Amitabh Bachchan | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

Introduction

Amitabh Bachchan (born Amitabh Srivastava on 11 October 1942 in Allahabad, now Prayagraj) He is one of the most eminent figures in Hindi cinema, distinguished by an unparalleled career spanning more than two hundred films. Revered for his commanding screen presence and remarkable versatility, he has long occupied a preeminent position within the cultural imagination of India and the global South Asian diaspora. His towering influence during the 1970s and 1980s, when he came to embody the archetype of the disaffected yet morally resolute protagonist, rendered him a defining force in popular cinema.
Educated at Sherwood College, Nainital, and Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, from which he graduated in 1962, Bachchan initially ventured into professional life in Kolkata before turning to theatre and eventually cinema. His cinematic debut occurred as a narrator in Bhuvan Shome (1969), followed by his first acting role in Saat Hindustani (1969). Early performances in Anand (1971), for which he received the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor, Parwana (1971), and Reshma Aur Shera (1971) revealed his potential, though commercial success remained intermittent, as seen in Bombay to Goa (1972) and Sanjog (1972).
The transformative phase of his career began with Zanjeer (1973), which inaugurated a series of iconic performances in Deewaar (1975) and Sholay (1975), consolidating his image as the angry young man. This period also witnessed a succession of commercially successful films, including Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Hera Pheri (1976), Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Don (1978), Trishul (1978), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979), Dostana (1980), Laawaris (1981), Coolie (1983), and Mard (1985). His sustained dominance during these decades led observers to characterise the Hindi film industry as revolving singularly around his persona.
After a relative hiatus in the 1990s, Bachchan reasserted his prominence with Mohabbatein (2000), followed by notable performances in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Baghban (2003), Black (2005), Sarkar (2005), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), Paa (2009), Piku (2015), Brahmāstra Part One Shiva (2022), Kalki 2898 AD (2024). His performances in Agneepath (1990), Black (2005), Paa (2009), and Piku (2015) earned him multiple National Film Awards for Best Actor, marking an extraordinary achievement in Indian cinema.
Beyond acting, Bachchan has contributed as a playback singer, producer, and television host, most notably through Kaun Banega Crorepati (2000), which significantly expanded his reach across generations.
His brief political career in the mid-1980s and enduring engagement in philanthropic initiatives further attest to his multifaceted public life. Honoured with the Padma Shri in 1984, Padma Bhushan in 2001, Padma Vibhushan in 2015, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2018, along with France's Legion of Honour in 2007, Bachchan's legacy transcends cinema, embodying a rare synthesis of artistic excellence, cultural authority, and enduring public esteem.

