan, she became a regular singer in their joint concert tours

Related Trivia

Andrez Wajda, the Czech master, completed Man of Iron, a follow up to 1977's Man of Marble, and became the only director to win a Palme D'Or at Cannes for a sequel.
Subhash Ghai's cult work Karz, recently paid homage to by Farah Khan in her Om Shanti Om, was followed up with Krodhi, which boasted of an extravagant cast including the likes of Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, Zeenat Aman, Hema Malini and Pran.

Film Synopsis

Amit and Chandni are in madly in love but just when they are planning to get married they are separated due to unavoidable circumstances. Amit's older brother Ravi dies in an accident and Amit feels obligated to marry Ravi's girlfriend Shobha who is pregnant with his brother's baby. Chandni is hearbroken and feels betrayed by Amit and agrees to marry a man of her parents' choice. Destiny brings Amit and Chandni together again in the new surroundings and much against their wishes an old affair is rekindled.

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The much talked about “I love you... I hate you...” scene was enacted at Delhi's Lodhi Gardens at 6 a.m. in front of huge crowds and amidst catcalls. I thought I'd never be able to do it but I learnt that day that what has to be done has to be done. — Rekha

Between The Shots

The film marked Javed Akhtar as a lyricist and Amitabh as a serious playback singer. For the first time, Bachchan sang three songs in the same film. Every one knows that the original casting of the film comprised Smita Patil and Parveen Babi in the respective roles of Jaya Bhaduri and Rekha. But when Yash Chopra saw the rushes, he felt this was not what he had visualised. They stalled the shooting and after a lot of deliberation and controversies roped in Jaya Bachchan and Rekha to substitute the roles. The rest is history.

Related Trivia

Chashme Buddoor, Sai Paranjpe's follow up to the successful Sparsh, was even more successful for its deviation towards the mainstream romantic comedy. Amitabh Bachchan put in a special appearance in the film.

Film Synopsis

Kishan, a poor orphan, and Bhishan, a rich boy are best friends. Bhishan travels abroad for further studies, while Kishan stays back in the village. Years later, when Bhishan returns, he takes Kishan to the big city and strives to turn his talented friend into a famous singer. In the course of time destiny involves Bhishan in a crime and like a good friend Kishan takes the blame upon himself.

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During a particular scene, I had to warn him of a burglar but in the take, instead of saying “Kishan wahan chor hai…I kept saying Amitji wahan chor hai...” and everyone began laughing as he reprimanded me with “my name
in the film is Kishan not Amitji”. — Neetu Singh

Between The Shots

The film has the only disco song enacted by Bachchan Saara zamana haseenon ka diwana. At the time, the rock-star costume with lights used in the song was all the rage, which Bachchan picked at his personal expense on one of his trips abroad. Neetu Singh, his heroine, recalls that during the location shooting in Kolkata she was lovesick and missing Rishi Kapoor. Amitabh convinced director Rakesh Kumar to let her go home for the weekend. He did and that is why Neetu is missing in the song Chhookar mere man ko.

Related Trivia

Steven Spielberg followed up the success of Jaws (1975) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) with Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film was the first of the Indiana Jones series, the most recent of which was Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull (2008).
Manoj Kumar's Kranti, a representation of the 1857 Indian Mutiny is the most melodramamtic version of the infamous revolt. Boasting of a cast as diverse as Dilip Kumar,
Manoj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini and Parveen Babi, the film was amongst the biggest hits of 1981.

Film Synopsis

After the demise of his elder brother, Kallu, a cowardly villager is forced to assume responsibility for the entire
family. He arrives in a large city and joins an underworld gang and is transformed from the simple Kallu to the dreadful Kaalia. Hardened on the surface, he remains a good man at heart but continues with his life of crime till he has avenged his brother's murder.

Between The Shots

While Tinnu Anand made a debut with Amitabh in Saat Hindustani, this was his first with Anand as a director, and the latter's first hit as a filmmaker.

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I could be wrong but my perception is that as an actor he initiates a situation where he can test the mettle of the filmmaker, but once convinced, he surrenders completely as an artiste. — Tinu Anand

Related Trivia

Satyajit Ray followed up the tradition of television melodramas with Sadgati, where he explicitly tackles class. The film was his second foray into Hindi where he directed Om Puri and Smita Patil.

Film Synopsis

Ravi and his six brothers, named after the seven days of the week, are the owners of a beautiful farm. They are a wild and unkempt bunch, isolated from the rest of the world. Ravi marries a nurse, Indu, but keeps her in the dark about his vagabond brothers. Initially disappointed by them, Indu is determined to transform the six ruffians into gentlemen and teaches them how to win love and respect.

Between The Shots

This adaptation of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers called for 14 pairs. While the director had no problems putting 13 pairs in place he could not find the perfect partner for Bachchan. They toyed with various names but kept coming back to Hema Malini. Hema had stopped signing new films because she was pregnant. Sippy met Hema and convinced her he would complete the film in a few months. If you watch the film closely, you can see Hema's bulge and the cautiously choreographed dance movements. The film had another drunken scene with Bachchan after his trendsetting Amar Akbar Anthony predecessor, but to his credit the actor managed to make it memorable.

