My Golden Jubilee Review - Dedicated to Classics. Review on Top Ten Bollywood Classics

I dedicate my 50th(Golden Jubilee review) to bollywood's all time great classics. The list is bound to be subjective since I have to select a only a few out of hundreds. Besides, everybody can make his own list according to personal choice. Here comes my list of top ten masterpieces:

1. Pyaasa(1957): Guru Dutt read a poem -'Seven cities claimed Holmer dead where the living Holmer begged his bread'. And he got the inspiration to make this movie which is not only one of the greatest movies of India but the world. Through the story of a Shaayar, Guru Dutt has portrayed the deterioration of values and ethics, the swiftly increasing selfishness overpowering everything else and the disenchantment of public with the Nehruvian idealism in the free India. This black and white movie is a classic example of cinematic excellence. Waheeda Rehman as Gulabo is adorable.The lyrics of Sahir, composed by S.D. Burman and sung by Rafi are hard-hitting. One song sung by Hemant Kumar - Jaane Woh Kaise Long The Jinke Pyar Ko Pyar Mila is also an immortal classic.

   
   




2. Khamoshi(1969): This Rajesh Khanna-Waheeda Rehman starrer movie can be termed as the best of Waheeda's career by any standards. A rare blend of psychology and a woman's suppressed, untold emotions. The music of Hemant Kumar is enchanting with highly meaningful lyrics by Gulzar.

   
   

My review of Khamoshi is available at:

https://mouthshut.com/review/Khamoshi_-_Old_Movie-186498-1.html

1. Taare Zameen Par(2007): Aamir Khan's masterpiece watching which I shed countless tears in the cinema hall. The highly sensitive story of the sentiments of a child suffering from dyslexia. A text book on child psychology. It stands with pride with the old classics of 50s, 60s and 70s.

   
   




2. Mother India(1957): Mehbood Khan remade his own movie Aurat under the title Mother India with a big star cast and grandeur, immortalising Nargis in the title role which starts from her teens and goes upto her 70s. Deserved an oscar but the western jury could not grasp the soul of the Indian story and the Indian social values. Sunil Dutt also played the memorable role of Birju who is shot dead by his mother in the climax.

   
   




3. Haqeeqat(1964): Chetan Anand's classic which is inarguably the best war movie ever made in India. It's the painful story of retreat of the Indian soldiers after the heart-piercing defeat in the China war of 1962. A tear-jerking saga with immortal music given by Madan Mohan. The song - Hoke Majboor Mujhe Usne Bhulaya Hoga is my all time favourite bollywood song, listening and watching which is the experience of a lifetime.

   
   

My review of Haqeeqat is available at:

https://mouthshut.com/review/Haqeeqat-review-umptrmlqmr

1. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam(1962): Guru Dutt's classic movie directed by Abrar Alvi, based on the novel of the same title authored by the legendary Bangla novelist - Bimal Mitra. It presents a true picture of the deteriorating position of the landlords in the19th century Bengal and the social milieu of that period. Meena Kumari gave the performance of her life time in the immortal role of Chhoti Bahu. The songs in the voices of Geeta Dutt(Roy) are all time classics. Guru Dutt himself played the memorable role of Bhoot Nath in the movie.

   
   




2. Do Bigha Zameen(1953): Bimal Roy's classic movie on the plight of the poor Indian peasant destined to live and die in debt of the blood-sucking money-lenders. The heart-tearing saga was made lively on the screen by the outstanding performances of Balraaj Saahni and Nirupa Roy.

   
   




3. Mughal-e-Azam(1960): The most grandiose movie of the Indian silver screen based on the Salim-Anarkali love saga, directed by K. Asif and acted by legends like Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Madhubala. The music of Naushad is immortal the same way the movie itself is.

   
   




4. Satyakaam(1969): The hard-hitting realistic movie of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, baring the true face of the society and highlighting the tragic destiny of a truthful and idealistic man in that. Dharmendra delivered the performance of his life time with Sharmila Tagore and Sanjeev Kumar ably supporting him. This movie is Hrishi Da's best work by all means.

   
   




5. Kaagaz Ke Phool(1959): A beautiful story which could not be told properly, a beautiful idol which could not be finished perfectly, a beautiful song which could not be sung the right way; yet its greatness is beyond any argument. The last movie directed by Guru Dutt which was a flop but definitely the best movie made with the backdrop of the movie-world itself. It shows with crystal clarity that the world bows before the successful and becomes disgustingly cruel to the unsuccessful. Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam is the immortal song which is the combined great effort of S.D. Burman, Kaifi Aazmi and Geeta Dutt(Roy) whereas Bichhade Sabhi Baari Baari sung by Rafi is the song which bares the unsavoury face of this selfish world and when played in the ending scene, proves to be tear-jerking. Guru-Waheeda chemistry is nothing short of amazing. The outstanding cinematography of V.K. Murthy is another highlight of this black and white movie.

   
   

My review of Kaagaz Ke Phool is available at:

https://mouthshut.com/review/Kagaz_Ke_Phool_Movie-196507-1.html

Other than these top ten, the following masterpieces are also mentionable:

1. 36 Chowringhee Lane(1981): It's not just a movie, it's pain-soaked poetry written on celluloid. A highly sensitive English movie directed by Aparna Sen, produced by Shashi Kapoor and acted by Jennifer Kendal(Kapoor) in the central role of a lonely lady with a superlative degree of sensitivity.

   
   




2. Parzaania(2005): Acted by Nasiruddin Shah, Sarika and others, it is perhaps the best movie on the communal hatred in India. Made with the backdrop of the Gujrat riots, the story is a quest for humanity and sensitivity in the wilderness of hatred and sin.

   
   




3. Jaagte Raho(1956): The most realistic movie from the prestigious R.K. banner of bollywood, directed by Sombhu Mitra-Amit Maitra, showcasing the best ever performance of Raj Kapoor. The complete chain of events takes place in a residential complex and during one night only, baring the disgustful face of the hypocratic urban society.

   
   

My review of Jaagte Raho is available at:

https://mouthshut.com/review/Jagte-Raho-review-nurroqtrqr

1. Anand(1970): Hrishi Da's classic whose story is based on the never-say-die spirit of a human-being who is going to die within a few months. Pronouncing affirmatively - Zindagi Zinda Dili Ka Naam Hai, the movie showcases the best ever peformance of Rajesh Khanna in the lead role.The movie boasts of certain immortal songs in the voice of Mukesh. One song sung by Manna Dey - Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli Haay is also immortal.

   
   




2. Deewar(1975): Gulshan Rai's classic movie directed by Yash Chopra which seems to be inspired from Dilip Kumar's Ganga Jamuna, showing two brothers on two polar ends of the continuum of right and wrong. Established Amitabh Bachchan as the perennial angry young man whereas Shashi Kapoor's dialogue - Mere Paas Maa Hai became immortal.

   
   




3. Umrao Jaan(1981): The classic movie based on the novel of Mirza Haadi Ruswa, acted brillinatly by Rekha in the title role and made excellently by Muzaffar Ali. The team of Khayaam, Sheheryaar, Asha Bhonsle and Talat Aziz created an everlasting musical aura.

   
   

(contd. in comments)