अमिताभ बच्चन (जन्म अमिताभ श्रीवास्तव, 11 अक्टूबर 1942, इलाहाबाद (अब प्रयागराज)) हिंदी सिनेमा के सबसे प्रतिष्ठित व्यक्तियों में से एक हैं, जिन्होंने दो सौ से अधिक फ़िल्मों में अभिनय करके एक अद्वितीय करियर बनाया है। अपनी दमदार उपस्थिति और उल्लेखनीय बहुमुखी प्रतिभा के लिए पूजनीय, उन्होंने भारत और वैश्विक दक्षिण एशियाई प्रवासी समुदाय की सांस्कृतिक कल्पना में एक विशिष्ट स्थान बनाए रखा है। 1970 और 1980 के दशक में, जब उन्होंने असंतुष्ट लेकिन नैतिक रूप से दृढ़ नायक की छवि को साकार किया, तो उनका प्रभाव इतना प्रभावी हुआ कि वे लोकप्रिय सिनेमा में एक निर्णायक शक्ति बन गए।
नैनीताल के शेरवुड कॉलेज और दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय के किरोड़ी मल कॉलेज से शिक्षा प्राप्त करने के बाद, जहाँ से उन्होंने 1962 में स्नातक की उपाधि प्राप्त की, बच्चन ने प्रारंभ में कोलकाता में पेशेवर जीवन में कदम रखा, फ़िर रंगमंच और अंततः सिनेमा की ओर रुख किया। उनकी सिनेमाई शुरुआत 1969 में आई फ़िल्म भुवन शोम में एक कथावाचक के रूप में हुई, जिसके बाद उन्होंने 1969 में ही सात हिंदुस्तानी में अपनी पहली अभिनय भूमिका निभाई। 1971 में आई फ़िल्म आनंद (जिसके लिए उन्हें सर्वश्रेष्ठ सहायक अभिनेता का फ़िल्मफ़ेयर पुरस्कार मिला), 1971 में आई फ़िल्म परवाना और 1971 में आई फ़िल्म रेशमा और शेरा में उनके शुरुआती प्रदर्शनों ने उनकी प्रतिभा को उजागर किया, हालांकि 1972 में आई फ़िल्म बॉम्बे टू गोवा और 1972 में ही आई फ़िल्म संजोग से पता चलता है कि व्यावसायिक सफलता ठीक नहीं रही।
उनके करियर का परिवर्तनकारी दौर 1973 में आई फ़िल्म 'ज़ंजीर' (1973)से शुरू हुआ, जिसने 'दीवार' (1975) और 'शोले' (1975) जैसी फ़िल्मों में उनके यादगार अभिनय की श्रृंखला आरम्भ किया और उन्हें एक गुस्सैल नौजवान के रूप में स्थापित किया। इसी अवधि में उन्होंने कई व्यावसायिक रूप से सफल फ़िल्में भी दीं, जिनमें 'कभी कभी' (1976), 'हेरा फेरी' (1976), 'अमर अकबर एंथोनी' (1977), 'डॉन' (1978), 'त्रिशूल' (1978), 'मुक़द्दर का सिकंदर' (1978), 'काला पत्थर' (1979), 'दोस्ताना' (1980), 'लावारिस' (1981), 'कुली' (1983) और 'मर्द' (1985) शामिल हैं। इन दशकों में उनके लगातार प्रभाव ने आलोचकों को यह कहने पर मजबूर किया कि हिंदी फ़िल्म उद्योग मूलतः उनके व्यक्तित्व के इर्द-गिर्द घूमता है।
1990 के दशक में अपेक्षाकृत विराम के बाद, बच्चन ने मोहब्बतें (2000) के साथ अपनी प्रमुखता फ़िर से स्थापित की, इसके बाद कभी खुशी कभी ग़म (2001), बाग़बान (2003), ब्लैक (2005), सरकार (2005), कभी अलविदा ना कहना (2006), पा (2009), पिकू (2015), ब्रह्मास्त्र पार्ट वन: शिवा (2022), और कल्कि 2898 एडी (2024) जैसी उल्लेखनीय प्रस्तुतियाँ दीं। अग्निपथ (1990), ब्लैक (2005), पा (2009), और पिकू (2015) में उनके अभिनय ने उन्हें कई बार सर्वश्रेष्ठ अभिनेता के राष्ट्रीय फ़िल्म पुरस्कार दिलाए, जो भारतीय सिनेमा में एक असाधारण उपलब्धि के रूप में दर्ज है।
अभिनय के अलावा, बच्चन ने पार्श्व गायक, निर्माता और टेलीविजन होस्ट के रूप में भी योगदान दिया है, विशेष रूप से कौन बनेगा करोड़पति (2000) के माध्यम से, जिसने पीढ़ियों के बीच उनकी पहुंच को काफी बढ़ाया।
1980 के दशक के मध्य में उनका संक्षिप्त राजनीतिक जीवन और परोपकारी पहलों में उनका निरंतर जुड़ाव उनके बहुआयामी सार्वजनिक जीवन का प्रमाण है। 1984 में पद्म श्री, 2001 में पद्म भूषण, 2015 में पद्म विभूषण और 2018 में दादासाहेब फाल्के पुरस्कार के साथ-साथ 2007 में फ्रांस के लीजन ऑफ़ ऑनर से सम्मानित बच्चन की विरासत सिनेमा से परे भी है, जो कलात्मक उत्कृष्टता, सांस्कृतिक अधिकार और स्थायी जन सम्मान का एक दुर्लभ संगम है।

Date of Birth: 11 Oct 1942
Zodiac sign: Libra
Age: 83
Nationality: Indian
Place of Birth: Allahabad
Spouse(s): Jaya bachchan
Year Marriage Registered: 1973
Children: Abhishek Bachchanb. 05 Feb 1976
Shweta Bachchanb. 17 Mar 1974
Parent(s): Harivansh Rai Bachchan27 Nov 1907 – 18 Jan 2003
Teji Bachchan12 Aug 1914 – 21 Dec 2007
Grandparent(s): Pratap Narayan Srivastav
SD
Saraswati Devi
Siblings: AB
Ajitabh Bachchanb. 18 May 1947

