Sholay (1975) - One of the greatest Indian movie hits of all time

When you think of great Hindi movies, one of the names that always comes to the front is the movie called Sholay, released in 1975. The movie seems like it was set in another age, it being now 35 years since it was released and became a huge hit; and is now a cult movie. If it comes on TV even now, you can be sure that there will be some people who will want to watch. And the movie created a set of characters who became incredibly famous, specifically the few characters of Gabbar (Amjad Khan), Thakur (Sanjeev Kumar), Jai (Amitabh Bachchan), Veeru (Dharmendra), and Basanti (Hema Malini), and the under-played role of Radha (played by Jaya Bachchan).
The movie took a chance, starring a newcomer in the pivotal role of the dacoit leader (Danny was the original choice, but he was unavailable, and hence a newcomer such as Amjad Khan was selected). The movie was based on a small idea by the prolific writer duo of Salim-Javed. And the outcome was a movie that broke all records, and became a cult movie known till today.



The movie was produced by G.P. Sippy and directed by his son Ramesh Sippy. Music for the film was given by RD Burman, with the lyrics provided by Anand Bakshi. During direction, the movie went over-budget, since the director wanted to be perfect in the shooting, and many of the shots took many takes and many days. The movie also had real-life relations between the stars, with Amitabh and Jaya getting married 4 months before shooting of the movie started, and Dharmendra romancing Hema Malini at that time. The movie took a period of 2.5 years to make. The movie also had an effect on tourism, with the location of Ramanagaram (a rocky terrain), a village near Bangalore, Karnataka being the shooting site, and being known later as the location where Sholay was shot.
The movie was based on the concept of revenge, where a local dacoit terrorises the village, and also takes revenge on the family of the local thakur. The Thakur in turn hires 2 small-time but brave crooks to come in to fight the dacoit and his gang, and this is what they do, but with some sadness, as one of the 2 loses his life in the end.
The movie takes these 2 small time crooks (Jai and Veeru) in a jail. They are remembered by an ex-policeman, the Thakur, when he is looking for somebody who can help him fight the dacoits (led by Gabbar). He had apprehended them, and then see how brave they were when they fought off dacoits who were trying to rob a train. He meets them, and offers them a large amount of money if they can get rid of Gabbar and his gang. Gabbar is a violent and brutal dacoit leader who is terrorising the villages.
In the first confrontation, three men from Gabbar's gang come to get supplies from the villagers, something that they do without any issue in the past. Now, however, they face a fight from Jai and Veeru and have to go back without any supplies; at which Gabbar cannot stand the sight of his men being humiliated in front of the village and shoots them after some drama (in a scene that was much appreciated). The next major attack is on Holi, during which Jai and Veeru are pinned down and are looking for Thakur to throw a gun towards them, but he does not cooperate. Later his story is revealed, where he had arrested Gabbar some time back, and then Gabbar killed all his family except for one daughter-in-law Radha (Jaya Bhaduri). And in another confrontation, Gabbar cut off both his hands leaving him without any hands.
So, the situation continues, with Jai and Veeru staying in the village, and getting fond of Radha and Basanti respectively. Gabbar has cut off the village from the outside, but they fight back by killing some of his men. And then the final confrontation, where the fight with Gabbar and his men take place, in which Jai finally dies.

Some interesting scenes from the movie:

Where Jai talks to Basanti's mausi and turns her against Veeru, and Veeru on the water tank:



Scene from the jail early in the movie with Asrani:

Mili (1975) - Starring Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan and directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Mili released in the year 1975 and saw the return of the successful trio of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. This film is also the last film for which S.D. Burman scored music; after he finished composing for this film he went into a year long coma and finally passed away. For Hrishikesh Mukherjee it was his second movie, after Anand, which talked of terminal illness. However the film is not a tragedy, it is a very melancholic, yet very bright, pleasant and thoroughly optimistic piece.

