May 16, 2003 03:47 PM
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(Updated May 16, 2003 03:53 PM)
A little manipulation of a famous rock number and I got this: 'What's a nice movie like you doing in a dump like this????' The movies I have listed here are the ones whose failure at the box office still amazes me. I have tried to explain the possible reasons for these duds.
Andaaz Apna Apna: This is in my list of greatest Bollywood comedies of all times. It occupies the pride of place along with gems like Chupke Chupke, Golmaal and Half Ticket. Aamir Khan is at his best. No double meanings, just pure, unadulterated humour. Maybe the lack of dirty fun wasn't acceptable or maybe it was not released at the right time. Rajkumar Santoshi never made a comedy after that and that's our loss!!!
Ijaazat Gulzar's masterpiece. Sterling performance by Rekha and Naseerudin, a great cameo by Shashi Kapoor, great songs by the Gulzar, R D Burman and Asha Bhosle trio. The plot was unconventional and maybe it was hard to digest for the audience in those times.
Half Ticket Kishore Kumar must've been told by the director,'Do what you want to do' and Kishoreda made hay while the camera rolled. Madhubala was a genius at comedy and sparks had to fly when these two came together. Great acting by Pran as a comic villain. There is one song which has Kishoreda singing in two voices...as Pran and as a Gypsy girl. I searched on the net....this was a flop....way ahead of it's time!!!
Lamhe Yash Chopra never made a movie on a contentious issue again. This was about a 20 year old girl falling in love with a middle aged man. Great performances by Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Anupam Kher. The controversial plot did it in....or on second thoughts...Anil Kapoor clean shaven!!!
Kaun Ramgopal Verma does it again....he gets the best out of Urmila and Manoj and gives you a film that has you at the tenterhooks most of the time unless someone has already told you something like,'The murderer in Kaun is.......'. I won't spoil your fun!!
Other movies that I haven't seen yet but some of my friends vouch for are Khamoshi (Manisha, Salman Khan) and Vijeta. I bet there are several such movies which were duds. This is just a small list but it does prove that not sticking to the time tested formula can be risky in bollywood.