Filmography

Integrated Timeline

65 entries

Economics of Cinema

1970
1. Saraswati Award
1972
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Supporting Actor · The Times Group
1974
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Supporting Actor · The Times Group
1976
1. BFJA Awards
  Best Actor (Hindi) · Bengal Film Journalists Association
1978
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor · The Times Group
1979
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor · The Times Group
1980
1. Awadh Samman
  Government of Uttar Pradesh
1984
1. Padma Shri
  Government of India
1989
1. Lifetime Achievement Award
  Rotary Club Bombay
1990
1. National Film Award
  Best Actor · Government of India
1991
1. Order of AfghanistanInternational
  Government of Afghanistan
2. Filmfare Award
  Lifetime Achievement Award · The Times Group
1992
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor · The Times Group
1994
1. Yash Bharti
  Government of Uttar Pradesh
1997
1. Distinguished Alumni
  Central University
1998
1. Omega Award for Excellence
  Lifetime Achievement Award
1999
1. BBC Online Poll
  Greatest Star of Stage or Screen of the Millennium · BBC Network
2000
1. Filmfare Award
  Superstar of the Millenium · The Times Group
2. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  IIFA Special Honorary Award · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
3. Stardust Award
  Best Artist of Millenium · Stardust Magazine
4. Indian Television Awards
  Screen Videocon Awards: Best Anchor
5. All India Critics Association Award
  Best Actor · All India Crirics Association
6. Sansui Viewers Choice Awards
  Best Supporting Actor · Sansui
7. Bollywood People's Choice Awards
  Best Supporting Actor
2001
1. Actor of the CenturyInternational
  Alexandria International Film Festival
2. Padma Bhushan
  Government of India
3. Filmfare Award
  Best Supporting Actor · The Times Group
4. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  Best Supporting Actor · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
5. Bollywood Movie Awards
  Best Actor - Male (Critics) · The Bollywood Group
6. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Host · Indian Television Academy
7. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor of a Game Show · Indian Television Academy
8. Indian Telly Awards
  TV Personality of the Year 2000 · indiantelevisioncom
9. Zee Gold Awards
  Critics Award for Best Male Actor · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
10. Most Powerful Indian Film Star
  Forbes Magazine
2002
1. Dayawati Modi Award
  Dayawati Modi Foundation
2. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  IIFA Personality of the Year · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
3. Indian Telly Awards
  TV Anchor of the Year · indiantelevisioncom
4. 32nd Rupa AIFA Awards
  Icon of the Millenium
5. Sansui Viewers Choice Movie Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Sansui
6. Hottest Male Vegetarian
  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
7. National Kishore Kumar Award
  Government of Madhya Pradesh
8. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor (Critics) · The Times Group
2003
1. Screen Awards
  Jodi No 1 · Indian Express Group
2. Screen Awards
  Distinction in Acting Award · Indian Express Group
3. Stardust Award
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Stardust Magazine
4. Zee Cine Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
5. Bollywood Movie Awards
  Most Sensational Actor · The Bollywood Group
6. MTV Lycra Awards
  Maha Style Icon of the Year · MTV
7. Asian Guild
  Bollywood's Lifetime Achievement Award
8. Sangeet Shiromani Award
  Lifetime Achievement Award
9. FPFAC Achievers Award
  Achiever of the Year
10. Honorary Citizenship of the French town of DeauvilleInternational
  Asian Film Festival
11. Medal of Honour of MoroccoInternational
  Marrakech International Film Festival
12. The Undisputed Godfather of Bollywood
  TIME Magazine
13. Zee News: Best of India Poll
  Greatest Actor · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
2004
1. Honory Doctorate
  Jhansi University, India
2. Living Legend
  Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
3. Filmfare Award
  Power Award · The Times Group
4. Screen Awards
  Most Outstanding Personality · Indian Express Group
5. Stardust Award
  Special Award · Stardust Magazine
6. Zee Cine Awards
  Golden Grade Award · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
7. Radio Voice of the Year
  Radio Mirchi
8. Sansui Viewers Choice Movie Awards
  Personality of the Year · Sansui
2005
1. Indian Telly Awards
  Best TV Anchor · indiantelevisioncom
2. Diamond of the India
  The International Gemological Institute
3. NDTV Indian of the Year
  Entertainment · NDTV Network
4. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor of a Game Show · Indian Television Academy
5. Deenanth Mangeshkar Award
  Mangeshkar Family
6. National Film Award
  Best Actor · Government of India
7. Screen Awards
  Best Actor · Indian Express Group
8. Stardust Award
  Special Award · Stardust Magazine
2006
1. Honory Doctorate