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It was a wonderful experience working with six enthusiastic actors, so full of life and dreams. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Mahesh Bhatt's breakthrough film Arth was completed with famed rivals Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi taking up space in various gossip magazines on their alleged incompatibility. Bhatt's insistence that the film was autobiographical and his intentional digs at upper class Mumbai at the time, reflected in the novels of Shobha De, a contemporary writer, added to the film's success.

Film Synopsis

Prashant is the son of a magistrate while Sudhir is an orphan picked up from a garbage bin. The two boys grow up together and become doctors. Soon, they start their own nursing home in partnership. After the magistrate's demise, Prashant turns greedy and is embroiled in a money making racket that involves the nursing home. One day, Prashant is arrested for performing an illegal abortion that results in the death of the patient. It is a day when all possibilities get exhausted and Prashant is on the verge of losing his practice and his reputation. Sudhir rises to the occasion and accepts blame for everything, and by doing so sets an example of immortal friendship.

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On the day we were to shoot his last scene, he met with that fateful accident on the sets of COOLIE so the scene was eventually shot after a gap of a few months. — Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Between The Shots

Piquantly, the title of the last ever Amitabh Bachchan-Hrishikesh Mukherjee collaboration epitomizes the quality of their association and joint contribution. For trivia hunters, Hrishida did edit the actor's Coolie a year later but did not direct it. Bemisal was the only dual role Hrishida elicited from Bachchan, and starlet Sheetal was cast opposite him and Sheetal ensured that the media went to town about her becoming the iconic star's leading lady.

Related Trivia

Costa-Gavras, the revolutionary Frenchman made Missing, which shared the Palme D'or with Yilmaz Guney and Serif Goren's Yol. In India Budhdhadeb Dasgupta paid homage to the cinema of Costas Gavras with his debut Crossroads. The film won praise from several critics including Satyajit Ray.
Mohan Sehgal, film maker of such works as Adhikar and Aulad returns to film making with Samraat. The film starring Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Hema Malini and Zeenat Aman. It continued the emergining trend of the action-film-as-entertainment and used contrived plots that made the films of the time formally interesting.

Film Synopsis

During a fight, a patriotic man is separated from his family. His wife is kidnapped and held prisoner in a slum where she contracts leprosy. Circumstances bring the patriot and his son to this slum which is divided into four sections identified by religion, with each division ruled by a slum lord.The patriot is saddened to find that for these people community is more important than country. He is further saddened when he discovers that his own son, Raju is involved in distributing counterfeit notes and selling fake jewels; in fact Raju has no qualms about getting married to a complete stranger. Raju's bride accepts her husband without question even though she is bewildered by his indifference. The film is about one man's fight against corruption and disintegrating ideologies, it is about how patience and perseverance can overcome hurdles.

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My father could never conceive a film without Amit uncle. Dad always said that once you have worked with uncle he becomes an addiction! — Ketan Manmohan Desai

Between The Shots

Had destiny supported Manmohan Desai he would have been the privileged director to cast Amitabh Bachchan, Uttam Kumar and Sivaji Ganesan together in this film – the three reigning superstars then in Hindi, Bengali and Tamil cinema. Sivaji could not manage dates and had to be replaced by Premnath who played Puthu Anna. Desh Premee was Amitabh's third dual role after Satte Pe Satta and Bemisal in the span of six months. Music director R.D.Burman lent his voice for him in Shaan and Laxmikant of Laxmikant-Pyarelal gave the playback for him in Ja jaldi bhaag jaa…. Later, apart from Burman, composers Bappi Lahiri, Anu Malik and Shankar of Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy were added to the long list of Bachchan voices.

Related Trivia

Shekhar Kapur who started off as an actor directed his debut Masoom which won universal acclaim for tackling the questions of infidelity and illegitimacy in Indian society. Kapur went on to make significant films such as Mr. India, Bandit Queen and Elizabeth.

Film Synopsis

This is the story of three brothers and it delves into the complexities of their characters, their social adjustments, their highs and lows, but most important, their aspirations and the compromises they make to realise their dreams.. The eldest is a judge, the youngest, the son-in-law of a business tycoon and the middle son a taxi driver. The judge is fortunate to have found a place under the sun and the youngest brother has found his goal too. It is only the middle brother who will not compromise on his values and faces life bravely, standing tall and unbroken.

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The film was released during his hospitalisation following the accident. Even blackmarketeers turned emotional and sold tickets at normal rates. — Ravi Tandon

Between The Shots

The film was co-produced by Anwar Ali, actor Mehmood's younger brother and Bachchan's co-star in Bombay To Goa. The release coincided with the news of his near-fatal accident on the sets of Coolie. While the nation's darling lay on his deathbed fighting for life, the Khud-Daar cabbie of this second hit with Ravi Tandon was driving the film towards box-office glory.

