Romantic Bollywood Films

[zen]

More than probably any other genre, Bollywood is known for its romantic films that tend to sport a good cast, nice locales, and excellent music. Most actors (esp. w/ established connections in the industry) make their debut in romantic films. Let’s talk about our favorites! 

 

I will start with Junglee (1961). Written and directed by Subodh Mukherjee, starring Shammi Kapoor and Saira Banu (her debut film), and with music conducted by Shankar Jaikishan. The film has an incredibly funny concept of where Shammi Kapoor belongs to a family where laughing and crying are forbidden. Of course, things change for the protagonist when he has to face the happy-go-lucky Saira Banu in the beautifully captured Kashmir. The songs of the film are memorable. The performances by both Shammi and Saira are brilliant. It can be hard to believe that this is Saira's debut film. The film has aged well and remains among the legendary films of its genre. 

 

Not only as a favorite but I would probably also rate it as the best Bollywood romantic film when considering a focus on entertainment (including a happy ending) and one that can be enjoyed by almost everyone!

 

 

 

 

Edited June 16, 2024 by zen

[Alam_dar]

Almost everyone in my family loved the 1976 film Laila Majnu.

But I belonged to the generation of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

---

I have another question: Is there any romantic film that closely resembles your own love story?

Unfortunately, none of the films reflect my own love story. I wish I could create one based on it. 

I miss those good old days.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 26, 2024 by Alam_dar

[Chaos]

U saw one live from srk to kkr players

[Vijy]

20 hours ago, Alam_dar said:

Almost everyone in my family loved the 1976 film Laila Majnu.

But I belonged to the generation of Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

---

I have another question: Is there any romantic film that closely resembles your own love story?

Unfortunately, none of the films reflect my own love story. I wish I could create one based on it. 

I miss those good old days.

 

 

 

 

Awara

[Alam_dar]

1 hour ago, Vijy said:

Awara

 

Never watched this 1951 Film before. Will be watching it this weekend now. Thank you. 

 

[Vijy]

1 hour ago, Alam_dar said:

 

Never watched this 1951 Film before. Will be watching it this weekend now. Thank you. 

 

it's a classic: quite an unusual love story, for its time too

[zen]

Arzoo (1965) 

 

This is a sophisticated love story. I like Rajendra Kumar. Shammi Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar were the superstars of the 60s. Each had his own USP. Rajendra Kumar is usually good in both comedy and tragedy. In the later, he comes on his own as if he is waiting for the film to reach that stage where he can switch on his acting. Magnificent actor ... In retrospect, both Rajendra and Shammi appear relatively more well-rounded than their 70s relatively unidimensional counterparts Rajesh and Amitabh. 

 

Arzoo has a superb climax, along with a good mix of songs. No unnecessary dishoom-dishoom. One thing that may have not aged that well relatively speaking is Mehmood's comedy which can slow the film down. 

 

 

Aa Gale Lag Jaa (1973)

 

I browsed through this film, skipping many parts. But I do plan to watch it properly when in the mood for it. In the parts I saw, I liked the chemistry b/w Shashi & Sharmila. The songs are brilliant. This may be a rare love story directed by Manmohan Desai. 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by zen

[singhvivek141]

For me it's Kabhie Kabhie (1976) & Lamhe (1991).

Really enjoyed Amitabh's performance in Kabhi Kabhi...keeping aside his role of Angry young man to this romantic poet.

 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by singhvivek141

[zen]

On 5/27/2024 at 1:03 AM, Alam_dar said:

Almost everyone in my family loved the 1976 film Laila Majnu.

 

If you like the Laila Majnu storyline, there is Love and God (1986) as well. Love and God is more like a 60s film, released in the 80s due to delays. I watched this film a long time ago so don't know how it has aged but it is directed by K.Asif (Mughal-e-Azam) so I guess that it would still offer value (good cinematography, production design, acting, etc):

 

PS from wiki:

Production

The film had a long and troubled production history with shooting starting in 1963 with Guru Dutt as Kais and Nimmi as Laila. However, Guru Dutt's sudden death in 1964 left the film incomplete and it was shelved. Then, Asif recast Sanjeev Kumar as Kais and resumed production of the film in 1970. Unfortunately, the director K. Asif died on 9 March 1971 at the age of 48/49 and the film was once again left incomplete. Fifteen years later, Asif's senior widow Akhtar Asif decided to release the incomplete film with the help of producer-director-distributor K. C. Bokadia. In a few months, they managed to salvage some usable portions of the incomplete film from three different studios and pieced them together. This cut-paste incomplete version was finally released on 27 May 1986. By the time of the film's release, several of the film's cast members had died, including its leading actor Sanjeev Kumar, who died in 1985.^[2][3] The songs were composed by music director Naushad Ali, Dialogues by Wajahat Mirza and the lyrics were written by lyricist Khumar Barabankvi.

