Bhubaneswar: Year 1975, Amitabh Bachchan is on cloud nine. The all time blockbuster Sholay and blockbuster Deewar had propelled Amitabh Bachchan to the big star league. During this Big B’s halo moment, producer Tito signed Amitabh Bachchan opposite Rekha for his new movie, Do Anjaane, which is directed by Dulal Guha.
The film hit the silver screens on this day, Nov 26, 1976, 48 years ago. A Hindi-language drama, the film is based on the story “Ratergari” of Nihar Ranjan Gupta. The film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Rekha, Prem Chopra, Pradeep Kumar, Utpal Dutt, Lalita Pawar and a young Mithun Chakraborty (a cameo only). The music is by Kalyanji Anandji.
This is the first hit of Amitabh Bachcha Rekha pair. Its success story in box office collection is evidenced from the trivia that it was remade in Telugu as Maavari Manchitanam (1979). The Kannada version Aaseya Bale was released in 1987.
AMITABH – MITHUN YAARANA
Year 1976, Mithun Chakraborty was a fresh pass out form FTII. Award winning Mrinal Sen was in search of a protagonist for his film Mrigayaa. He had spotted this Bengali lad’s physique and asked him to come to Kolkata for audition. But Mithun, who have no means to meet his both ends meet, is unable to bear the travel expenses to Kolkata.
Producer Tito has been Mithun’s roommate. He offered him a small role in the film. This was Mithun’s first B-town debut.
In an interview, Mithun recalled how he would accompany Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha from the hotel to the films set each day.
He in the interview said, “I wanted desperately to travel to Calcutta for Mirgayaa 1977 audition but didn't have the money to travel. I was then working on production of this film and was taking care of Amitabh Bachchan's personal needs. When Amitabh Bachchan came to know about the monetary problem, he asked producer Tito to arrange some finance so that I can go to Calcutta (Kolkata) for audition.”
AFTER MITHUN REACHED SUPERSTARDOM
It is all about time – Waqt Waqt ki Baat hai. In year 1976, Mithun has no means to earn his livelihood. He was fervently hoping for a film where he could be cast as a side hero or even a villain. A desperate state of affairs for the Kolkata born actor, then.
However, Alfred Talkies in Mumbai known to screen re run of old films, in the mid 80s when Mithun Chakraborty’s stardom was at its peak screened this film. The Cinema house put a huge hoarding of Mithun Chakraborty and life size cut outs were put outside the theatre as if Mithun Chakraborty is the hero of Do Anjaane, when the fact is he had played a small role in one scene where he had a faceoff with Big B.
FILM TRIVIA
- The hit song ' luk chup luk chup jaao naa ..' was shot at the famous Botanical Gardens across the river Hoogly.
- Buzz in 70s was Do Anjaane had two endings. Dulal Guha had shot 2 separate endings.
- The producer and distributor wanted a happy ending.
- The original sad ending was shown at the premiere.
- By the time the second premiere show was held on December 3, 1976 , Dulal Guha was in Tirupati.
- After that he was going to fly to Madras to discuss Dil Ka Heera with the producer.
- Gulshan Rai, the distributor of Bombay, against the wishes of Dulal Guha, had used the happy ending.
- Guilsahn Rai did so for commercial reason. His reasoned since Amitabh Bachchan was a popular star then, so audience may not like the sad ending of their favourite star.