Related Trivia

Balu Mahendra's Moondram Pirai with Kamaal Haasan and Sridevi won over audiences with its heartfelt story. Mahendra remade it into Sadma starring the same actors and launched them into the Bombay film industry.

Film Synopsis

Inspector Ashwini is a dedicated police officer. One day his little son Vijay is kidnapped by criminals. The kidnappers call Ashwini and order him to cease proceedings against the criminal currently in police custody, failing which they would kill his son. Ashwini refuses to compromise. The son overhears the conversation and manages to escape, but the incident leaves him scarred. The episode becomes a turning point in the father-son relationship, now layered with hurt and acrimony. The son cannot forgive his father for sacrificing him in the name of duty and grows up a bitter man. Vijay's mother is caught in the cross-fire of tension between the two men she loves. From time to time Ashwini makes every effort to bring his errant son back home, but Vijay has gone too far and is soon embroiled with a dangerous criminal named J.K.

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The film will always remain special because I shared srceen space with my idol Yusuf saab (Dilip Kumar). — Amitabh Bachchan

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We were a successful romantic pair and it was a crucial decision for me to agree to play his mother though it wasn't easy doing maternal scenes with him. — Raakhee

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The film was a victim of Amitabh's superstardom. It didn't do justice to his Box office status. — Ramesh Sippy

Related Trivia

Spielberg's 1982 work The Extra Terrestrial became legendary for its depiction of an alien who must be helped to return home. It was the inspiration for Rakesh Roshan's Koi Mil Gaya (2003). Meanwhile Fassbinder's take on Wilder's Sunset Boulevard, Veronika Voss won the Best Film Award at The Berlin Film Festival 1982.

Between The Shots

Smita Patil was picked up from the art film circuit after the original choice, Neetu Singh, decided to quit her career to get married. This was Salim-Javed's last film as a duo with Amitabh Bachchan and the only Amitabh film starring the mighty Dilip Kumar. Half-way through the shooting of the film the director and the writers felt that the film was becoming too heavy and briefly considered replacing Smita with a more vivacious and bigger star Rekha, but finally didn't do it to avoid controversy.

Film Synopsis

Grandfather Dashrath Singh feels that his grown-up grandson, Arjun is overprotected and needs to become independent. He sends him to the city, accompanied by his village mate, Bhairon Prasad (a society photographer). Arjun Singh lands himself a job as a waiter in a fivestar hotel where he gets acquainted with Poonam, the housekeeper in-charge. The film is about degeneration in urban life and how a simpleton deals with fast crumbling values. When he learns that his master's life is in danger because his own people are plotting to kill him for wealth, Arjun Singh rises to the occasion. Through his presence of mind and humour, he proves himself as the loyal servant of his master.

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Aaj rapat jaiye to… was my first mainstream jhatka matka song and I was very nervous but Amitji reassured me that it would be fine provided I was convinced about it. I would give him all credit for making me feel at ease in the rain song. — Smita Patil

Between The Shots

Smita Patil, Prakash Mehra's choice of heroine for Bachchan, was at a far lowerrung in the star hierarchy, but this film marked the beginning of commercial big time for her. Today, their Aaj rapat jaaye… not only remains one of the most popular and subtly erotic rain songs, but could be practically termed, along with the chartbusting Pag ghunghroo… as a true 'item' number. Also, Namak Halaal remains the last of the several blockbusters from the Shashi Kapoor-Amitabh Bachchan team.

Related Trivia

Richard Attenborough completed Gandhi on the life of the Mahatma. The film starred English actor Ben Kingsley, and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Film at the Academy Awards 1983. The film cast a number of Bombay film actors, including Amrish Puri in the role of Khan, Supriya Pathak as Manu Gandhi's wife ,Neena Gupta as Abha, Gandhi's niece, Alok Nath as Tyeb Mohammed. The music was provided by Pandit Ravi Shankar who received an Oscar nomination for the same.

Related Trivia

Kharij, the second film in Mrinal Sen's 'Absence Trilogy' after Ek Din Pratidin, continues the film maker's concerns with middle class values and the social indifference they cause. Sen would follow this up in 1989 with Ek Din Achanak which was the only film in the trilogy to be made in Hindi.

Film Synopsis

A man is punished for a crime he hasn't committed. On his release from prison, he vows to take the law in his hands. It's too late to get justice for himself but he takes it upon himself to aid another innocent victim defeated by the system.

Between The Shots

This was the first of Amitabh Bachchan's films with Rajnikanth, and their bonding continues after so many years. The producer of this super-hit film even launched his next film with the trio - Kamal Haasan, Rajnikant and Amitabh Bachchan but for some reasons the film was shelved.Interestingly, Bachchan has done many Hindi remakes of Rajnikanth's and Kamal Haasan's films, and they of his.

