43 Years of Amar Akbar Anthony

This film was released on 27 May 1977 and earned ₹155 million at the Indian box office, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of that year. Amitabh Bachchan in his blog said that 'Amar Akbar Anthony' is estimated to have made Rs 7.25 crore in those days. Inflation-adjusted, it crosses the collections of Bahubali 2—The Conclusion today! The film ran for 25 weeks in 25 cinema Halls in Bombay alone which is a record.
You would be surprised to note that when the film was in pre-production, Manmohan Desai thought of shelving it but his wife encouraged Manmohan Desai to complete it. He was not sure of the success of the film. On the day of release, Manmohan Desai got very nervous and sick. When he heard "House full" boards were being put at cinema halls he became well and happy. 
Regarding the title of this film, he said that it was an unusual title at that time. In the '70s when film titles revolved around 'Behen Bhabhi' and 'Beti', this one was so out of place. The director Manmohan Desai got the idea of this film while reading a newspaper! He read a news piece of a drunk man named Jackson, who was fed up of his life and hence decided to drop his three children in the park. Similarly, in the film, Pran takes his children and drops them in a park at the beginning of the film.

The lesser-known fact is from one of the songs from the movie. We are referring to the song 'My name is Anthony Gonsalves...' Audience loves to listen to the song even today, especially, the starting lines which go, 'Sophisticated rhetorician intoxicated with the exuberance of your own verbosity,' uttered by Anthony after he emerges from the huge Easter egg. The words are a quotation from a speech given by Benjamin Disraeli in 1878. 

Another lesser-known fact is that initially, Amitabh's character name was Anthony Fernandes when Manmohan Desai met lyricist Anand Bakshi, and the song "My name is Anthony Fernandes" was written, it didn't go well with Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Composer Pyarelal then recalled his violin teacher, composer Anthony Gonsalves, and suggested an alternative "Anthony Gonsalves", which would be finalized as the character's name.
The soundtrack of the film, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal with lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi, proved as popular and successful as the film itself. For the song, "Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai", four leading playback singers, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, and Lata Mangeshkar sang together for the first and only occasion in their careers.

The film stars Vinod Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, and Rishi Kapoor opposite Shabana Azmi, Parveen Babi, and Neetu Singh in the lead roles. The film was scheduled in such a way that the entire cast, including the three titular stars, didn't have to shoot together except for the climactic sequence and the title song, "Anhoni Ko Honi Karde", where they all perform together. It was shot over a period of a month at Ranjit Studios in Mumbai.
There was an interesting goof in the film. In the introduction scene between Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, Rishi's character Akbar Illahabadi calls Neetu Singh's character Dr Salma by her real name and not with her character's name. This goof is noticeable enough, but no efforts were taken to correct it in the movie. This is the scene when Akbar comes to Dr. Salma for a health check-up and he refers to Dr. Salma as Neetu. 
Recall the cult scene wherein Amitabh Bachchan mouths a dialogue looking into the mirror? The dialogue 'Pakka idiot lagtaa' is still fresh in everyone's mind. It was after Amitabh did the mirror scene that Manmohan Desai became a life long fan of Amitabh. Manmohan saw the scene later on and told Amitabh that if he ever wants to leave Manmohan Desai it will be fine, but he (Manmohan) would never leave him.who later formed a hit combo.
You would be surprised to note that Manmohan Desai had met Amitabh in 1972. Salim Javed had introduced him to Manmohan. Desai was not impressed with Amitabh and stated "The only role I will ever offer him is a CHICKEN ROLL !"

Rishi Kapoor in his biography revealed that he was shooting for Laila Majnu 1976 when he got a call from Manmohan Desai that he would like him to play the role of Akbar in his next movie, he thought that Akbar would be someone like Akbar Baadshah the kind of role his grandfather Prithviraj Kapoor played in Mughle Azam 1960 and Rishi Kapoor said to Manmohan Desai he won't be playing that role which his grandfather had played after further discussion he came to know the character was about three heroes belonging to different faiths.
The role of AMAR was originally offered to Dharmendra, but he declined it because of his busy schedule. It was then Vinod Khanna was signed. In the original script, Vinod Khanna did not have any heroine opposite himself he insisted Man Mohan Desai to cast and actress opposite him as his co-stars Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor had actress paired opposite them. Shabana Azmi was cast at the last moment.

