AMITABH – THE EVEREST OF HINDI CINEMA 

A wesome

M arvelous

I ncredible

T errific

A mazing

B rilliant

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Amitabh Bachchan, is one of the greatest and legendary actor India has ever produced and the most enduring and peerless Bollywood actor.  His family and millions of his fans all over the Globe are celebrating his 80^th Birthday today the 11^th October, 2022.   Besides other things, many of his super hit movies of 80s and 90s of  Amitabh are being screened for last one week in various cities of India.   He has been reigning the Hindi Film industry close to half a century and still going strong with some meaning contributions -   his latest Hindi movie 'Goodbye'  hitting the silver screen last Friday.  

Earlier Struggle days: Amitabh is neither born with a silver spoon nor his entry into Hindi movies a smooth sailing one (though his father Mr Harvasha Rai Bachchan was a renowned and highly respected poet).   Its Irony that Amitabh who later on was hailed for his commendable baritone voice, dialogue delivery and oratory skills was first rejected by All India Radio over his voice quality and its unsuitability for a position of announcer.   It’s unimaginable to any of his fans that he could get one of his earlier breaks (given by Sunil Dutt) in Reshma aur Shera on the basis of a written recommendation letter from none other than Mrs. Indira Gandhi due to his father’s closeness to Nehru family.   Not only this, Amitabh has delivered over a dozen duds, acted with small banners, producers, directors and heroines, second leads (even a negative character in a Navin Nishal movie `Parvana’) his tall, lanky frame, long nose and nonromantic image not taking him anywhere.   Of all people it is the hero role given by Comedian Mehmood in the super hit comedy `Bombay to Goa’ which not only gave him first major hit movie, recognition but more importantly helped him in getting noticed by Prakash Mehra who was looking for a suitable hero for Zanjeer.   After being rejected by Dharmender, Raj Kumar, Dev Anand the meaty role fell in the lap of Amitabh and as they say `rest is history’.

The Consolidation phase:  Apart from Zanjeer, two movies which made people to take a serious note of Amitabh were both with the then reigning first Super Star of Hindi cinema Rajesh Khanna `Namak Haram’ and `Anand’.   No one, least of all Rajesh Khanna, could have ever imagined that Amitabh will not only topple Rajesh Khanna so soon but end the Romantic era and start a new `Angry Youngman Image’ and bring a wave of Action movies in Hindi with lot of dialogue-baji with iconic super hit movies like Sholay, Deewar, Trishul,  Amar Akbar Anthony, Don and Maqqadar ka Sikandar.  By end of 70s the Hindi industry has accepted that the Romantic era and the magic of Rajesh Khanna (a very short lived one for about 6 years and a record number of 16 back and back super hits between 1969 and 1974) was over and Amitabh Action image is going to stay with more and more newcomers like Vinod Khanna, Mithun, Shatru, Feroz Khan besides the old guards Dharmender and Sunil Dutt all thriving in Action oriented movies.

Partnering with Big Banners:  Film industry has always believed in `Chadte Suraj ko Salaam’.   With super success of movies in mid 70s Amitabh became the preferred choice of all big banners/producers like Yash Johar, Yash Chopra, GP Sippy, Prakash Mehra and Manmohan Desai and started the Multi starrer trend with fantastic pairing with Vinod Khanna, Sashi Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor.   One of the biggest contributors to the success of Amitabh were star writers Salim-Javed with very powerful author-based roles and resounding dialogue right from Zanjeer till they separated in early 80s.   Thanks to their powerful dialogues, Amitabh has become very popular for his dialogue delivery – which remained as the most enduring aspects of Amitabh.    With Amitabh being on a roll, many new producers/banners used to line up to make movies with Amitabh.    Riding on super success, Amitabh started experimenting and sought a make-over from his image of `Angry Young Man’ to a romantic one in movies like Kabhi Kabhi and Manzil and comedy in Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony and Mr. Natwarlal.   Right through 80s and till mid 90s Amitabh remained the undisputed Shehanshah of Hindi industry and his popularity has gone much beyond Hindi belt with movies like Sholay, Deewar, AAA and Don doing extremely well in Southern belt and other states.  