Related Trivia

James L. Brooks' Terms of Endearment won the Academy Award for Best Film and began the tradition of well made romantic comedies which included As Good As It Gets (1997) and Love Actually (2003).
Subhash Ghai, meanwhile gave great hope to the students aspiring to enter the mainstream at the Film and Television Institute of India, by continuing his string of hits with the blockbuster Hero.

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We were very clear that we wanted only Amitabh for the film. Nobody else could do justice to the role. — T. Rama Rao

Film Synopsis

Zaffar returns home after serving a long term inside the jail. He loves Salma and is hurt when he discovers that in his absence Salma has married a mechanic at a dam site. In a fit of rage Zaffar kills Salma's father and in a bid to bump off her husband bursts the dam and washes away an entire village. Salma and her little son, Iqbal are separated during the flood. Zaffar manages to rescue Salma but she is in a state of shock and has lost her voice and memory. To revive her, Zaffar brings home a child from an orphanage hoping that little Sunny can be a substitute for her separated son. In a different city, Iqbal is saved and reared by a coolie and grows up on a railway station vending newspapers. In the course of his daily routine, he comes across a beautiful traveller, Julie, a rich heiress who falls in love with him. His love turns into hatred when he learns that she has double crossed his poor colleagues and to teach her a lesson, he kidnaps her. Meanwhile Sunny, unable to sort out his own frustrations has turned into a drunken journalist. He finds a friend in Iqbal and together they resolve their personal and moral crisis.

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How can anyone forget this film...?! The country almost lost him, until a medical miracle saved him. — Manmohan Desai

Between The Shots

The near fatal accident on the sets of Coolie almost killed Amitabh Bachchan but gave the actor one of his most memorable characters that also proved to be one of his career's biggest hits. Manmohan Desai immortalized the film by freezing the accident shot. Later, the shoot was resumed from the same scene.
Twelve years after this 1983 megahit, Govinda and David Dhawan, paid tribute to the film and its team with Coolie No.1, and like Coolie, this also proved to be a huge success.

Related Trivia

Kundan Shah makes Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, perhaps the most superior Indian comedy of the last two or three decades. The film had huge mass appeal.and referred to a number of films from the Indian New Wave, including Saeed Mirza's Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hain, Kumar Shahani's Maya Darpan and Mani Kaul's Uski Roti.

Film Synopsis

A pair of twins is separated during a train accident. One son, reared by the mother, grows up to become an able police inspector and the other, reared by a commoner who discovers him abondoned at a station becomes a buffoon. The father has lost contact with his wife and children and excruciating circumstances have turned him into a criminal. The mother is now a renowned sculptor and has come to terms with her loss. She seeks happiness in her situation. One day she discovers her husband through a telephone conversation and together they try to find their lost son. The entire family comes together as suddenly as they had parted.

Between The Shots

After multiple dual roles, Bachchan finally played a triple role – paired opposite Waheeda Rehman as the father and Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi as the two sons.

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He played a triple role in the film and the three heroines had to often wait a long time on the sets but he made sure to engross them in engaging conversations so that they didn't get bored. — S. Ramanathan

Related Trivia

Japanese New Wave great Shohei Imamura's remake of Kinoshita's The Ballad of Narayama, based on the stories of Shuchiro Fukazawa, won the Palme D'or at Cannes.

Film Synopsis

A priest is murdered inside a temple, his wife and daughter burnt alive and his son Shankar is declared a thief. To escape all the allegations, the little boy runs away to a city and becomes a petty criminal. Life carries on and with time Shankar befriends Balbir, another small time thief. Together they become partners in crime and plan dangerous strategies. Balbir's sister Gauri falls in love with Shankar but Shankar cannot seem to focus on anything except revenge. He has to first destroy his father's enemy before he can think of love.

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Only he could do the most repetitive and cliched roles and still bring tears to your eyes. — Pramod Chakraborty

Between The Shots

This is Amitabh Bachchan's only film with Pramod Chakravorty. Chakravorty retained his lucky mascot Hema Malini and brought in Bachchan favourites Kalyanji-Anandji and Amjad Khan, but the film failed.

Related Trivia

Jean-Luc Godard was back to top form after returning to the European arthouse in Prenom Carmen which won the Golden Lion at the Venice film festival.
Kamal Amrohi made his last work Razia Sultan with Hema Malini playing the legendary princess. The film continues Amrohi's quest for representing the space of Islam given in Indian society, whilst at the same time being rooted in fantastical figures from history and literature.

Film Synopsis

Ronnie is the son of a freedom fighter. His father dies under mysterious circumstances and that alters Ronnie's attitude towards life. Ronnie joins the underworld and with the help of the Portuguese, kills Purandare, a freedom fighter for Goa. Now Shekhar is the new freedom fighter and in the course of his mission, he happens to accidentally kill the Portuguese Governor. Ronnie hands Shekhar over to the police even though the entire village and his own girlfriend are against his decision. In time to come Ronnie realises his mistake in judging Shekhar and goes out of his way to rescues him.

