Amar Akbar Anthony
Amar Akbar Anthony | |
---|---|
Directed by | Manmohan Desai |
Written by | Kader Khan (dialogue) K. K. Shukla (scenario) |
Screenplay by | Prayag Raj Sharma |
Story by | Jeevanprabha M. Desai Pushpa Sharma (story idea) |
Produced by | Manmohan Desai |
Starring | Vinod Khanna Rishi Kapoor Amitabh Bachchan Neetu Singh Parveen Babi Shabana Azmi Nirupa Roy Pran |
Cinematography | Peter Pereira |
Edited by | Kamlakar Karkhanis |
Music by | Laxmikant–Pyarelal Anand Bakshi (lyrics) |
Distributed by | Hirawat Jain & Co. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 184 minutes |
Country | India |
Languages | Hindi Urdu[1][2] |
Box office | est. ₹155 million (equivalent to ₹4.3 billion or US$54 million in 2023)[3] |
Amar Akbar Anthony is a 1977 Indian Hindi-language masala film directed and produced by Manmohan Desai and written by Kader Khan. Released in India on 27 May 1977, the film stars an ensemble cast of Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi, Shabana Azmi, Nirupa Roy and Pran. The plot focuses on three brothers separated in childhood who are adopted by families of different faiths; Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. They grow up to be a police officer, a qawwali singer and the owner of a country bar, respectively.
The soundtrack album was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The film was released on 27 May 1977 and earned ₹155 million (US$17.69 million) at the Indian box office, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of that year, alongside Dharam Veer and Hum Kisise Kum Naheen.[3]
Plot
This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (April 2022) |
On
In the meantime, the three children have been separated - the oldest one Amar, having been knocked down by the car driven by Robert's henchmen, is adopted by the Hindu Police Superintendent Khanna; the middle one Anthony, falling asleep outside a nearby Catholic church with Bharati's suicide note in hand, is taken in by the large-hearted Christian priest Father Gonsalves; and the youngest son Raju, left under the statue in the park, is picked up by a kind Muslim tailor Darji Ilahabadi. Elsewhere, Bharati is struck blind by a falling branch in the storm as divine punishment for leaving her sons behind. She is later rescued and dropped off home on the way by Mr. Ilahabadi, though she is unable to recognize Raju due to her blind sight. Kishanlal, having escaped the fiery car accident, returns with Robert's smuggled gold bullion in search of his sons, only to find the park empty and his sons gone, much to his distraught.
22 years later, Bharati, now a
Elsewhere, Kishanlal is now a wealthy crime lord as he used the stolen gold bullion to drive Robert's crime syndicate out of business and force a jobless Robert to work for him while taking in Robert's daughter Jenny as his own and sending over her to studies abroad. However, Kishanlal and his henchmen are forced to vacate their
However, things take a drastic turn when Kishanlal is double-crossed by one of his bodyguards Zebisco, who kidnaps Jenny and sells her out to Robert in exchange of her hand in marriage. Father Gonsalves and Lakshmi witnessed the kidnapping, but Lakshmi ends up being captured by Ranjeet while Father Gonsalves ends up being murdered by Robert. After learning about Father Gonsalves' death, Anthony quickly discovers that both Kishanlal and Bharati are his parents and that Amar and Akbar are his brothers. The three brothers are then determined to make Robert pay for his crimes, so they respectively disguise themselves as a one-man band, an elderly tailor and a catholic priest and succeed in entering his mansion, accompanied by Salma, who assists Lakshmi and Jenny in escaping. The three brothers then reveal themselves and beat up Robert, Zebisco, Ranjeet and all the remaining henchmen up before having them all arrested and sent to prison for their crimes. However, Bharati is distraught to learn that Kishanlal is sent back to prison for his previous crimes, but the latter assures to her that their family is reunited once again, which is the only thing that matters to him; Superintendent Khanna (who has recovered from his wounds) briefly releases Kishanlal so that he can share a hug with his sons. The film ends with the three brothers driving joyfully with their loved ones in the sunset.
Cast
Main
- Vinod Khanna as Amar Khanna, the eldest
- Rishi Kapoor as Akbar Ilahabadi, the youngest
- Amitabh Bachchan as Anthony Gonsalves, the middle one
- Neetu Singh as Salma
- Parveen Babi as Jenny
- Shabana Azmi as Lakshmi
- Nirupa Roy as Bharati
- Pran as Kishanlal
Supporting
- Jeevan as Robert
- Yusuf Khan as Zebisco (Jenny's bodyguard)
- Mukri as Taiyyab Ali (Salma's father)
- Nazir Hussain as Father Gonsalves (Anthony's adoptive father)
- Kamal Kapoor as Superintendent Khanna (Amar's adoptive father)
- Hercules as Raghu
- Shivraj as Mr. Ilahabadi (Akbar's adoptive father)
- Prathima Devi as Lakshmi's grandmother
- Moolchand as Pedro (Robert's friend)
Special appearance
- Helen as Fake Jenny
- Nadira as Lakshmi's stepmother
- Madhumati
- Ranjeet as Ranjeet (Lakshmi's stepbrother)
Production
"You see the whole country of the system is juxtapositioned by the hemoglobin in the atmosphere, because you are a sophisticated rhetorician intoxicated with the exuberance of your own verbosity."
