Bobby | |
---|---|
Directed by | Raj Kapoor |
Written by | Jainendra Jain (dialogue) |
Screenplay by | Khwaja Ahmad Abbas V. P. Sathe |
Story by | Khwaja Ahmad Abbas |
Produced by | Raj Kapoor |
Starring | Rishi Kapoor Dimple Kapadia Prem Nath Pran |
Cinematography | Radhu Karmakar |
Edited by | Raj Kapoor |
Music by | Laxmikant–Pyarelal |
Production company | |
Distributed by | R.K. Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 169 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Hindi |
Box office | est. 31 crore [1] |
Bobby is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language musical romance film, produced and directed by Raj Kapoor, and written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. [2] The film stars Raj Kapoor's son, Rishi Kapoor, in his first leading role, opposite Dimple Kapadia in her debut role. [3] The film became a blockbuster securing the position of highest grossing Indian film of 1973, [4] the second highest grossing film of the 1970s at the Indian box office, [5] and one of the top 20 highest-grossing Indian films of all time (when adjusted for inflation). [6] It also became an overseas blockbuster in the Soviet Union, where it drew an audience of 62.6 million viewers, [7] making it one of the top 20 biggest box office hits of all time in the Soviet Union. [8] [9]
The film became a trend-setter. It was wildly popular and widely imitated. It introduced to Bollywood the genre of teenage romance with a rich-versus-poor clash as a backdrop. Numerous films in the following years and decades were inspired by this plot. Indiatimes Movies ranks Bobby amongst the 'Top 30 Must See Bollywood Films'. [10] The film was remade in Persian as Parvaz dar Ghafas in 1980. Bobby was Dimple Kapadia's first and only film of the 70s era. As she left the film industry following her early marriage, before returning back to proper movies in the mid-80s till the present date.
The story is about the love between two Bombay teenagers of different classes and religions—Raja 'Raj' Nath (Rishi Kapoor), the son of a rich Hindu businessman Ram Nath (Pran), and Bobby Braganza (Dimple Kapadia), the daughter of a poor Goan Christian fisherman Jack Braganza (Prem Nath).
Raj returns from his boarding school. Upon his return, his parents throw a party to celebrate his birthday. Raj's former governess Mrs. Braganza (Durga Khote) comes by with her granddaughter Bobby to give him a present, but Raj's mother Sushma Nath (Sonia Sahni) ignores Mrs. Braganza, which leads her to leave the party with Bobby in a rush.
Raj opens his gifts the next day and finds Mrs. Braganza's gift, so he decides to meet her in person. Reaching there, Bobby opens the door for him, and it is love at first sight for him. During that visit, he mixes his book with Bobby's, so he goes to meet her at the library to exchange the books, and from there starts their friendship. Raj and Bobby decide to go to see a movie, but find out it is a full house. Then Raj gets an idea to go to a party. At the party, Bobby sees Raj talking to Sushma's dance partner Nima (Aruna Irani) privately and thinks he is in love with her, so she breaks off her relationship before running off to Kashmir. However, Raj comes by to Kashmir and clears up the misunderstanding, prompting Bobby to resume her relationship with him. Despite Jack and Mrs. Braganza being very supportive of Raj and Bobby's relationship due to Raj's friendly nature, Raj learns that the matter is not taken kindly by Ram, who abhors the idea of his son falling in love with the daughter of a poor fisherman. Upon Raj's insistence, Ram invites Jack over to initiate talks of Raj and Bobby's relationship. But instead, a feud ignites when Ram insults Jack and accuses him of using Bobby's beauty and charm to trap Raj for his money; he even offered Jack a bribe of cash to stop Bobby from seeing Raj. Jack gets offended by this accusation and retaliates by insulting Ram before leaving in a huff with Bobby, forbidding her to hang out with Raj again. To ensure Bobby's distance from Raj, Jack sends her and Mrs. Braganza to live in Goa.
