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

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) - Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Vinod Khanna, Rakhee, Amjad Khan

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.



Sikandar still loves Kaamna and tries to anonymously support her family as they have fallen upon hard times. He tries to talk to her and express his love but she snubs him. Upset by her behaviour he drowns himself in alcohol and visits a nautch girl by the name of Zhora (Rekha). In the meantime he has also struck up a friendship with a struggling Advocate, Vishal (Vinod Khanna) who saves his life one night. He introduces Vishal to Ramnath and the two starts working together. Eventually Vishal and Kaamna fall in love. On the other hand Zohra’s growing affinity towards Sikandar angers one of her admirers Dilawar (Amjad Khan), a hardcore criminal. Soon it is time for love and friendship to be tested. Whether Vishal and Kaamna get together; whether Zohra finds her true love and what happens to Sikandar,forms the climax of the film. It is truly a very entertaining film with some great acting and wonderful songs.

Songs from the movie:

1. Dil To Hai Dil (link)

2. O Saathi Re (link)

3. Pyar Zindagi Hai (link)

4. Rote Hue Aate Hain Sab (link)

5. Salam E Ishq Meri (link)