—Anthony Gonsalves, in his monologue preceding the "My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves" sequence[9]
Amar Akbar Anthony has a cinematic antecedent in
Prayag Raj wrote the film's screenplay, while Kader Khan wrote the dialogue.[12]
The character of Anthony Gonsalves was named after the famous composer and teacher
Filming
Amar Akbar Anthony was Manmohan Desai's first film as an independent film producer. The film was shot over a month at Ranjit Studios in Mumbai. Some exterior and interior shots were filmed at the Mount Mary Church in Bandra, Mumbai and at the Don Bosco School, Wadala, Mumbai respectively.[13][16] Shooting was scheduled so that the entire cast didn't have to appear together except for the climactic sequence and the title song ("Anhoni Ko Honi"), where they all perform as a group. However, the shooting went over schedule, which required Rishi Kapoor and Shabana Azmi to shoot their scenes separately so they could leave towards the end of production to work on other films.
Analysis
Amar Akbar Anthony incorporates a strong element of secularism[17] within a Bollywood masala film. Analysts such as Virdi (2003) and Kavoori & Punathambekar (2008) opine that the themes of Desai's "magnum opus" include religious pluralism and secular nationalism.[18][19] Philip Lutgendorf hints that the separation of the three children on Indian Independence Day is akin to the Partition of India.[20] Similarly, Vijay Mishra (2013) argues that the film reaffirmed India's "liberal ethos." [21] The three religions represented by the titular characters are the "pillars of the nation:" when they work together, they can restore life to their mother (represented when they donate blood during the opening title sequence) and beat any evil (symbolised by their common villain).[22] The characters' reunion with their parents completes the nationalistic allegory,[18][19] suggesting that what was lost at independence can be regained.[23]
The film's masala style is evident in its plot and characters. According to Varia (2013), Amar Akbar Anthony was conceived as a tragedy but later incorporated many other genres.[24] Dickson (2016) commented that the film featured a plot which would "give even Shakespeare migraines."[25] Some authors also highlight the archetypal character of the suffering and self-sacrificing mother (Roy).[26] However, Dinesh Raheja concludes that "ultimately, the show belongs to Amitabh Bachchan. In a tailor-made role, he has the audience in stitches. Despite his playing an implausible character, one quickly surrenders one's reservations in favour of a rollicking romp."[27]
Music
Amar Akbar Anthony | |
---|---|
Laxmikant-Pyarelal | |
Released | 7 January 1977 |
Genre | Feature Film Soundtrack |
Label | Universal Music India |
Producer | Manmohan Desai |
Amar Akbar Anthony's soundtrack was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, with lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. It proved as popular and successful as the film itself.[citation needed] The vinyl record, released on Polydor, was the first LP that was coloured pink.[citation needed]
Some of the biggest names in the Indian music industry of the time provided vocals for the songs:
- Mukesh and Mahendra Kapoor for Khanna
- Mohammed Rafi and Shailendra Singh for Rishi Kapoor
- Kishore Kumar for Bachchan
- Lata Mangeshkar for Azmi, Neetu Kapoor and Babi
The song "Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar" is notable for bringing Mukesh, Rafi, Kumar and Mangeshkar together for the first and only occasion in their careers.[13] The film also features a comical filmi qawwali entitled "Parda Hai Parda" sung by Rafi,[28] with a single line (for Bachchan) supplied by an uncredited Amit Kumar.[29]
No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Ye Sach Hai Koi Kahani Nahin" | Mohammed Rafi | 02:22 |
2. | "Amar Akbar Anthony" | Kishore Kumar, Mahendra Kapoor, Shailendra Singh | 05:52 |
3. | "Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar" | Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh | 07:33 |
4. | "Taiyabali Pyar Ka Dushman" | Mohammed Rafi | 04:40 |
5. | "Parda Hai Parda" | Mohammed Rafi | 07:59 |
6. | "Shirdi Wale Sai Baba" | Mohammed Rafi | 05:52 |
7. | "My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves" | Kishore Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan | 05:32 |
Release
The Emergency Period delayed the release of several of Manmohan Desai's films. As a result, four of Desai's films, Dharam Veer, Chacha Bhatija, Parvarish, and Amar Akbar Anthony, were released in 1977.[32][33] Incidentally, all of these would be amongst the top-grossing films of the year.[3]
Marketing
For the film's marketing, erasers with the images of Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan were sold to students.[34] Posters, postcards, and song booklets of the film were sold in shops.[citation needed] Colorful vests and metal crosses that were similar to the ones worn by Bachchan in the film achieved popularity.[citation needed]
Reception
The film grossed ₹155 million (US$17.69 million) at the Indian box office and was the highest-grossing Bollywood film at the
Adjusted for inflation, the film has grossed approximately ₹423 crores ($51 million) as of 2023.