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A major portion of the film was shot soon after his recovery from the accident in Goa and everybody was very emotional about him. He didn't show it but he was extremely vulnerable those days. — Randhir Kapoor

Between The Shots

After the accident he resumed shooting with the Samandar me nahakar…song in Goa which explains why he looks leaner in the film. He was accompanied on the shoot by wife Jaya and children Shweta and Abhishek. Producer-director Ramesh Behl, friend of Jaya Bhaduri through Jawani Diwani and Dil Deewana was over protective about his star. The family bonding which began in Goa continues after 25 years, both personally and professionally.

Related Trivia

Al Pacino played Tony Montana in Brian De Palma's 1983 remake of Howard Hawks' 1932 classic, Scarface. Pacino's take on Montana was an influence which Bachchan would continue to nurture until it truly became an exaggeration of the Bachchan persona.
K. Raghavendra Rao started the trend of remaking films from South India in Hindi, alongside Balu Mahendra who remade Moondram Pirai into Sadma, with Himmatvala remade from his own Adavi Simhalu. This trend would blossom with the films of Mani Ratnam.

Film Synopsis

An honest police officer is blackmailed by his father-inlaw to engage in illegal transactions for him. The police officer keeps this a secret from his wife. He feels concerned that if she learns the truth about her father, it may destroy her. She misunderstands her husband's silence as betrayal and withdraws from him to the extent that she does not want him to have anything to do with their baby. The relationship turns bitter causing a lot of hurt and pain until the truth is unveiled and the wife feels ashamed of herself for mistrusting her husband.

Between The Shots

This was Bachchan's first film with Sridevi, who at that point could not speak a word of Hindi. The film did not fare too well, despite the Andhaa Kaanoon director T. Rama Rao at the helm.
After a long gap, the rivalry between Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna was back in the news momentarily, as Khanna's Aaj Ka MLA and Inquilaab released at the same time and were made by South banners with similar story lines where in the hero takes on the system and comments on the political scenario.

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It was my first film with Amitji. I barely knew the language and had a very poor dress-sense. But being cast opposite him was an honour and an opportunity to learn and grow. — Sridevi

Related Trivia

My Dear Kuttichathan, made in 1984, which was later dubbed Chotta Chetan, directed by Jiji, became India's first 3-D film. Much less in the tradition of being purely visual, Mani Kaul's Maati Maanas employed a unique approach towards the legends associated with the pottery tradition. This aesthetic would be renewed by Kamal Swaroop's Om Dar B Dar.
Yash Chopra, yet to reach his phase of explicit cultural consumption, makes the extremely cynical Mashaal which cleverly links 'the gali ka gunda' with the notorious don which bullies Indian society into further violence.

Film Synopsis

Raisaab only cares about making money to the extent that he orders his munshiji to feed brandy to his motherless child to stop him from crying. As a result Vicky grows up to become an alcoholic and a lonely man. The only one he loves whole-heartedly and who loves him in return is munshiji. Vicky and his father live in the same house but there is seldom any communication between the two. Vicky shuns his father's greed for money and disregard for the downtrodden and seeks happiness in simple things outside home. He falls in love with a poor girl Meena who earns her livelihood by singing and dancing. His love becomes a bone of contention between the father and son and in an impulsive decision Vicky walks out of his father's home. Later when munshiji dies after an accident, Vicky swears to never touch alcohol again. Raisaab, who thought money was everything, feels lonely in the large mansion. Raisaab misses his son and takes to drinking until his son returns home and reforms him.

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The film is a combination of ARTHUR and SAMAPTI. My most favourite film to date. — Prakash Mehra

Between The Shots

This was Bachchan's first film with Sridevi's rival – Jaya Prada. There was a chemistry about the pair even though many of their later films did not work at the box-office.

Related Trivia

Wim Wenders who had won several top honours at film festivals like Berlin and Venice for his films Alice in the Cities, The American Friend and The State of Things, finally won the coveted Palme D' Or for Paris, Texas. That year at Cannes also saw the emergence of two names that would come to redefine the European Art House and the American cinema, Lars Von Trier and Jim Jarmusch respectively. Whereas Von Trier's masterful sepia toned Element of a Crime won the Technical Grand Prize, Jim Jarmusch's Stranger Than Paradise (visually similar to some of Wenders' works) won the Camera D'Or at Cannes 1984.

Film Synopsis

Kishen Khanna is framed for murder by his girlfriend's brother and his gang. In the same prison where he is languishing is Karan Khanna, arrested for the murder of his friend's killer. The film is about two honest heroes fighting against injustice.

Between The Shots

After the earlier shelved film from the South, Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Rajnikanth finally did manage a film together, even if this was essentially a Kamal Haasan film with Bachchan and Rajnikanth in extended cameos.

