40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed by Avijit Ghosh
National Award-winning film writer Avijit Ghosh takes a second look at 40 such compelling Hindi movies that have been largely forgotten.
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- DirectorS.S. VasanStarsMotilalPadminiKanhaiyalal ChaturvediThe charming Mr. Sampat weaves his way into theatrical company with his moneymaking schemes, only to cause the everyone involved to go bankrupt, including Malini, the young actress who has fallen in love with him.
- DirectorZia SarhadiStarsDilip KumarMeena KumariRamesh ThaparTo get rich quickly, a Journalist becomes a black-marketeer.
- DirectorChandrashekhar VaidyaStarsChandrashekhar VaidyaHelenOm PrakashA woman first insults a blind singer, then gets him cured, falls in love with him but ends up rejecting him.
- DirectorBiren NagStarsBiswajeet ChatterjeeWaheeda RehmanLalita PawarIn this re-imagining of Du Maurier's Rebecca, a recently wed woman discovers the ghost of her husband's first wife still haunts their home.
- DirectorAmarjeetStarsDev AnandNanda KarnatakiSimi GarewalDevdutt Anand works in a company selling musical instruments, and is always late for work, infuriating his boss, I.S. Johar. Things change for the better when Johar finds out that Devdutt has a talent for writing poems, and he gets Devdutt to write and even gets them published for him. This gets Devdutt into the limelight and increases sales for Johar's business. While traveling home by BEST bus, he meets with Nanda, who has come to live in his neighborhood, and both are attracted to each other. One night Devdutt comes to the assistance to Bollywood movie actress Kalpana when her car breaks down, she finds out he is a poet and arranges a meeting with him, again both are attracted to each other. Devdutt is asked to deliver a piano to the palatial house of a wealthy woman named Simi alias Radha Rani. She too is impressed by Devutt's poems and invites him over to her house for a party, and again both are attracted to each other. Knowing fully well that he cannot marry three women in his country, a tortured and uncertain Devdutt must now make up his mind as who he wants as his life-partner.
- DirectorBrijStarsPrithviraj KapoorBiswajeet ChatterjeeSharmila TagoreAfter discovery of skeletal remains at an excavation site, a woman known to be deceased for over 2 centuries mysteriously re-surfaces to claim her lover.
- DirectorMohammed HussainStarsFeroz KhanMumtaz AskariHelenA wealthy Indian scientist known as Professor has developed a nuclear project to bring about peace in the world. He has encrypted this project in code words known only to him and his daughter, Reshma. Then Wong abducts his wife, Paro, and blackmails the professor. The Professor is ready to turn over the project to Wong, when Wasco abducts Reshma and holds her for ransom in exchange for the same project. C.I.D. Agent Raju steps in and rescues Reshma and both fall in love with each other. But their problems are far from over as Reshma gets abducted again - this time by both Wong and Wasco. Raju search for Reshma lands him in a dungeon - paving the way for the criminals to force the professor to handover the project as well as the solution to the secret code to them.
- DirectorBasu ChatterjeeStarsMadhu ChakravartyRakesh PandeyDina PathakA collegian becomes embittered after being forced to marry.
- DirectorRajinder Singh BediStarsSanjeev KumarRehana SultanShakeela Bano BhopaliTells the story of newly weds Hamid and Salma. They move into a rental flat next door to the local red light district. The flat had been the former home of a well known mujra and qawali singer, Shamshad. Men still come to the door in the hope of seeing Shamshad and do not seem too put out by seeing Salma despite her protestations. The couple struggle to live within the bounds of their own moral code while the earnings of prostitution seem to be flaunted around them. Hamid gets more and more angry and seemingly unable to reconcile his morality with the immorality of the world and at one point beats his wife and then rapes her making her into a 'whore' of his fantasy. The story here bears resemblance to the later 'Ek Chadar Maili Si' by the same director and seems to explore the complex world of women and sexuality as viewed by Indian men: mother, goddess, whore. This film also explores the ethos of prostitution in its reality and as a metaphor for the outside world.