This film was full of entertainment but was also full of illogical facts such as the scene where all 3 brothers giving blood directly to the mother. A miracle in medical science and also in the last scene when Neetu Singh catches Parveen's wrist to find out whether she is pregnant. It became a joke that Manmohan Desai is entertaining but you have to leave your brain at home to see his films.
This film truly belonged to Amitabh Bachchan. He received his first Filmfare award for this film. The film crowned Amitabh Bachchan as a ‘One Man Variety Show’ 

Songs of Amar Akbar Anthony

	Title	Time
1.	"Ye Sach Hai Koi Kahani Nahin"	Mohammad Rafi	02:22
2.	"Amar Akbar Anthony"	Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor, Shailendra Singh	05:52
3.	"Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar"	Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar	07:33
4.	"Taiyabali Pyar Ka Dushman"	Mohammad Rafi	04:40
5.	"Parda Hai Parda"	Mohammad Rafi	07:59
6.	"Shirdi Wale Sai Baba"	Mohammad Rafi	05:52
7.	"My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves"	Amitabh Bachchan, Kishore Kumar

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Song of Amar Akbar Anthony 1977

Jaya Bhaduri - Her Iconic and Unforgettable Films

Jaya Bhaduri born on 9 April 1948, who appeared in nearly 50 films remains the Guddi forever. The film Guddi directed by Hrishikesh Mukharjee was her debut film released in 1971. Since then with every film, Jaya Bhaduri broke the mould and stood her ground as one of the finest actresses of her time. 
With Guddi she created the girl-next-door image for her, which she was often associated with throughout the rest of her career. However, she did a glamorous role in Jawani Diwani in 1973 and a negative character of the heroine faking amnesia, in Anamika (1973). She was a favorite heroine of filmmakers like Hrishikesh Mukharjee, Gulzar and Basu Chatterjee.

Song of Guddi (1971)

Uphar (1971) was her next film. The film featured Jaya Bachchan as Mrinmayee (Minoo), who marries a lawyer Anoop (played by Swaroop Dutt). The film covered an innocent and immature love story of two people. The film adorned Jaya Bachchan with Filmfare Special Award.

Song of Uphar (1971)

Koshish (1972), It was a story based on the life of a deaf and mute couple, their conflicts, and their struggle to live in a normal society. She was nominated as the best actress at Filmfare awards.

Song of Koshish (1972)

Abhimaan (1973)  The film showcases Amitabh Bachchan as Subir, who is a struggling singer. He marries Uma (played by Jaya Bachchan), who is also a singer. The film concentrate on the ego clashes between the couple as Uma leads a way to success in her singing career, while Subir faces failure. 

Song of Abhimaan (1973) 

Kora Kagaz (1974) Jaya Bachchan featured in Kora Kagaz which depicts a sad love story of two people, who meet each other while traveling on a bus. She gets another Filmfare Award for this film.

Song of Kora Kagaz (1974)

Mili is a 1975  romantic drama film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. It starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Ashok Kumar in lead roles. Jaya Bachchan received a Filmfare nomination as Best Actress, the only nomination for the film

Song of Milli 1975

Silsila (1981) Said to be the real-life portrayal of the then-scandalous Amitabh-Jaya-Rekha love triangle. It is considered as one of the iconic romantic movies of Bollywood

Song of Silsila (1981)

 She has appeared along with her actor husband Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer in 1973 and  Abhimaan, Chupke Chupke, Mili and Sholay in 1975 Following her marriage to actor Amitabh Bachchan she quit acting and gave birth to her children. It is believed that Amitabh Bachchan restricted to her continuing in the films and she returned to action in the 1981 film Silsila and later appeared in Govind Nihalani's Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa in 1998. Since then she appeared in a few more commercially successful films such as ‘ Fiza’ in 2000, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham in 2001, Kal Ho Naa Ho in 2003 which were critically acclaimed films and she won several awards and nominations again.

Jaya Bhaduri has won eight Filmfare Awards including three for the Best Actress and the Best Supporting Actress. She was awarded the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in the year 2007 In 1992 she was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India. Nominated five times for the Best Actress Award Won three International Film Academy Awards Has Won the Bengal Film Journalist Association Awards a special Award for her Debut film Guddi and Fiza. Has won the Anandalok Award for Special Editor’s Award Zee Cinema – Best Supporting Actress for the role in Fiza Sansui Viewer’s Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.  

Agneepath Turns 30

Recall the iconic dialogue of Amitabh Bachchan : ‘Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, pura naam. Baap ka naam Dinanath Chauhan, maa ka naam Suhasini Chauhan. Gaon Mandwa. Umar chattis saal, nau mahina, ath din.. ey, ey solwa ghanta chaloo ey re’.
Yes, I am talking about none other than the 1990’s film ‘Agneepath. This film was released on 16th Feb 1990. It is Amitabh Bachchan's one of the most highly respected dramatic roles. 
The title of this film was suggested by Amitabh taken from his father Harivansh Bachchan's one of the poems. Amitabh Bachchan received his first National Film Award for Best Actor at the 38th National Film Awards for his performance. It is considered a milestone in Bachchan's career, and in the league of his all-time great movies.
When released, Agneepath was a failure, both at the box office as well as among the critics. Amitabh Bachchan's experimentation with his voice did not go well with the masses and the critics. He had spoken the dialogue in a different voice inspired by Marlon Brando in The Godfather but the audience loved his baritone voice.
Amitabh Bachchan looked tired at places but does an excellent job as the underworld don. His mannerisms are superb. The opening scene and few thereafter have some emotional as well as a class appeal but not of the type which can move the viewers. The long climax is thrilling. But Amitabh’s death was a jolt. A characteristic feature of the movie was the dark undertones and the grim atmosphere of the film, which was unusual for any of Amitabh Bachchan's films.
The film was remade in 2012 with the same title, by Johar's son Karan Johar, as a tribute to his father.