Related Trivia

Milos Forman, the master of the Czech New Wave created waves in Hollywood with One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1975. In 1984 he directed Amadeus, on the life of Mozart, which won the prize for Best Film at the 1985 Academy Awards.
N Chandra's earlier work was marked by social concern in fairly gripping scenarios, as seen in his 1985 work Ankush where he represents a situation where society leads well-intentioned youths astray.

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The jail sequence between Kamal Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan was shot inside a real jail in Bangalore. This is the only time three legendary superstars (Ranikant, Kamal Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan) came together. Such a phenomenal casting cannot happen again. — S. Ramanathan

Film Synopsis

During the freedom struggle, Azad Singh is a force to reckon with. A traitor in his camp, Harry gets Azad Singh arrested in return for a beautiful palace. Separated in childhood from his father, Raja, Azad Singh's son, grows up to become the messiah of the downtrodden. Harry becomes the Mayor and his spoilt daughter finds herself nursing a massive crush on Raja. He is not attentive towards her because he has many promises to fullfill. He has to free his captive father and his nation from British oppression.

Between The Shots

It has been a tradition in Indian films for heroes to co-star with heroines half their age and Bachchan was no exception when paired with Amrita Singh. To make the pair believable the writers added a line where the hero taunts her about her youth. The role demanded a great physique and it was perhaps for the first time that Amitabh went for physical training before shooting the film. It was the last MKD-Bachchan blockbuster. Over the years Bachchan befriended all kinds of animals on screen be it tiger, falcon, dog or horse. Mardalso marked the debut of new generation singers like Mohammed Aziz, the Rafi clone, who went on to sing in multiple films for the Kishore-centric actor.

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After barely ten days of shooting in Mysore, Amitji fell critically ill and the doctors diagnosed his illness as myasthenia gravis. — Amrita Singh

Related Trivia

The legendary Akira Kurosawa was able to complete Ran, his pièce de résistance.Earlier, in 1980 he had completed Kagemusha, produced by George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, which Kurosawa called a 'dress rehearsal' for Ran.

Film Synopsis

A man witnesses his wife being gang raped and swears to destroy the men involved. It takes him many years, but he accomplishes his goal even though it meant fighting his own son who was on the other side of the law. It is the story of a father and son but more importantly, about the underdog determined to fight for his right.

Between The Shots

Bachchan has a record of co-starring with competitive actors throughout his career. If he worked with Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi together in Mahaan, this was a second time when the actor co-starred with another two heroines perceived by the media as rivals – Sridevi and Jaya Prada. Few people are aware that Rekha lent her voice for Sridevi in the film.

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It was during the shooting of this film at Rajaji Hall in Chennai that he made a decision to return to films. He had stopped signing films after joining politics and everyone was concerned that the film fraternity had lost an actor but thank God it was just a phase. — S. Raamanathan

Related Trivia

Apocalypse Now was followed by Oliver Stone's Platoon in the 'Hollywood realism goes to the Vietnam War' genre of cinema. The film went on to win The Academy Award for Best Film.
Much before 1993's Khuda Gawah with the Big B himself, Mukul Anand showed his exceptional handling of landscape and storytelling on a large scale with Sultanat. The film starred Dharmendra, Sunny Deol and Sridevi and was co-directed by John Philip Dayton.

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The metal arm I wore in the film weighed fourteen kgs and I had to wear this for long schedules throughout the film. — Amitabh Bachchan

Between The Shots

It is the first and the last film to credit Jaya Bachchan with a story title.
This was a phase when Amitabh had joined politics and the general impression was that he would probably not be returning to films. Director Tinnu Anand recalls that on Monday morning as he was driving past Mumbai's Passport Office he saw a large crowd creating a traffic jam. On closer inspection Tinnu discovered that the crowd was a result of the advance booking of his film at the theatre Satyam situated in the lane behind the passport office!

Related Trivia

Barry Levinson's film Rain Man on the relationship between a selfish yuppie, played by Tom Cruise and his autistic brother, played by Dustin Hoffman won Best Film and Best Actor for Hoffman at the Oscars.
Although Tezaab may be criticized for its explicit referencing of Walter Hill's Streets of Fire, it also has a sequence which was a remarkable ode to Eisenstein's Battleship Pottemkin. Renowned for Laxmikant-Pyarelal's numbers such as the Javed Akhtar penned Ek Do Teen which became a national rage, the film was a super hit and boosted the career of Madhuri Dixit.

Film Synopsis

Focussing on the networking of the police and politicians in perpetuating crime, the film highlights the dividing line between the haves and the have-nots. It is a pointer to the misery in a common man's life until he is salvaged by a messiah. He is the self appointed guardian of the law and follows his own dictates. He is the emperor and he strikes terror in the corridors of power.

