Guddi was a movie released in 1971, produced and directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee (who made a number of famous movies during the 70's) and was written by Gulzar. However, the movie is best famous for giving Jaya Bachchan, then a young and upcoming actress, a canvas for her to show her acting skills and fortunately for her, the movie did well and was praised (thus leading to a lot of praise for Jaya Bachchan). The movie also starred Dharmendra, Utpal Dutt, and had a number of other starts such as Amitabh Bachchan, Om Prakash and Pran making guest appearances in the movie; this was also because the movie was also about a big star and his work in Bollywood, so a lot of details about Bollywood were shown in the movie. In fact, some other stars such as Biswajeet, Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Ashok Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Naveen Nischol, Om Prakash, Pran, Shashikala and Mala Sinha played cameo roles in the movie.
The movie also had some good music with songs such as "Bole Re Papihara" and "Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena" (sung by Vani Jairam) becoming very famous for their classical background. The music for the film was given by Vasant Desai.
The movie is about the concept of being attracted by the on-screen personality of a star, based on what the star plays as characters, instead of knowing the real life of the star (and where the character of the star could be very different from the characters played). In this case, Kusum (Jaya Bachchan) is a schoolgirl who develops an incredible crush for the movie star Dharmendra; she lives with her family; but when she visits Mumbai, that is when the crush that she has for Dharmendra really reveals itself.
At that time, her sister-in-law's brother, Navin (Bengali film actor Samit Bhanja) falls in love with her, but when she is so much after Dharmendra, it is impossible that she could even listen to anybody else. Navin takes help from his own uncle, Utpal Dutt, who also knows Dharmendra, and they resolve to show Kusum the difference between the reel life and real life (taking help from Dharmendra for this).
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
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.
Back in Bombay, Subir and Uma settle into domestic bliss and soon the husband decides to launch his wife as a professional singer. And that is the starting point of all problems. As Uma’s career takes off, Subir’s career begins to falter. Even as her career touches new highs, her marriage hits rock bottom as Subir is consumed by jealousy and guilt. He hits the bottle and soon things become so bitter that Uma moves back to her father’s place. There she discovers she is pregnant and waits for Subir to come and fetch her. He does not and she suffers a miscarriage that pushes her into depression.
Subir realises his mistake and comes to take her back home but she receives him without any happiness-like almost a piece of wood. Whether Subir is able to bring back Uma from her abyss; whether Uma sings again; and whether the couple reunite forms the climax of the film.
Abhimaan is considered by many to be one of the finest Hindi films. It scores on many fronts. Firstly Hrishikeh Mukherjee’s sensitive direction lends the film the right emotional note. S.D.Burman’s haunting melodies almost act like a character for the film, bringing out all the emotions experienced by the actors. Superb acting by the cast-be it Amitabh Bachchan, Asrani, Durga Khote-makes this film such a treat to watch. However the film is outstanding because of the way Jaya Bhaduri captures Uma through her silence and unspoken hurt.
Namak Haram released in the year 1973, a good two years after the path-breaking hit Anand. It had the same hit-making team of Hrishikesh Mukherjee (Director), Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna (main heroes). Namak Haram addresses a burning issue of the day that of rising impoverishment of cotton mill workers of Bombay. Its tonality is more entrenched in the day-to-day concerns of industrial workers who toiled from dawn to dusk but earned only peanuts.
Somnath or Somu (Rajesh Khanna) lives in a shanty house with his widowed mom and unmarried sister, Sarla. His best pal is Calcutta-based business tycoon Damodar Maharaj’s only son and heir apparent Vikram or Vicky (Amitabh Bachchan). Theirs is an unlikely friendship for the two have very little in common. Vicky has to take over the reins of the company when his father suffers a heart attack and ends up having a confrontation with a senior employee and union leader of the factory, Bipinlal Pandey. This results in a strike. Vicky’s father, the ever astute businessman intervenes and asks his son to apologise to Bipilal to return things to normalcy. Vicky does so unwillingly and the strike is resolved.
