Bollywood’s Top Ten Love Stories of our Generation – (Part 2: #8 and #7)
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(8) Hero- 1983

It was a challenge to cast a non-actor in the title role. But the great show man and director Subhash Ghai’s keen eye for talent created history for HERO at the box office with this unique love story of a criminal and a beauty. Beauty played by Beautiful and talented Meenakshi Seshadhri‘s whose career was truly launched with this mega buster (she had appeared in couple of other not so famous movies before). But this is in fact the movie that shot Jackie Shroff to stardom and for which he still obliges to Subhash Ghai. Jackie (Jackie Shroff), in a role of a Bombay hitman, who kidnaps the daughter of the police commissioner to force the release of his don from jail only to fall in love with this pretty damsel.

The love story between criminal and hostage charms audiences even today when the soulful flute triumphs over gun shots. The movie, in spite of having a simple story line became instant hit owing to its very sensitive touch of direction and great music. And this one could actually also rank in thrills and action with macho Jackie-dada in the lead.

Songs from HERO like Nindiya se jaagi bahar, and Lambi judai topped the charts till several years later. Lambi Judai was one number that millions of broken hearts related to. Deep folk singing voice of Pakistani veteran singer Reshma gave this song the ranking of a classic

‘Ding dong o baby sing song’ clicked with the Indian audience as fusion of western beats to eastern music.

‘Piyar karney waaley kabhi’ brought back old style singing and lyrics of the 60s and 70s. This was music, melody, situation and climax at its best. With HERO also came the idea of using theme melody of a flute or accordion through out the movie and in multiple songs. Though none ever used it as skillfully as Subhash Ghai did in all his movies.

PS: Even I did not know that before researching on HERO that Sanjay Dutt was to get the lead role before he was dropped due to his drug addiction during the early years of his film career

7) Aashiqui -1990

Aashiqui as a romantic movie can score a perfect ten just because of its purely romantic, lovely, rich and extraordinarily melodious music. Though a track or two is stolen themes, Aashiqui created Nadeem –Sarawan. Many called this the music of a life time.

Produced by Gulshan Kumar, Aashiqui also scores as one of the finest work from director Mahesh Bhat who excelled in his own genre, his mastery in description of relationships in life, view of love. The movie premises that when you love some thing; love it from the depth of your heart. Rahul Roy and Anu Agarwal became famous and youngsters’ heartthrobs. Aashiqui is clean, simplistic, emotional and complete. Never before (or after) had a single movie given so many top of the chart numbers one after the other and all favorites.

It’s difficult to pick one or two but atop the list was ‘Deheeray dheeray se meri zindagi’

Kumar Sanu and Anuradha Pondwal became the new Kishor-Lata and every armature singer imitated them as ‘Nazar ke saamne jigar ke’ related to why the lovers can’t live without one another

Main Duniya bhulaa doonga makes one forget the world and takes you to the valley of love..

Aashiqui is a mile stone in so many ways in Hindi cinema and for the love-birds around the world. Here is the complete message of love

• Bas Ek Sanam Chaahiye.. Aashiqui Ke Liye
• Jaane Jigar Janeman
• Main Duniya Bhula Doonga
• Nazar Ke Samne Jigar Ke Paas
• Dheere Dheere Se Meri Zindagi Mein Aana
• Mera Dil Tere Liye Dhadakta Hai
• Tu Meri Zindagi Hai
• Dil Ka Alaam Main Kya Bataoon Tujhe
• Ab Tere Bin Jee Lenge H

If you are curious to see which movies made the other eight slots, read all five ‘MUSICVIEWSIC blogs in this countdown. Read Part 3