Navjeevan Films
Producer Tony & Tito.
(Ramanjeet and Khushaljeet Singh Juneja)
Does this ring a bell ?
The banner was launched in 1974 and the first film was Do Anjaane which released on 26th November 1976.
As Do Anjaane was completed they announced Ram Balram which however was delayed and released only on 28th November 1980.
(Today 41 years)
Infact due to the delay in
Ram Balram in between they shot a quickie Mr Natwarlal in 1978-79.
DO ANJAANE:
The first half of the movie deals with, Amitabh, enacting a simple , but not a stupid guy, who loves his wife, and son, Rekha, unhappy with their social and financial low status, Prem Chopra, a slimy guy, who knows how to take advantage of the situation, and finally, going to the gruesome extent, by pushing somewhat drunk, yet outspoken hero, out of the running train !
in the second part, which is more or less, seems cliched, and loses it's tempo, while explaining all the happenings, in between the wife becoming an upcoming heroine, much in demand , and the hero, who has survived the tragedy, living with his newly found, rich and kind, loving, parents ! The son is tucked away in a Boarding School, as obviously, the glamorous lady has no time for his upbringing ! Enter Amitabh (PART 2), and Rekha starts sweating under her heavy make-up, and sequined dresses, frightened at the striking similarity, between this rich, handsome, polished gentleman, who wishes to produce a film, with no one else, but her in the leading role ! And lo !The story matches so much with her own past ! Now this is a real panic situation . The villain is also suspicious, but has no clue. momentarily convinced, after phoning the hero's father, they try to take things for granted. Amitabh also visits his son in the school, and there is that adorable song, Luk Chup, which makes the son realise, and even the kind Principal, that indeed , this is the long lost father ! Things end happily after all, with some turmoil, fighting, and Rekha realizing what she had missed. Amitabh , Rekha and Prem Chopra, are perfectly cast in their respective roles. Utpal Dutt is as usual, most natural, and helps to lighten the mood of the movie, otherwise heavy, with anticipation, and Rekha's agony. Especially, his efforts at pronouncing the difficult Hindi words, gives a different touch to his personality. But it is Amitabh, who steals the show. One of his memorable performances, he has superbly underplayed, not giving in to the temptation of being melodramatic ! Yet, I have rated this movie on 6 out of ten, because, it doesn't convince on the situations, where the hero boldly encounters his wife, with gifts, ideas, and reminders, when she can easily find out , who the hell he is ! Forget the flaws, and enjoy the movie, not too bad by Indian cinema standards !
Do Anjaane was a film for the multiplexes. Not for the front benchers.
RAM BALRAM
As mentioned very delayed film
The third pairing of Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan (After Chupke Chupke and Sholay).
The story by Vijay Anand who directed and edited the film goes like this
Jagatpal (Ajit) causes a misunderstanding between two brothers who he claims as relatives (but obviously not). While they were arguing, he shoots both of them from the window, and frames them for murdering each other. Meanwhile he tries to molest and kill Ram's mother Saraswati who also raises her brother in-law's son Balram as her own (supposedly, but she survives and pops up at the end somehow). Jagatpal forcefully raises Ram to be a thief, and Balram to be educated without the accompaniment of his brother/cousin. He does this with sharp-pointy objects on the ends of his crutches...if they don't listen he threatens to stab them.
Ram (Dharmendra grows up to be a Mechanic who also is a Robinhood Charecter ) and makes Jagatpal rich.
Balram ( Amitabh Bachchan) is made into a Police Inspector..(Ek Chor Ek Sipahi) to see that Ram gets away always.
The first half of the movie (excluding the evilness of their evil uncle) was pretty entertaining ~ Dharmendra and Amitabh are first shown together and then shown in different scenes separately to show the differences and similarities in their life. Balram falls in love with Shoba (Rekha -Who was signed again after Do Anjaane) and Ram falls in love with Madhu (Zeenat Aman). The part where they display their own girls to each other is pretty amusing.
Part two is the Revenge angle
Ram and Balram continue to acquire wealth, by hook or by crook, for their uncle. In so doing, Bholuram incurs the wrath of Chandan Singh (Prem Chopra) and Suleiman Seth (Amjad Khan) and finally the thrilling climax on a ship.
The topic of 2 brothers on opposite sides of law became a common feature of Amitabh's movies like Deewar Parvarish and Suhaag .But none of them were so cool and celebrated about it as this movie.Here there is no friction between the brothers as the opposite side of law is deliberately enacted.
The film was a hit and so was the music with catchy songs 'Ek rasta...do raahi', 'Yaar ki khabar mil gayi..gayi', 'Ladki pasand ki mushkil se milti hai' and 'Balram ne bahut samjaaya
The film was released just a week ahead of Shaan bit that did not deter it's business and prospects.
This was the story of Navjeewan Films and it's two releases of November.