Dialogue of Agneepath 1990

Dialogue of Agneepath 1990

Song of Agneepath 1990

Song of Agneepath 1990

Song of Agneepath 1990

The Shenhanshah of Bollywood completes 50 years in Film Industry

Amitabh Bachchan completed 50 years in the Indian film industry as his debut film Saat Hindustani was released on November 7, 1969. To date, he appeared in about 200 films. Most of his films were successful.
We are all blessed to witness the greatness! There is so much to admire, to learn and even more to appreciate. Several generations of cinema lovers get to say we lived in the times of BACHCHAN
Bachchan has given memorable performances in films and is a four-time National Film Awards winner. He has been selected unanimously for #DadaSahabPhalke award. for this year which is to be given today.
Even at 77, Amitabh Bachchan can give any newcomer a run for his money. Big B is one actor who has constantly reinvented himself and has earned the love and respect of all generations.
Here are few fav scenes from his films

Scene from  Anand

A scene from Amar Akbar Anthony

A scene from Namak Halal

A scene from Satte Pe Satta

A scene from Deewar

A scene from Mr Natwarlal

A scene from Baghban

A scene from Don

A scene from Sholay

Amitabh Bachchan - How an Actor Rejected by Producers and Directors became the most saught after actor

If we read this story of Amitabh Bachchan, this would be the inspiration to the younger generation not to be dejected by the failures but try & try to achieve your goal, one day success will come in your way. We elders also take a lesson from him, how he battled various injuries and illnesses in the past, including tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, myasthenia gravis, and 25 percent of the liver, he still works and keeps himself fit.
Amitabh Bachchan was rejected in 1967 when he came to Bombay for Filmfare and Madhuri Film Talent Contest. His voice was earlier rejected by AIR for an announcer in Radio. His photographs were rejected by many producers saying that no heroine would like to work with this tall and lanky person. Before Zanzeer all (9) of his films flopped.
In this Blog, I look into the story of the Mahanayak of Hindi film industry. How he was recommended by the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
After receiving the rejection letter from the Film Talent Contest, Amitabh Bachchan was deeply depressed. Her mother who saw her Munna (Amitabh) in that stage contacted Indira Gandhi who was her friend to recommend her son to the Bollywood. 
Mrs. Gandhi knew Nargis Dutt very well, she rang Nargis Dutt and asked her to help Amitabh Bachchan to get into Films. Nargis Dutt then contacted Mr. Raj Grover who was very close to the editor of Madhuri, the Hindi film magazine which took the Talent Contest. He collected the photograph of Amitabh from them.
Nargis Ji showed this photograph first to B R Chopra who was a big name in Bollywood. Mr. Chopra took a glimpse of the photo for a second and put the photograph on the table. He didn't say anything but it looked like that he rejected him. Mr. Raj Grover who accompanied Nargis Dutt in that meeting read the situation, he told B R Chopra that this boy has been recommended by then PM Indira Gandhi. He then immediately picked up the photo and looked for few more seconds and said "Haan Kuchh Baat Toh Hai Iske Chehre mein".He took a phone and called Mohan Sehgal informing him that he would like to take audition of a young boy during his next shooting schedule.
After few days the shooting was to begin so B R Chopra informed Nargis Dutt about the dates and asked Amitabh to be there for the audition.
Amitabh Bachchan in those days was working in Bird & Co at Calcutta. He took four days leave from that company and landed at Bombay. He stayed with his friend at Colaba
This detail information I have gathered from the book The Legends Of Bollywood written by Mr. Raj  Grover who is being referred here. In this book, these 4 days are written very beautifully.
Nargis ji fixed the meeting of Amitabh with the Rajshri head Tarachand Barjatya who was planning a film at that time. She also informed him about the background of Amitabh.
When Mr. Barjatya saw Amitabh Bachchan, he looked at him and said " No heroine would like to work with you. You are very tall. You should take your famous father's footstep and write poetry like him"
On the third day, Amitabh went to Mohan Studio with Mr. Raj Grover for the audition. Mr Mohan Saigal asked Mr. Raj Grover to give him a few lines to prepare for the audition whatever he feels suitable. He was given a few romantic lines, Amitabh also added few lines from Madhushala. This audition was not approved. So Amitabh Bachchan was once again was dejected.
Before Amitabh Bachchan was to leave for Calcutta, Sunil Dutt promised him that he will give him a role in Reshma Aur Shera as soon as he will start the film. Sunil Dutt kept his photograph with him. KA Abbas the famous director was starting a film Saat Hindustani and he was looking for seven new faces for that film. Sunil Dutt recommended him for one of the seven characters 
