Aradhana

Aradhana introduces to Indian cinema a great talent Rajesh Khanna. Though this was not his first movie, but this movie brought him acclaim,recognition and Super Star status. The movie has him in a double role where he succeeds in showing different... Full review

What kind of sacrifices an Indian woman gives in her day to day life ShaktiDa has showed it in an excellent form and to complement his directorial greatness Sharmilaji has performed out of the league. She has left all of... Full review

Fantastic music and a dashing leading man aside, the main reason why Aradhana works is perhaps because of the wonderful story line and direction. Though this movie is more often remembered for shooting Rajesh Khanna into the big league, its... Full review

This block buster movie discovered an Indian superstar. Thereafter, Rajesh Khanna instantaneously became a phenomenon. Movie after movie of his, hit on the box office and it seemed as if there is no stop to it. It was the first... Full review

**** Contains Spoilers **** The film begins with Vandhana (Sharmila Tagore), being sentenced to 14 yrs in jail. Her past tells us everthing. Her past starts off with Vandhana coming back from somwhere to join her dad. Later Vandhana meets... Full review

In the sixties and seventies ace director Shakti Samanta created many blockbusters and a few stars.However his biggest hit and most famous protege surfaced in the year 1969.Rajesh Khanna had debuted in Chetan Anand’s ’Aakhri Khat’ and done a few other films.But he was not yet a star.Samanta dreamt up a movie that would use picturesque Darjeeling as setting.A song was created with the hero in a dhaka topi ’serenading’ the heroine while she was reading Alistair Maclean on the world famous toy train en route to Darjeeling.Sachin Bhowmick wrote what was essentially an unbelivable story for the film.But enough of that.Lets try to analyse why both Rajesh Khanna and ’Aradhana’ became such massive successes.Well,the theme,the bare theme tugged at the heartstrings of many-the mother giving up her life for the sake of a promise made to her husband/lover whatever.Going to jail and allowing him to become a ’pilot officer’ just like daddy dear.The actress who played the part of the mother looked pretty as the heroine and with make-up acted well as the mother of all sacrifices(!).Rajesh Khanna as both father and son had this easy charm with an infectious sense of humour.His paunch showed though from time to time.The songs were good."Mere Sapnon Ki Rani..." has already been mentioned.This song made Kishore Kumar the top singer in Bollywood for the first time."Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Mann..." was good.The rest of the numbers you could sleep through."Roop Tera Mastana" is over-hyped actually.All the same it was an okay film.

Retired journalist Atul Cowsish doesnt visit the Delhi Press Club often; and whenever he does, he doesnt stay beyond eight or half-past. When Atul went there a couple of Sundays back, for a condolence meeting, he stayed on for an... ... Full Article