- DirectorSushil MajumdarStarsRaaj KumarHema MaliniRakhee GulzarA vain, self-righteous nobleman falls in love with a village girl and tries to transform her into his version of the ideal woman.
- DirectorGulzarStarsMeena KumariVinod KhannaShatrughan SinhaAnandi Devi is an old widow living in her village she is bought to the city by her distant relative Arun. Anandi Devi realizes that Arun and his wife wanted to keep her as a maid following which she leaves the house and befriends a child beggar and start living in a dilapidated house. Due to her kind and good nature she is then called as Naani Maa by youth groups which are led by Shyam and Chhenu. Shyam and Chhenu are rivals of each other and can't see eye to eye, Anandi Devi tries to be peacemaker between them.
- DirectorAwtar Krishna KaulStarsSudhir DalviRakhee GulzarMadhavi ManjulaSanjay is on a pilgrimage journey to Varanasi and remembers his life in flashbacks.
- DirectorBasu BhattacharyaStarsRajesh KhannaSharmila TagoreDina PathakAmar and Mansi live a rather peaceful and happy married life, that is, until Amar's job in an advertising agency requires him to work closely with beautiful models, which leads to some serious trouble in paradise.
- DirectorHarmesh MalhotraStarsVinod KhannaYogeeta BaliPran SikandA group of thieves hunt for the traitor who has disappeared with the loot from their last big heist.
- DirectorRavi TandonStarsAmitabh BachchanParveen BabiPran SikandA terminally ill man frames himself for murder to allow his family to collect the reward money. After a successful operation, he escapes police custody and searches for the real killer.
- DirectorBasu ChatterjeeStarsDharmendraHema MaliniMithu MukherjeeA new Sanskrit teacher (Dharmendra) comes to teach at a girls' school. The chemistry teacher (Hema Malini) becomes annoyed at his style of teaching. He falls in love with her and tries to win her over.
- DirectorVinod PandeStarsSuresh OberoiDeepti NavalPradeep VermaKalpana has been married to movie actor, Mahender Kumar for years where he keeps himself occupy with his acting career as well as pleasure and has little or no time with her. When they moves to Britain for a movie shoot; Kalpana finds her self getting attracted to a struggling student, Vimal, who also doubles as an artist. This behavior not only seriously impacts her marriage life but crumbles it as time progresses.
- DirectorGulzarStarsSanjeev KumarSharmila TagoreShabana AzmiNamkeen revolves around Jugni, a folk theatre dancer who lives with her three daughters in a remote village, and how their lives change when a truck driver, begins living with them as a tenant.
- DirectorPrakash JhaStarsRaj KiranDeepti NavalSatish AnandSports is no for Jamnadas School in Ranchi so the boys out there pass their time by doing rebellious pastimes.Raghu is a smart looking boy on whom many girls have crush. But he is having a crush on a dusky school teacher.Sandeep Chaudhary an computer electronic engineer is waiting for a appointment letter from a big firm and mean while takes a job as a sports coach in the school he manages to make a good team with Raghu an others they being bad boys.Sandeep gets more closer to the dusky teacher where Raghu takes him as a rival in his love.
- DirectorGovind NihalaniStarsOm PuriBharat GopyPankaj KapurMadhav Verma (Om Puri) is a dedicated, honest, and diligent union representative. He represents the majority of the employees in an organization, which recognizes his union. However, there is a rival in the shape and form of Rustom Patel (Naseeruddin Shah) who is attempting to break the union so as to establish his majority, through his henchman Krishnan (Gopi), and will not hesitate to stoop to any level to get what he wants. Chhotelal (Pankaj Kapoor) loses his legs in an accident, and must be hospitalized. Krishnan takes advantage of the situation and puts pressure on Chhotelal and his brothers (Achyut Potdar and Harish Patel) to enroll in his union, and he will get him a higher compensation package than his regular union. Madhav must use his utmost diligence and consistently uphold his principles as they will be put to a test before all logic gives way to violence, anarchy, apathy, and corruption.