Mili (Jaya Bachchan) is this effervescent young girl who infuses verve and energy with her bright and happy disposition. She is forever bubbly, vivacious, outgoing and a big prankster. Shekhar (Amitabh Bachchan) moves into the penthouse above the apartment that Mili’s family occupies and initially they end up disliking each other. Shekhar is haunted by ghosts of his past. Shekhar’s father had accused his mother of infidelity and the tension of this act had resulted in the death of both. Shekhar moves into Mili’s universe like a dark cloud-one that is full of anger, negativity and melancholy.

Soon Shekhar and Mili become friends and the latter helps Shekhar to shed the baggage of his past and move on to a happier state of being. She helps him to realise that life is a mixed bag of good and bad. The two fall in love but he does not know that Mili is suffering from leukaemia. This news takes the wind out of Shekha’r sail and he decides to move out of the housing society as he is unable to deal with the thought of a dying Mili. It is Aruna Irani, Mili’s friend and a woman of debatable moral virtues, who helps Shekhar realise the fact that it is now his turn to be there for Mili just as she has been there for him.

Shekhar decides to marry Mili, brushing aside all her protestation and at the end the duo fly out of the country to seek better medical remedies for Mili. Mili’s death is left like an open-ended question by the director and this helps to infuse a lot of hope into the film. A poignant and brilliantly told story, Mili can be easily ranked among the greatest emotional dramas of its times. Mukherjee’s direction is splendid and very real. Amitabh Bachchan is brilliant as Shekhar and puts in a restrained performance with his brooding good looks. Ashok Kumar is effortless and Aruna Irani makes an impact in a small role. However the film belongs to Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan). She is funny, charming and yet you do note the underlying fear. Her characterisation makes Mili one of the most lovable and unforgettable characters of Hindi cinema.

CAST AND CREW

Directed by: Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Produced by: Hrishikesh Mukherjee, N.C. Sippy
Written by: Bimal Dutta, Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza, Mohini N. Sippy
Starring: Ashok Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani, Aruna Irani, Parikshat Sahni
Music by: Sachin Dev Burman
Cinematography: Jaywant Pathare
Editing by: Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Deewar (1975) - Superstar Amitabh Bachchan along with Rishi Kapoor in this great hit

Deewar, released in 1975, is considered by many to be a benchmark of what a good commercial film ought to be all about. The film scored highly in all the components that go into making a brilliantly successful film-directing, writing, acting and music.
The strength of the film lies in the fact that it talks of a problem common to us all- the problem of sticking to the path of good and truth at the cost of all.

Anand Verma (Satyen kappu) is a moralistic and upright trade union leader who works hard to better the lives of his fellow workers. His family consisting of his wife (Sumitra Devi-Nirupa Roy) and two songs (Vijay Amitabh Bachchan and Ravi, Shashi Kapoor) is small and happy. Anand however is blackmailed by his corrupt bosses who threaten to kill his wife and sons if Anand does not comply with the terms and conditions set down by the management. Left with no choice, he agrees and the workers turn on him believing him to be a traitor to their cause. He flees from the place, abandoning his family. His family is also persecuted by the angry mob who brand young Vijay’s arm with the words “My father is a thief”. Sumitra Devi is forced to bring her children to Mumbai where she struggles as a day labourer to care for her now homeless boys.

Vijay grows up with a sense of acute victimisation. He sacrifices his education and starts working from a very young age to help out his mother. Soon he catches the eyes of an underworld boss who offers him the opportunity to leave behind his impoverished lifestyle by joining the world of crime. Ravi’s life follows an exactly opposite direction. He is an excellent student and grows up to become an upright police officer. Soon Vijay falls for Veera (Neetu Singh), the daughter of the Police Commisioner, while Vijay falls for Anita (PArveen Babi) a “loose” woman. When their mother comes to know of Vijay’s nefarious activities she leaves him. The brothers have a famous confrontational scene (“Mere Paas Maa Hai”-Our mother is with me) considered to be one of the best written scenes of Hindi films. The climax sees Vijay repenting for the wrong choices he made in his life and his mother forgiving her errant son as he lies dying in his arms.