However Vicky is unable to forget his humiliation and confides about this to his best friend, Somu. The two friends conspire to teach Bipinlal a lesson. As part of the plan, Somu accompanies Vicky to Calcutta, gets a job as a labourer in the mill and gets about befriending his fellow workers. He is able to get some monetary relief for injured workers and is soon elected as the union leader, displacing Bipinlal. The success of their plan sees the friends rejoicing. However Damodar is not too keen about this friendship as he sees Somu as a potential threat, who with his middle-class values can influence Vicky in the long run. Damodar starts a chain of events to create a wedge between the two friends that get out of control. The emotion-packed climax sees the death of one friend and the other going to jail, his act serving as both a penance and homage.
The movie scores on many fronts. First it is the superb direction of Hrishikesh Mukherjee whose sensitive delineation of a subject so complex that makes this film such an engaging watch. Then it is R.D.Burman’s soul stirring music. And finally it is the wonderful chemistry of the lead actors, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, and their wonderful portrayal of the two characters Vicky and Somu that will leave the viewer spell bound. Rajesh Khanna deserves a special mention because he plays the part just right and is able to show the metamorphosis of Somu-from lackey of spoilt friend to a man willing to stake his life for his principles-that will raise a lump in your throat.
Videos of songs
Diya Jalte Hain
Nadiya Se Dariya
Main Shayar Badnaam
Lyrics from the movie Namak Haram:
Diye Jalte hain
Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain
badi mushkil se, magar, duniya mein dost, milte hain, diye jalte hain
Jab jis waqt kisi ka, pyar juda hota hai, kuchh na poochho, yaron dil ka, haal bura hota hai,
Jab jis waqt kisi ka pyar juda hota hai, kuchh na poonchho yaron dil ka haal bura hota hai,
dil pe yadon ke jaise, teer chalte hain, ahanha
Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, diye jalte hain
Is rang roop pe dekho, hargiz naaz na karna, jaan bhi mange, yaar to dede na, naraz na karna,
rang ud jate hain, dhoop dhalte hain, hmhmhm
Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, diye jalte hain
Daulat aur jawani, ek din kho jaati hain, sach kahta hoon, saari duniya, dushman ho jaati hai,
umr bhar dost lekin saath chalte hain hmmhm
Diye jalte hain, phool khilte hain, badi mushkil se, magar, duniya mein dost milte hain
Diye jalte hain.
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Main Shayar Badnaam
Main Shayar Badnam, Main Shayar Badnam Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala,
Mehfil Se Nakam, Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala, Main Shayar Badnam
Mere Ghar Se Tumko, Kuchh Saman Milega, Diwane Shayar Ka, Ek Diwan Milega,
Aur Ek Cheeze Milegi, Tuta Khali Jam, Ho O Main Chala Main Chala
Main Shayar Badnam
Sholo Pe Chalna Tha, Kanton Pe Sona Tha, Aur Abhi Jee Bhar Ke Kismat Pe Rona Tha,
Jane Aise Kitne, Bakki Chhod Ke Kaam, Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala
Main Shayar Badnam
Rasta Rok Rahi Hai, Thodi Jaan Hai Baki, Jane Tute Dil Mein, Kya Arman Hai Baki,
Jane Bhi De Ae Dil, Sabko Mera Salam, Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala
Main Shayar Badnam, Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala
Mehfil Se Nakam, Ho O Main Chala, Main Chala
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Nadiya se Dariya
Nadiya se dariya, dariya se sagar,
Sagar se gahera jam (2)
Ho ho ho jam me doob gayi yaro mere jeevan ki har shaam.
Nadiya se dariyaa
Jo na piye wo kya jane, pite hain kyun hum diwane yaar aaha,
Jabse humne pina sikha, jeena sikha marna sikha yaar aaha,
Ho hum jab yun nashemain dagmagane lag gaye,
Ho ho ho dil ki becheni ko aaya thoda sa aaram.
Nadiya se dariyaa
Mera kya main gum ka maara, nashe me aalam hai sara yaar aaha,
Kisi ko dolat ka nasha kahin muhobat ka nasha yaar aaha,
Ho kahe kar ai sharabi sab pukare ab mujhe,
Ho ho ho aur koyi tha, ye to nahi tha pahele mera naam.
Nadiya se dariyaa
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