Red balloons in the air, a rain song for the lovers, an exotic location, and a heroine clad in lovely chiffon saris or in white, to symbolise the anticipation and purity of love…if you haven't guessed it by now these are the typical ingredients in Yash Chopra's recipe for making an oh-so-romantic, lovey-dovey movie. Born on September 27, 1932, Yash Chopra is inarguably India's most successful director of commercial cinema. Although he has made movies of all genres ranging from action to drama, his forte lies in romantic films. And if anyone can make you go weak in the knees by watching a movie, he is the man who CAN do it and he has been doing it now for almost 50 years now!
Today, on his birthday, let's take a look at Yash Chopra's five best mushy movies of all time.Dil To Pagal Hai
A Yash Raj film without an exotic location would be like having chai (tea) without adrak (ginger). So, yes, you can totally trust Yash Chopra to discover and explore some of the finest places on earth. And this time around they switch from Switzerland to Beer-land with Dil To Pagal Hai. Initially titled Maine To Mohabbat Ki Hai, it was the highest-grossing Bollywood film in 1997 and the very first Bollywood film to be partly shot in Germany. If in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge they portrayed every young girl's dream lover (that Andekha Anjana types) in the song Mere Khwabo Mein Jo Aaye, the film Dil To Pagal Hai portrayed every young man's fantasy girl (Maya types) in the song Bholi Si Surat Aankhon Mein Masti, truly making each and every person believe that indeed Someone…somewhere...is made for you!
.Darr
Inspired by the film Dead Calm, Darr was the first movie directed by Yash Chopra which tackled the dark side of love which was way too different from the usual 'Prince Charming' or 'Candy hearts' kind of movies he normally makes. Shah Rukh's dangerous obsession with Juhi Chawla in the film, his love, his passion and his madness took Bollywood by storm, so much so that SRK became the first mainstream actor to have convincingly made negative roles fashionable at that time. And yes, after everyone declined this role including Aamir Khan and Ajay Devgan, with this film the long-association with Shah Rukh and Yash Raj began….
Chandni
I was a little kid when I saw Rishi Kapoor throwing rose petals on Sridevi from a helicopter while professing his love for her. At that time, love for me meant adoring any person who gives you a bar of chocolate and takes you out for a strawberry ice-cream. So, I didn't really understand the grandeur of emotions in that scene but somehow that made a long-lasting impression on my tween mind and it definitely made me see the extravagant side of the thing called LOVE!
Lamhe
If in Silsila Yash Chopra takes a brave step by showing adultery, in Lamhe, he goes a step further by making a 40-something Anil Kapoor fall in love with an 18-something Sridevi. And if you think SilsilaLamhe was condemned too for its incestuous undertones. But regardless, this film remains one of the favourite Yash Chopra movies. Having danced on Morni Bagaan Ma at every school competition, every sleepover party and every birthday bash, that song's striking landscape capturing Rajasthan in its full physical beauty; it has been embedded in my mind forever.
created a moral dispute,
Kabhi Kabhi
The concept of this film came to Yash Chopra while he was reading a poem by Sahir Ludhianvi. This love story spanning two generations was an unusual concept and there was a point when the film's producer thought that this movie would not run in the theatres at all. Of course, Chopra proved him wrong and this film and its title song went on to break all the records. What's more, while making this reel romantic story, who knew that Yash Chopra will be the catalyst to a real romantic story between Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh! Love is indeed poetry in action.
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