- DirectorVidhu Vinod ChopraStarsShabana AzmiAmol PalekarNaseeruddin ShahWhen a starlet is murdered on a film location, a detective arrives to investigate the cast and crew.
- DirectorMahesh BhattStarsKumar GauravShernaz PatelAnupam KherThe protagonist, Rahul, is an aspiring film maker but he does not have a good script nor the money needed to invest in making a movie. That's when his childhood friend steps in and mortgages his restaurant to come up with the money and claims that he is doing it for himself, for he believes in the capability of Rahul, and wants his own name to become immortal. Rahul is the son of a 1950's film director and his keep; his father also has a "legal" family which knows about the existence of Rahul and his mother and detest them to no end. Every time Rahul goes to their house to get some money, he is ridiculed by everyone in that household, including his father's mother and his lawfully wedded wife. His father, though, cares more for Rahul's mother than his own wife. Rahul also has a girlfriend who is very supportive of him and who eventually marries him. While Rahul is struggling to make his film and is short on money, every small gesture to fulfill his needs - like smoking - by his working wife flusters him, and the husband and wife have squabbles. When Rahul eventually completes his film, he is very disillusioned since it does not rise up to his expectations. That's when his friend suggests that a film successful film is that which is based on one's own trials and tribulations in life. This provides the necessary spark for Rahul and he starts scripting a new story based on his own life which revolves around his own illegitimate birth, his mother who worked as an extra in his father's films, his father's other family, and the other people associated with him. This story line prompts his father to file a lawsuit against Rahul for personal defamation. When the premier of the film is announced, Rahul is very desirous of his father coming to it even though there is a pending lawsuit against him. The last scene is the Award ceremony where Rahul's film Janam is announced the best film and when Rahul comes to the stage to receive his award he requests that the award be given to him by his father who is sitting in the audience. When his father comes up to the stage to give Rahul the award, he is filled with pride, and he says that this win is akin to when a horse wins a race, the people applaud the jockey, but the horse thinks that the claps are for him. On this note the movie ends whereby the Rahul, his mother, and his father are united even if for an ephemeral moment.
- DirectorRahul RawailStarsRakhee GulzarSunny DeolMeenakshi SheshadriArjun Yadav return from the city after completing his studies to get settled in his village with his family consisting of his mother Devi Chaudaran, his older brother Amrit and sister. Arjun finds out that Amrit and Thakur Bhanwar Singh does not get along quiet well and attempts to be a peace-maker between the two. One day situation takes a turn for the worse when Amrit is killed, Devi Chaudaran loses her senses, Arjun's sister is raped and he himself is beaten and tied to a tree. Arjun is then rescued by some sympathetic villagers and run off with his childhood friend Makan Malla in the deep ravines only to turn an outlaw whose only motive is to avenge the killings of his family members.
- DirectorJag MundhraStarsNandita DasRaghubir YadavDeepti NavalShoba T. Mathur works for the Central Government in India and her job is to create awareness against child-marriage and other social evils that prevail due to general misinterpretation of the Hindu Shastras that demean women, particularly in Dhabri, a village in the state of Rajasthan. She does succeed in recruiting a young housewife, Saanvri, the mother of a young girl, Kamli, and wife of rickshaw driver, Sohan. Saanvri goes around the village raising awareness, and incurs the wrath of the village elders, mostly members of the Gujjar family. When Saanvri persists with her efforts, five of the men severely beat-up Sohan, and gang-rape Saanvri. A devastated Saanvri and Sohan decide to get justice. They go to the Police Station, but the Police Inspector refuses to lodge a complaint until and unless he gets a Medical report. The doctor will not issue a medical report until and until he gets Court Order. Sohan and Saanvri, with Shobha's help do go through this process, and a complaint is finally lodged. Despite of this, the Gujjars are not arrested and continue to wander around, bragging about their experience with Saanvri. Saanvri's case then gets nation-wide attention, with the Prime Minister himself entrusting this investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Gujjars are arrested and tried in Court, but are fully aware that this is nothing but a charade, for they have the backing of the local Member of the Legislative Assembly, Dhanraj Meena, who has hired a lawyer, Purohit, and has instructed him to ensure that the Gujjars are not held liable. Watch as Judge after Judge is transferred, even the Prosecuting Attorney is of a upper caste, and is under pressure from the Gujjar community. Faced with a corrupt police force, an even more corrupt Judicial system fueled more by wealth, influence, and caste rather than the rule of law, will Saanvri succeed in getting the justice she deserves?
