Aradhana: A blockbuster that continues to mesmerise

July 2019 marked 50 years of the lunar landing of Apollo 11. US television channels detailed every scientific-technological story of the historic space flight in 1969, making generations recall names of Neil Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins.  

For us in India, 1969 was also a landmark year; marking 50 years of the release of Aradhana, the Rajesh Khanna-Sharmila Tagore starrer which metaphorically took us over the moon. It continues to do so.  

On FM radio, songs of Aradhana make us hum: Mere Sapnon Ki Rani Kab Ayegi tu by the inimitable Kishore Kumar, an evergreen favourite, is a musical tribute to the genius of SD Burman and Anand Bakshi, who together packed bravado into a single song.  

On screen, Rajesh Khanna, Sujit Kumar and Sharmila Tagore made it immortal. With Rajesh Khanna singing his heart out in an open jeep for a coy Sharmila framed in the window of a moving train, it is a sequence unparalleled for its simplicity, naivety, drawing viewers into a melodrama of love, longing and sacrifice.  

Sharmila’s demure looks, the hair-lock curling on her cheek, remains a picture of innocence influencing generations of women in India. Today we can deconstruct the image in terms of a stereotypical persona or even the ‘woman as victim’.  

Through the 1970s-1980s, the cinematic image created for Sharmila was undeniably unique for its sheer fragility, aura of vulnerability and her translucent beauty. The emotional strength demonstrated by her character, Vandana Tripathi, resonated as a portrayal of a modern-day Sita, strong and so silent.  

Aradhana’s posters captured the essence of not only the film but also those times. The lead couple in a gentle embrace, eyes closed, lost in themselves and their love. Sharmila’s well-coiffured hair, an ornate ear-ring and the faint dimple of her cheek are eye-catching. They were two souls wrapped together and they took an entire nation of lovers over the moon.  

Aradhana was Rajesh Khanna’s flight to superstar-dom. He became The Phenomenon. Fans swooned over him; love-letters written in blood were delivered to his palatial residence. Gifted with a photogenic face and a warm husky voice, Rajesh’s acting was nothing to write home about. A stylish look was crafted, the tilt of his head and the way he looked at his leading ladies, left viewers ecstatic watching a smooth lady-killer at work.   

Compared to the powerful imagery and screen presence of Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna seems a relatively pale shadow. Brilliant film scripts, a series of legendary directors he worked with, unmatched songs and the voice of Kishore Kumar immortalised Rajesh Khanna and put him on the same pedestal as the thespians.  

Javed Akhtar, in one of his TV-radio shows, tagged Hey Hey Ah Haa Hoon Hoon, the start of Kora Kagaz Tha Yeh Mann Mera, as probably the most instantly recognized melodic beginning of a Hindi song.  

Through its characters, story line, lyrics and music, Aradhana created an incredibly durable magic on screen. The impact of Sound of Music can be the closest comparison. Both these masterpieces have continued to mesmerize audiences till date.   

The venerable Shakti Samanta confessed that half-way through the film’s shooting, the cast and crew knew they had a super box-office hit on their hands. Rodgers and Hammerstein, in contrast, said they were so lost in various compositions they never gave a thought to what impact Do Re Mi or A Few of My Favourite Things would have. No longer merely films, it’s clear they were spinning out emotion-charged dreams that had no end.  

Among Aradhana fans, many swear by SD Burman’s soulful rendering of Saphal Hogi Teri Aradhana, Kahe Ko Roye as the song skillfully weaves the story forward, leaving viewers sobbing in their handkerchiefs.  

Roop Tera Mastana is still a DJ’s delight. The story of the song’s shooting takes the breath away: it was filmed in a single take, 3 minutes and 30 seconds! Kishore Kumar’s voice, its breathlessness left viewers gasping for more.  

The 1969 Filmfare Awards acknowledged Kishore Kumar as the best playback singer for this song; Sharmila Tagore the best actress; and Aradhana as the best film. When we have Aradhana still beating in our hearts, Apollo 11 seems so alien, so forget-ably phoren.

Author is a researcher, writer, journalist and communications consultant