In the end, we will never know if the sullen Amitabh Bachchan of reality was his own persona or something invented by Prakash Mehra that just fit.
Bachchan could have been the permanently unspeaking Jai of Sholay, drawn out for him by Ramesh Sippy. He could have been the comic of Naseeb and Amar Akbar Anthony, the man painted by Manmohan Desai. He could have been, perhaps, romantic hero that Yash Chopra made him in Silsila. But he became none of these men, because there was something about the way that Prakash Mehra saw him that made Bachchan come alive. Even classic films made later, Kala Paththar and Agnipath, used the Bachchan of Prakash Mehra.
Big B, perhaps more than he realised, was his director's creature - even when the camera stopped rolling. Mehra nailed Bachchan's character so perfectly that he gave him the subtle shades that others could not. Zanjeer carved Bachchan's career, making him known henceforth as the 'angry young man', as well as marking the arrival of a powerful director-actor duo. The servile tough of Namak Halaal is an utterly incongruous character, but utterly believable.
The duo worked together on 7 movies and their professional collaboration lasted 16 years. The late director had told Mr. Bachchan that he would stop working with him once their films started flopping. That is what happened. Their last film together, Jaadugar, in 1989, flopped and Mr. Mehra didn't work with the actor again.
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Among the films that they did, Zanjeer doesn't need an introduction. Think of Zanjeer and you think of the song Yaari Hai Imaan Mera Yaar Meri Zindagi. The film was a blockbuster and is an absolute must see for the strength of AB's angry young man performance and the powerful script by Salim-Javed.
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The duo reunited for Hera Pheri in 1976, starring Vinod Khanna along with Amitabh Bachchan. The caper comedy was a success once again.
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Muqaddar Ka Sikander released in 1978, and was one of the biggest successes of the 1970s. Amitabh Bachchan had Amjad Khan, Rakhee, Rekha and Vinod Khanna as his costars. The tragic love pentagon had super hit songs like Salaam-e-Ishq, Muqaddar Ka Sikander and O Saathi Re, courtesy Kalyanji-Anandji.
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In 1981, the duo set the silver screen on fire with their fourth film together, Laawaris, about an orphan who stumbles upon reality that his father abandoned his mother. Bachchan had beauties Rakhee, Zeenat Aman and Bindu for company. Om Prakash, Ranjeet and Amjad Khan also starred in the movie. Mere Agne Mein Mein Tumhara Kya Kaam Hai became a rage.
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Namak Halaal hit theatres in 1982. Bappi Lahiri scored the music for the film which had an impressive cast comprising Smita Patil, Waheeda Rehman, Shashi Kapoor, Om Prakash, Parveen Babi, Ranjeet and Suresh Oberoi. Aaj rapat Jaye, Jawani Jaan-e-mann, Pagge Ghungroo Bandh are some of the memorable songs from the film.
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Their last successful collaboration was Sharaabi in 1984 in which Bachchan starred opposite Jaya Prada with Pran, Om Prakash, Bharat Bhushan and Ranjeet as supporting cast members. The story revolved around a rich alcoholic boy who is ignored by his father and falls in love with a girl who doesn't share his social status. His dad throws him out of the house, and leaves him to survive on his own. Inteha Ho Gayi and De De Pyaar De were some of the hit songs from the film.
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Their last film, Jaadugar in 1989, did not work, though no one can pinpoint an exact reason. Their magical jodi worked because of the powerful scripts, especially those by Salim Javed, the witty dialogues, the roles that Mehra tailor-made for Bachchan who was at the top of his game at the time. The super hit music by Kalyanji-Anandji contributed to the success of the films. The angry young man persona connected with the audiences. The duo and their films will be remembered forever in the history of Bollywood.
Link http://www.starboxoffice.com/gallery/sbogallery.aspx?aid=393 |
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