Tarun was sweet enough to have his friend Pratik Majumdar, the author of this delightful book, to sign a copy for me and gifted it to me. I propose to gift it to a few worthies myself. Pratik worked as an advertising professional, now runs his family owned homeopathy business in Kolkata, is a passionate cinephile, music enthusiast and a published author of a collection of short stories.
A look at the list of Hindi movies that Pratik listed blows your mind - all in one year! What was happening? Funnily it was also the same year that Emergency was imposed on India! Anyway, the list first.
1) Aandhi
2) Amanush
3) Charandas Chor
4) Chhoti Si Baat
5) Chori Mera Kaam
6) Chupke Chupke
7) Deewaar
8) Dharam Karam
9) Dharmatma
10) Faraar
11) Geet Gata Chal
12) Jai Santoshi Maa
13) Julie
14) Kaala Sona
15) Khel Khel Mein
16) Khushboo
17) Mausam
18) Mili
19) Nishant
20) Pratiggya
21) Prem Kahani
22) Qaid
23) Rafoo Chakkar
24) Raftaar
25) Sanyasi
26) Sholay
27) Uljhan
28) Warrant
29) Zakhmee
30) Zameer
I am rather ashamed to say that I have only watched 12 of the above and have decided to quickly correct the anomaly. (However, I watched many of the 12 movies repeatedly which probably makes up a bit.)
The book is delightful especially for those who grew up in that era - can remember those huge painted posters when these movies came out. Lovely trivia, narrative, insight into each of these films. Such creative people - Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Ramesh Sippy, Gulzar, Basu Chatterjee, Salim-Javed, the acting talent, the singing and music talent, unbelievable stuff. Good to see 'Jai Santoshi Maa' in the list - always nice to know Parag's mother played that role. Loved the trivia part - a gory one of Brij Sadanah who directed 'Chori Mera Kaam' who shot himself and his wife and daughter and injurd his son Kamal Sadanah whose birthday it was, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan not taking money to act in 'Chupke Chupke' because they so wanted to act in that film, Rajesh Khanna being signed for Vijay's role in 'Deewar' and dropped because he missed three reading sessions, Danny being the original choice for Gabbar but could not take it up as he was shooting for 'Dharmatma', Thakur killing Gabbar in the original ending of 'Sholay' but censors changing it to a law abiding end, Harindernath Chattopadhyay penning the lyrics of 'My heart is beating' for Julie. And so on and on.
Brilliant job Pratik. Thanks Tarun for the book. Thanks Pratik for signing it for me. And Raja - you'll get a copy from me for sure!
2 comments:
Very nostalgic post! That was one great year for Hindi movies! Amitabh Bachchan starting his long stint at stardom! Sholay and Geet Gaata Chal running simultaneously at Ramakrishna 70 MM and Ramakrishna 35 MM! Sholay, I think did a golden Jubilee and Geet Gaata Chal a silver jubilee! By the way I have watched 16 of those movies mostly by bunking college!!
Didn't we all? The entire experience was something else! Great to hear you did 16 of those - i must catch up. It's a lovely book. You'll enjoy reading it.
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