- DirectorSai ParanjpyeStarsShabana AzmiNana PatekarRaghubir YadavThe Sarpat family, who live in Bhukari, consist of Parsaram, who has been involved in digging a well for the past over 12 years and is now called 'Pagal Parsa'; his brother, Soma, who gets some casual work in the fields; his wife, Hansa, who goes to work at a Bidi factory; and four children ironically named Sharmila, Jeetendra, Amitabh, and Kadhu. Soma's neighbor, Vasant Mandre, is a young man who has recently got married to Phoolwanti, lives with his ailing father, Dashrath, who had taken a loan of Rs.10,000/- in order to have a lavish wedding celebration. Soma is the first one to re-locate to Bombay, and when he immediately sends some money, Vasant too leaves for Bombay. Shortly thereafter, Phoolwanti goes to visit him and is horrified when she finds that Soma and Vasant are sharing a small room with 39 other males from their village; work in a mill; are poorly paid, and in debt. She returns home immediately thereafter. Then Vasant gets a letter from his dad asking him to come home immediately. Watch what happens when Vasant returns and finds out why he has been called back so suddenly.
- DirectorAmol PalekarStarsAnita KanwarNana PatekarRiju BajajA poetic blend of Dreams and Reality, a story of ordinary people and that what is extra-ordinary in them.
- DirectorRam Gopal VarmaStarsRevathiRohini HattangadiOm PuriMini shifts to her new house along with her parents Mr. and Mrs. Shrma, as well as, nephew Bunty. Bunty finds a cat in the backyard of the house and gets attracted to it but the cat soon dies when it accidentally comes under the wheels of Mr. Sharma. They bury it without Bunty's knowledge. However, Bunty finds soon another cat of same resemblance which gives the family a shock. Mini is in love with Deepak once when their bike tire goes flat, Deepak goes to change and upon returning he finds Mini weeping besides a pond with redness in her eyes. She pushes Deepak in the pond but next moment she is normal again. Mini's friend, Rashmi also gets inexplicably killed and her neck is twisted backwards. While cops suspect Mini to be behind it when she twists the neck of her doll in a similar way, the strange events lead Mr Sharma to take professional from a psychiatrist. Mrs Sharma though is sure her daughter is possessed and takes help of an exorcist Sharji.
- DirectorDeepak SareenStarsJackie ShroffJuhi ChawlaAmrita SinghRoma leaves Ravi at the altar to pursue her ambitions. Her sister Reema steps in to marry Ravi. All's well till Roma returns. Reema must face Roma now.
- DirectorSaeed Akhtar MirzaStarsKaifi AzmiKulbhushan KharbandaSurekha SikriThe delicate relationship between a 15-year-old girl and her grandfather is used to describe how the growing political tensions between Muslems and Hindus in 1992 led to the destruction of a medieval Muslim mosque and subsequently, violent rioting in the streets of Bombay. Naseem (urdu: sahar) means Morning breeze, and charts the story of a young school going girl Naseem in the months leading up to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. She shares deep and loving bond with his ill grandfather who represents the era of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims in India, as he fondly recalls the times he spent in pre-Independent Agra. As communal tension erupts in the city of Bombay, Naseem get increasingly bewildered by changing dynamics at her school and in the neighborhood, while her grandfather watches helplessly at a city getting deeply divided over the Babri Masjid issue.
