The Sai Paranjape-Faaroque Sheikh Equation

Down Memory Lane

19th March was Sai Paranjape's birthday.

Today 25th is the late Farooque Sheikh's 76th Birth Anniversary.

One's mind goes back to 

1981 and 1982-83 when both worked together as Director Actor in Chashme Baddoor and Katha.

Farooque Sheikh :

In the world of mainstream Hindi cinema, actors need stock ingredients to deliver salable performances. Farooque Shaikh was never on the list. However 

Farooque Shaikh’s untimely death at the age of 65 in 2013, has left a void in Indian cinema that still hasn’t been filled. After working in theatre, Shaikh got his first break in MS Sathyu’s landmark film Garm Hava (1973),

Labelled as a serious actor Farooque Shaikh found his comic groove with Sai Paranjpye’s Chashme Baddoor (1981), a delightful tale of three room mates who fall for the same woman, Neha (Deepti Naval). This was the first time that Farooque Shaikh and Dipti Naval were cast together, and the two went on to become one of the most charming on-screen pairs in the ’80s.

This was followed by Katha by the same team a year later..

Shaikh’s crowning glory was this brilliant turn as the boastful and gregarious Bashudev (Bashu) in Katha ; When Bashu comes to live with the shy and timid Rajaram Joshi (Naseeruddin Shah), his shenanigans turned life in the once-peaceful chawl upside down. Bashu is the proverbial hare to Joshi’s tortoise, beating him to woo Sandhya (Deepti Naval). The shameless and unrepentant Bashu, who juggles his relationship with Sandhya with an affair with his boss’s wife (Mallika Sarabhai) while also flirting with her daughter Jojo (Winnie Paranjpe), is easy to detest. Instead, Farooque Shaikh makes him irresistible.

Both these films are remembered even today for their clean and light comic approach.

Yodha

First Day Review YODHA

In a current trend Bollywood is taking action in to the skies for the audience. After Runway 34, Tejas, Fighter, and Operation Valentine from the South, Yodha is the latest in the trend of aerial adventures.

To add to this is the Dash of 

Desh Bhakti and it has become a delicious menu to serve.

The story is wafer thin..

Following in the footsteps of his late father,Surender Katyal (Ronit Roy), who is the founder of the Yodha Task force , Our hero Arun Katyal (Sidharth Malhotra) also joins the Yodha Task Force. Arun’s critical mission during the Amritsar plane hijack, where his efforts tragically led to the death of a VIP passenger whose security he was responsible for, results in the suspension of the Yodha task force. A few years later, Arun finds himself on another hijacked plane.

He is now into Inflight security.

Circumstances However, make his former coworkers. and the government suspect him of orchestrating the hijack as a form of revenge for the Yodha Task Force’s dismissal. Is Arun the villain as portrayed, or is there more to the story? We find out everything eventually.

Directed by newcomers Pushkar Ojha and Sagar Ambre, the highlight of the film is the combat scenes in the skies, some of which take you to the edge of your seats. Sidharth Malhotra, once again, impresses with his screen presence, booming voice, and agility. Moving with a sense of purpose that the character demands, here is a young action hero who doesn’t need to announce his presence by going bare-chested but his neonate charisma and his wife Priyamwada played by Rashii Khanna’s also matches him.

Disha Patni plays her part well.

The physical punches land well but the emotional ones are a bit tame. The surprise element crucial for the middle portion.

The Twists are interesting

Overall, the delightfully twisted narrative, characters, and breathtaking action sequences make for an enjoyable experience even if you have seen it many times off late. This action adventure resembles a plane journey; while the takeoff may not be smooth, as the journey progresses, it draws you in. Despite some turbulence in the narrative, eventually, you’ll be glad you ventured on this exhilarating ride.

I give it 3.5 *stars out of 5

RD & RB.. A Tribute and Trivia

#rdtrivia 

How Ironic and Rare is it that two friends ..