  University of Delhi, India
2. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor · The Times Group
3. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor (Critics) · The Times Group
4. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  Best Actor · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
5. Stardust Award
  Star of the Year - Male · Stardust Magazine
6. BFJA Awards
  Best Actor (Hindi) · Bengal Film Journalists Association
7. Zee Cine Awards
  Best Actor - Male · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
8. Bollywood Movie Awards
  Best Actor (Male) · The Bollywood Group
9. Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
  Best Actor in a Leading Role · Producers Guild
10. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor of a Game Show · Indian Television Academy
11. Bollywood People's Choice Awards
  Best Actor
12. Anandlok Awards
  Best Actor
13. Bollyvista Film Awards
  Best Actor
14. Rediff Movie Awards
  Best Actor
15. AXN Action Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award
16. Real Star of Stars
  Readers Choice
17. Entertainer of the Year
18. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  IIFA Wall of Fame · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
2007
1. Legion of HonourInternational
  Government of France
2. Honory Doctor of ArtsInternational
  University Brandon Foster, Leeds Metropolitian University, Yorkshire, UK
3. Screen Awards
  Best Actor (Critics) · Indian Express Group
4. Indian Television Academy Awards
  The ITA Laurel for Ultimate Eminence · Indian Television Academy
5. 9th Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film
  Special Award for Contribution to Indian Cinema · Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film
6. The Visit London Special Award for Outstanding AchievementInternational
  London Mayor, Ken Livingstone
2008
1. Asia's Sexiest Vegetarian Man
  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
2009
1. Most Powerful Entertainer of the Decade Award
  IIFA-FICCI Frames
2. National Film Award
  Best Actor · Government of India
3. National Film Award
  Best Feature Film · Government of India
4. Stardust Award
  Best Actor · Stardust Magazine
5. Men of the Year Award
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Gentlemen Quaterly Magazine
6. 11th Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image International Film
7. NDTV Indian of the Year
  NDTV icon of 21 years of Entertainment award · NDTV Network
8. World Economic Forum's Crystal AwardInternational
  World Economics Forum
9. Lifetime Achievement AwardInternational
  Tehran Film Festival
10. Lifetime Achievement AwardInternational
  Dubai International Film Festival
11. 8th Asian Film Cultural AwardInternational
  Asian Film Festival
2010
1. Lifetime Achievement AwardInternational
  4th Asian Film Festival, Hong Kong
2. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor · The Times Group
3. Screen Awards
  Best Actor · Indian Express Group
4. Screen Awards
  Jodi No 1 · Indian Express Group
5. International Indian Film Academy Awards
  Best Actor · Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd
6. Stardust Award
  Star of the Year - Male · Stardust Magazine
7. Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Producers Guild
8. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Complete Entertainer of the Decade · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
9. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor Talk/Chat Show · Indian Television Academy
10. Marathi International Film and Theatre Awards
  Special Award
11. Lines Gold Award
  Best Actor
12. FICCI Frames 2010 Excellence Awards
  Best Actor
13. Taj Enlighten Tareef Award
  Contribution to Film Industry
14. Hello! Hall of Fame
  Timeless Icon
15. Asianet Film Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award
16. The Asian Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award
17. Lifetime Achievement AwardInternational
  Oman International Film Festival
18. Top 25 Asian Actors of All TimeInternational
  CNN Network
19. Lifetime Achievement AwardInternational
  Hong Kong International Film Festival
20. The Asian AwardsInternational
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Lemon Group
2011
1. Filmfare Award
  Special Award · The Times Group
2. Stardust Award
  Pride of the Industry · Stardust Magazine
3. Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
  Best Actor in a Leading Role · Producers Guild
4. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Best Actor (Social Role) · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
5. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Complete Entertainer · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
6. Indian Television Academy Awards
  The ITA Achiever of the Year · Indian Television Academy
7. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor Game/Quiz Show · Indian Television Academy
8. BIG Television Awards
  Shaksiyat of the Year · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
9. BIG Television Awards
  Distinguished Personality Awards · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
