It
was 19th November, 1993. I had completed 19 years. We had two
choices to celebrate my birthday. One was to watch Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke and
other was Baazigar. Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke was Mahesh Bhatt film starring Amir
Khan and Juhi Chawla. It was comedy film and music was also good. But I
preferred to go for Baazigar. We watched this film in theatre. Why? You know
it! Baazigar has become classic film and it has completed 20 years yesterday
(12th November, 2013).
Shahrukh
Khan starred ‘Baazigar’ film completed 20 years! It would be better to say this
film belonged to Abbas-Mustan, director pair. It is very unusual in Indian
cinema, where usually music directors (such as Husnalal Bhagatram, Kalyanji
Anandji, Laxmikant Pyarelel, Nadeem Shravan etc) work in pair, but not
directors.
Abbas-Mustan
got taste of success with film ‘Khiladi’ which was produced by cassette company
Venus. So Producers and directors again got together for a new film to repeat
success. Film was ‘Baazigar’. This film proved to be another hit for them. It
was also a second success for Shahrukh Khan as an actor but first sucess as
solo hero cum villain (Shahrukh had given hit film ‘Deewana’ but Rishi Kapoor
was also there to share a major chunk of success as he was main hero of it).
This was also first film of Shahrukh-Kajol as pair and they gave hit film one
after another. They are still considered to be one of the most successful pair.
When
there is talk of success, we should also consider Anu Malik. This music
director was going low before ‘Baazigar’. He gave seven hit chart buster songs
in just one film! Interestingly, ‘Chhupana bhi nahin aata’ song had two
versions: One was in Vinod Rathod voice and another version was in Pankaj Udhas
voice. Another songs were ‘Ae mere humsafar’, ‘Baazigar o baazigar’, ‘Ye kali
kali ankhen’, ‘Kitabein bahut si’. Tune of ‘Ae mere humsafar’ was loosely
copied from Kishore Kumar song ‘Khubsurat Hasinna’ (Mr. X). Whistle tune which
comes in starting of song ‘Ae mere humsafar’ was used by Anu Malik in song of
‘Ishq’ (1997 film)- ‘Ishq hua kaise hua’. Two songs – ‘Tere chahere pe’ and
‘Samajh kar chand jis ko’ were not included in film but were on cassette. Even,
‘Ye kali kali ankhen’ is shown only part whenever this film is shown on tv
channels.
Screenplay
was written by three writers, Robin Bhatt, step brother of director-writer
Mahesh Bhatt, Aakash Khurana, also known as actor and Javed Siddiqui who is now
known as father of Leela (Lubna Salim) of tv serial ‘Ba Bahu Aur Baby’. This
film was said to be inspired from Hollywood movie ‘A Kiss Before Dying’ (1991).
First time in Hindi film history, hero kills his innocent lover to revenge
against her father. It was hard to think that this film where hero and villain
is same person, would be successful, but it met success. Scene in which
Shahrukh tries to wear lens and one lens falls is said to be copied from movie
‘Satte Pe Satta’ in which Amitabh played double role. Shahrukh also immited
Amitabh-Neetu Singh dance style of song ‘Mein tum ko kya kahun deewana’ (The
Great Gambler) in song ‘Kitabe Bahot Si Padhi Hogi Tumne’. In turn, Shahdi
Kapoor imitated Shahrukh Khan’s style with cap and funny dance in ’36 China
Town’ in song ‘24 X 7 I think of you’. He also imitated style of Shahrukh Khan
of song ‘Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani’ title song.
‘Baazigar’
was also first movie of Shilpa Shetty. After ‘Baazigar’, Shahrukh and Shilpa
never worked together as leading pair, however, in ‘Om Shanti Om’ produced by
Shahrukh Khan, Shilpa made guest appearance for ‘Dekho Dekho Hai Shaam Badi
Deewani’.
Shahrukh
Khan might have not gotten success if Akshay Kumar had accepted this film! Yes,
as we all know, director pair Abbas-Mustan made a hit thriller ‘Khiladi’ with
Akshay Kumar, so naturally their first choice for ‘Baazigar’ was Akshay Kumar.
But Akki rejected this role as at their time hero used to be only hero and not
grey character. Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan also rejected this role. Even
Salman Khan’s brother Arbaaz Khan turned it down for the same reason. However
he did a full fledged negative role in Abbas-Mustan's ‘Daraar’. Shahrukh Khan
and Abbas-Mustan worked again in comedy thriller ‘Baadshah’ but didn’t meet
success so after then they never worked together again.
Generally
music directors and singers don’t get chance to come on screen as what they
are. But in this film, singer Vinod Rathod and music director Anu Malik appear
as respectively singer and music director. In ‘Chhupana Bhi Nahin Aata’ song,
scene was of party thrown for Shahrukh and Kajol’s engagement.
Film
makers first think of Sridevi for double role as Seema and Priya. But later
directors felt that the audience wouldn't feel for Shahrukh's character if
"he killed Sridevi." Therefore, Kajol and Shilpa Shetty were brought.
Siddharth (on right side) in Chhupana Bhi Nahin Aata song |
It
would also be noteworthy that Siddharth Ray plays lover of Kajol. Siddharth
gave hit film ‘Vansh’ with Sudesh Berry. Siddharth was grand son of legendary
film maker V. Shantaram. Unfortunately Siddharth passed away due to massive
heart attack. Siddharth married to actress Shantipriya.
Dialogue
of ‘Baazigar’ ‘Kabhi kabhi kuchh jitney ke liye kuchh harna padta hai aur har
kar jitnewale ko baazigar kahete hai’ is quite popular. In Shahrukh and
Abbas-Mustan’s ‘Baadshah’, funny dialogue was based on this dialogue. It was
like this: ‘Kabhi kabhi dil jodne ke liye dil todna padta hai aur dil tod ke
jodnewale ko …pata nahin kya kehte hai’.
Comedian
Johny Lever was must for Abbas-Mustan’s films. Johny was appreciated for his
role in ‘Khiladi’. Again in this film Johny was given important comedy scenes
in Babu Lal head cook. Even today, people like to watch clips of comedy scenes
from ‘Baazigar’, such as ‘Bina chai ki patti ki chai’ (making tea without tea
leaves and adding salt in it!). Film also stars Raju Srivastav who is now well
known standup comedian. Although Raju is seen in just one or two scenes. In
party scene, song played ‘It’s my life’ was quite popular. This song is sung by
Dr Alban and was quite popular reflecting changing nature of new generation.
So,
sit on sofa, play dvd player and watch ‘Baazigar’ again! But be sure dvd has
full movie in it without any cut!