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Makings of 5 Legendary Films that We Want to See

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.

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Satyajit Ray and his struggle to make his debut feature Pather Panchali is an essential part of Indian cinema folklore. And the struggle that gave birth to India’s most famous filmmaker is now being dramatized in a feature film, directed by author-filmmaker Udayan Namboodiri.

Like Pather Panchali, many landmarks of Hindi cinema have gone through years of struggle to reach the audience. And when they finally did, they shaped popular imagination in a fresh way. Given a chance, we would like to see the making of the following films as fully realised feature films by the legendary directors of Hindi cinema.

1. Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.
Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra in Sholay

With its immortal dialogues, characters and scenes, Ramesh Sippy’s magnum opus is perhaps Hindi cinema’s most charming gift to its audience. But this is also the film that went through a gargantuan struggle.

During casting, Amitabh Bachchan, the then struggling actor, had to convince Sippy to cast him as Jai, instead of Shatrughan Sinha. Danny Denzongpa’s exit led to Amjad Khan’s entry as Gabbar Singh, Dharmendra actually paid his light boys so that he could woo Hema Malini a little better, while Hema refused to wander anywhere close to Sanjeev Kumar because he had just proposed to her and she had rejected him.

Strugglers desperate to make a mark, legendary stars balancing work and romance on the sets, Sholay had it all! Even the long shooting process in the rocky terrain of Ramanagara (a town near Bangalore) has many celebrated stories. For instance, during an action sequence, one stray bullet almost killed Amitabh. This is also the film that was declared a flop, but went on to become one of the biggest hits of all time. Without a doubt, the making of this film will generate as much dramatic heat as the source.

2. Mehboob Khan’s Mother India

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.
Sunil Dutt, Nargis and Rajendra Kumar in Mother India

Mehboob Khan’s ode to the nation as the mother has a charming story of how Sunil Dutt rescued Nargis from a horrifying fire, which led to their love and consequent marriage. Khan spent huge sums of money on a women-centric film only because it was not just a project, but giving shape to his mythical dream of personifying his motherland. Remember the flood scene?

3. K Asif’s Mughal E Azam

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.
Prithviraj Kapoor, Madhubala and Dilip Kumar in Mughal-E-Azam

Though the casting has an interesting story, K Asif’s labour of love is known for his excruciating effort over one-and-a-half decades. The art direction, the eye popping sets specially the Sheesh Mahal, the authentic props being called from every nook and corner of India, and the battle scene that had contributions from the Indian Army in the form of camels, horses and troops, Mughal-E-Azam spelt opulence in every possible way. This is a story worth telling for the sheer sweep of individual ambition. Add to that, the aching reel and real romance of Madhubala and Dilip Kumar.

4. Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.
Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt in Pyaasa

The original casting of Dilip Kumar, Madhubala and Nargis, the inspiration for Gulabo’s character, and the manner in which the film has been shot, Pyaasa‘s making-of would be like watching poetry being made. Add to that the brooding romance between Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rahman off the camera. If this film gets made, it will make random hearts ache in happiness.

5. Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan

The stories of how these iconic films were made would be as interesting as the films themselves.
Aamir Khan with team Lagaan

Probably the most accomplished Hindi film of the new millennium, Lagaan seems like the most bizarre idea on paper, and it is sheer conviction that made this movie a weird and exuberant reality of our times. We are lucky to have the making-of documentary, Chale Chalo, which beautifully captures the trials and tribulations of camping in Bhuj, and shooting a film entirely on cricket as a metaphor for freedom. But dramatising the events including pre and post would be great fun, and perhaps we can have another opportunity to cheer and whistle in the theatres. For a sensible feature film that is.

(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise. His Twitter handle is: @RanjibMazumder.)

(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)

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Topics:  Sholay   Lagaan   Mother India 

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