Film Synopsis

Gangaa and Jamunaa reside in the same village and decide to get married. The villain Hansraj separates the lovers and imprisons Jamunaa in an isolated place. Gangaa hunts high and low for his beloved but cannot find her. During one of his tours Gangaa meets Saraswathi, a dancer who is secretly in love with Gangaa but she has never dared to express her feelings to him. Hansraj is keeping a close eye on Gangaa and waiting for the opportune moment when he can attack his property. He has systematically planned Gangaa's father's murder and his next target is Gangaa. Gangaa's mother believes that if her daughter-in-law preserves a fast for her wounded son, he will survive. She requests Saraswathi to observe the wifely fast and substitute or Jamunaa. As fate would have it, Jamunaa returns at the nick of time and Gangaa survives.

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My second film with Amitji. After signing for the role I was told that he may not do the film due to his political commitments but Manmohan Desai pressurised him to come back and eventually he agreed. — Meenakshi Sheshadri

Between The Shots

Shahenshah and Gangaa Jamunaa Saraswathi marked a new phase for Bachchan heroines.
It established Meenakshi Seshadri, then a newcomer, into the top bracket. Contrary to what was reported in the media, the film made good collections. It is just that it didn't live up to the expectations of a Manmohan Desai-Amitabh Bachchan track-record and was therefore defined as a losing proposition by the trade pundits.

Related Trivia

Aamir Khan signaled his arrival as a teenage lover in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak which went on to be a superhit. This was largely due to its music which included such catchy numbers as 'Papa Kehte Hain.'

Film Synopsis

The proprietor of a newspaper is desperate to salvage the dwindling sales of his publication. He challenges his leading columnist to provide him with a sensational scoop that would revive the glory of the paper. In a desperate bid, Suhasini Gujral writes an inspiring column about a fictitious character, Azaad who will protest against the establishment on all burning issues. The column is an instant hit with readers and after a while, the media hounds her to introduce Azaad to the public. The journalist is in a moral dilemma and thus begins the hunt for a man who can be projected as the crusading hero. A poor man, contemplating a half-eaten apple on the road, attracts Suhasini's eye and is trapped in her game. From one encounter to another, Azaad is manipulated by selfish businessmen and ruthless politicians but the one good thing that comes out of this chaos is a genuine bonding between Subhashini and Azaad.
A time comes when the imposter, who has subconsciously imbibed the concerns of the 'real' hero, is ready to jump off from the 22nd floor of a building for justice.

Between The Shots

Inspired by the film Meet John Doe, it was Amitabh's first offbeat film after his debut film Saat Hindustani. Interestingly, both these films featured Tinnu Anand and, Kaifi Azmi.Again like Saat Hindustani, Main Azad Hoon had just one song that keeps appearing through out the film and in both these films the lyrics were by Kaifi Azmi.
It was Shabana Azmi's first film with Bachchan as a heroine even though they had done Amar Akbar Anthony and Parvarish in the past. This was Shabana and Javed Akhtar's first professional venture after their marriage.

Related Trivia

Sooraj Barjatya's debut film Maine Pyar Kiya was a superhit and launched the career of Salman Khan as the 'chocolate boy' hero. The soundtrack which included such songs as 'Kabootar ja ja' broke all sales records and the film was dubbed into several languages.

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Many of the tear stained faces you see in the climax are real. What happened on that day cannot be described in words. — Tinnu Anand

Film Synopsis

Shankar returns from abroad to discover that his father, Jagat Narayan has assumed the role of a Godman and is robbing gullible people by performing petty tricks which are perceived as miracles. Shankar rebels against this and insists that all earnings from the fraud exercise should be donated to charity. To dethrone his father, Shankar hires the services of a genuine magician Goga.

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The story of the film clashed with Manmohan Desai's TOOFAN. It was our last film together and the beginning of the end of our working relationship. — Prakash Mehra

Between The Shots

1989 was a significant year in Amitabh Bachchan's career. It marked the end of two of his most magical associations, namely with Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai. On the other hand he worked separately with Salim and Javed (now working independently). Javed Akhtar wrote the lyrics of Padosan teri murgi sung by Bachchan. Few people know this that the song was originally recorded for Ramesh Sippy's aborted Laadla. The film also marked the end of his screen association with close friends Kalyanji-Anandji. The trio continued to conduct super-successful concerts all over the world, but it was definitely the end of a film career association.

Related Trivia

Steven Soderbergh signaled the arrival of a second wave of American independent films with Sex, Lies and Videotape which won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 1989.
Mira Nair, a documentary film maker made her debut feature, Salaam Bombay, which was reminiscent of Italian Neo-Realism in its documentary like depiction of child labour in Bombay, and won the Camera D'Or at Cannes 1989. Nair would go on to make such important works as Monsoon Wedding and The Namesake.

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He has used the arrow so skillfully in the film that one would think he was born in the medieval times. — Amrita Singh

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He is such a perfectionist that he will not leave the smallest thing to chance. — Meenakshi Seshadri

Between The Shots

Officially directed by Ketan Desai, Toofan was written by Salim Khan. Released at the same time with Jadugar, the rival directors Manmohan Desai and Prakash Mehra engaged in a slinging match in the media. Bachchan sang a song in this too and Amrita Singh, a new entrant, was the common factor in both the films.

