Minding kids, the Bollywood way Children have been inherent characters in Bollywood potboilers but there have only been a handful of movies made keeping them in mind. Even the few made have met with contrasting response at the ticket windows. So if on one hand, Brahmachari and Mr India -- both films about orphans raised by the protagonist -- ended up doing well, films like Halo, Makdee and The Blue Umbrella, which despite, their noble attempts, have not had the desired response. This week's release, Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic, also belongs to this genre. Starring Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji, the film is directed by Kunal Kohli (Mujhse Dosti Karoge, Hum Tum, Fanaa) and is loosely based on the Julie Andrew's classic Mary Poppins (though Kohli denies it). We take a look at movies that have a similar premise -- a bunch of orphans left at the care of the protagonist -- and see how well Bollywood has done before. Feel free to add your favourites as well.  | Parichay [1972] Director: Gulzar
Inspiration: The Sound of Music Parichay has become a classic. Be it the story, direction, music or the performances, every facet of Parichay is memorable. For those who are not yet familiar with the story, it is loosely based on Hollywood's The Sound of Music, and narrates the tale of an unemployed youth (Jeetendra), who is forced to take up the job of a teacher to a rich man's grandchildren. Neglected by their grandfather and punished by their aunt, the five orphans become unruly and drive away their tutors until the new one wins them over with his patience and fortitude. For Infomaniacs: * Lata Mangeshkar won the National Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the song Beeti Na Beetayi Raina.
* Vinod Khanna makes a small appearance in the movie, as Jeetendra's room-mate Amit.  | Ek Ladka Ek Ladki [1992] Director: Vijay Sadanah
Inspiration: Overboard This lesser known Salman Khan movie was a rip off of the 1987 Goldie Hawn-Kurt Russell starrer Overboard. Vijay Sadanah, who had made the moving Pyar Jhukta Nahin (which also centered around a child) tries to carry forward in the same vein. Ek Ladka Ek Ladki tells the story of Salman and his three nephews, who live in a farm, and have some altercations with the city slick and snobbish Neelam. When the latter suffers from a bout of amnesia after a freak accident, it is up to Salman and his nephews to bring her to book by making up one story after the other and making her live the life they lead. For Infomaniacs: -- This was the first and only film to star Salman and Neelam as a romantic couple. Neelam later appeared as Salman's sister in Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath Saath Hain.
-- Director Vijay Sadanah doubles up as a lyricist in the film.  | Hum Hain Rahi Pyaar Ke [1993] Director: Mahesh Bhatt
Inspiration: Houseboat Mahesh Bhatt directed this film when his career was at his peak and when almost all his movies had a Hollywood hangover. So while It Happened One Night became Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin and Taxi Driver became Sadak, a Cary Grant-Sophia Loren starrer Houseboat, provided the base for this film. Hum Hain Rahi is about Aamir Khan's character, whose family business is heavily in debt. To make matters worse, he has to take care of his dead sister's three mischievous children. How the mutual dislike turns into love forms the rest of the movie. For Infomaniacs: -- This movie was produced by Aamir's father Tahir Hussain and was his last notable success as a producer.
-- It won Juhi Chawla her first and only Filmfare Best Actress Award [1994].  | Raju Chacha [2000] Director: Anil Devgan
Inspiration: The Sound of Music Ajay Devan's second attempt at production, after the Prakash Jha directed Dil Kya Kare (1999), was a lavish turkey at the turnstiles. It tells the story of three kids whose father (Rishi Kapoor) is killed in an accident. Having lost their mother earlier, they are left at the mercy of evil relatives until their Raju Chacha (Ajay Devgan) makes an amazing entry into their lives. For Infomaniacs: -- This movie was Anil Devgan's directorial debut. Ajay Devgan's cousin went on to make Blackmail and the recently-released Haal-e-Dil. All three movies tanked at the BO.
-- Raju Chacha features Sanjay Dutt in a special appearance. Vaah! Life Ho To Aisi [2005] Director: Mahesh Manjrekar
Inspiration: Still trying to figure this one out. Let's say it is inspired by Bollywood potboilers of yore like Lok Parlok and Taqdeerwala Shahid Kapoor's elder brother and sister-in-law have gone away and his other brother (Mohnish Bahl) has hit the bottle. So Shahid has to take care of all the kids. He does so well, until he meets with an accident. He wakes up to find himself in the company of Yamraj, Maut ka Ayojak (Sanjay Dutt) who has come for him. He requests for a reprieve and is granted, only to be followed by the God of Death. How Shahid solves all his problems and gets a surprise in the end forms the crux of this hodge podge. For Infomaniacs: -- The car that the Yamraj MA drives in the movie is a 1919 Chevrolet.
-- This was the first Indian movie to be shot in high definition [HD] format. | | | | | |
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