Salaamat Rahe Dostana Hamara…
“Oh no! not again” was my first reaction to the news.. as the Dhol-Nagada of the news of its release have been playing with my ears for so many years. After umpteen announcements of its release in last 13 years (and ofc still remaining dabba-band till date), today I heard the same news once again… Yaar Meri Zindagi is releasing finally… Big B and Shatru Bhaiyya are reuniting once again onscreen..
Rediff Reports
Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha will reunite on screen after 26 years. The last time we saw them together was in Yash Chopra’s Kaala Patthar.
Now, Yaar Meri Zindagi, which releases this month, will feature both actors in pivotal roles. And in case you are wondering why you haven’t heard of the casting coup in this film before, the reason is Yaar Meri Zindagi has been lying in the cans for 37 years!
Exciting News? As a big Bachchan bhakt, a Shatru fan for so many years and as an RDent fan for life and beyond (The film has music by late RD Burman), the release news has been exciting everytime it makes a buzz, but today it failed to excite me. In last few years my admiration for the two stars has faded down a bit and so as the interest in the film.
By the way, Rediff seems to have missed a point.. Last time Amitabh and Shatru came together was in Naseeb (1981) and not in Kaala Patthar (1979 release).. In fact after Kala Patthar, they did Dostana and Shaan too and also Amitabh Bachchan made a guest appearence in Amzad Khan’s Ameer Aadmi Gareeb Aadmi in 1985.
Coming back to the film, it started in 1971 by producer and director Ashok Gupta and was remained uncompleted till 1996 first due to financial troubles and then Amitabh-Shatru rivalry..
The first major attempt to revive the project was made in 1996 by completing the film with some new addition to the cast (hence you find Sudha Chandran’s name in the star cast). The music was launched on a relatively unknown label G Series with 3 earlier recorded songs and 3 songs recorded later in early 90s including the title song yaar meri zindagi, pyar meri zindagi. The three Asha solos (Penned by Majrooh saabm earlier recorded in 70s or 80s) (Naache mera pyar (quite similar to jaane do mujhe jaane do of Dil Padosi hai), Piya tore nainwa and Raja ke angna aayi bholi chiraiyya) are excellent compositions by Pancham. The film was completed with a little(?) change in script and since then failed to attract the buyers..
Now to tell you the truth, in some corner of the heart, small bubbles of excitement are forming since the news is out today.. Amitabh-Shatru, once again together, specially the Amitabh’s and Shatru’s carrying the aura of 70s.. Also am excited about a chance to see the character artists of 70s like Iftekhar saheb, Ranjeet, Jalal Agha and for Pancham’s association ofc.
In recent years, both Amitabh and Shatru were more vocal in public about their Shatruta not Dostana, but very recently on the music release of Jodha Akbar, the two were seen in friendly mood, seems to have made up… A good news indeed and this might have made way for the release of Yaar Meri Zindagi…
Looking forward to the film..
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
37 years! Sounds like a chance for the younger generation to watch young AB and young Shatrughan Sinha in action in a new movie.
Who is trying to sabotage Sarkar Raj?
The politics being played around Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj continues to be as interesting as the film itself; with T-Series and others desperately trying their best to stop the expected Ram Gopal Varma blockbuster from releasing.
This past month, T-series has quixotically tried to take RGV to court, not in Mumbai where films get made and transactions done, but up in Noida. This is similar to what the plaintiffs tried with Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag, when they filed a lawsuit in Delhi instead of Mumbai. So the same approach is being tried again with Sarkar Raj. However this time there is expected to be return fire as the stakes and dynamics are different with all parties being aware of it. Sarkar Raj is Ram Gopal Varma’s most critical film and the first film to bring on the screen Abhishek, Amitabh, and Aishwarya Bachchan. Sarkar Raj tells the tale of the Nagre family which fights out of trouble after fading of its Godfather. People who have seen the rushes of Sarkar Raj have been raving about its powerful impact.
The question that is being raised now is, why are lawsuits being filed against the Hyderabad based Mumbai film director Ram Gopal Varma up all the way in Noida? Why should a Noida court have jurisdiction or relevancy for Sarkar Raj? Does it have something to do with politics? Are they trying to get influenced judges in Noida to stop Sarkar Raj from hitting the public which they may not be able to in Mumbai?
Most importantly, is T-Series acting as a front for other people who don’t want Sarkar Raj to release? As T-Series’ head honcho Bhushan Kumar himself has been accused of fraud and forgery before by people like Hans Raj Hans and Mukesh Bhatt.
Legally it appears ultimately Bhushan Kumar and T-Series are doomed since if it drags on, the Sarkar people will attack this by filing a preemptive countersuit directly to the Supreme Court, and then separately go after Bhushan Kumar for attempting to sabotage the film’s release. Kumar has already been reported to be tracked down by the Mumbai police over his alleged forgery against Ram Gopal Varma. Varma had filed FIR against him earlier this month.
The fractious relationship between Raj Thackeray and the Bachchan family, provoked by the former’s baiting of them, now has an onscreen version.
According to well-placed sources, the aggressive, bespectacled character in Ram Gopal Varma’s new political film Sarkar Raaj is based on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. In the film, he is called Sanjay Somji, and is a fiery young politician at loggerheads with the Nagre family, played by the Bachchan trio.
