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READER'S PICK: Hindi films that haven't aged well
Cinema is an evolving medium. Its face changes with time, technology and thought. And so does our perception and opinion.
You may discover a film, which grabbed your attention as a kid, doesn’t interest you any longer, its every single attempt to entertain may seem jaded. Whereas in some cases, subjects simply lose their relevance or treatment feels dated, even regressive.
We asked you, dear readers, to share your examples of Hindi films that have lost their repeat value and not aged well with time. Here are the results.
Karz
Though Subhash Ghai’s reincarnation drama wasn’t a blockbuster success at the time of release, it garnered popularity courtesy Laxmikant Pyarelal’s electrifying soundtrack.
Neither did its remake starring Himesh Reshammiya find any takers nor are some of our readers too enthused about its preposterous premise or the cliched melodrama between the leading man and his mistreated mother and sister.
Gehrayee
Young Padmini Kolhapure’s courageous performance became one of the talking points in Aruna Raje and Arunavikas’s 1980 exorcism drama.
But with horror taking a creepier, moodier face Gehrayee’s slow, studying ambiance doesn’t have enough sensational value to sustain interest.
Khudgarz
Rakesh Roshan owes a lot to the success of his directorial debut, Khudgarz.
Loosely inspired by Jeffrey Archer’s Kane and Abel, the Jeetendra-Shatrughan Sinha starrer featuring Govinda and Neelam is about friends turned foes even as their revenge and the romance between their offspring provides dramatic conflicts.
The done-to-death storyline and the over-the-top sentimentality of Khudgarz is plain jarring in today’s scenario.
Himmatwala
The garrulous lines, the hideous fashion, the flashy aesthetics, the regressive mindset and Jeetendra-Sridevi shaking butts against a row of colourful earthen pots pleased the frontbenchers in the 1980s.
But Sajid Khan’s belief the same outmoded shtick would work in 2013 was met with booing reviews and disgusted audience.
Jaani Dushman
At a time when even one of the biggest hits of this year, Krrish 3 isn't spare for its mediocre special effects, Jaani Dushman’s tacky fur suit on Amrish Puri/Sanjeev Kumar seems like a bad joke.
One of the biggest hits of its time starring half of Bollywood, Jaani Dushman has long lost its edge and eeriness.
Aankhen
David Dhawan’s Aankhen is an unapologetic masala potboiler throwing in one inane twist after another to keep the narrative flowing.
Govinda, Kader Khan and Chunky Pandey ensured it works then.
Today, it may not be enough.
Kranti
Manoj Kumar’s epic Kranti put in quite a show with its star-studded parade featuring the likes of Dilip Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Hema Malini, Parveen Babi and himself.
Not everyone has patience for his exaggerated idea of jingoism and florid speeches in the name of dialogues any more.
Mard
Manmohan Desai is not for subtlety. And so Dara Singh inking ‘Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota’ on Amitabh Bachchan’s chest while he’s still a baby was accepted as absurd but innovative.
Big B’s invincible stardom contributed generously too.
Truth, however is, Mard was was corny then. Mard is corny today.
Love Story
Kumar Gaurav and Vijeta Pandit’s banter may have seemed cute in the 1980s. Moreover, Rahul Dev Burman’s silvery score has the gift to conceal a whole lot of defects.
But the parental opposition-eloping youngsters ploy doesn’t hold much value for viewers unless the actors possess the disarming freshness or talent of Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla.
Jai Santoshi Maa
In 1975, the mythological drama starring little known actors went on to break box-office records while its devotional ditty, Main toh aarti utaroon re is popular to this date.
But, our readers, don’t think it has any real repeat value for a true cinema aficionado like say, a Sholay, Deewar or Khel Khel Mein which came out the same year.