Yaadon Ki Baaraat (transl. Procession of Memories) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language masala film, directed by Nasir Hussain and written by Salim–Javed (Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar). It featured an ensemble cast, starring Dharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq Khan, Zeenat Aman, Neetu Singh, Ajit and Captain Raju.
The film was influential in the history of Indian cinema. It has been widely identified as the first masala film, combining elements of the action, drama, romance, musical, crime and thriller genres.[1][2] Masala films went on to become the most popular genre of Indian cinema,[3] and Yaadon Ki Baaraat has thus been identified as "the first" quintessentially "Bollywood film."[2] It also launched the careers of several actors, as the commercial breakthrough Hindi film for Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh, who became leading actresses of the 1970s,[4][5] and as the debut film for Nasir Hussain's nephews Tariq Khan and Aamir Khan, the latter a child actor who grew up to be one of the biggest movie stars in Hindi cinema.[6]
It is still remembered fondly for its soundtrack, composed by music director R.D. Burman. The film was later remade in Telugu as Annadammula Anubandham, in Tamil as Naalai Namadhe and in Malayalam as Himam.[7][8]
The film starts with three young brothers, Shankar, Vijay and, Ratan, celebrating their father's birthday with their mother and the maid. Their mother sings Yaadon ki Baarat a song loved by the children. When their father goes out later that evening he witnesses a theft by Shakal and his men.
In order to remove the risk of being identified and reported to the police, they break into their house and shoot the father. The mother, awakened by the noise finds her dead husband only to be shot dead too. The shocking incident is witnessed by Shankar and Vijay. They run to the railway station. Shankar manages to catch a train and tries to take Vijay with him but they are separated. Shankar is left with no choice but to survive on the streets. He joins Usman, another boy like him, stealing food from shops.
On the police's advice the maid decides to adopt Ratan. Vijay is found unconscious by a groundkeeper of a mansion owned by a wealthy man and raised by him.
The brothers have grown up into mature adults. Shankar (Dharmendra), the eldest, is now joined by Usman on a crime spree around the city. However, he is still haunted by the murder of his parents and seeks to find his brothers. Vijay is now an unemployed but a charming young man. Ratan, the youngest,is a singer with a band at Heavens hotel.
Vijay meets Sunita and flirts with her.But she is not responsive. At a party organised by Sunita she sings 'Chura Liya Hai'. Vijay falls in love with her. Sunita acts as if she too has fallen for him but she publicly mocks him.
Vijay feigns sickness. A minidrama persuades Sunita to travel on a trip with him,a man about to lose his life to cancer. But she falls in love. Vijay however reveals the truth to Sunita whose anger soon dissolves and he is forgiven. Ratan meanwhile also finds love with his co-dancer and singer.
The brothers meet several times but remain unaware of their close bond. But one night Ratan sings 'Yaadon ki Baarat', a heartfelt song of loss. Vijay and Shankar, present at the concert are immediately struck by a flood of memories and overjoyed. Vijay sings along with him. Vijay and Ratan unite. Shankar writes to Ratan asking him to meet him but is unable to because of his boss, none other than Shakal.
Shankar discovers the truth of his parents murders. He joins hands with his brothers and Sunita to make Shakal pay for his misdeeds. Shakal and his son Rupesh try to run away from Shankar but he corners them. Finally, Shakal and Rupesh try to escape through the railway tracks. But Shakal's leg gets stuck in the tracks. Shankar sees a train coming and leaves Shakal to die, while restraining Rupesh. Shankar reunites with his brothers and their lives.
Hussain's nephews, Tariq and Aamir, made their debuts with this film.
Tariq played one of the three male leads. Aamir, who went on to become one of the most successful actors in Hindi cinema, appeared in the title song as child artist at the age of eight, playing the younger version of his cousin Tariq's role.[9][10]
The film released on November 9, 1973 – Tariq's 22nd birthday.
The music and soundtrack of the film was by R. D. Burman, with lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The opening lines of the hit song, "Chura Liyaa Hai Tumne" were inspired from the English song, "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" by Bojoura from the soundtrack of 1969 film of the same name.[11] The title track "Yaadon Ki Baaraat Nikli Hai" appears multiple times. Its first line has also been used in the Hindi tv series Pandya Store. The other best remembered numbers are "Lekar Hum Deewana Dil", partly for the picturisation on the pin-up girl Neetu Singh, and Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle's duet, "Meri Soni Meri Tamanna". Child singers Padmini Kolhapure later became a noted actress, while Sushma Shrestha, also known as Poornima, became a successful playback singer.
The film became a box office blockbuster. It was 2nd highest grossing film of 1973.highest-grossing films in India, grossing ₹5.5 crore.[12] This was equivalent to $7.1 million in 1973,[n 1] and is equivalent to US$49 million or ₹255 crore in 2016.[14]
Nominated
The film popularized the now familiar Bollywood theme of separated siblings united by fate.[15]
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