Before Sholay: Notable Amitabh Bachchan films (1969 - 1975): Deewaar

Amitabh Bachchan's consistent superlative performances even as film quality dipped through the late seventies and all through the eighties is another story. But among those rare bunch of cinematic triumphs that Amitabh Bachchan will be remembered for, Deewar stands out, colossal.

A trade union leader is forced to go on the run, so that his family's life is not endangered. To make ends meet, his stranded wife and children rough it out on ruthless, heartless Mumbai streets. While one son Ravi, grows up to be righteous, Vijay's quiet rebellion silently simmers within, seeking outlet.

Deewaar was released on January 24, 1975, barely seven months before Sholay. Even then, 'two brothers-either side of the law-confrontation' was not a new theme to Hindi films.Notably, Mother India (1957) and Ganga Jamuna (1961) had similar main plots.The former gave the mother centre stage, the latter focused on fate making a dacoit vs police officer standoff between siblings.

Intense, memorable drama

What makes Deewaar a compelling watch, 40 years on, is its urban landscape of inequality, unemployment, poverty, dissatisfaction and greed for power.That lopsided landscape still rots our cities, more than ever. Salim-Javed are in top form here. Their studied yet entertaining dialogues still stand the test of time. 

Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay is the mapped face of an endless generation, for whom money is the ultimate push to buy happiness, if only in vain. Shashi Kapoor as Ravi is as relevant in his principled, straight path. But we fall for Vijay, oh so easily. His turbulence to not make peace with the past, to constantly conflict it with the present, echoes deep within. For all the bravado, Vijay is a vulnerable caged bird, in dire need of solace and love. 

The female roles still feel modern-day, especially Parveen Babi's independent woman. To a mitigated extent, Neetu Singh's carefree girl is cool too. Nirupa Roy's mother of all mothers, represents a timeless moral, rooted core. An iconic Hindi film classic you can't miss. 

Before Sholay: Notable Amitabh Bachchan films (1969 - 1975): Zanjeer

Zanjeer (1973)

A game changer as far as Hindi film formula is concerned, it is no surprise that the angst-ridden lead role was rejected by several leading men of that time. 

Most films of the 60's were blown up fairy tales that never resembled any of the lives that the audience was leading. Until then, the commercial Hindi film hero wooed the girl, danced in gardens, on hill-tops and in discos, drove jeeps, lip-synced melodious songs in a sugar-candy world oblivious to the world of employment, livelihood, corruption and other bare truths. He did become grim in the end reels, just to bash up the villain or turn the tables on him, verbally or in a courtroom. Salim-Javed's script was more than an eye-opener in this stale scenario.

Amitabh's first big solo hero success, it was also to make several film makers churn out similar anti-establishment films (mostly bad and average) for years to come, many of them starring Amitabh, even as the Hindi film industry moved from a resurgent, creative 70's to formulaic, brazen 80's.

Iconic moment

When inspector Vijay Khanna strides into Sher Khan's area post their face-off at the police station, it is the film's revelatory moment, that Amitabh Bachchan had unexpectedly, made it big on celluloid.  

Sholay Dialogue Baazi: Kitne Aadmi The?

 

It is Gabbar's iconic entry scene, and unlike other Hindi films, much is implied. Kalia and fellow dacoits return without any loot from Ramgadh. Word spreads around and we assume that Samba has passed the message on to the boss.  

Our outrageous theory 
Gabbar considers, "How many people did Thakur hire after all? Can I hire them too? Do they cost much? Will they ask for a 40% hike on previous net salary? Should I put up a counter ad on naukri.com and bid higher than Thakur? After all, Veeru and Jai work only for money (So he has heard). Then Gabbar does his walk and utters:
 

KITNE AADMI THE?

DO SARDAR...

HMMM...WOH DO THE, AUR TUM TEEN, PHIR BHI LAUT AAYE, KHALI HAATH...KYA SOCH KE AAYE THE,SARDAR KHUSH HOGA, SHABASHI DEGA KYUN...

SUVAR KE BACHON!!!

(OINK, OINK, OINK?!)

Sholay 3D Premiere Stills

Salim-Javed put on their 3D glasses and unload their differences

Kaalia alias Viju Khote at the premiere

Sholay Specials: Salim-Javed on Sholay and other things (Video Links)

The  Salim-Javed camaraderie and friendship was more than evident on Rajeev Masand's CNN -IBN interview of the duo post the Sholay 3D release. 

Going down memory lane, Salim Khan revealed how Ramesh Sippy chose Sholay's nebulous idea over Majboor's complete script. The director was looking to make something big and Sholay's initial idea suited Sippy's canvas. The director then gave the go-ahead to the writers to work on Sholay.

It was as the script was been written that Salim-Javed realized that the film can be a huge multi-starrer. For more, hear it from the duo, presented here in four video links:

Part I 

Part II 

Part III

 Part IV 

Sholay Specials: Salim-Javed on Sholay 3D

 

Post a week of the historic Sholay 3D release, two iconic Hindi film writers teamed up again to be interviewed by Rajeev Masand on CNN-IBN. 

On asked for his feedback after watching Sholay 3D, Javed Akhtar said and I quote here:

I had not seen the film since...almost 20 years. Many things I had actually forgotten, so it was really an experience.One must say, in total objectivity, leave aside the fact that we were involved in the picture - it doesn't look like an old film! 

Salim Khan added:

It is an timeless film. Nothing is outdated in this film. Now, when you look back it is no more a film, it is an experience. It has also got its own wonderful story about how it came into existence. It was a mere idea of 15-20 minutes.  

(To be contd.)