The shooting of Reshma Aur Shera started first, though he played a dumb character in that film his voice was being appreciated by one and all unit members. It was Sunil Dutt and Manoj Kumar who were appreciative of Amitabh before any of his films released. It was Saat Hindustani completed first and released first. His performance was appreciated by many. Similarly in Reshma Aur Shera though his role was short but he was highly appreciated.
Before Reshma Aur Shera his second film Parwana was released. In this film, Amitabh plays his first negative role as an infatuated lover-turned-murderer. The film had Navin Nischal as a hero but Amitabh's performance was appreciated.
Another film released before Reshma Aur Shera was Anand of Hrishikesh Mukharji. It stars Rajesh Khanna in the lead role, with a supporting cast including Amitabh Bachchan, The role of Babu Moshay became immortal. From this film the making of a big star began.
During the shooting of Saat Hindustani Amitabh and Anwar Ali, the younger brother of Mahmood became friends. Mahmood liked Amitabh Bachchan and treated him as his younger brother, he even asked him to live in his house. He gave him a separate room to live in. He offered him the role of hero in Bombay to Goa released in 1972.
At the time of the making of Guddi, he became a friend of Jaya Bhaduri. Both of them worked together as Hero and Heroine in two films Bansi Birju and Ek Nazar released in 1972, both the films flopped but their love story was hit. In the meantime Prakash Mehra was starting Zanzeer,  he wanted to take Dharmendra as his hero but Dharmendra couldn't give him dates, then Dev Anand was approached who denied the film as there were no song situations for the hero in the film. Raj Kumar was also approached but he refused the film. It was Pran who suggested Amitabh's name and also supported by Salim Javed, the role went to Amitabh. Zanjeer proved to be the biggest turning point in Big B's life professionally as well as personally. The film not only made him a star overnight, and also tied the knot with Jaya Bhaduri.
In his Blog Amitabh Bachchan wrote that  he wanted to celebrate the success of Zanjeer with Jaya in London (they were yet to be married) when he received a diktat from his father late poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan: "Who all are going came the query from Babuji... names disclosed.. 'Jaya is also going with you... you both are alone... yes... if you have to go, marry and go',"
The year 1973 was also when he married Jaya, and around this time they appeared in several films together: not only Zanjeer but also subsequent films such as Abhimaan, which was released only a month after their marriage and was also successful at the box office. Later, Bachchan played the role of Vikram, once again along with Rajesh Khanna, in the film Namak Haraam, a social drama directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and scripted by Biresh Chatterjee addressing themes of friendship. His supporting role won him his second Filmfare Best Supporting Actor award.
In 1974, Bachchan made several guest appearances in films such as Kunwara Baap and Dost, before playing a supporting role in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. Just after that his film Majboor was released. The film was a success at the box office 
In 1975, he starred in a variety of film genres, from the comedy Chupke Chupke and the crime drama Faraar to the romantic drama Mili. This was also the year in which Bachchan starred in two films regarded as important in Hindi cinema history, both written by Salim-Javed. The first released on 15 August 1975, was Sholay, which became the highest-grossing film ever in India at the time, The other was Deewaar, directed by Yash Chopra, where he worked with Shashi Kapoor, Nirupa Roy, Parveen Babi, and Neetu Singh, and earned another Filmfare nomination for Best Actor. The film became a major hit at the box office in 1975,   Now he became the most sought after Hero of Bollywood. Every producer wanted to make a film with him. 
With his brilliant acting skills and his ability to deliver blockbusters after blockbuster, Bachchan was set for the long haul. The importance of being Amitabh Bachchan is not limited to his career, although he reinvented himself and experimented with his roles and acted in many successful films.

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Here are Rare Songs from Amitabh Bachchan Films Pre Zanjeer

Songs of Saat Hindustani 1970

Songs of Pyar Ki Kahani 1971

Songs of Sanjog 1972

Songs of Ek Nazar 1972

Songs of Ek Nazar 1972

Songs of  Bansi Birju 1972

 Song of Raaste Ka Pathar 1972

Songs of  Raaste Ka Pathar 1972

 Bandhe Haath 1972

Songs of Bombay To Goa 1972

Songs of Bombay To Goa 1972