Hindi Movie - Kati Patang (Rajesh Khanna, Asha Parekh) - Released in 1971

In the space of a few years, the late Rajesh Khanna became a superstar, enjoying a level of adulation that is difficult to achieve for anybody after him (even the level of success of Amitabh Bachchan soon after him did not reach the amount of crazed fandom that Rajesh Khanna achieved), giving a consecutive series of 15 hit films, something that nobody has managed to do since. This stardom lasted a few years, but made Rajesh Khanna a name that would forever be remembered. One of the movies released during this duration was 'Kati Patang', which also became a huge hit. The movie was produced and directed by Shakti Samanta, and was the second in a series of 9 films they made together. The movie earned a number of Filmfare nominations, but the only award won by the movie was for Asha Parekh as the Best Actress, and the movie did seem to have a focus on Asha Parekh as the person on whom the movie revolved around. The music of the film, by RD Burman was very well liked and appreciated, and Kishore Kumar sang most of the songs for the movie (Kishore was the usual singer for Rajesh Khanna). The movie was actually based on a novel by the name of "I Married a Dead Man," by William Irish (real name of the author being Cornell Woolrich, with William Irish being the name under which the novel was published) and was made into English and French language movies as well.

The movie was an emotional movie, based on the struggle of a woman who took a decision in her life that impacted her again, in an amazing coincidence. Like many people of the current age, the heroine of the movie Madhavi (Asha Parekh) took a decision that you would consider right. She was an orphan and when her uncle arranged her marriage to somebody whom she did not know, she ran away from there to her lover rather than get married to somebody she did not know. Unfortunately, she found that she had been deceived, since her lover Kailash (Prem Chopra) was only playing with her, and she found him with another woman Shabnam (Bindu). Hurt and betrayed, she returned home to find that her uncle had died. With this distressing situation, she ran away and ran into her friend Poonam who was with her small child. Poonam had married her husband against the wishes of his family and they had never met her. However, she was now returning to his family after the death of her husband, and yet, in another tragedy, Poonam dies although her child and Madhavi both survive, with Madhavi now having to take care of the child.
Madhavi decides to travel to Poonam's inlaws, and since they have never seen Poonam, Madhavi takes on the guise of Poonam, living as their widowed daughter-in-law. And then she runs into the person who has suffered an emotional turmoil, Kamal (Rajesh Khanna). Kamal's would be wife ran away before the marriage, something that affected him terribly emotionally. Madhavi is very distressed to hear about this, since she was the one who had caused such pain to Kamal. However, when Kamal starts to get closer to her, she resists since she does not want her truth to come out. And then the complication happens, with Kailash and Shabnam re-entering the scene and twisting things around so that she is liable to get blamed. How does she handle this and who supports her ? Watch the movie.

Music from the movie: Video from Youtube, Lyrics, MP3 on Amazon: Na Koi Umang Hai (link) Yeh Jo Mohabbat Hai (link) Mera Naam Hai Shabnam (link) Yeh Shaam Mastani (link) Pyar Deewana Hota Hai (link) Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar (link)

Trishul (1978) - Directed by Yash Chopra and starring Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor

The film Trishul released in the year 1978. It was directed by Yash Chopra and starred the leading stars of that era, like Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Rakhee. The movie was a super duper hit at the box office and turned out to be one of the top successes of 1978.

Shanti (Waheeda Rehman) and RK Gupta (Sanjeev Kumar) are in love and plan to tie the knot soon. However RK’s mother wants him to marry his boss’s daughter and the heiress to a booming construction company, Kamini. RK gives into the temptation of success and marries his mother’s choice. A heart broken Shanti discovers she is pregnant. She leaves the city to bring up her illegitimate son Vijay enduring a lot of hardships. At her deathbed she makes Vijay promise that he will avenge her humiliation and shame.

A young Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) embittered by his life experiences comes to Delhi where RK Gupta (his father) lives, seeking to take revenge. RK Gupta has in the meanwhile has become a construction baron loved and respected by his friends and admirers and feared by his opponents. He also has a son from his wife Kamini, Vicky (Shashi Kapoor) and a daughter, Poonam Dhillon. While his father is the leader of the construction industy, Vijay has nothing but his self belief to help him start his own outfit and make it a success. He does so and is ably supported in this venture by Rakhee who plays his secretary. Determined to destroy his father’s business and his reputation, he takes on big risks and lands successful deals.