A Film maker and a Music Director (The filmmaker never made a single film without his friend doing the music).

Some films flopped but the music was evergreen.

Iam talking of R.D.Burman who passed away on 4th January 1994 and four years before that on 5th January 1990 Ramesh Behl one of his closest friends passed away.

Together they made 12 movies.

A Tribute to this friendship.

The association started with 

" The Train".

“The Train” was a good thriller. Rajesh Khanna was then on the verge of sweeping the audience with his romantic image, wooing the leading lady with songs written for him, belting out hits after hits, with the trusted combination of lyricist Anand Bakshi, composer RD Burman and singer Kishore Kumar. This movie did not have a Kishore number but Mohammad Rafi delivered in the rare style that made him a super star among singers. 

A suspence film which had its soul in the music..

The songs were in fact thrown in at strategic interludes because the script was not strong enough to sustain the interest of the audience. It was unsurprising that the CID Inspector Shyam Kumar and Neeta, played by Nanda, were introduced through a song, the lilting Rafi number “Gulabi Aankhen Jo Teri Dekhin”. It figured in the Binaca Geet Mala list for weeks.

The story was nothing spectacular

A series of murders on a train, on a specifically targeted route, and a pattern of robbing jewellers, sets the police on a trail. Shyam Kumar ( Rajesh Khanna) has a tough assignment since he has to find the culprit responsible for framing Neeta’s ( Nanda) father in a murder trap. The character of Lily, so brilliantly portrayed by Helen, livens up the narrative. Tasked to seduce Inspector Shyam the hotel dancer falls in love with the detective and complicates the situation for her boss, No. 1 (Madan Puri). The Don and his cronies went by numbers as identity. Lily gets two lilting numbers to share the space with Neeta, who tries to match the Inspector’s dancing skills in “Gulabi Aankhen” and later in “Kis Liye Maine Pyaar Kiya” and a duet “Mujhse Bhala Yeh Kaajal Tera”. The Helen numbers, sung by Asha Bhosle – “Maine Dil Abhi Diya Nahi” and “Meri Jaan Maine Kaha” with RD, were well received too.

This was the level of melody in R.D.Burmans music.

It was the music which capitulated this film to be a big success..A super star and one in the making contributed to give “The Train” the status of a hit.

This was followed by

Jawaani Diwani (1972)

A romantic caper which added Randhir Kapoor as the third angle of this friendship triangle.

Romance was portrayed essentially through RD’s tunes. The variety that he brought was amazing, pumped life into what would have ended as a mundane narrative involving two college students falling in love with each other and achieving their goal after some hiccups. There is a villain too, some slapstick humour, and a predictable happy ending. The plot does not appeal but the music lingers. RD was the best ambassador for youthful and romantic genre not to forget the classical touch that he brought to songs.

Songs from “Jawani Diwani” impressed a cross-section of music-lovers. “Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani” was a peppy number and is still a regular in remixes.. “Saamne Yeh Kaun Aaya” could be heard at most parties. “Nahi Nahi Abhi Nahi” and “Agar Saaz Chheda Tarane Banenge” became popular too but he icing on the cake was “Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha” which had a distinct RD touch, a unique blend of instruments that only he could use.

The film is remembered today just for its musc.

The pair of Ramesh Behl and R.D went on to give further hits like Kasme Vaade, Basera,Yeh Vaada Raha. These were quality films with melody.

Even insipid films like 

Dil Deewana (almost a sequel to Jawani Diwani) , Harjayi, Jaane Jaan and Apne Apne are remembered (?) just for their music.

Pukar had lovely music and songs but the film came with Amitabh in a bad patch..R.D singing for him ( due to a fall off with Kishore Kumar)

The prolific music of Jawaani (Too Rootha toh main roh dungi) is remembered.

The association ended with Indrajeet released a year after Ramesh ji passed away.

R.D Burman was also in obliviation.

Here's to their friendship..and the music they created.

Collage Credit: Shailendra Mishra.