David Lagachu
6. Waqt
It is said that ‘Waqt’ pioneered the concept of multi-starrers in Bollywood. On a surface level this Yash Chopra film is a regular, run-of-the-mill big budget entertainer which reintroduced the lost and found formula in Indian cinema but is also a trailblazer nonetheless. Not only the film but the fashion statement of the stars also became a rage with the public. Sadhana’s hair cut and Sharmila Tagore’s outfits are discussed even today. The music of the film was also game changing. Songs like ‘Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen’ and ‘Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu’ have made their way to the musical hall of fame. It was the last film that Yash Chopra made under the shadow of his elder brother B.R. Chopra and was just the beginning of a new style of film-making where both substance and style are given equal importance but never at the cost of quality.
5. Chandni
It is the most aesthetically rich movie of Yash Chopra. His protagonist ‘Chandni’, played by Sridevi in her peak form, is not just a spirited girl who takes on the challenges of life with a smile on her face but also a force of nature whose soulfulness transcends her physical beauty thus attributing a heavenly quality to her. If you don’t believe my words then just watch her tandav dance number which comes midway in the film where Sridevi all dressed in white resembles an apsara (heavenly beauty). ‘Chandni’ is about love in all its various shades – love that makes the world a beautiful place to live in, love that demands sacrifice and love that makes you forget and forgive all that is said and done in the past. Apart from Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor’s onscreen romance it’s the magnetic screen presence and the inherent sadness of Vinod Khanna’s character that adds an emotional arch to the film. What to say about the music of the film? Even today the songs are played by musical bands at Indian marriages.
4. Deewar
‘Deewar’ is the film which proved that Yash Chopra can go all ‘rogue’ in telling a story if he wishes to. You won’t find any of those classic Yash Chopra film tropes in ‘Deewar’ – no poetic dialogues, no demure actresses – but it does have a lot of drama and action to boast about. It is basically a tale of two brothers who grew up in difficult circumstances and are poles apart from each other; one a police officer and the other the lord of the underworld. ‘Deewar’ is the definitive movie that needs to be seen if anyone needs a crash course in commercial Bollywood cinema. Staying within the limits of a safe entertainer the film breaks away from certain traditions in its own way. For instance take the character of Parveen Babi who breaks the mould of the pure and pious Bollywood actress and still commanded respect in her own manner. There are many iconic dialogues in the film, written by Salim-Javed, which are impactful even today such as ‘Mere Paas Maa Hain’ (which AR Rahman referenced in his Oscar acceptance speech) and ‘Jao Pehle Us Aadmi Ka Sign Leke Ao…’. It’s one thing to love Yash Chopra for the depiction of romance in his films but if you haven’t watched ‘Deewar’ yet you have no right to call yourself a fan of the filmmaker.
3. Silsila
Its films like ‘Silsila’ and ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ that made Yash Chopra a household name in every Indian house around the world. Now let’s just talk about ‘Silsila’ first. It was nothing short of a miracle to assemble the cast of the film – Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha – as the rumours of a scorching affair between the much married Bachchan and Rekha were doing the rounds of gossip magazines. Was there any truth in those rumours? We will never know. But it does increases the appeal of the film. The chemistry between Bachchan and Rekha in the film is palpable as they serenade each other in tulip gardens in the Netherlands and in Kashmir’s Mughal Gardens. The film also in a subtle way glorifies extra marital affair to show that the first love never dies no matter what. Probably that was the reason why the masses initially rejected the film but later found huge success in the home video circuit. Today a DVD copy of ‘Silsila’ is a prized possession for any diehard Yash Chopra fan.
2. Kabhie Kabhie
‘Kabhie Kabhie’ has everything that you have come to expect in a big fat Yash Chopra movie. It is a multi-starrer, high on romance musical whose main themes are love, separation and the tussle between the present and the past. Yash Chopra has always been known for handling a big star cast efficiently and giving each and every character a role worth their talent and ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ is no exception. From Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee’s poetic love to Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s playfulness and the joie de vivre of Sashi Kapoor, there is a lot to enjoy in the movie. Although there are too many back stories and sub plots in the film it never feels overdone or exhausting and that’s wherein lays the magic of Yash Chopra.
1. Lamhe
Some works of art are dismissed by the people of its time either on the grounds of blasphemy or for being way too ahead of its time. ‘Lamhe’ somehow falls into both the categories. The story was convoluted enough to keep the conservative Indian audiences away from the film although the critics had only the nicest things to say about the film. Film fans can have hours of discussion regarding the message of the film but it’s safe enough to say that Yash Chopra made the film with the noblest of intentions to show that love knows no barriers and logic. ‘Lamhe’ is inherently progressive and was revealed by Yash Chopra himself as a personal favourite from among his own films. It was nominated for 12 Filmfare awards and won five of them including one for Best Film and Best Actress.
Read More: Rituparno Ghosh Movies