Raj gets angry at Ram for driving Bobby away; this was further intensified when he learns that Ram intends to have him marry a mentally-challenged wealthy girl named Alka 'Nikki' Sharma (Farida Jalal) to establish business ties with her rich father Mr. Sharma (Pinchoo Kapoor) without even consulting Raj; Sushma and Nima are not supportive of the idea as well. On the advice from Nima (who sympathizes with Raj on the issue), Raj cuts off all ties to his father and drives off to Goa to reunite with Bobby, who runs away with him. As Sushma blames Ram for driving Raj away, the latter advertises a reward of Rs. 25,000 for anyone who can help find Raj. Upon spotting Raj and Bobby while seeing the reward on a local newspaper, a local greedy goon named Prem Chopra (Prem Chopra) decides that he wants the money so he and his goons kidnap Raj and Bobby. When the teens try to escape, Prem starts beating up Raj while having his goons to restrain Bobby. Eventually, Jack comes to the rescue by attacking Prem, who orders his goons to beat up Jack in retaliation. However, this was witnessed by an arriving Ram and the police, who furiously beat up and arrest Prem and his goons while Raj and Bobby escape. Deciding that they don't want their fathers to interfere in their relationship anymore, Raj and Bobby attempted to commit suicide by jumping over a waterfall after chewing out Ram for antagonizing Jack and starting the feud in the first place. However, a horrified Ram and Jack dive in and rescue both teens from being drowned.
Having realized the folly of the feud that almost drove both teens to death, a remorseful Ram and Jack agreed to end the feud by giving their blessings to Raj and Bobby's relationship, promising never to interfere with it again. With their relationships reconciled, the teens and their fathers happily head back home to their families.
Raj Kapoor launched his second son Rishi Kapoor in this film and wanted a new heroine as his romantic lead in this young love story. Dimple Kapadia and Neetu Singh were auditioned for the role of Bobby Braganza, and Dimple was selected.
In an interview in 2012, Rishi Kapoor stated, "There was a misconception that the film was made to launch me as an actor. The film was made to pay the debts of Mera Naam Joker . Dad wanted to make a love story but he did not have money to cast a superstar like Rajesh Khanna in the film". [11]
Some scenes were shot in Gulmarg. One scene was shot in a hut in Gulmarg, which became famous as the 'Bobby Hut'. [12] A few scenes towards the end of the movie were shot on Pune-Solapur highway near Loni Kalbhor where Raj Kapoor owned a farm.
The film's music was composed by the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo. The lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi, Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi, and Vithalbhai Patel.
Song | Singer(s) | Lyrics | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Main Shayar To Nahin | Shailendra Singh | Anand Bakshi | Picturized on Rishi Kapoor. The song was reused and picturised on him in the 2004 film Hum Tum . |
Ankhiyon Ko Rahne De | Lata Mangeshkar | Anand Bakshi | Based on the song "Ankhiyan nu rehen de" by Reshma [ citation needed ] |
Beshak Mandir Masjid | Narendra Chanchal | Rajkavi Inderjeet Singh Tulsi | |
Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho | Lata Mangeshkar & Shailendra Singh | Anand Bakshi | Shot at Kapoor family's bungalow in Rajbaugh, now a memorial to Raj Kapoor inside the MIT World Peace University (MIT WPU) on the banks of Mula-Mutha River in Loni Kalbhor village 30 km east of Pune in Maharshtra. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] |
Jhoot Bole Kauva Kate | Lata Mangeshkar & Shailendra Singh | Vithalbhai Patel | Picturized on Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia in a village dance setting |
Mujhe Kuchh Kahna Hai | Lata Mangeshkar &Shailendra Singh | Anand Bakshi | |
Ae Ae Ae Phansa | Lata Mangeshkar | Anand Bakshi | Picturized on Aruna Irani |
Na Mangun Sona Chandi | Manna Dey, Shailendra Singh & Chorus | Vithalbhai Patel |
Territory | Gross revenue | Inflation-adjusted gross revenue (2016) | Footfalls |
---|---|---|---|
Domestic (India) | ₹11 crore [4] ( US$14.21 million) [n 1] | ₹820 crore (US$98 million) [20] | 53.5 million [21] |
Overseas (Soviet Union) | 15.65 million Rbls [n 2] – US$21.44 million [n 3] (₹19.24 crore) [n 4] | US$121 million (₹638 crore) [25] | 62.6 million [7] |
Worldwide | ₹30.24 crore (US$39 million) [1] [26] | ₹1,212 crore (US$184 million) | 116 million |
In India, Bobby was the highest-grossing film of 1973, earning ₹11 crore. [4] It was also the second-highest-grossing film at the Indian box office in the 1970s, second only to Sholay (1975). [5] Adjusted for inflation, it grossed ₹398 crore in 2011 value, [19] equivalent to ₹820 crore (US$98 million) in 2016 value. As of 2011, it is one of the top 20 highest-grossing films of all time in India. [6]
Overseas, Bobby was very successful in the Soviet Union when it released there in 1975, due to Raj Kapoor's popularity in the country. Bobby drew 62.6 million admissions at the Soviet box office, making it the second-best-selling film on the Soviet box office charts in 1975, [7] the most popular Indian film of the 1970s, the second-biggest foreign film of the decade, [8] the sixth-biggest box office hit of the decade, [8] [9] the second-most-viewed Indian film of all time (after Raj Kapoor's Awaara ), the sixth-biggest foreign hit of all time, [8] and one of the top 20 biggest box office hits of all time. [8] [9] The film's success launched Rishi Kapoor into an overnight movie star in the Soviet Union, [27] much like Awaara had done for his father Raj Kapoor.