Unaware that Vijay is his own son, RK is incensed with the fact that a rookie is fast becoming his competitor and breathing down his neck. The father-son duo then takes each and every opportunity to bring down the other. Caught in this cross fire are Shashi Kapoor and his love interest Hema Malini; the latter having briefly caught Vijay’s fancy. As the battle rages on between father and son, Vijay unwittingly helps out his half sister (Poonam Dhillon) to marry her sweetheart (Sachin). An enraged Shashi Kapoor goes to confront his brother who then informs the former of his parentage. RK’s entire family then decides to walk out on him, choosing Vijay over him. The climax of the film sees a repentant RK realising his mistake of the past and recognising Vijay as his son.

Sanjeev Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan put in sterling performances as father and son. Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Poonam Dillon and Sachin provide competent support. Rakhee is very good as a level-minded intelligent secretary. Yash Chopra and Salim Javed live up to their reputation of being the numero uno director-writer combination.


CAST AND CREW

Directed by Yash Chopra
Produced by Gulshan Rai
Written by Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan
Starring Sanjeev Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Raakhee Gulzar, Waheeda Rehman, Prem Chopra, Poonam Dhillon
Music by Khayyam
Cinematography Kay Gee
Editing by B. Mangeshkar
Lyrics Sahir Ludhianvi

Shahenshah (1988) - Amitabh's comeback vehicle also starring Meenakshi Seshadri and Jaya Prada

Shahenshah released in the year 1988 and was Amitabh Bachchan’s comeback vehicle after a three year hiatus during which he had become involved in active politics. Directed by Tinnu Anand, the story of the film was written by the superstar’s wife and actress Jaya Bachchan. There was tremendous hype around the film as hordes of die-hard fans of the superstar had been waiting impatiently for his return.

The movie opens with a corrupt and snivelling bank manager Mathur (Prem Chopra) and his partner-in-crime, underworld baron JK (Amrish Puri). Mathur is in a financial mess and he along with JK decides to rob the very bank for which he works. Inspector Shrivastav (Kader Khan) is an honest police officer who gets wind of this plot and is about to crack the case when JK frames in a false case enlisting the help of an exotic dancer Julie (Aruna Irani). Unable to bear the shame of the charges levelled against him, Inspector Shrivastav hangs himself at home after being released on bail. This creates a lasting and powerful impression on his young son, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan), who retains the noose his father had used to hang himself.

Vijay grows up in the care of Inspector Aslam Khan (Pran) and follows in his dead father’s footsteps to become a cop. Aslam Khan is an honest cop however Vijay is a sycophantic and cowardly inspector, prone to bribery and giving in to powerful criminals. Vijay finds himself in the payroll of JK who now runs a major underworld empire past the cops. Soon a new spectre makes his appearance that calls himself Shahenshah and is a costumed crime fighter. His iron hand is used to attack enemies and smash objects, and Shahenshah's other weapon is a noose. He describes himself as one man army who is out to do the job meant for cops. He not only apprehends criminals but sits on judgement and then executes the punishment. It is revealed a bit later that Shahenshah is actually Vijay, who has created this alter ego so as to punish the guilty and not be bogged down by the corrupt system. He also seeks to avenge his father’s death.

At this time we are introduced to Shalu (Meenakshi Seshadri), a small time trickster who is also out to eliminate JK as the latter had ordered the assassination of her mother Julie. JK then ends up murdering Salim (Vijendra Ghatge) who was about to expose his crime ring. Salim was engaged to Shaheena (Supriya Pathak), the daughter of Aslam Khan. Vijay now decides to openly confront JK. Julie agrees to testify against JK. And JK prepares for an all out war against Shahenshah, Vijay, Shalu and the lot of his enemies. There is a veritable bloodbath on the streets as good fights evil and there is a final showdown where Shahenshah reveals his secret identity and becomes the nemesis for all the culprits.

CAST AND CREW

Directed by Tinnu Anand
Produced by Tinnu Anand
Written by Jaya Bachchan (story), Inder Raj Anand (screenplay and dialogues)
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Meenakshi Seshadri, Jaya Prada, Amrish Puri, Aruna Irani, Prem Chopra, Kader Khan, Pran
Music by Amar Utpal