10. CNN-IBN Indian of the Year
  Entertainment
11. Honory DoctorateInternational
  Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
12. Abhinay Chakravarti Award
  President of India
13. Maharastrian of the Year - the Maanbindu
  President of India
14. NTR National Award
  Government of Andhra Pradesh
2012
1. Apsara Film & Television Producers Guild Awards
  Guild Honour for Excellence on TV · Producers Guild
2. People's Choice Awards
  Best Non-Fiction Show Host · Bulldog Media and Entertainment
3. Indian Telly Awards
  Best TV Anchor · indiantelevisioncom
4. Lifetime Achievement Award | Pune International Film Festival
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Pune International Film Festival
5. FICCI Frames 2012 Excellence Awards
  Award for maximum impact made by a Personality
6. Dadasaheb Phalke Academy Awards
  Phalke Ratnna Award · Government of India
7. John Walker & Sons Game Changer of the Century
  John Walker and Sons
8. Sri Chandrashekarendra Saraswati National Eminence award
  South Indian Education Society (SIES)
9. Mirchi Music Awards
  Living Legend With Golden Voice
10. Polio Eradication Champion Award
  Rotary International
11. Award for Remarkable Contribution to Indian CinemaInternational
  Government of Australia
12. Tribute to Hindi Cinema AwardInternational
  Marrakech International Film Festival
13. Keys to the City of FlorenceInternational
  Florence Indian Film Festival
14. NDTV Poll
  India's Greatest Actor · NDTV Network
15. Most-Admired Bollywood Actor
  New Mobile Survey
16. Hottest Male Vegetarian
  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
2013
1. Honory Doctorate
  Jodhpur National University, India
2. Medallion of Honour
  President of India
3. Stardust Award
  Star of the Century · Stardust Magazine
4. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Star of the Millenium · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
5. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Best Actor (Social Role) · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
6. Indian Television Academy Awards
  Best Anchor Game/Quiz Show · Indian Television Academy
7. Special Honour | University of Mumbai, India
  Special Honour · University of Mumbai, India
8. India's Prime Icon of 2012
  India's Prime Icon of 2012
9. Timeless Style Icon
  Timeless Style Icon
10. NASSCOM Global Leadership Awards
  Global Indian Award · National Association of Software and Service Companies
11. Maestro Award | Whistling Woods International Institute
  Maestro Award · Whistling Woods International Institute
12. Super Achiever of the Year | Society Magazine
  Super Achiever of the Year · Society Magazine
13. Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award | Mangeshkar Family
  Hridaynath Mangeshkar Award · Mangeshkar Family
14. NDTV's 25 greatest living global Indians
  NDTV Network
15. La Trobe University Global Citizenship AwardInternational
  La Trobe University, Melbourne
16. International Screen IconInternational
  Government of Victoria
17. Ambassador of GoodwillInternational
  La Trobe University, Melbourne
18. Global Diversity AwardInternational
  Government of Great Britain
19. UK Poll: Celebrationg 100 Years of Indian CinemaInternational
  Greatest Bollywood Star
20. Special Honour | Rotary International
  Special Honour · Rotary International
21. Screen Awards
  Iconic Legend Award · Indian Express Group
2014
1. ANR National Award
  Akkineni International Foundation
2. Screen Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award · Indian Express Group
3. Stardust Award
  International Icon of the Year · Stardust Magazine
4. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Best Actor (Social Role) · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
5. Pune Pandit Award
  Celebrating his Accomplishments with 100 Years of Indian Cinema · The Art and Music Foundation
6. NRI of the Year AwardsInternational
  Global Icon of the Year
7. Star Box Office India Awards
  Box office Shahenshah Award · Star Network
8. Yash Chopra Memorial Award
9. IFFM Excellence in Cinema AwardInternational
  Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
10. International Screen IconInternational
  Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
2015
1. Padma Vibhushan
  Government of India
2. Honory DoctorateInternational
  Academy of Arts Egypt
3. National Film Award
  Best Actor · Government of India
4. Screen Awards
  Best Actor · Indian Express Group
5. BIG Star Entertainment Awards
  Most Entertaining Actor in a Drama Role · Reliance Broadcast Network Limited
6. Stardust Award
  Star of the Year - Male · Stardust Magazine
7. Social Media Person of the Year
  Internet and Mobile Association of India
8. Filmfare Glamour & Style Awards
  Timeless Glamour and Style Icon (Male) · The Times Group
2016
1. Filmfare Award
  Best Actor (Critics) · The Times Group
2. Stardust Award
  Star of the Year - Male · Stardust Magazine
3. Zee Cine Awards
  Best Actor (Critics) - Male · Zee Entertainment Enterprises
4. NDTV Indian of the Year 2015 Awards
  Lifetime Achievement Award · NDTV Network