Related Trivia

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Parinda was a mainstream big budget follow up to his earlier thrillers such as Sazaaye Maut (1981) and Khamosh (1985). The film was a first in its representation of the Mumbai underworld. Although the film had a stellar cast including Madhuri Dixit, Jackie Shroff and Anil Kapoor it flopped at the box office.

Film Synopsis

The wives of police officer Hanuman Prasad and magician Ramesh Kumar are admitted to the same hospital for delivery. While Ramesh Kumar's wife delivers a still-born child, Hanuman Prasad's wife delivers twins. In a noble gesture, Hanuman offers one of his sons to the magician.
Over the years, Hanuman in the course of his duty is framed for stealing a large consignment of gold. While chasing the real culprit, he is shot and dies. His little son vows to the ACP that he will clear his father's name and becomes a rebel.
In a different city, magician Ramesh Kumar dies of a heart attack while performing a magic show. His son, Shyam vows to the audience that he will step into his father's shoes and succeed where his father failed.

Film Synopsis

Master Dinanath is an upright teacher in a small village who practises what he preaches. When the local goons cannot get him to do what they want they harass him with fabricated allegations. Dinanath is the inspiring leader of the village and the only way gangster Kanchan Cheena can rule the land is by killing the leader. Kanchan Cheena kills Dinanath and spreads his devious activities all over the village. Dinanath's stong willed widow and children are forced to leave their home and even though years pass by the scars remain. Vijay vows to return to his village with his mother one day.
From a shoeshine boy, Vijay rises to become a dreaded don. He fakes a partnership with Kanchan Cheena to destroy him. When his mother learns that her son has become a gangster, she alienates herself from him. This hurts him terribly. He becomes a sad and embittered man but finally redeems himself by undergoing a trial by fire and seeking his mother's approval.

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I had taken great effort to alter my voice for the character but the initial feedback to the altered voice was negative and the distributors panicked so I had to over night redub the entire film in my original voice. But later, where ever I travelled for my shows, I was always requested to speak in the AGNEEPATH voice. — Amitabh Bachchan

Related Trivia

Aashiqui, Mahesh Bhatt's 1990 feature film established Nadeem-Shravan, the film's music composers and Sameer, the lyricist as two major players in Bollywood's music industry.

Between The Shots

This film fetched Amitabh Bachchan his second National award – the first had been for his debut film. Agneepath was the first of his memorable trilogy with Mukul S. Anand and heralded a new era of Bachchan working with the techno-savvy younger generation of filmmakers. It was also with this film that Bachchan, after over a dozen years, made up with the media and ended his long cold war with them.

Film Synopsis

A simple villager is exploited by the feudal lords and falls prey to the system but eventually like Arjuna in Mahabharat the hero rises to the occasion and fights his oppressors.

Between The Shots

The K.C. Bokadia potboiler proved to be a blockbuster and the song Gori hai kalaaiyaan became a huge hit. Inexplicably, Bappi Lahiri, who had also scored big hits with him earlier in Namak Halaal and Sharaabi, never worked with him again.

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When the film was released all of Jaipur was singing, Gori hai kalaiyaan... Nobody had expected the film to create such a furore. — K.C. Bokadia

Related Trivia

American director David Lynch completed Wild At Heart, his only interface with mainstream Hollywood through its lead actor Nicholas Cage. After the critical success of Blue Velvet, Wild At Heart added another feather in Lynch's cap by winning the Best Film award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Raj Kumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol first collaborated in 1990 on Ghayal. The film was a significant grosser and led to the director and actor further collaborating on Damini and Ghatak, in which Amitabh Bachchan put in a small guest appearance.

Film Synopsis

Based in the docks of Bombay, the film speaks of workers who live in extreme poverty and work all day for one square meal. In these tragic circumstances, a family of three brothers gets manipulated by a gang in the wake of their parents' demise. The eldest brother takes a wise decision to leave the docks and migrate to a far away land with his younger siblings. Through hard work they build their home which is threatened by the shadow of their ugly past but the brothers don't lose courage and combine forces to save their home and lives.

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Popularity can never be by call. When we were ready with the music of HUM we thought our title track would be the hit number instead we were surprised by the overwhelming reaction to Jumma chumma…After so many years the song continues to evoke hysteria. — Romesh Sharma

Between The Shots

Kimi Katkar was the new generation replacement for his earlier Westernized heroines like Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi. The film was a super hit and Kimi could have been a major star but she got married to photographer Shantanu Shorey and quit films.
The chart-topper Jumma chumma de de re-invented Bachchan as sexy even at 50. The song resurrected singer Sudesh Bhosle but also limited his career. For a long time he remained just Bachchan's voice until both Bachchan and he sought to find different alter egos.
Few people know that this Laxmikant-Pyarelal composition was based on a Mory Kante African number brought by Amitabh to the music composers