- DirectorSudhir MishraStarsMurad AliTarun Kumar ChatterjeeTara DeshpandeRamanbhai is the criminal don of Bombay, and most criminal activities are linked indirectly to him. He has a rival in Vilas Pandey, who is furious with Ramanbhai, and wants to get a larger part of his share from the wealth generated by crime. Ramanbhai's attempts to woo a woman, Pooja, are met with oppostion from Pooja's boyfriend, Aditya, and this results in Aditya, Pooja, Malika, and Rajesh running for their lives, as they know Ramanbhai will leave no stone unturned in order to hunt Aditya down, and make him pay for daring to oppose the underworld king.
- DirectorKetan MehtaStarsJackie ShroffDeepa SahiRitu ShivpuriShekhar is an opportunist. He marries Veena, a multi-millionaire, while continuing his affair with her secretary, Anu. When Veena gets to know, she threatens him with dire consequences. Shekhar and Anu then kill her. Later, Shekhar finds out that Anu does not love him, but another man. To make matters worse, the police have evidence linking him to the death of his former wife.
- DirectorShyam BenegalStarsShabana AzmiRajit KapoorRajeshwari SachdevGhazala (Shabana Azmi) has been married to Munirmiya (Srivallabh Vyas) for several years, and has given birth to a daughter, Salma (Rajeshwari Sachdev) Munir is unhappy that Ghazala has been unable to bear him any sons, and is forced to face his abuse, and then is subsequently thrown out of the house, in order to make way for him to marry again; Hasina (Surekha Sigri-Rege) is Ghazala's mom, married at a very young age, to an older man, faces the risk of cancer of the uterus; Educated, Arrogant and god-fearing Afsana (Nandita Das) has three children, and is upset with her spouse, Khurshid (Rajit Kapur), Hasina's son, for undergoing a vasectomy, and leaves him; Najma (Alka Trivedi) is an uneducated housewife, having given birth to seven children, five of whom have died so far due to malnutrition, and is the wife of Khaleej, Hasina's older son; Salma is the daughter of Ghazala, who is expected to marry at an early age, to a much older man, as there is no point in her undergoing further education, mainly due to her dad abandoning her.
- DirectorTigmanshu DhuliaStarsJimmy ShergillHrishitaa BhattIrrfan KhanAniruddh, a law-abiding college student, in love with Niharika, gets caught up in college politics and crime and must fight it out for himself when his friend becomes his foe.
- DirectorKabeer KaushikStarsArshad WarsiPankaj KapurMahima ChaudhryAjay Kumar the newly appointed, honest SSP of Lucknow police cracks down on the nefarious cop-mafia nexus in Uttar Pradesh, but finds a cunning and ruthless adversary in Gajraj.
- DirectorAmrit SagarStarsManoj BajpayeeRavi KishanDeepak DobriyalBased on true facts, the film revolves around 6 brave soldiers who escape from the clutches of the Pakistan Army and risk death with honour and courage with sacrifice towards their journey home.
- DirectorJaideep VarmaStarsSushant SinghKartika RaneRajat KapoorA stockbroker who moves into a flat finds that he cannot sleep because of the loud whistle blown by the night-watchman. This leads him into conflict with the building's secretary who insists on the use of the whistle.
- DirectorShimit AminStarsRanbir KapoorPrem ChopraMukesh S. BhattA story of a fresh graduate trying to find a balance between the maddening demands of the 'professional' way, and the way of his heart.
- DirectorManish GuptaStarsKay Kay MenonArbaaz KhanRukhsar RehmanIn 1980s Bombay, a serial killer starts targeting homeless street dwellers, whilst a suspended police officer attempts to solve the case.
- DirectorAnurag KashyapStarsKay Kay MenonRaj Singh ChaudharyRaja ChaudharyA law student witnesses deception, homicide, and crime after being elected as General Secretary of his college.
- DirectorSushil RajpalStarsRaj Singh ChaudharyRaja ChaudharySwati SenA young man is kidnapped by a local strongman with the intention of forcing him to marry his daughter to secure a family alliance.