Similarly, the film was very successful in Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It was popular among non-Indian audiences in these countries, despite a lack of local language dubbing or subtitles upon its initial Malaysian release. It was among the most popular foreign films in Malaysia at the time, along with Bruce Lee films such as The Big Boss (1972). [28] In China, the film was released in 1990. [29]
The Illustrated Weekly of India wrote upon release that despite a new style, the story formula remains the same as ever. The review further noted that despite some gimmicks, the film's commercial appeal is attributed to the two fresh-faced, delightful youngsters and praised the performances of the lead pair for acting with a natural ease and freshness. While Premnath was applauded for being outstanding as the expansive, volatile Braganza", Pran was accused of being typecast. [30]
1974 BFJA Awards:
In his 2017 autobiography Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored, Rishi Kapoor revealed that he had paid ₹30,000 (equivalent to ₹900,000orUS$11,000 in 2023) to win him a Best Actor award. While it was inferred as the Filmfare Award since it was the only big-time award during the time, he clarified in an interview that he has not specified Filmfare or any other names in the book". [33]
Raj Kapoor was an Indian actor, film director and producer, who worked in Hindi cinema. He is considered one of the greatest and most influential actors and filmmakers in the history of Indian cinema, and has been referred to as The Greatest Showman of Indian Cinema and as the Charlie Chaplin of Indian Cinema.
Dimple Kapadia is an Indian actress predominantly appearing in Hindi films. Born and raised in Mumbai by wealthy parents, she aspired to become an actress from a young age and received her first opportunity through her father's efforts to launch her in the film industry. She was discovered at age 14 by the filmmaker Raj Kapoor, who cast her in the title role of his teen romance Bobby (1973), which opened to major commercial success and gained her wide public recognition. Shortly before the film's release in 1973, she married the actor Rajesh Khanna and quit acting. Their daughters, Twinkle and Rinke Khanna, both briefly worked as actresses in their youth. Kapadia returned to films in 1984, two years after her separation from Khanna. Her comeback film Saagar, which was released a year later, revived her career. Both Bobby and Saagar won her Filmfare Awards for Best Actress. Through her work over the next decade, she established herself as one of Hindi cinema's leading actresses.
Rishi Kapoor was an Indian actor, film director, and producer who worked in Hindi films. Kapoor was the recipient of several accolades, including a National Film Award and four Filmfare Awards, in a career that spanned 50 years and regarded as one of the most successful and sensational actor in Hindi cinema.
Saagar (transl. Sea) is a 1985 Indian Hindi-language musical romantic drama film directed by Ramesh Sippy. The film stars Rishi Kapoor, Kamal Haasan and Dimple Kapadia in lead roles. The film featured lyrics, story and screenplay written by Javed Akhtar and music by R. D. Burman.
The Kapoor family is a prominent Indian show business family with at least 4 generations of the family over 95 years being active in the Hindi film industry. Numerous members of the family, both (biological) and those who have married into the family, have had prolific careers as actors, film directors and producers. "The Pioneer" founder of the dynasty was "The Patriarch", Prithviraj Kapoor, who was the first member of family to begin acting in movies with his 1929 debut film Be Dhari Talwar. He was a pioneer of Indian theatre and the founding member of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). His son Raj Kapoor was the most influential actor and director in Hindi cinema. The genesis generation or the earliest linear generation of the Kapoor family tree to ever act in the films was Prithviraj Kapoor's father, Basheshwarnath Kapoor, who debuted as actor in 1951 film Awaara, which was produced, directed and starred in lead role by his grandson Raj Kapoor.
Randhir Kapoor is an Indian retired actor, film producer and director who worked in Hindi cinema.
