BOLLYWOOD
In one comic sequence early in the film, a character called Subodh Mukerji appears. He is the hotel manager where Rishi Kapoor’s and Padmini Kolhapure’s characters first seek refuge while on their way to Darjeeling. This character was based on Husain’s friend in real life, the filmmaker Subodh Mukerji...
Director-writer-producer, Nasir Husain, was the man with the Midas touch in the 1970s. Although he had established himself as one of the leading filmmakers of the 1950s and 1960s, with films like Tumsa Nahin Dekha (1957), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963) and Teesri Manzil (1966), to his credit, Husain had his finest hour in the ’70s. Having directed blockbusters like Caravan (1971), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973) and Hum Kisise Kum Nahin (1977) in that decade, he put himself at the top of the pecking order among the great Hindi film auteurs of that time.
And following the success of Hum Kisise Kum Nahin, Husain announced the ultimate multi-starrer, a film called Zabardast. The film was supposed to star Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra, Rishi Kapoor, Raj Kiran, Asha Parekh, Zeenat Aman, Tina Munim and Kaajal Kiran. The film had a minimum guarantee of rupees seventy-five lakhs per territory in India and 1.25 crore rupees overseas. Husain, however, had to abandon the film after shooting a few reels with Dilip Kumar because the two clashed over how the film should be made. Since Husain had a lot of respect for Dilip Kumar, he shelved the film entirely instead of replacing Kumar with someone else. It was the decent thing to do.
It was only after this ‘zabardast’ setback that Husain made Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai, a film that starred Rishi Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, Shriram Lagoo, Amjad Khan and Kader Khan. The film had quintessential Nasir Husain plot points – the lost-and-found element, youthful romance, a hill station setting and great songs.
Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai, nonetheless, had some interesting facets to it. In one comic sequence early in the film, a character called Subodh Mukerji appears. He is the hotel manager where Rishi Kapoor’s and Padmini Kolhapure’s characters first seek refuge while on their way to Darjeeling. This character was based on Husain’s friend in real life, the filmmaker Subodh Mukerji, who made many successful films such as Munimji (1955), Paying Guest (1957) and Junglee (1961). Husain had worked as a writer on Munimji and Paying Guest and had developed a friendship with Mukerji from that time. Husain would include a comic character called Subodh Mukerji in many of his films, as a tribute to his friendship with Mukerji.
Mansoor Khan, Husain’s son and the man who helmed Husain’s later productions, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, was also involved with Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai. In the long medley sequence that appears in the film, which includes the songs – ‘Main hoon woh albela’, ‘Bolo, bolo, kuchh toh bolo’ and ‘Poochho na yaar kya hua’ – Mansoor can actually be seen handling the lighting effects for the stage behind Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure. He is credited under ‘Electronics and Lights Effects’ for the film. Husain’s inspiration for the disco lights on the stage was apparently the 1977 classic, Saturday Night Fever, which starred John Travolta. Husain brought on son Mansoor, an engineer by pedigree, to help him emulate the lighting effects from that film for Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai.
Moving from Husain’s son to his nephew, Tariq Khan played the character Robin, who appears right at the end of Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai. Tariq had earlier starred in Husain’s Yaadon Ki Baaraat and Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and had become very popular for his songs from those films. Thereafter, however, he had struggled to make any significant impact in the industry. His uncle, Nasir Husain, included him in Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai to save his failing career. But the Robin character’s appearance out of nowhere, right at the end of Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai, only weakened the film’s premise rather than adding to its overall appeal.
The one moment that really stood out from Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai was Rishi Kapoor on top of a train, singing ‘Hoga tumse pyaara kaun’. Husain was known for his ingenuity in song sequences, having put Dev Anand on top of a jeep, which moves parallel to a train in Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai’s (1961) title track and for putting Kaajal Kiran on a crane that made her look like she was flying in the sky, with the hot air balloons pulling her upwards in ‘Yeh ladka hai Allah’ from Hum Kisise Kum Nahin. Although Rishi Kapoor’s movements in ‘Hoga tumse pyaara kaun’ were shot and choreographed inside a studio, with back projection being used to create a real, life-like effect, the song had an element of novelty in that it gave the appearance of the actor actually dancing on top of a moving train.