200 of 217

Research Centre

Posts 2

Coolie: Manmohan Desai's Cinematic Epic of Unity and Drama
A working still from Manmohan Desai's 1983 film Coolie, produced under the banner M.K.D. Films Combine and Aasia Films Pvt. Ltd., was captured on Amitabh Bachchan's return to the shooting of the film after his prolonged stay in hospital. Coolie remains an integral part of the illustrious filmography of Amitabh Bachchan and one of the landmark films of the collaboration between Bachchan and Desai. A classic example of the masala films, Coolie was a blockbuster hit. The film bore all the famous tropes of lost and found family members, romance and a trusted animal coming to the aid of the hero. The film was also spotlit for the near fatal accident that occurred on the sets of the film during a fight scene between Bachchan and Puneet Issar, leaving the former hospitalised for two months at Breach Candy Hospital, Bombay, while the entire nation prayed for the superstar's recovery. Kader Khan, who played the role of the main antagonist in the film also served as its writer, incorporating several references to Sufi mysticism in the script. The sacred number 786, served as the badge number of the coolie Iqbal (played by Bachchan), his falcon named Allah Rakha (meaning in God's protection), and a shroud from the Haji Ali Dargah which landed on Iqbal's shoulder during the final scenes of the film, as he took his revenge from Zafar, killing him at the end while nearly surviving multiple injuries himself. The climax of the film was changed and re-shot after Bachchan's return from hospital capitulating to audience sentiment, which had feverishly prayed for their hero's safe recovery. Prayag Raaj, a trusted collaborator of Desai, directed and co-wrote the script of the film along with some songs. Desai's name was later added as the co-director of the film to get better distribution price; he was originally the producer of the film. Coolie went on to become one of the ten highest grossing films of the decade and the biggest hit of 1983, exceeding 75 weeks in several regional centres with people sleeping overnight at theatres to secure a place in next morning's booking queues.
1_CinemaEducation 4_PopCulture
Amitabh Bachchan Coolie Manmohan Desai Prayag Raaj
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Sholay: The Mouth Organ Scene
The iconic mouth-organ scene from the 1975 Ramesh Sippy film Sholay was performed by Bhanu Gupta, an integral part of the film's music composer R.D. Burman's team. Primarily a dacoit film, also referred to as a Dacoit Western, combining tropes of Hollywood Curry Westerns and Indian dacoit films, this scene was a rare moment of expression of outward calm, inner loneliness and an unspoken connection, portrayed beautifully by Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan (née Bhaduri). A review in the popular film magazine of the time Star & Style (12 September 1975) noted that, “Jaya conveys almost everything with her face…we have hardly any other Hindi actress who can do such a feat, of expressing sadness and hope.” In the scene, filmed at dusk, Radha, the young widow of the Thakur's son, lights the lamp of the house while Jai is sitting downstairs playing a melancholic tune on his mouth organ. The sadness of Radha and the longing that Jai feels for her is portrayed beautifully establishing a moment of tranquillity between the two characters with a doomed ending. Ramesh Sippy in an interview recounted how the scene took several days to be satisfactorily filmed as he wanted to capture the perfect lighting and mood for the shot. Termed as a non-starter upon its release and panned by the critics, the film went on to become a cult classic, remembered for its story, acting, music and overall production values, drawing audiences in droves to the theatres. Sholay, has been revered by many film critics and enthusiasts over the years gaining accolades such as the “Top 10 Indian Films” of all time by the British Film Institute in 2002 and the “Best Film of 50 Years” by the Filmfare Awards in 2005.
1_CinemaEducation
Amitabh Bachchan Sholay Ramesh Sippy
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