You may remember Neeraj Vora from the brief but remarkable comic roles he played on screen but this many-splendoured man also donned the hats of a director and writer (and even musician once). Vora even partnered with his brother Uttank Vora as the musical duo Neeraj-Vora to compose the soundtrack for Ashutosh Gowariker’s debut film, Pehla Nasha.
Succumbing to the stroke that induced a longterm coma, Vora passed away today. At the time of his illness, he was working on Hera Pheri 3. Ironically Welcome Back was his last film. Here’s looking at some of his films where he left an impression even with his short-lived appearances and some of his films as screenplay/dialogue writer.
1. Rangeela
Writer Neeraj Vora breathed new life into the neighbourhood Tapori, Munna essayed by Aamir Khan in Rangeela with his dialogue. It may go down in the annals of Bollywood as one of the most endearing characters. Remember the scene with Aamir Khan in the posh restaurant?
The film also reinvented Urmila Matondkar with the perfect blend of sensuality and ‘girl-next-door’ vibe. Vora also played the role of a drunk film producer as he stepped in for an AWOL actor in Rangeela.
2. Baadshah
As a writer, Neeraj Vora pulled off a comic thriller with this one. He had the knack for infusing satire and humour in the most unexpected genres.
In Baadshah, SRK plays a private detective, on a mission to rescue a kidnapped child. This is the kind of corny humour you’d want to binge on when your brain cells need some downtime.
3. Hera Pheri
This black comedy of chaos incessantly entertains. It’s triumph lies in the depiction of Baburao’s character, that made Paresh Rawal a star in his own right.
Scratch the surface of this layered comic caper and you will find pathos. Vora managed to pen timeless dialogues that still work as epic captions for memes. Akshay Kumar has even said that one of his main reasons for his foray into comedy was writer, Neeraj Vora.
4. Josh
Bollywood’s then top stars play siblings in this movie, about a feud between two rival gangs: the Christian Eagles and the Hindu Bicchus.
The setting in Goa enhanced the appeal of the film with the Goan-Konkani twang to the dialogues, written by Vora.
5. Golmaal
The first instalment of the Golmaal franchise spawned a series of hits. Neeraj Vora then offered the best scaffolding for the ensuing blockbusters to rest on. While one may argue about the offensive jokes about the physically challenged, the comedy was based on the Gujarati play Aflatoon.
Many dialogues still remain memorable, thanks to the low-brow humour with mass appeal - "Tum wapas India kaise aa gaye? Woh maine Swades dekhi thi (What made you return? Oh, I saw Swades)".
6. Bhool Bhulaiyya
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An official remake of the 1993 Malayalam film, Manichitrathazhu, Bhool Bhulaiyya, written by Vora was a distinctive blend of the supernatural and psychological as well as the droll and the spooky.
7. Satya
You may already know quite a lot about this seminal gangster movie. But this is what you need to know, Neeraj Vora played a blind musician, Music Dir. Romu Saagar in Satya modelled on Indian musical composer, Ravindra Jain!
8. Virasat
His impeccable comic timing earned him a meaty role in Virasat as Anil Kapoor’s friend and loyal aide, Sukhiya. You may remember getting a bit teary-eyed after Sukhiya lost his hand for opening an old temple that the villain, Balli Thakur had locked, for Anil Kapoor.
9. Mann
Mann many not have been a memorable film but Neeraj Vora was best known for his role as Aamir Khan’s best friend in Mann, based on the 1957 Cary Grant-Deborah Kerr classic An Affair to Remember.
Vora left us in splits with his small role but a bodacious performance. He had the flair for the slapstick as well as the sardonic parts.
10. Daud
Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, starring Sanjay Dutt and Urmila Matondkar, with music composed by A. R. Rahman, you may not remember too many things about Daud but it’s difficult to forget Neeraj Vora as Chacko.
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