“The antagonist of Sarkar Raaj does bear a resemblance to Raj,” admitted a source privy to the content of the film. “And the resemblance is not just in spirit but physical too. There is a dramatic conflict between this character and the Nagres.”
Sarkar Raaj is the first film that stars three of the Bachchans-Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya-in full-fledged roles. Sanjay Somji is played by newcomer Rajesh Shringarpore.
Another interesting dimension is that Sarkar Raaj is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Sarkar, which starred Amitabh Bachchan, and whose central character was clearly inspired by Bal Thackeray, though the look was quite different. It may be recalled here that Varma’s Sarkar too had generated a spot of controversy when it came out that it was based on Bal Thackeray’s life. A special screening of the film was organised for the Sena chief.
It is also reported that Raj Thackeray too asked Varma for a special screening. According a member of the unit, “He watched about 25 minutes of the film on Tuesday evening. Ramu has known Raj Thackeray for five years, so some parts of the film were shown to him.”
Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been at the receiving end of Raj Thackeray’s virulent anti-north Indian campaign. Raj, once a self-confessed Bachchan fan, had accused Bachchan of putting UP before Maharashtra in his loyalties and for not doing enough for Maharashtra. Interestingly, in the new film, the Bachchans champion the cause of Maharashtra and its welfare.
Raj’s interest in the film has generated speculation. While some industry sources feel he was merely checking out the film for himself others feel that it is his way of extending the olive branch to the Bachchans.
great news! bring it on. we’ll be there – bouffant, muttonchops, bellbottoms, et al. and in the interval we can have a zingthing.
I would be quite happy to see the film. I am a great fan of the seedha-saada Amitabh, shown in various early 70’s films. I dont know how is his character in this one. Eagerly waiting.
I have doubts that this would be something not seen before.. in that case would prefer this film to be on the lines of Namak Haraam rather than (misunderstanding on a common love interest) Dostana.. With Shatru playing Amitabh and Amitabh playing Rajesh (vice versa is not bad either)..
Namak Haraam is an underrated classic in the genre of “Dosti” films..
Dost (Dharam-Shatru (Big B in a guest role too)) could well be a another interesting premises..
Lets hope it doesnt turn out to be a damp squib!
ab+shatru … gr8 news…:d
wen its releasing?
=6… dost??? what is that? old film?
or its dosti??
Dost (1974) is a different film than Dosti (1964).
Dost featured Dharmendra and Shatrughan Sinha in the main lead with Amitabh too doing a small role. Directed by Dulal guha, it was an interesting script.. The friendship of Dharmendra (a post graduate, honest, unemployed youth of 70s) and Shatru bhaiyya (a small time thief, who steals Dharmendra’s belongings in the train).. Dharam paaji traces him and the two developes a strong bond of friendship.. The highlight of the film was a memorable performance by Shatru bhaiyya in different shades and also the friendship factor despite the differences in attitude, cultures, social background of two friends ..
Only in the second half the film gets into a familiar terrain of 70s cinema (Villains, Heroine is daughter of industrialist villain , contaminated food in the factory, friend in trouble, happy ending).
I wish the film to be directed by someone like Hrishi da, as Dulal Guha despite an interesting premises, couldn’t take it beyond average flick..
For the people born in 70s, it has one immortal song.. Gaadi bula rahi hai, seeti bajaa rahi hai
Kaala Patthar, i feel was one of AB’s as well as Yash Chopra’s best movies. Those were the days when Yash Chopra tackled different kinds of themes about underworld( Deewar), partition( Dharamputra), media vs politicans( Mashaal),thriler( Itefaq) to name a few. Kaala Patthar was about the notorious coal mines of Dhanbad, and had a really strong script by Salim Javed, and great performances from Big B, Shashi Kapoor, Shatru and Rakhee.
Pavan, there was another Dost starring mithun and amla having background of animal and jungle. perhaps it was released in late 80s.
@Shailesh
Yes more likely in 1989 i think. I remember that movie, coz it was one of the very few movies for which Pancham Da scored music in the late 80’s Bappi-LP dominated phase. Sadly the music for that movie was nothing to crow about. Dost itself was remake of a Telugu movie Adavi Raja, starring the late Sobhan Babu( RIP) and Radha. Standard 70’s-80’s forest flick honest forest officer, bad villians smuggling timber and animals, villian’s den filled with animals, blah, blah.
Oh Yes Shailesh,
But this “Dost” (1989) was an insignificant film.. It came at a time when Mithun da’s movies were releasing in Dozens making it difficult to remember.. Pancham is the only factor that keeps reminiding of this one but the music was not above par despite a couple of good Asha-Amit Kumar tracks.. and yes Amla reminds me of a good face and some good films like Pushpak, Velu Nayakan, Shiva and Agni Nakshatram.. Where is she?
Ratnakar,
I agree about Kaala Patthar but I dont think it was YRC’s best.. Amitabh’s Character was penned and handled brilliantly but the supporting cast in Kaala Patthar was not as strong as it required to be.. Probably YRC lost them in the crowd of Stars.. Also Shashi-Parveen track was a let down..
Though the scenes between Amitabh and Shatru were superbly handled and unforgettable but it was this film that laid the foundation of rift between two stars..
and who can forget “This pain is my destiny.. and I cant avoid it” leaving everybody on and off screen stunned!