Yash Chopra Birthday: 5 Essential Films

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SEPTEMBER 28,2023

Today marks the birth anniversary of the King of Romance in Bollywood, Yash Chopra. Born on September 27, 1932, in Lahore, he was the youngest of the eight siblings. As a child, Yash Chopra was brought up in the house of his elder brother, BR Chopra, who was working as a film journalist then. Later, in Bombay, he started assisting his brother in films. BR Chopra was a successful director himself who made films like "Naya Daur (1957)", "Gumrah (1963)," etc. Quickly rising to the top, Yash Chopra took to directing films and made his debut in 1959 with the film "Dhool Ka Phool". The film did well at the box office and featured the song "tu hindu banega na musalman banega, insan ki aulad hai insan banega', penned by ace poet Sahir Ludhianvi. After this, there was no going back, and over the next couple of decades, Yash Chopra introduced his own style to the sensibilities of Bollywood, changing it forever.

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Be it solidifying the image of the 'Angry Young Man' in Bollywood and making Amitabh Bachhan a household name or later creating a range of layered romantic films that tackled questions of modern relationships, he did it all. Here are five of his films that reflect the man and the legend:

1) Waqt (1965): With an ensemble cast of Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Sadhana Shivdasani, Balraj Sahni, Sharmila Tagore, Shashi Kapoor, and others, Yash Chopra was the earliest director to have a film with so many stars. Naturally, the film did really well at the box office, and Chopra won his first Filmfare Award for Best Director. It is a family drama where members of the family are separated due to an earthquake, leaving everyone stranded and their homes destroyed. It remains an important film in Indian cinema and is also remembered for its memorable songs.

2) Deewar (1975): If it was Salim-Javed's brilliant composition of the 'Angry Young Man' in the script that changed cinema forever, it was also due to Yash Chopra's staggering portrayal of it in the film that made it out of the league. Taking cues from the script and making it larger than life by incorporating the acting talents of its leads, Chopra made 'Deewar' what it is. The film went on to become the most celebrated film in Indian cinema, with its dialogue and plot catching everyone's attention even today.

3) Chandni (1989): After making a series of action films in the eighties, Chopra decided to go back to his roots and make a romantic musical. Hence came "Chandni", which is widely regarded as his best film, with strong performances from Sri Devi in the lead role along with Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna. It established what is known as 'The Yash Chopra Style' with melodramatic scenes, a strong female character, songs shot in extravagant foreign locations, and melodious music. All of this made the film win the National Award for Best Popular Film for Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

Also Read: The Romantics: Yash Chopra Reveals How Distributors Refused To Release Chandni, Called It A Flop

4) Darr (1993): Another classic that won the National Award and established Shah Rukh Khan as a serious actor who can do anything the character demands. The film was unusual in its portrayal of a lover's unhealthy obsession with the girl he wants to marry. It is at once creepy, thrilling, and all the more menacing with Khan's scathing performance. On top of that, it boasted such a catchy album with hits like "Tu Mere Saamne" and "Jaadu Teri Nazar," which resounded its success.

5) Dil To Pagal Hai (1997): There is absolutely nothing to not like in this film. With the dreamlike appearances of both Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit and their romantic pursuits, the film is much more layered about the idea of love. It makes you want to believe in love even on the most difficult days, and it can be watched again and again to experience the magic of the actor trio. At the 43rd Filmfare Awards, it won for Best Film, and all three actors won for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively.