Rajesh Khanna – the superstar of the 70s.
Rajesh Khanna made significant contribution in bollywood films in the 70s and most of his films are still remembered for strong storybase and good music. He impressed the viewers with his performance in the film Aradhana, opposite Sharmila Tagore, in 1969, which was directed by Shakti Samanta. The songs composed by SD Burman and sung by Kishore including “roop tera mastana”, and Rafi “gunguna rahi hai bhwar” became everlasting hits.
Rajesh Khanna acted in films having realistic stories like Khamoshi, which was the hindi adaptation of Suchitra Sen’s legendary film Deep Jele Jai, where he was insane and had been cured by Wahida Rehman by pretending to be his better half. His film Anand, directed Hrishikesh Mukherjee, also had a unique story, where the cancer patient is being treated by Big B, and the person knowing that he is not going to survive for a long period, makes everyone laugh and entertains the patients and doctors in the medical centre. Salil Chowdhury had provide immortal tunes like “kahi door jab din dhal jaye” and “maine tere liye hi saat rang ke sapne chune” sung by Mukesh, and “zindagi kaisi hai paheli” sung by Manna Dey, and the songs contributed to the immense success of the film.
His film Bawarchi, directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee was the hindi adaptation of Tapan Sinha’s film “golpo holeo satti”, where he acted as the cook in the house who taught the members of the house to be hardworking and help each other for the successful running of the joint family. His film Safar, was the hindi adaptation of Arundhuti Debi’s film Chalachal, where he is the painter who has an affair with Sharmila Tagore. The songs in the film composed by Kalyanji Anandji including “zindagi ka safar”, sung by Kishore Kumar had touched the hearts of filmlovers.
His film Amarprem, was the hindi adaptation of Uttamkumar’s film Nishipadda, where he was sympathetic towards a tawaif played by Sharmila Tagore, who had to accept the trade due to social circumstances. The songs composed by RD Burman and sung by Kishore Kumar including “chingari koi bharke”, “kuch to log kahenge”, have not lost their appeal, and are sung by contestants in the musical competition titled “K for Kishore” in TV channels these days. In fact RD Burman, Laxmikant Pyarellal and Kishore Kumar had a major contribution in the success of Rajesh Khanna’s films. His films like Roti, Aap ki kasam, Aan milo sajna, Kati Patang, Hathi Mere Saathi, have become everlasting hits and are seen even today, by the present generation when shown in different TV channels.
By: Rumi Chatterji.
17 comments:
Rajesh Khanna had done well in films like Akhri Khat and Raaz. There were qulity songs in these films including "akele hai chale ayo" composed by Kalyanji Anandji and sung by Rafi.
Rumi Chatterji.
Rajesh Khanna had done well in the film Namakharam. Hrishikesh Mukherjee showed the feelings of an employer plyed by Big B and the employed played by Rajesh Khanna. He reprsented the workers and shown their emotions in the film.
CR Chatterji.
Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Indian cinema gave the most powerful performances in many movies. Begining from the super-duper hit Araadhana and Do Raste, he went on to portray a very wide range of characters in various movies. Notable movies include Amarprem, Ittefaq, Sachha Juthha, Haathi Mere Saathi, Dushman and others. Most of the songs on Rajesh Khanna were from Kishore Kumar who suited him to the hilt. But some of the songs sung by Rafi Sahab are too marvelous to be ignored. RK could play romantic and tragic roles with equal aplomb and his dress, hair style and gait were a cult in the 1970s. Great article on a great actor.
Beside his gait, dress and hair-style, Rajesh Khanna also provided the most handsome "wink" that has been copied by actors of all hues till date. Just the little jerk of his face was enough for the girls to swoon. His dialogue delivery was again very powerful. Compare that of Jitendra or even Manoj Kumar, Rajesh Khanna said his lines with much more weight in them. One of the sexiest voices in the industry, Rajesh Khanna is one icon who had too many virtues than the we had realized during his time.
He lost his popularity due to success of Amitabh and Vinod Khanna in action films from Zanjeer, Dewaar, sholay, Burning TRain, etc. Audience switched over to see action films from romantic films.
