Archive for the ‘Movie’ Category
Movie – Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) – Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Vinod Khanna, Rakhee
On January 30, 2010 in Bollywood, Crime, Drama, Lyrics, Media, Melody, Movie, Music, Video
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar released in the year 1978 and was the third film that Prakash Mehra and Amitabh Bachchan made together as a director-actor combination. It turned out to be the highest grosser of the year and went on to become the most successful film of the decade. As a commercial pot boiler it had all the right ingredients-dramatic story, tight screenplay, great actors and stars and a tremendous musical score.
A boy is orphaned at a very young age and has to face the hard world alone as he struggles to make a living. He works in the house of a wealthy lawyer named Ramnath who does not show the poor orphan any mercy. Ramnath’s daughter Kamya however sympathises with the boy and the two become friends. Eventually this orphaned boy is adopted by a Muslim lady named Fatima who also works for Fatima. He is given a new name-Sikandar. On the occasion of Kaamna’s birthday, Sikandar steals an expensive doll to gift it to his friend but Ramnath refuses him to enter the party. Sikandar tries to sneak into Kaamna’s room to leave the doll behind but is caught and he and his adopted mother are thrown out of the house.
Shortly thereafter Fatima dies making Sikandar an orphan twice over. However now he has the responsibility of looking after Fatima’s daughter Mehroo. As Sikandar cries by his mother’s grave a fakir comes to him and tells him to embrace the ups and downs of life with equal nonchalance for then he would conquer fate. This become’s young Sikandar’s mantra for life. He grows up to be a handsome young man who has amassed a fortune by turning in smuggled goods to the police and receiving the reward payouts. He is now the master of an impressive house and the owner of a profitable business.
Movie – Black – starring Rani Mukherji and Amitabh Bachchan (2005)
On January 28, 2010 in Bollywood, Movie
Black that released in the year 2005, amidst tremendous hype and expectations, managed to set a new benchmark for Hindi films. Partly based on the true life story of Helen Keller, the film was tremendously appreciated by the critics and the general public. Hailed by many to be a cult film Black won numerous awards for all those who were associated with it.
The film begins with Michelle McNally (Rani Mukherjee) a blind, deaf and mute woman visiting her former teacher Debraj Sahai (Amitabh Bachchan). Debraj is shown to be in a hospital struggling with the deadly Alzheimer’s disease. The film then goes back to Michelle’s childhood. Michelle’s world from a very young age has been a world that is devoid of sights, colours, sounds and noises. With the passage of time, she becomes a prisoner of this soundless and sightless universe that makes her violent, hostile, and almost animal like. Her parents, Paul and Catherine are at their wit’s end trying to control their eight year old daughter whom they are unable to understand and who is unable to understand them. Into this helpless situation enters Debraj Sahai, a slightly eccentric man. He takes it upon himself to bring Michelle into the light.
Initially he has to use harsh methods as Michelle has become uncontrollable which meets the disapproval of the little girl’s father who asks him to leave. But Debraj asks for twenty days from Catherine to prove himself and stays on. By the 20th day, as he is about to give up, a miraculous break through happens and Michelle is able to come out of her dark world. Impressed by his success the McNallys decide to keep Debraj as Michelle’s teacher. Michelle is a fast learner and is very soon able to expertly sign. Debraj even convinces the Principal of a college to grant her the chance to pursue Bachelor of Arts degree, the first deaf-blind person to do so at that university. Michelle moves away from home and lives with Debraj and one of her servants.
Movie – Abhimaan (1973) – A remarkable movie from Amitabh’s early career
On January 26, 2010 in Bollywood, Lyrics, Marriage, Melody, Movie, Romance, Singing, Song, Video
Abhimaan was released in the year 1973, the year that saw Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri officially tie the knot and become husband and wife. In fact they got married just seven days prior to the filming of the song ‘Teri Bindiya Re”. For many industry watchers the plot of the film could have become a real life incident, had Jaya Bhaduri not put on the breaks on her career after her marriage. People still speculate as to whether real life would have imitated reel life had not the superstar’s wife sacrificed her career. However all that is conjecture and takes away from the breath taking sensitivity of this wonderful film.
Subir Kumar (Amitabh Bachchan) is a popular singer who rules over millions of hearts courtesy his songs. His dashing good looks and silken voice are especially irresistible to his legions of female supporters. Subir himself is a carefree young man who enjoys his stardom and his bachelorhood. Chandu (Asrani) is his manager cum best friend and someone keeps him rooted to reality. Subir goes to meet his aunt (Manju Mausi, Durga Khote) and there he meets Uma, whose golden voice enthrals him and whose earthy unaffected charm attracts him. He ends up falling in love with Uma and the two ties the knot.
Movie – Mr. Natwarlal (1979) – Starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha
On January 22, 2010 in Bollywood, Lyrics, Melody, Movie, Music, Song, Video
Mr. Natwarlal, the film releases in 1979. Starring superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha it features some superb song tracks and a very interesting story line. It also has Amitabh Bachchan crooning for the first time for any film of his and the number “Mere Paas Aao, Mere Doston” has continued to entertain kids and adults down the years. In fact the song even fetched him a Filmfare nomination as Best Playback Singer (Male) along side being nominated for the Best Actor Award for the same film.
The story of the film resolves around Natwar (title role played by Bachchan himself) who lives with his beloved older brother and caretaker, police officer Girdharilal (Ajit). He has been assigned the case of apprehending notorious gangster Vikram Singh ( Amjad Khan). But the wily criminal entraps the honest officer and gets him arrested, dismissed from employment and imprisoned. The young Natwar remains a silent spectator to his brother’s victimization and swears to take revenge. He grows up and creates a secret identity for himself, posing as a powerful and mysterious underworld figure named (eponymous) Mr. Natwarlal. He becomes a modern-day Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and bad to help the poor and good.
He is successful in locating Vikram Singh who resides in the hilly regions of North India. Accordingly he relocates himself to be in the same area as his enemy. He also finds himself falling in love with a local girl (Rekha) who reciprocates his feelings. However punishing Vikram Singh proves to be a difficult task as he is a formidable presence in the area. On top of that he has to convince the suspicious villagers that he is not the ‘bad’ guy and tackle a man-eating tiger. Whether he is able to ultimately avenge his brother’s ill fortune and bring Vikram Singh to his knees forms the climax of the film.
