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Silsila (1981 film)
| Silsila | |
|---|---|
| File:Silsila.jpg Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Yash Chopra |
| Produced by | Yash Chopra |
| Written by | Yash Chopra Sagar Sarhadi Romesh Sharma |
| Starring | Shashi Kapoor Amitabh Bachchan Jaya Bachchan Rekha Sanjeev Kumar |
| Music by | Shiv-Hari |
| Distributed by | Yash Raj Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 180 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | ₹70 million |
Silsila (English: Series of Events) is a 1981 Indian romantic drama film directed and produced by Yash Chopra. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha, with Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor and Kulbhushan Kharbanda in supporting roles. On his last birthday, Yash Chopra revealed that he had originally signed Smita Patil and Parveen Babi opposite Bachchan, but after consulting with him, he cast Jaya Bachchan and Rekha in their respective roles.[1][2]
This was the last film to feature Rekha with Amitabh Bachchan. This was also the last film to feature Amitabh Bachchan with Jaya Bachchan until they appeared together on screen 20 years later in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (2001). After this film, Jaya Bachchan did not feature in any new releases until Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998), 18 years later.
The film was a commercial failure at the box office. However, over the years, the film has acquired a cult following, and is widely acclaimed to be a classic film. Chopra said that this film and Lamhe were his favourites. The movie's soundtrack became a "super-hit" upon the release of the film and continues to be popular.
Plot[edit]
Orphaned at a young age, brothers Shekhar and Amit Malhotra live independently. Shekhar is the squadron leader of the Indian Air Force, while Amit is a playwright in Delhi. They have fallen for Shobha and Chandni, respectively, and plan to get married on the same day. However, Shekhar dies in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, leaving the pregnant Shobha alone. Therefore, Amit breaks up with Chandni and marries Shobha feeling obligated. The broken-heart Chandni later gets married to the physician Dr. Anand.
Tragedy strikes once more and Shobha loses her child in a car accident. With no child to bind them together, Amit and Shobha drift apart. He runs into Chandni and they secretly rekindle their romantic relationship. They meet on the sly until a night when Chandni accidentally hits a passerby on the way home from a tryst with Amit. The police get involved, but Amit manages to hush the matter up. But, the affair is endangered because the police inspector who investigates the accident is Shobha's cousin, who is determined to expose them.
Soon, Amit decides that he can no longer continue his loveless marriage to Shobha and wishes to reconcile with Chandni. The news shatters Shobha, but she believes that her love will make him return to her. Anand is also aware of Chandni's infidelity and feel devastated; when he leaves on a business trip, Amit and Chandni secretly leave the town to start a new life. Anand's plane, however, crashed and causes the three to rush to the wreckage site. Rushing into the fire to save Anand, Amit is confronted by Shobha, who reveals that she is expecting his child. After Anand is rescued, Chandni realizes her love for her husband and decides to live together with him. The film ends with a song depicting Amit and Shobha living happily in their marriage.
Cast[edit]
- Amitabh Bachchan as Amit Malhotra
- Jaya Bachchan as Shobha Malhotra
- Rekha as Chandni
- Sanjeev Kumar as Dr. V. K. Anand
- Shashi Kapoor as Sqdr. Leader Shekhar Malhotra (special appearance)
- Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Inspector Kulbhushan
- Sushma Seth as Actress
Production[edit]
Filming[edit]
Silsila was one of the few Hindi films to be shot at the Srinagar airport.[3] The song "Dekha Ek Khwaab" was shot in the Keukenhof tulip gardens in The Netherlands[4][5] and some parts in Pahalgam.[6]
Music[edit]
The music for the film was composed by Shiv-Hari, and the lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar, Hasan Kamal, and Rajendra Krishan. The song "Rang Barse Bhige Chunar Wali" is said to be one of India's best known Holi songs.[7] Its lyrics were by poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan.[8] According to music expert Rajesh Subramanian, the tune of "Neela Aasman So Gaya" was actually composed by Shammi Kapoor. Kapoor made Bachchan hear it on the sets of Zameer. Bachchan suggested it to Yash Chopra, who incorporated it in Silsila. The lyrics of "Tum Hoti to Kaisa Hota" were taken from the poetry collection "Banjara" by Javed Akhtar.[9]
| Song | Singer(s) | Lyricist(s) |
|---|---|---|
| "Dekha Ek Khwaab" | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar | Javed Akhtar |
| "Yeh Kahaan Aa Gaye Hum" | Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar | Javed Akhtar |
| "Rang Barse Bhige Chunar Wali" | Amitabh Bachchan | Harivansh Rai Bachchan |
| "Ladki Hai Ya Shola" | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar | Rajendra Krishan |
| "Sar Se Sarke" | Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar | Hasan Kamal |
| "Neela Aasman" - Part 1 | Amitabh Bachchan | Javed Akhtar |
| "Neela Aasman" - Part 2 | Lata Mangeshkar | Javed Akhtar |
| "Jo Tum Todo Piya" | Lata Mangeshkar | Meerabai (Traditional) |
| "Khudse Jo Waada Kiya" | Pamela Chopra | Nida Fazli |
| "Bahan Jinah Di Pakdiye" | Ragi Harbans Singh and Party | Traditional |
Box office[edit]
Silsila did not do well at the box office, grossing ₹70 million (US$8.05 million), but has since achieved a cult status among Indian audiences.[11] It launched Shiv Hari as a commercially successful duo, and its songs continue to be remembered and heard in India.[12][13]
Awards and nominations[edit]
Nominations
References[edit]
- ↑ "Smita Patil, Parveen Babi original choice for 'Silsila': Yash Chopra - Indian Express". www.indianexpress.com.
- ↑ "Yash Chopra wanted to cast Smita Patil, Parveen Babi for Silsila".
- ↑ "35 yrs after 'Silsila', web series shot at Srinagar airport".
- ↑ "Immerse yourself in the colours of romance at this Tulip Festival in Srinagar".
- ↑ "Kuekenhof – Netherlands". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ↑ "Movie Locations for Silsila".
- ↑ Mishra, Vijay (2002). Bollywood cinema: temples of desire. Routledge. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-415-93015-4. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
- ↑ Silsila: Soundtrack Internet Movie Database.
- ↑ Shelatkar, Prasanna (25 March 2016). "Tum hoti toh kaisa hota (original poem) by Javed Akhtar". Kolkata literary meet 2016.
- ↑ Ganti, Tejaswini (2012). Producing Bollywood: Inside the Contemporary Hindi Film Industry. Duke University Press. p. 284. ISBN 9780822352136. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
- ↑ "Silsila - Starring Amitabh,Jaya,Rekha,Sashi Silsila's box office, news, reviews, video, pictures, and music soundtrack". Ibosnetwork.com. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ↑ Subhash K Jha 27 June 2011, 11.43am IST (27 June 2011). "Silsila, Lamhe are my favourites: Yash Chopra". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ "Exotic and irrational entertainment: Forbidden Love: Silsila and Lamhe". Exoticandirrational.blogspot.in. 9 June 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
External links[edit]
- Silsila on IMDb
- Silsila at Bollywood Hungama
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