The love saga of Veer and Zaara presented by the ace director left imprints in the minds of romantic movie lovers forever. Yash, known for his unique format of filmmaking, decorated the flick musically which still is cherished by music lovers of all genres. Veer-Zaara also marks the last flick of Nightingale of India, as Lata Mangeshkar officially worked as a playback singer for the final time.
Each of the songs and its presentation had a unique touch of Yash. Veer-Zaara got enlisted in the long list of classic cult movies like Silsila, Deewar, Kabhie Kabhie, including modern-era's love sagas like Chandni, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and Dil To Pagal Hai. He also left no stone unturned to make it special before announcing his retirement from direction in 2012.
While everyone is fond of the scenes in Veer-Zaara, Liger stars Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday have 'recreated' a scene from the movie.
If you remember the song, Aisa Desh Hai Mera, when Veer was giving Zaara a tour of his native village in Punjab, towards the end of the song, the duo is seen riding on a tractor. While SRK was driving the tractor, Preity was sitting beside him.
In the scene 'recreated' by Vijay and Ananya, the duo could be seen riding a tractor while passing through a paddy field. Fans have compared it with Veer-Zaara's scene.
Well, this is not just about Veer-Zaara. This is a common scene that one can encounter in Punjab everyday. While farmers in Punjab sweat out hard on the fields to grow grains, their wives accompany them and return with them on tractors. Bollywood and several other film industries have brought such scenes onto the silver screen 'N' number of times.
On the other hand, another video has surfaced on social media in which Vijay and Ananya are seen at a Punjabi restaurant. While the table is full of different Punjabi cuisine, the duo are seen striking glasses of Lassi, which is an indispensable Punjabi delicacy and must included in a meal.
And it seems to have not much of a chance, thanks to the pincer attack of the John Abraham-Arjun Kapoor-starrer 'Ek Villain Returns', which is expected to wrap up its first weekend with Rs 24 crore, according to the trade media, and Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep-led 3D film 'Vikrant Rona', which has garnered Rs 37-38 crore.
For Ranbir, who's now better known as 'Mr Alia Bhatt', 'Shamshera' is the sixth flop of his career, starting with his debut film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, 'Saawariya' (2007), but for the banner behind the Rs 150-crore period action drama, Yash Raj Films (YRF), it will be the fourth flop in succession.
The production house, whose brand name carries the imprimatur of one of the most successful hitmakers, Yash Chopra, and is helmed by the late producer-director's son, Aditya Chopra, has had a bad run ever since Siddhant Chaturvedi's 'Bunty Aur Babli 2' (despite the appearance of one of the original hit's stars -- Rani Mukherjee -- with Saif Ali Khan), released on November 19, 2021, could net a measly Rs 12 crore (gross collection less taxes), according to 'Box Office India..
That is a little more than a quarter of the film's budget -- Rs 45 crore.
Adding insult to injury, in a year when dubbed southern films are making cash as if it is going out of fashion, Ranveer Singh's 'Jayeshbhai Jordaar', released on May 13 this year, could net just Rs 16.6 crore, against a budget of Rs 90 crore.
This was Ranveer's second screen debacle after the much-hyped Cricket World Cup 1983 drama, '83', where the actor essayed Kapil Dev, the captain of the victorious Indian team.
Then came what was to be the film that would equal, if not beat, Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files' because it was to appeal to the same constituency -- 'Samrat Prithviraj'. Its lead actor is the pre-Covid hit machine, Akshay Kumar, who was fresh from the middling success of 'Sooryavanshi', it was supported by the leading lights of the BJP, and its script, according to its maker Chandraprakash Dwivedi, was in the making for 18 years.
Clearly, the audiences did not relate with a ruler in the distant past, even if he had been elevated to the rank of a 'Samrat', who ended up losing to a foreign invader. In the post-Covid world, they were looking for heroes with the brawn and heft of the characters played by Ram Charan and Jr NTR in 'RRR' -- heroes who took on the mightiest empire of their time and won.
'Samrat Prithviraj', despite being made tax free in three states, has netted Rs 68 crore since its release on June 3 this year. Its budget? Rs 150 crore.
Not that YRF isn't used to its films failing, but it must be remembered that out of its filmography of 65 releases, starting with the Anil Kapoor-Sridevi-starrer 'Lamhe' (1991), 11 have been blockbusters, including the iconic 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', which launched Aditya Chopra as the new hitmaker, and 'Dhoom 3', 13 have been hits or superhits, and seven semi-hits, according to Box Office India data.
Still, compared with 31 blockbusters to semi-hits, YRF has logged 34 'flops' or 'disasters'. Let us crunch the numbers a little more and focus only on the time after the passing of Yash Chopra in 2012.
Our analysis indicates 14 out of the 29 films released from 2012 onwards were in the 'disaster', 'flop' or 'below average' zones, but YRF also rolled out five blockbusters -- 'War' (released ironically on Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary in 2019; Rs 292 crore); 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (2017; Rs 339 crore); 'Sultan' (2016; Rs 301 crore); 'Dhoom 3' (2013; 261 crore); and last, 'Ek Tha Tiger' (2012; Rs 186 crore). All the earnings cited here are net collections, not inflation adjusted, listed on the Box Office India website.
What should get YRF worried, however, is that it has not had a single hit since 'War'. Before its post-Covid disastrous run, the last half-way decent success was the Rani Mukherjee-led 'Mardaani 2', a low-budget film with a relatively known cast.
It must be making Aditya Chopra nostalgic about the banner's humongously successful run between 1993 and 2000 with 'Darr' (1993), 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (1995), 'Dil To Pagal Hai' (1997) and 'Mohabbatein' (2000).
Of these, of course, the unforgettable SRK-Kajol star vehicle, 'DDLJ', has made an inflation-adjusted net collection of Rs 461.33 crore, making it the fourth highest-earning Hindi film of all time after 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun', 'Baahubali 2: The Conclusion' and 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha'.
It is said that it was SRK who revived Yash Chopra's fortunes with 'Darr' and 'DDLJ'. Will his magic work all over again for the banner with 'Pathaan'? For the answer, we'll have to wait for January 25, 2023.
She was the real Bharat Ratna in the true sense spreading the charm of her voice across many generations for over several decades. Her contribution to the Indian music industry will also be cherished till eternity.
Remembering Lata Didi on the 12th day of her heavenly abode, here we bring in a few lesser-known facts about the legendary singer.
Earlier on February 15, we had presented an interesting episode between Lataji and Kishore Da.
This time, lets know the lesser known tiff between Mohammad Rafi And Lata Mangeshkar
Apart from Kishore Kumar, Lataji has recorded several songs with Mohammad Rafi. The duo’s duet ruled the charts and the music industry. However, they had a tiff and did not sing together for around 3 years. They didn't even share a cordial relationship in their personal life. The duo fell out on issues of payment royalty to singers following which they decided not to sing together. However, later things were sorted out.
"Lag Ja Gale..."
‘Lag Ja Gale’ sung by Lata Mangeshkar is another evergreen song that is also hummed by music lovers in the young generation. Be it a singer or non-singer, the depth of this song can be sensed by everyone that made it a classic. This song from the suspense drama 'Woh Kaun Thi' was penned by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and decorated musically by Madan Mohan.
However, there is a lesser-known fact behind this timeless song.
As said by Sanjeev Kohli (Madan Mohan's son), Lataji often said that Lag Ja Gale was a tough song to sing. All the murkis and variations suggested by the music director were quite difficult. Even, the singer herself had added a few variations to the song. The songs then were recorded in a 4-hour shift with all musicians and singer/s together with retakes.
Director Raj Khosla and Madan Mohan were good friends and he reminded the music director about a haunting song which was composed in 1949/50 but rejected by many directors. It was Naina Barse which became the theme song of the movie.
However, it was the same Raj Khosla who rejected the tune of Lag Ja Gale in the first sitting. As said by Kohli, he (Raj) felt that the tune was not haunting enough for a ghost story. But, Madanji was quite confident about his creation and requested the leading man to intervene. The second sitting was soon arranged with Manoj Kumarji present on the spot, the same tune was presented again. The director got blown away in the second sitting.
Despite limited technology, the song sounds so fresh even today. Isn't it!
"Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchan Hai"
"Meri Aawaz Hi Pehechan Hai...." is not just the lyrics of a song. Each and every word in the lyrics has a deep meaning and it is justified. "My voice is indeed my identity”, is what the lyrics mean.
"Meri awaaz hi pehchan hai" is from the song “Naam Gum Jaayega” which was penned by veteran lyricist-poet Gulzar in his directed movie 'Kinaara' in 1977. This song directed by another legend RD Burman went on to become a landmark from the singer and is still cherished by music lovers even after several decades.
This line from the song abruptly got associated with the singer and will ever remain.
During an interview, decades back, the Nightingale had said, “Everyone in the country knows that Gulzar sahab writes beautifully. He also speaks beautifully. When I was singing (this song), he came to me and gently said, ‘Meri awaaz hi pehchan hai aur ye hai pehchan’. He said something like this. But later, I also started saying that ‘my voice is my identity’. And now whoever sings that song or writes about me says those lines.”
Lata Mangeshkar And Yash Chopra Magic
Filmmaker Yash Chopra and Lataji shared a very beautiful relationship. Can you imagine YRF's movie without Lata's song? Of course, not! Be it Daag, Kabhie Kabhie, Silsila or new-age movies like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil To Pagal Hai, Mohabbatein or Veer-Zaara, one can't find a movie without Lata's song. Though Lata had officially given up on playback singing, it was Yash who convinced her to sing for his films. Lata's official full-fledged song was from Veer-Zaara.
Lata- The Revolutionary
The singing icon was known in the industry for her outspoken attitude. Today's singers are enjoying the benefits for the stand she took decades back. From giving credit to singers to getting awards and royalty share, it was Lata who took the stand and the rest is history.
Apart from that, Lata stopped singing in modern films for her dislike in remixing and re-recording old classic songs. As per the singing legend, remixing or re-recording spoiled the magic of the original. Well, no one would disagree over such a thought. Isn't it!
May her divine soul rest in peace!
She will be the fifth winner of the award. Previous recipients are Asha Bhosale's elder sister and Bollywood playback singer Lata Mangeshkar, and actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, and Shah Rukh Khan.
Evergreen Asha Bhosle has been giving playback in Hindi films for nearly seven decades, earning her an entry into the Guinness World Records for recording over 11,000 songs in 20 different languages.
The jury comprising late filmmaker Yash Chopra's wife Pamela Chopra, filmmaker Boney Kapoor, singer Alka Yagnik, actress Padmini Kohlapure, director Madhur Bhandarkar, script writer Honey Irani, and Anu and Shashi Ranjan came together for a press conference to announce the winner.
"This is a very prestigious award. It is given to the (one of the) pillars of our industry. This is the 5th year and the jury decided it is high time we acknowledge Ashaji's contribution to the Indian cinema," said Alka Yagnik.
Bonney Kapoor, who has been closely associated with Asha Bhosle, said: "My association with Ashaji has been since childhood -- she sang songs for my father's films, for my films. Besides, we have always had very good relations. I think it is befitting that she receives this prestigious award."
The award will be presented to Asha Bhosle on February 16.
The award has been instituted by the TSR Foundation of T. Subbarami Reddy in memory of producer-director Yash Chopra, who died in 2012.