Deewar is a must watch film on many counts. First of all Salim-Javed’s story and screenplay is very powerful and thought provoking. Secondly, Amitabh Bachchan’s portrayal of Vijay as the wronged son who strays off the right path is superlative. Parveen Babi as the liberated working, smoking, drinking and sleeping with her lover before marriage is also very good. But the film belongs to Yash Chopra who as the man wielding the baton does a marvellous job.


CAST

Directed by Yash Chopra
Produced by Gulshan Rai
Written by Salim-Javed
Starring Shashi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Neetu Singh, Nirupa Roy, Parveen Babi
Music by Rahul Dev Burman
Cinematography Kay Gee
Editing by T.R. Mangeshkar, Pran Mehra

Chupke Chupke (1975) - comedy super-movie starring Amitabh and Dharmendra

Chupke Chupke released in the year 1975 and was a remake of the hit Bengali movie Chhadmabeshi (Disguiser). It starred the leading stars of that era like Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Om Prakash, David, Asrani and Keshto Mukherjee. The movie was directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and had S.D.Burman composing music for the film. Chupke Chupke till date remains one of the best comedy films made in Hindi cinema.

Professor Parimal Tripathi (Dharmendra) is a botany professor who by chance meets and falls in love with Sulekha Chaturvedi (Sharmila Tagore) during a women's college botany excursion. Parimal takes on the disguise of the caretaker of a bungalow in which Sulekha comes to stay along with her college friends and teacher. It is she who is able to find out about Parimal’s true identity and two get married after a whirlwind romance. Parimal is fond of practical jokes and is unable to resist the temptation of playing out one on Sulekha’s brother-in-law (Jijaji, Raghavenra eanacted by Om Prakash) whom she worships as her ideal.

Jijaji is in need of a trusted driver/chauffeur and writes to his brother-in-law and Sulekha’s brother Haripat (David) to send him a reliable person from his place. Parimal comes up with the idea of going to Jijaji’s place dressed as a driver. Sulekha is confident that her beloved Jijaji will see through Parimal’s disguise and challenges him to fool her Jijaji. Parimal takes up the challenge sportingly and sets out for Allahabad in the guise of a driver. He becomes Pyaremohan Alahabadi a man who speaks ‘shudh’ (pure, undiluted) Hindi. Sulekha too joins in the fun after a couple of days. Meanwhile Pyaremohan has Jijaji in a tizzy with his incessant questions on English grammar and has the well known lawyer running for cover.

Soon they convince Jijaji that Sulekha is unhappy in her marriage and has feelings for Pyaremohan. To add more drama they bring in Sukumar Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan), a Professor of English, to pose as Parimal, just as the duo (Sulekha and Parimal) go into hiding. Parimal's long-time friend P K Srivastava (Asrani) is also party to the prank. His sister-in-law Vasudha (Jaya Bachchan) suspects fake 'Parimal' - Sukumar Sinha - of infidelity to his wife when he tries to get close to her. Sukumar falls in love with Vasudha who at first believed he was Parimal, but Sukumar reveals to her the real drama behind all this mix-up of situations. The climax sees Sukumar and Vasudha marrying in a temple while Jijaji is finally able to see through Pyaremohan disguise and recognise him as the real Parimal.

The film is a laugh riot and is a situational comedy. Dharmendra as Parimal, Om Prakash as Jijai and Amitabh Bachchan as Sukumar put in terrific performances. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s direction is light and right and S.D. Burman composes some wonderful numbers especially Ab Ke Sajan.


CAST AND CREW

Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Produced by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, N.C. Sippy
Written by Shakeel Chandra, Upendranath Ganguly, Gulzar, D.N. Mukherjee, Biren Tripathy
Starring Dharmendra, Sharmila Tagore, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Om Prakash, Asrani
Music by Sachin Dev Burman
Lyrics Anand Bakshi
Cinematography Jaywant Pathare
Editing by Subhash Gupta, Pandit Shridhar Mishra