Rumi Chatterji.
Rajesh Khanna is the realy and only Super Star of Indian Cinema till today. No actors can be compared with him. He is simply greatest of all actors.
Rajesh Khanna is the one and only Thespian of Indian Cinema who have shown the world that how to balance the commercial and artistic aspects of cine medium simultaneously, without going downward, which others like Dharmendra, Jitendra and especially Amitabh, etc.failed to maintain. Along with his historic First Superstar image he has proved that he is a Superactor first and then a Superstar. His versatility in commercial environment is an example of its own.
Super Star Rajesh Khanna - The Cary Grant of India
Super Star Rajesh Khanna irrevocably impacted Indian cinema and culture like no actor before him. His acting perfection and application of talent were drawn solely from his inward vision. Super Star Rajesh Khanna did not cultivate the phenomenal attributes that created his "superstardom" by reason or will, but through the connectedness to his own persona that the masses then idealized. For he is one who is impervious as to who is ahead and who is behind. Super Star Rajesh Khanna’s inward vision, a special gift from the divine leads him always. Today he is the indomitable and highly respected veteran of one hindred and fifty films. For me, he is like the Cary Grant of India. Both actors are Capricorns that have played the widest variety of roles without ever bankrupting the fascination of the audience. Super Star Rajesh Khanna is the platinum standard for landmark performances and sheer screen presence. Ever since the camera discovered his photogenia it has been having a love affair with it. His Byronic inspirations of romance as autographed elegantly on screen endure. Super Star Rajesh Khanna is a Greatest Legend because he kindles our affections at the highest denominators and that is a life nobly lived means.
Great Actor But Not the Greatest Actor of Bollywood which some friends ae saying.
I dont Consider him the First & Only Superstar.
Dilip Kumar Was the FIRST SUPERSTAR,Rajendra kumar the second superstar and he was the third.
Rajendra Kumar was the most famous superstar of Indian Cinema.
Plz Think for a while,If Rajendra kumar was not very famous why his films run more than any other actor.
Rajendra kumar was true legend.
Rajesh khanna the name of super and greatest star in indai, i do love his perfermance and his act. no one can compare with him, cuz he is the only one who prove to bring a lovely emotion in any films he played a role.i do not beleive that Amitab can do the things as he done. even no one can do he is really great and major actor in any time.
why calling Amitabh Bacchan superstar i cant understand that the only super star of the indian cinema only living legend Rajesh Khanna
he is iconic.pushpa i hate tears has become a legend.a subtle actor,he plays the audience with emotions.truly great.
Well Rajesh Khanna was a super star only for limited period from 1969 to 1973
When Amitabh rises Rajesh fall down effect, After Roti in 1974 he could not give a hit or semi hit untill thodi se bewafai you can say that from 1975 to 1990 he delivered hardly 5 hits Thodi si bewafia, Souten, Avtaar, Madsad (Jeetednra Starrer) how can you say that he is benefical to producers he could not maintain the success
well
in my view rajesh khanna had tried to experiment with both commercial as well as serious movies.
in his superstar days he experimented with aawishkar whereas in his latter part ie 80s he had experimented with avtaar,amrit, redrose type movies which only a theatre trained actor can justify.
see his performance in red rose...the critics still regard his performance best than kamal hassan who won national award for its tamil version.
i think he along with dileep kumar and sanjiv kumar had taken cinematic expressions to new heights.
his some bad film choices and star tantrums were major reason for his downfall otherwise his acting was far better than the next superstar who had proved his mettle only on action movies only and saleem-javed scripts.
-ravi pandey
From from Ethiopia
Rajesh Khanaaaa
I watched aradhana today on youtube.
love all your films even though i don't know hindi.
and will always love you as i did in my youth :)
why did you not post my message?
from ethiopia
you seriously can't compare amitabh and kaka,they both are from difrnt eras, rajesh khanna was the first superstar of india and "the most romantic hero bollywood has ever seen".......... even shahrukh once quoted the above statement. Amitabh was almost sidelined in movies like anand,namak haraam etc. bcoz at dat tym no other actor could compete kaka............
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