10th February a movie released which I had wanted to write about.
JOSHILAY
Some may be flummoxed as to why ..but do read on
The film was launched in 1983 with Vijay Anand directing the mahurat shot and giving the clap being uncle of the director Shekhar Kapoor who was on a high after Masoom.
It was delayed by 6 years before seeing the light of the day in 1989
Story Line :
Gang lord Jogi Thakur (Rajesh Kapoor) learns that a police station is about to open in a village he terrorises. He blames a doctor (Alok Nath) and kills him and his wife. Only the son survives the massacre. Soon after, Jogi Thakur becomes a victim himself: his aide
Raja Singh (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) hands him over to the police. 20 years later, Raja has become a rich man and Jogi Thakur breaks out of prison to take revenge. There is a hefty bounty on his head for his capture. Two young men Dara (Sunny Deol) and Karan (Anil Kapoor) are also interested in him. And not only because of that - because both have a fate in the past that has to do with Yogi Thakur and Raja Singh..
Dara wants Jogi thakur alive and Karan wants him dead.
Now Shekhar Kapoor left the film at its climax as he wanted to reshoot it ( Mr.India had hit the jackpot till then). The producer Sibte Hassan Rizvi finished the film.
The script was written (again after a delay) by Javed Akhtar.
Because Javed Akhtar is the scriptwriter( Story, screenplay and dialogue), there are two heroes and the western setting is based on revenge and gangsterism, quite a few critics have compared "Joshilaay" to Sholay . This work, written 15 years after the great classic, clearly draws the short straw. But a comparison with Sholay isn't particularly clever anyway - because the parallels are exhausted just as quickly as they are found. Rather, the makers take inspiration from a range of westerns, particularly spaghetti westerns, and less specifically, one movie. If so, then not with Sholay
but in the work of Sergio Leone, which is evident in the opening scene with Alok Nath as well as in the final standoff, the Morricone-tinged music and the inclusion of the rattle, which is reminiscent of the harmonica in "Play me the song of death".
This is the best thing about "Joshilaay": The dusty western look, the musty clothes and dry plains on which the heroes and villains proudly ride .(Something associated with Feroz Khan.)
Add to that the sound of RD Burman and you have a Bollywood western.
The song Joshilay ye Shehzaade hain zameen ke is the last song Kishore Kumar recorded for R.D
Burman.
Other songs include Na Ja JaaneJann Na Jaa ( R.D and Asha), Dhak Dhak jiya Kare ( Asha and Usha).
The music and the background score is absolutely superb.
Of the Lead actors Anil Kapoor was the brooding laconic while Sunny Deol had the flamboyant role full of energy (another similarity with the character's Jai Veeru of Sholay).
The Villan Jogi Thakur was a formidable villain and was tried to be portrayed like Gabbar but he had more Lunacy which was the big difference.
Sridevi and Meenakshi Sheshadri play the female leads, but don't have much to do in this capacity: the film belongs to the men. Last but not least, the Kulbhushan Kharbanda is convincing as a sleazy schemer who tries use Dara and Karan to suit his interest against Jogi Thakur. ( Major difference from Sholay). Satish Kaushik is commendable in his humour.
Why I wanted to review this film as it had the potential to be a great film but the long time I. Making followed by the Many changes in technical crew.. Cinematographer was changed .(Pravin Bhatt to Dilip Mukherjee).
Joshilaay was overshot and went over budget, the materials used for the shooting of this film was enough for making two films. The original editor of this film Renu Saluja found difficult to edit the film. Then I.M.Kunnu edited the film when the producer took over to complete the film.
These affected the continuity and what could have been an entertaining wild western turned out to be Soda without Fizz.
Anil Kapoor Sunny Deol who has given individual hits with Javed Akhtar Meri Jung and Arjun) could not lift this film and also had two other flops in Ram Avatar ( remake of Sangam) and Inteqam.
I personally like the film and wonder how a full Shekhar Kapoor directed Joshilay would have been.
A great opportunity gone amiss.
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