The decade that was

SAME TIME around, a decade ago, star daughters were making a debut. Current heart-throb Shah Rukh Khan was getting launched, Rajshri's success continued and it was entering the Guinness Book of World Records with ``Hum Aapke Hain Koun''...! Today's widely acclaimed Shekhar Kapur made international headlines with ``Bandit Queen''. ``Maachis'' had ignited the Parliament, Deepa Mehta's ``Fire'' evoked vandalism and J. P. Dutta's ``Border'' turned the entire nation patriotic. Glimpses of the last decade:

``Agneepath'', first of Mukul Anand's trilogy with Amitabh Bachchan is rejected by the audience because of Amitabh's ``Godfather'' inspired voice, in 1990. Kamal Haasan plays a dwarf in ``Appu Raja'' and to make sure that the critics don't call it a gimmick, shoots all his scenes outdoors. Indra Kumar makes his debut as a director with ``Dil'' and becomes superstitious about shooting at least one song of all his future films around his lucky tree in Ooty. ``Ghayal'' brings Sunny Deol and Rajkumar Santoshi into prominence.

The year 1991 is the year of star daughters. Pooja Bhatt (``Daddy''), Raveena Tandon (``Patthar Ke Phool''), Karisma Kapoor (``Prem Qaidi''), Manisha Koirala and Vivek Mushran (``Saudagar''), Madhoo and Ajay Devgan (``Phool Aur Kaante''), Zeba Bakhtiar (``Heena'') make their debut. Shashi Kapoor makes his directorial debut with the Indo-Russian project ``Ajooba'', Randhir Kapoor with his father's incomplete film, ``Heena'' and Nana Patekar with ``Prahaar''. Mani Ratnam is introduced to the Hindi film industry via ``Anjali'', the story of a special child who brings joy into people's lives. The second of Mukul Anand's trilogy ``Hum'' is a mega hit, more remembered for the foot- tapping song `Jumma chumma de de...' Honey Irani makes her debut as a screenplay writer in ``Lamhe'' by Yash Chopra. The film bombs in India because of the incestuous overtones but is a major success abroad. To an extent, it opens the overseas markets for Bollywood films. Hridaynath Mangeshkar composes fabulous music for Gulzar's ``Lekin''.

``Bekhudi'' launches Kajol and Kamal Sadanah. Raj Kanwar's ``Deewana'' launches Shah Rukh Khan in 1992. Divya Bharti makes her debut in David Dhawan's ``Shola Aur Shabnam''. The young actress later dies under tragic circumstances. After directing the TV serial, ``Nupur'', Hema Malini turns film maker with ``Dil Aashna Hai''. ``Khuda Gawah'', the last of the Mukul Anand's trilogy with Bachchan, precedes the five-year-long sabbatical for the actor. It's Mukul's last complete film before he passes away during the making of ``Dus''. Aziz Mirza makes his first film as director, ``Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman.''

David Dhawan's ``Aankhen'' is the biggest success of 1993 and marks the beginning of a series of comedies, mostly with Govinda in the lead. Shah Rukh Khan enters the major league of contemporary actors with ``Baazigar''. Director Rajkumar Santoshi and Meenakshi Sheshadri have differences of opinion during the making of ``Damini''. Sheshadri loses the National Award for Best Actress by one mark to Dimple Kapadia in ``Rudaali'', Kalpana Lajmi's ode to Dimple Kapadia. Sanjay Dutt gets arrested under TADA during the making of Subhash Ghai's ``Khal-nayak''. Madhuri Dixit's `Choli ke peeche...' creates a major furore amongst women activists. After an unsuccessful ``Anjali'', the Mumbai audience is enthralled by Mani Ratnam's ``Roja'' about terrorism in Kashmir. ``Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja'', a film by Boney Kapoor and directed by Satish Kaushik, in the making for five years, costing five crores is finally released and flops.

A lot of English films are dubbed in Hindi (``Alladin'', ``Jurassic Park'', ``Speed'', etc.). The trend that started in 1994 continues in the following years. ``1942: A Love Story'' by director Vidhu Vinod Chopra, takes up the subject of patriotism after a long time. The original choice for the film is Madhuri Dixit and Aamir Khan to be replaced by Manisha Koirala and Anil Kapoor. The film marks Javed Akhtar's best work as a lyricist with ``Ek ladki ko dekha...'' It is a comeback film for R. D. Burman who passes away without enjoying his success. In ``Andaaz Apna Apna'', the two Khans, Aamir and Salman, come together for the first time in an out and out comedy by Rajkumar Santoshi. After ``Salaam Bombay'', Mira Nair excels in ``Mississippi Masala'', a film about immigrants from Kenya and the consequent adjustments they have to make. ``Hum Aapke Hain Koun''...! by Sooraj Barjatya is a huge success and enters the Guinness Book of World Records. `Shaadi' songs and celebrations make a comeback in Hindi films. Madhuri's derriere, the purple sari and `Didi tera dewar deewana...' becomes synonymous with the film.

