Top Ten Bollywood Love Stories Part 1
| Bollywood’s Top Ten Love Stories of our Generation – (Part 1: #10 and #9) |
| On my trip last week from Karachi to Boston as I was flying Emirates, I could not sleep and started flipping the entertainment channels on the in-flight TV. My eyes paused on the listing for Bollywood’s classic ‘Dilwale Dulheniyan Le Jayengay’ (DDLJ). Next 3 hours were a journey through memory lane, emotions, scintillating music and a cinematographic masterpiece. As I approached the climax of the movie, I heard the announcement for landing at London Heathrow airport. I took a deep breath and said to me, “this has to be one of the defining movies of our generational times”. On that note my thoughts wandered to some other movies that qualify for this honor roll and to the notion that where does DDLJ rank among those? Here is what transpired in turn. Read the countdown in a series of five blogs and see if your personal favorite made it to the list. |
| PS: I have included only those movies in the countdown that qualify as romantic and pure love stories. Some love triangles, revenge stories and other classic love branded movies like Zamane ko dikhana hai, Qurbani, Rocky, Silsila, Sadak, Lamhe, Chandni, Dil, Tezaab, Pardes, Dil Se and Dil to Pagal hai, among others did not make the list for they had other tones to them surrounding the romance. But wait they may appear in other countdowns on our MusicViwesic blogs in months to come. Cut-off for this list is taken at 1980 to keep the perspective of our generation. Go ahead indulge in romance..;-) |
| 10) Love Story – 1981 | |
| In 50s the song ‘jab piyar kiya tu darna kiya’ from Mughal-e-Azam had to be banned from airing on all India radio as it became a message for young lovers to run-away with their soul mates against the so called ‘zaalim smaaj’. Love Story in 1980 was the beginning of a new era, an era that will see the sons of stars of yestar years to rule Bollywood in decades to come. I have to admit I have seen this movie at least 12 times I am sure many of you have too. Movie had some daring scenes that slipped the censor somehow, the theme challenged conservative norm of waiting for the one you love and the message of ‘jab piyar kiya to darna kiya’ came back in fashion. |
|
| BUNTY and PINKY meet under peculiar circumstances and fell in love. Their love shapes into an unbreakable bond but the love story of their parents (played by Danny Denzongpa and Rajendar Kumar) stand in the path of their love. Directed by Rajendra Kumar, ‘Love Story’ launched his son Kumar Gaurav. Vijeta Pandit also made an impressive debut (but then disappeared after some years). The film became a “blockbuster” at the box office and made Kumar Gaurav a ‘Star’ overnight. Gurav who was (and still is) a less then average acting talent came as a fresh young heartthrob aided by refreshing pumpy tunes of R.D. Burman and memorable lyrics of Anand Bakhshi and made every young guy and girl singing ‘Dekho maine dekha hai yeh ik sapna’ | |
| Also launched with a huge buzz the career of playback Amit Kumar who won the Filmfare Best Male Playback Award over another nominee, his father Kishore Kumar for the very song that appears next. Love Story soundtrack is a MUST HAVE for all times… | |
| 9) Betaab (1983) | |
| 80’s gave Bollywood five big love stories and five mega male stars. Where as ‘Love Story’ and Kumar Gurav was the first one among those, ‘Betaab’ and Sunny Deol are on that short list too. Directed by Rahul Rawail and written by Javed Akhtar, film Betaab starring Sunny Deol and Amrita Singh in their debut roles went on to become the biggest hit of the year 1983. Story of two childhood sweethearts reuniting in life with fate testing their commitment to each other and to love that bonded them together was a take off from Oscar nominated classic “Taming of the Shrewd” (Richard Burton/ Liz Taylor). Amrita and Sunny made a great pair for those young, crazy, restless love types of films. |
|
| Picturised in the beautiful valley of Tekam Garh and embedded with awesome melodies of mastero R.D. Burman, ‘Betaab’ remains one of my personal favorite movies of all times, a movie to be watched again and again as Amrita Singh showed the promise she holds in class of natural actors. | |
| Shabbir Kumar with the number ‘parbaton se aaj main takra gayaa’ became a voice for households | |
| Song ‘jab hum jawan hongay’, won several awards for Lata Mangeshkar and played on streets, buses and in music shows for years to come. We have been listening to this song for over 25 years and it only grows on you more and more. What many people don’t know is that the famous Indian singer Sonu Nigam appears in the film as the young Sunny | |
| If you are curious to see which movies made the other eight slots, read all five ‘MUSICVIEWSIC blogs in this countdown. Read Part 2 | |
Categories: Chai Wala's Refreshmints, DP -Top Ten Lists, Music Viewsic
An excellent portrayal of these two movies, Medigineers, although I really do not remember any of these ever watching. Maybe I was way to young to remember them
)
Arsalaan:
May be the idea is to get the younger genration to see some of these not so old classics.. that actually are the themes of many of todays hits…
You have definetly picked the movies that took me down the memory lane. I am not so sure about Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam cuz that still had a love triangle and a sort of sad end to a love story.
I am anxiously waiting for your next choices which would include(i think) QSQT and Maine Pyar Kiya(my personal Fav).
After a long time we heard such a nice collection by you. Keep writing for the blogs. Also songs from pakistani old movies like Aina, Bandish etc that might give a nice texture and a blend too.
Well, I have to say. For us 80’s generation. These are the movies we loved watching. still love watching. I am wondering if Silsila is on the count down
Adnan. Hum Dil Dey chuke made the list despite being a love triangle because of the pure romantic and connection value on heartfelt emotions of the film. Film is a classic in treatement of how two young lovers overcome their inner fears of unknown to explore the passions and feelings aspects of human nature. This spot could have gone to Pardes, Saagar or may be Rocky had Hum Dil chuke not been in line coloring in pure romance synergy, Hum Dil De Chuke scored higher for me.
Muniza, Silsila did not make the list for me for the same reason despite being a high emotional drama and lovely heartbeat melodies.
this is an abolutely brilliant blog… I think the list is perfect.. I may re-arrange some rankings based on my preference but the number 1 and number 2 are correctly chosen
Yes, this definitely calls for a trip down the memory lane and the first Ishqs that these films inspired. So whats next now?
KD
May be the idea is to get the younger genration to see some of these not so old classics.. that actually are the themes of many of todays hits…