Accolades
In 2023, Time Out ranked it #10 on its list of the "100 Best Bollywood Movies."[36]
Award | Category | Recipients and Nominees | Results |
---|---|---|---|
25th Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Amitabh Bachchan | Won |
Best Music Director | Laxmikant–Pyarelal | ||
Best Editing | Kamlakar Karkhanis | ||
Best Film | Manmohan Desai | Nominated | |
Best Director | |||
Best Lyricist | Anand Bakshi for "Parda Hai Parda" | ||
Best Male Playback Singer | Mohammed Rafi for "Parda Hai Parda" |
Bibliography
- Booth, Gregory D. (2008). Behind the curtain: Making music in Mumbai's film studios. ISBN 978-0-19-971665-4.
- Elison, William; Novetzke, Christian Lee; Rotman, Andy (2016). Amar Akbar Anthony: Bollywood, brotherhood, and the nation. ISBN 9780674504486.
- Haham, Connie (2006). Enchantment of the mind: Manmohan Desai's films. ISBN 978-81-7436-431-9.
Further reading
- Bhatia, Sidharth (2013). Amar Akbar Anthony: Masala, madness, and Manmohan Desai. ISBN 978-8172239350.
References
- ISBN 978-0-520-26957-6. Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ISBN 978-0-674-49599-9. Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Box office 1977". Box Office India. 2011. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ISBN 978-81-7436-433-3. Archivedfrom the original on 20 September 2016.
- ^ Sharma, Devansh (2 November 2018). "Yaadon Ki Baaraat: Nasir Hussain's 1973 potboiler initiated Hindi cinema's transformation into 'Bollywood'". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ Manwani, Akshay (8 January 2018). "Yaadon Ki Baaraat: The quintessential bollywood film". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
- ^ ET Bureau (20 September 2008). "Transcending language barrier". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ^ Rabe, Nate (2 September 2017). "Sounds of Lollywood: The big difference between 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and its Pakistani rip-off". Scroll. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-14-310086-7. Archivedfrom the original on 7 January 2014.
- ISBN 9781442277984. Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Talash". Pakistan Film Magazine. n.d. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- ^ "Excerpt: Amar Akbar Anthony". Mint. 3 August 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Roy, Gitanjali (8 May 2013). "10 things you didn't know about Amar Akbar Anthony". NDTV Movies. Archived from the original on 15 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- ^ Booth, p. 3
- ^ Booth, p. 5
- ISBN 978-1-84150-632-6.
- ^ Mohamed, Khalid (31 January 2018). "Muslims in the movies: The good, the bad, and the Khilji". The Quint. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8135-3191-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8147-2944-1.
- ^ Lutgendorf, Philip (2014). "Amar Akbar Anthony". Indian cinema. University of Iowa. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-135-31099-8.
- ISBN 978-90-5789-090-1.
- ISBN 978-1-4443-5833-9.
- ISBN 978-0-231-50260-3.
- ISBN 978-0-8050-9735-1. Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-8166-2305-1.
- ^ Raheja, Dinesh (22 March 2003). "Amar Akbar Anthony: Whoop-it-up fun!". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ISBN 978-0-7546-5198-7. Archivedfrom the original on 23 March 2016.
- ^ Diptakirti Chaudhuri, "Bollygeek: The Crazy Trivia Guide to Bollywood", Hachette India, 2021.
- ^ "Amar Akbar Anthony (Original motion picture soundtrack)". Apple Inc. January 1981. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Amar, Akbar, and Anthony soundtrack credits". IMDb. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- ^ Whitener, Brian (2007). "Amar Akbar Anthony". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2007. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-415-58384-8.
- ^ "100 Filmfare Days: 49- Amar Akbar Anthony". Filmfare. 10 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "70 iconic films of Indian cinema". Mint. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "The 100 best Bollywood movies". Time Out. 7 February 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
External links
- Amar Akbar Anthony at IMDb