Foray into Politics and Business: following the foot steps of southern stars, from 80s onwards Hindi actors also started entering Politics to encash their popularity and mass base.   Understandably, Amitabh, a good friend of Rajiv Gandhi and whose family has long standing relations with Nehru family, contested Lok Sabha elections on Congress ticket and defeated seasoned politician Bahuguna.   But as always happens in politics, he fell out with Rahul family.  But having bitten by politics bug he joined hands with Amar Singh (the one-time foster brother) and Mulayam singh Yadav.   Though he never contested elections but put his Jaya in the race.  

Amitabh is one of the early Hindi actors who has entered the corporate world with ABCL.   But his business ventures specially his sponsoring World beauty contest in Bangalore brought him to the brink of bankruptcy.   

Dip in the career:  he had a double whammy when in deep financial crisis, the mid age crisis too has hit him.   With age catching up he found himself neither being young nor angry and he was unwilling to accept old and character roles.   His movies under trusted banner like Prakash Mehra (Jadugar) and Manmohan Desai (Ganga Jamuna and Saraswati) and Lal Badhsah have bombed at boxoffice without trace.    New crop of heros like Mithun, Govinda, and all three khans have established themselves and all big banners started flocking them.   With this the days of Amitabh as a young hero have numbered and till then no actor has successfully transformed into roles that suited their age and bowed out.

The Grand Second Innings: While in deep crisis, to avoid letting his company going to bankruptcy Amitabh got an offer from Pronnoy Roy to host a quiz show named `Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC) to clear his financial dues.  That was the first time an iconic star like Amitabh debuted in small screen on TV.   By that time Amitabh was not only has acquired iconic status not only for his dialogue delivery in the movies, but also for his oratory skills, government advertisements for social messaging.    This has helped him to slip into host role in KBC with commensurate ease.  KBC has become unprecedented success and still going strong in its 14^th season till date and there are many regional versions being hosted by top stars in respective industries.    It has not only helped Amitabh to pay off all his debts but has become a big money spinner for him.   The popularity of KBC has catapulted Amitabh into top bracket in Advertising and there is hardly any major brand which he has not endorsed for eye popping fee.  

While Amitabh was doing well with KBC and Advertisement, he still struggled in regaining his lost ground in movies.    Around that time, he went back to his old friend Yash Chopra with a request to help him with any role in his forthcoming movies.   Then came the partially grey hair. white beard and elderly role in Mohabatein in 2000 which has not only a grand success but fetched Amitabh Filmfare award for best supporting actor.   More importantly the movie has shown the way forward to Amitabh, no more young man no more angry, no more leading roles, and no dance and fights. Amitabh has repositioned himself to accept character roles with new banners, new producers, director and younger co-stars.   With each passing movie Amitabh rediscovered many shades of himself and given some sterling performances in movies like Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gum, Black, Kabhi Alvida Na kehna, Piku, Pink, Badla, 102 not out and his latest movie Goodbye which has release last Friday.    It is amazing that he is as prolific if not more in his second innings and his demand is not going down even at the age of 80 years.   He has 3-4 releases a year and 4-5 movies are on the floors all the time.   

An Inspirational life journey:

After 50 years in public life, Amitabh has not only inspirational to those who are in film industry but people in general in all walks of life have something to learn and be inspired on account of

·         His tenacity and perseverance

·         His never say die attitude

·         His hunger to learn and rediscover himself over and over again

·        The way he bounces back despite huge health issues (life threatening accident while shooting for movie `coolie’), Asthma and Thalassemia.   He kept requesting to allow elderly above 70 years to work during carona

·       His great oratory skills and ability to convey things most convincingly.   He has rendered his voice in large number of Government social messages over TV and Radio.  

·         His dignified and matured conduct in public

·         Humble and down to earth behavior

·         His benevolent attitude to acknowledge the talent and achievements of his co-stars

·         Ability to make an impact howsoever small the role is – a quality which he has developed in the last 10 years or so.

Amitabh will go down in the history of Indian cinema as one of the most endearing actors who kept himself motivated and focused even at the age of 80 years in a highly demanding movie industry.   He richly deserves Dadasaheb Palke Award, Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibushan and love and affection he receives from Millions of his fans.   

Wishing him health and prosperity and hope he continues to entertain his fans for another 20 years till he completes a Century.

S. Prabhakar

11.10.2022