``Coolie No. 1'' in 1995 marks the beginning of Govinda's obsession with using `No. 1' in the title of his films. David Dhawan and other film makers too include No. 1 in their film titles hoping for success. Yash Raj Films' ``Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge'' launches son Aditya Chopra as director and the film is a phenomenal success. ``Karan Arjun'' by Rakesh Roshan stars Salman and Shah Rukh Khan together for the first time. ``Prem'' originally to be directed by Shekhar Kapur is eventually made by Satish Kaushik. Tabu was to have made her debut in ``Prem'' but the extensive delay in its making results in ``Vijaypath'' being her first release. Ram Gopal Varma re-packages actress Urmila Matondkar in ``Rangeela''. Aamir Khan plays a `tapori'' and excels yet again. Sanjay Dutt's arrest under TADA, forces Subhash Ghai to replace him with Anil Kapoor in ``Trimurti''. Directed by Mukul Anand, the film bombs at the box office. Ghai remarks, ``You may take a director who is better than yourself but his vision doesn't necessarily have to concur with yours.''

Sridevi returns to acting after a year-long gap, with ``Army'' in 1996. Even though the film is a non-star affair, it gets 100 per cent opening. Shekhar Kapur does the country proud with his stupendous film, ``Bandit Queen''. Seema Biswas plays Phoolan Devi to perfection. Ms. Universe, Sushmita Sen makes a debut in Mahesh Bhatt's ``Dastak''. Sudhir Mishra's ``Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin'' launches Tara Despande and Smriti Mishra. Plus Channel gets into film production. The story of one night, Mishra's labour of love, goes unnoticed due to a mismanaged release. Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Limited, releases ``Tere Mere Sapne'' with Chandrachur Singh, Arshad Warsi and Priya Gill making their debut. Sanjay Leela Bhansali, choreographer for ``1942: A Love Story'', makes his first feature ``Khamoshi: The Musical''. The film receives critical acclaim but fails commercially because the public can't accept Nana Patekar, known for his fiery dialogue delivery, in the role of a deaf and mute. Gulzar's ``Maachis'' on terrorism raises controversy. After its release, the Parliament sends the film for a review but the Censor Board doesn't alter its stand.

Basu Bhattacharya, after a long hibernation, makes ``Aastha'' exploring a woman's need for sexual gratification, in 1997. ``Aur Pyar Ho Gaya'' launches Ms. World, Aishwarya Rai. J. P. Dutta's ``Border'', undoubtedly the most important release of the year, sweeps all the awards at various functions. This is the first patriotic film that doesn't mince words; the enemies are referred to as `Pakistanis' and not the usual `Sarhad ke us paar''. During a screening of the film at Uphaar theatre in Delhi, a devastating fire results in many deaths. Yash Chopra makes a young love story ``Dil To Pagal Hai''. It is unusual in the sense, the origins of the characters are not established. The musical score by Uttam Singh is a total winner. Vinod Khanna turns producer with ``Himalay Putra'' and launches son Akshaye Khanna. Indra Kumar's ``Ishq'' a multi-starrer, in keeping with the trend of the 1980s, releases with Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgan, Juhi Chawla and Kajol. Mehul Kumar's ``Mrityudaata' which marks Amitabh Bachchan's return after a five-year sabbatical, is a disaster. ``Mrityudand'', Prakash Jha's film, focusses on women protagonists (played by Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi and Shilpa Shirodkar), who rebel against the oppression of feudal lords. Pooja Bhatt turns producer in Tanuja Chandra's maiden script about female infanticide and the agony of a eunuch, ``Tamanna''.

Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda play pranksters in David Dhawan's ``Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'' (1998). Films like Kaizad Gustaad's ``Bombay Boys'' and Nagesh Kukunoor's ``Hyderabad Blues'' set a foundation for small budget, bilingual and offbeat films. The change is augmented by Deepa Mehta's ``Fire'' and Mira Nair's ``Kamasutra''. Director Mani Ratnam after ``Roja'' and ``Bombay'', fails commercially in ``Dil Se''... even though the film has brilliant cinematography and fabulous music by A. R. Rahman. The song ``Chaiyya Chaiyya...'' continues to be a chartbuster till date. Tanuja Chandra makes her debut as a director in ``Dushman'' and Vikram Bhatt in ``Ghulam''. Khandala becomes the most popular hill station, thanks to the popular song ``Aati kya Khandala...''. After a break of 17 years, Jaya Bachchan makes a comeback in Govind Nihalani's ``Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa''. Yash Johar's son, Karan Johar makes a debut with ``Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'', following the tradition of feel-good films like ``Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge''. ``Satya'' by Ram Gopal Varma and ``Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'', two films belonging to totally different genres, are strong contenders for awards. Abbas-Mustan's ``Soldier'' launches Preity Zinta and Mahesh Bhatt takes a bow after winning a National Award for the best film on national integration, ``Zakhm''.

The year 1999 is one of drought with the exception of four films that set the cash registers ringing, ``Biwi No. 1'', ``Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam'', ``Hum Saath-Saath Hain'' and ``Taal''.

Sanjay Dutt scores a hat-trick with ``Daag - The Fire'', ``Vaastav'' and ``Khoobsurat''. Shabana Azmi wins her fifth National Award for Best Actress in ``Godmother'', a noteworthy example in an industry where actresses are written off after a particular age.

A record of 20 directors make their debuts: Rishi Kapoor, E. Niwas, Andalib Sultanpuri, Sanjay Chhel, Shakeel Noorani, Shrikant Sharma, Subhash Sehgal, Raj Kaushal, Gyan Sahay, Madhur Bhandarkar, Desh Deepak, Veeru Devgan, Mahesh Kothari, Shrabani Deodhar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ahathian, E.V.V. Satyanarayana, John Mathew Matthan, Mahesh Mathai and Piyush Jha.

BHAWANA SOMAAYA

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