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by zen

[bharathh]

I don't think any of the Hindi movies come close to Mouna Ragam or even Ok Kanmani or Alai Payuthey. Mani Ratnam at his best.

[zen]

3 hours ago, singhvivek141 said:

For me it's Kabhie Kabhie (1976) & Lamhe (1991).

Really enjoyed Amitabh's performance in Kabhi Kabhi...keeping aside his role of Angry young man to this romantic poet.

 

 

In Kabhi Kabhi, wasn't Amitabh angry (or upset) with his wife (played by Waheeda Rehman) for her "past" (probably unnecessarily as shown/explained by Shashi Kapoor in the film)? 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by zen

[coffee_rules]

2 hours ago, bharathh said:

I don't think any of the Hindi movies come close to Mouna Ragam or even Ok Kanmani or Alai Payuthey. Mani Ratnam at his best.

 

There are many , but the OP is about Bollywood. Tamil comes out with nelodramatic BS (Mouna Ragam was good, itself is inspired by a old Bhagyaraj movie) 

[BacktoCricaddict]

Does Beta qualify as a romantic film? What about the one with the botanist Dharmendra - Chupke Chupke?  What about Taal? If these count, then those are some of my favorites. 

 

How do we even define a romantic film in the Indian movie context? Pretty much every movie other than the hardcore Nana Patekar encounter films has a front-and-center "love" angle.

[singhvivek141]

18 minutes ago, zen said:

 

In Kabhi Kabhi, wasn't Amitabh angry (or upset) with his wife (played by Waheeda Rehman) for her "past" (probably unnecessarily as shown/explained by Shashi Kapoor in the film)? 

 

That movie had lot of subplots...some happy and some were sad. At times movie look like a drag specially that one girl character, but in totality movie was good.

 

Mai pal do pal ka shayar hu is one of my most favourite songs.

[singhvivek141]

1 minute ago, BacktoCricaddict said:

Does Beta qualify as a romantic film? What about the one with the botanist Dharmendra - Chupke Chupke?  What about Taal? If these count, then those are some of my favorites. 

 

How do we even define a romantic film in the Indian movie context? Pretty much every movie other than the hardcore Nana Patekar encounter films has a front-and-center "love" angle.

Chupke Chupke & Taal..yes...

Beta, umm not much. It's core focus was elsewhere.

[zen]

1 minute ago, singhvivek141 said:

That movie had lot of subplots...some happy and some were sad. At times movie look like a drag specially that one girl character, but in totality movie was good.

 

Mai pal do pal ka shayar hu is one of my most favourite songs.

 

Yeah, the songs of Kabhi Kabhi are memorable. As for AB's role, in a way the unidimensional angry role (and maybe relatively negative). Though I have not watched the film recently so speaking from memory. 

[coffee_rules]

Off-beat movies: 

 

Sparsh - a lovely romantic movie about blind NSShah and Shabana

Gharonda - Amol Palekar Waheeda Rehman

Doosra Aadmi - Shashi+Rishi Kapoor, Rakhee

Ijaazat - Rekha, Anuradha and NShah

Koshish - Sanjeev Kumar , jaya Bhaduri

Abhimaan - Amitabh, JayaB

Chasm-e-Buddoor - Farookh Sheikh, Miss Chamko (Deepti Naval)

Katha - Farroq Sheikh, Deepti Naval and NShah

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2024 by coffee_rules

[zen]

On 5/31/2024 at 6:14 PM, BacktoCricaddict said:

 

How do we even define a romantic film in the Indian movie context? Pretty much every movie other than the hardcore Nana Patekar encounter films has a front-and-center "love" angle.

 

Where the focus is on romance b/w the lead characters, where, at the end of the day, it is about the lovers getting united/married, or separated/dying (tragedy), etc. 

 

 

Edited June 2, 2024 by zen

[bharathh]

44 minutes ago, coffee_rules said:

 

There are many , but the OP is about Bollywood. Tamil comes out with nelodramatic BS (Mouna Ragam was good, itself is inspired by a old Bhagyaraj movie) 

 

If you say so :)

 

I'd like to agree to disagree. I can't think of even one of the quality of the three I mentioned above. Hindi in general doesn't do comedies/romance too well. Last good comedy in Hindi was from the Amol Palekar zamana.

[singhvivek141]

8 minutes ago, bharathh said:

 

If you say so :)

 

I'd like to agree to disagree. I can't think of even one of the quality of the three I mentioned above. Hindi in general doesn't do comedies/romance too well. Last good comedy in Hindi was from the Amol Palekar zamana.

There are some good comedy movies...albit not very well known

 

1. Phans gaye re Obama is one..where a jobless NRI is abducted by different gangs to extort money thinking he is rich

 

2. Munnabhai MBBS is good

 

3. Oye Lucky Lucky Oye

 

4. Padosan 

 

5. Andaz Apna Apna

 

6. Hera Pheri

 

7. Chupke Chupke (Dharmendra)

 

8. Angoor 

 

9. Jane bhi do yaaro