You can watch Zamaane Ko Dikhana Hai as part of Nasir Hussain Film Festival on Sunday January 28, at 12 Noon only on Zee Classic.
This city is the coldest, darkest and most polluted in the world, tourists are banned here due to...
New Fastag rules from tomorrow: Users may incur additional charges if...; check details
Inside Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan's son Jeh's mario-themed birthday bash, watch
Meet Indian genius, who got high-paying job offer, not from IIT, IIM, his annual salary is Rs…
Shoaib Ibrahim gifts new house to his mother-in-law, Dipika Kakar's mother gets emotional
Deepika Padukone joins Kartik Aaryan, Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff at Mumbai event; see viral photos
Man wanted in Canada's biggest gold heist found living in THIS Indian city, he is...
'Free Samay Raina': Badshah shouts at his concert in Gujarat
Amitabh Bachchan's son-in-law Nikhil Nanda faces legal trouble, FIR filed against businessman for...
'Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli...': R Ashwin lambasts 'superstar culture' in Indian cricket
Bombay HC to hear PIL on Sushant Singh Rajput's death, actor's father says...
Ajay Devgn's absence from Kajol's Valentine's Day post sparks speculation: 'Kalesh chal raha hai'
Anil Ambani-led company's loss widens to Rs 3298 crore in just...; its business is...
Premanand Maharaj's morning yatra set to resume after..., it was stopped because...
Champions Trophy 2025: Gautam Gambhir, Ajit Agarkar clash over Shreyas Iyer's position in team
239 composite liquor shops to be opened in..., booze business ramps up in...
Mukesh Ambani may lose the position of Asia's richest after Reliance loses...in just...days
Elon Musk-led DOGE halts Rs 175 crore election funding for India due to...
Malaika Arora shares her Paneer Thecha recipe, here's how you can make it
Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa steps into 5-star hotel for lunch for first time, see viral post
Meet CID-fame actor, who once did a show for Rs 20, lost his wife due to...now earns...
Vinod Kambli makes surprising move, former Indian cricketer decides to donate...
Sachin Tendulkar breaking heart on V Day with Anjali in tow is oddly satisfying, watch viral video
Ekta Kapoor to face police probe, Mumbai court orders inquiry for...
Lahori Zeera makers likely to get Rs 450 crore as fundraising from Motilal Oswal among others
'You're pregnant': Ileana D'Cruz expecting second child with Michael Dolan!
Akshay Kumar touches Amitabh Bachchan's feet at ISPL2 finale, their association goes back to...
Who is Lalit Modi’s new Valentine? All about Rima Bouri, IPL founder’s new girlfriend
India's big 'treasure' is hidden here, once THIS work is done country will earn Rs...
This country hits big JACKPOT, discovers one of world's biggest gold reserves worth Rs...
Roadies XX star Prince Narula, Yuvika Chaudhary demand Rs 20 lakh bribe? Here's what we know
What led to stampede at New Delhi Railway Station that killed 18 people? 10 points
King Kong: This 6-Foot-8 buffalo named the world’s tallest by Guinness World Records
Shakira’s metallic wolf gown took 600 hours to create, designed by THIS Indian couturier
84 year marriage, 13 kids, 100 grandkids, viral couple sets record
Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane react to Amitabh Bachchan's shout out to Sanam Teri Kasam re-release
Chhaava box office collection day 2: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna film mints Rs 67 crore
15 injured in stampede at New Delhi Railway Station, probe on
Amitabh Bachchan was 'mind-blown' in a Bangkok strip club, reveals...: 'He was wearing...'
Watch: Gautam Adani and his wife offered 'chadar' at Ajmer Sharif Dargah
European man shares 10 lessons that shattered his western mindset after moving to India
'India needs strong production base, not empty words': LoP Rahul Gandhi's veiled dig at centre
Ranveer Allahbadia says he’s getting death threats from..., promises he won’t...
Bad news for Rohit Sharma ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, BCCI to take huge step on India captain