Premnath Malhotra, better known as Prem Nath was an Indian actor and director, who was best known for his works in Hindi films. Nath made his debut with the film Ajit (1948), and went on to appear in over 100 films throughout his career. He was nominated for three Filmfare Awards, and later retired in 1985.
Hum Kisise Kum Naheen is a 1977 Indian masala film produced and directed by Nasir Hussain. It stars Rishi Kapoor, Tariq, Kaajal Kiran, and Amjad Khan, with Zeenat Aman in a special appearance. It took the third top spot at the box office in 1977. Mohammed Rafi received his only National Film Award for this film.
Prem Rog is a 1982 Hindi-language musical romantic drama directed and produced by Raj Kapoor, with screenplay written by Jainendra Jain and Kamna Chandra. The film tells the story of a man's love towards a woman, who is a higher status widow. This film marked Raj Kapoor's return to social themes.
Ajooba (transl. Wonder) is a 1990 superhero film, produced and directed by Shashi Kapoor and co-directed by Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev. An Indian-Soviet co-production, it is loosely based on Arabic folklore such as One Thousand and One Nights. The film had a Russian language version released in the Soviet Union, Черный принц Аджуба, in 1990, before its Indian release in 1991. The film starred Amitabh Bachchan as the titular superhero Ajooba, along with Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Sonam, Shammi Kapoor, Dara Singh, Saeed Jaffery and Amrish Puri in pivotal roles.Made on a budget of ₹80 million, it was the most expensive Indian film made until then.
Naseeb (transl. Destiny) is a 1981 Indian Hindi-language masala film produced and directed by Manmohan Desai, and written by Kader Khan. It is a typical Manmohan Desai film starring, Amitabh Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Rishi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Reena Roy, Kim in lead roles and Pran, Prem Chopra, Shakti Kapoor, Kader Khan, Amjad Khan, Amrish Puri in supporting roles, along with Jeevan in a small positive role. The music is by the Manmohan Desai regulars Laxmikant–Pyarelal.
Jeevan Dhaara is a 1982 Indian Hindi-language film directed by T. Rama Rao. The film is a remake of the 1974 Tamil film Aval Oru Thodar Kathai. The film stars Rekha in the pivotal role along with Raj Babbar, Rakesh Roshan, Amol Palekar, Kanwaljit Singh and Simple Kapadia. The movie bridges the mainstream genre with Parallel Cinema. Rekha received a nomination for Filmfare Best Actress Award, the only nomination for the film and is credited with the film's box office success.
Arjun is a 1985 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Rahul Rawail and starring Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia. The plot of the film revolves around a group of radical young men who take matters into their hands to fight against corruption.
R. K. Films was an Indian film production company based in R. K. Studio, a film studio, both established by and named after the Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. It was headquartered at Chembur, Mumbai. Founded in 1948, one year after India gained independence. It had a rough start, as its first movie, Aag (1948) did not perform well at the box office. Most of the R. K. Films productions share a common theme of criticising society and depicting love across social divides.
Nagina is a 1986 Indian fantasy romance film, produced and directed by Harmesh Malhotra, with a screenplay written by Ravi Kapoor and story by Jagmohan Kapoor. The film stars Sridevi as Rajni, a Nāginī who marries a civilian to avenge the death of her spouse at the hands of an evil saint. It also stars Rishi Kapoor, Komal Mahuvakar, Amrish Puri, Sushma Seth and Prem Chopra. Then dubbed in Telugu as Naagini.
The 33rd Filmfare Awards were held in 1987, in Mumbai, India for the films released in the year 1985.
The 21st Filmfare Awards were held in 1974.
Barood (transl. Gunpowder) is a 1976 Indian Hindi-language action crime film directed by Pramod Chakravorty, with screenplay by Sachin Bhowmick and dialogues by Ahsan Rizvi. It stars Rishi Kapoor, Reena Roy and Shoma Anand in leading roles, with Dharmendra, Hema Malini and Ashok Kumar in guest appearances. The film was a successful venture in India, but went on to become an All Time Blockbuster in the Soviet Union.
Jainendra Jain was a Bollywood film writer, director and film producer based in Mumbai, India.
A spokesman of China Film Export and Import Corporation said in Bombay that films such as Sholay, Bobby, Qayamat-se-Qayamai Tak, Hero Hiralal, Shahenshah, Jalwa, Nacha Mayuri, Naseeb, Dance Dance, Disco Dancer and Naam, are being exhibited all over China.