Vintage Bollywood films that have stood the test of time

As Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s stirring romance ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ clocks in 25 years on October 20, here’s a look at other Hindi films that have stood the test of time and endured for several decades …

Sholay (1975): This Ramesh Sippy classic had all the ingredients that usually transform Hindi films into a heady concoction. Led by a string of big stars from that era such as Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan and Amjad Khan, ‘Sholay’ was that quintessential ‘masala’ film that blended action, drama, songs, romance and comedy. Hailed as India’s answer to the Hollywood Western, ‘Sholay’ with its cracking storyline — revolving around dacoits, damsels and delightful characters — dazzled and continues to entertain even today.

Dil Chahta Hai (2001): This warm and fuzzy friendship tale introduced a brand of new heroes into Bollywood cinematic landscape. Gone were the larger-than-life, hyper-masculine heroes who could conquer all evil. Here the movie revolved around a bunch of 20-something men who were regular blokes confused about life, love and all things in between. Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Khanna played three besties from college who try to attempt graduating in life with honours. This classic friendship fable struck all the right notes including giving Bollywood movie fans a taste of suave, good-looking gentleman and how they make the best of their lives in their 20s.

Chandni (1989): Late actors Sridevi, Vinod Khanna and Rishi Kapoor were splendid in this love triangle. ‘Chandini’ revolved around a young woman whose love affair turns sour when her boyfriend (played brilliantly by Kapoor) gets wheelchair bound after a freak accident and turns against her. Sridevi, as the young woman torn in love, is brilliant, while Khanna’s character comes into her life as a breath of fresh air. It’s one of the rare movies where you are rooting for all the three to get their happily-ever-after ending.

Masoom (1982): If you want proof that Bollywood can grow up from mushy love stories, then director Shekhar Kapur’s ‘Masoom’ is a perfect example of how love has no neat endings and that marriages take a lot of work. Based on Eric Segal’s ‘Man, Woman and Child’, this film starring Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, is a mature take on infidelity and how an old affair can take a toll on a happily married couple. Shah as the well-rounded, blissful husband with a doting wife Indu, who is forced to re-examine their relationship when her husband’s illegitimate child begins to live with them. There are no villains in this film, just flawed characters who are trying to make their wrongs right.

Saransh (1984): This was Anupam Kher’s breakthrough role as an ageing father trying to receive the ashes of his son, who died tragically in a mugging accident in a foreign country. He refuses to pay a bribe and the movie explores the concept of grief, loss, closure and existentialist crisis with a deft hand. The then 28-year-old Kher playing a grieving old man is heartbreaking in this Mahesh Bhatt directorial. Keep your tissues nearby.

Lamhe (1991): It remains one of the rare Bollywood films that wasn’t appreciated when it released, but grew on us as the years went by. Dubbed as an unconventional romance that was ahead of its time, ‘Lamhe’ saw late actress Sridevi play dual roles. The movie explored the highs and lows of a forbidden romance where a young woman Pooja falls for a much older man, who was once in love with her dead mother Pallavi. The adoration of a younger woman for an older man could have easily come across as creepy, but Sridevi and Anil Kapoor made this film endearing with their restrained acting.

Bobby (1973): If you are in the mood to watch a couple of youthful rebels in love and lust, then Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia’s romance is pitch-perfect. It was one of the rare films in Bollywood that approved and glorified teenage romances, making it seem highly desirable instead of shady. The songs are a perfect foil to this young romance that still works even today.

Mughal-e-Azam (1960): This year, the epic romance clocks 60 years since releasing. Directed by K Asif, this romance about star-crossed lovers is an ode to defiance and how true love knows no class and caste divides. Dilip Kumar played a young prince Salim who falls in love with courtesan Anarkali. His father resists their union, but the lovers remain determined to make it together. Its hit song ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ continues to remain a love anthem for all those in tumultuous, complex relationships today.

Arth (1982): This relationship drama was often described as director Mahesh Bhatt’s semi-autobiography that drew from his alleged affair with Parveen Babi. The movie was about a married man (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) and his extramarital affair with another woman (Smita Patil). Actress Shabana Azmi played the hapless housewife who gets emboldened in the second half of the movie. ‘Arth’ tapped into the demons inside a troubled man and showed how women can have more agency when it comes their life choices. The part in which the wife rejects her cheating husband’s offer to return to her life was artistic gold. “‘Arth’ dug into my own wounds, my life burns. I had the audacity to use that as fuel. The emotional truth has been sourced from my life,” said Bhatt in an interview with Filmfare.