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25 Souvenirs We'd Want In A Bollywood Museum
Wouldn't it be cool to have souvenirs from iconic Hindi films restored in a museum? Check out Sukanya Verma's wishlist of treasures she'd like to see in a museum dedicated to Hindi films!
What if there was one place to house Hindi cinema's most precious memories?
What if there was a platform to showcase its integral but unsung souvenirs?
What if there was a showcase that produced props, trends and costumes in their original, restored form?
What if there was a museum for all things Bollywood?
On this wishful note, here's a look at 25 articles I would love to see as part of an exclusive collection. Twenty-five is too trivial a number when compared to decades of films and blockbusters. And so, dear readers, do not consider this to be a definitive list. Instead join in the merriment and post your picks for our proposed museum.
The umbrella from Shree 420
Easily one of the most iconic images of Hindi cinema, Raj Kapoor and Nargis share a moment of togetherness and a basic black umbrella against crazy downpour to exchange romantic pleasantries with Pyar hua iqrar hua in Shree 420.
Liquor bottles from Devdas
Considering the amount of alcohol consumed by Devdas in Bimal Roy's adaptation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's tale of unrequited love, it would be befitting to have some of those empty bottles on display to represent the memory of his miserable, broken heart.
The jalopy from Chalti Ka Naam Gadi
The droll comedy starring brothers -- Ashok, Anoop and Kishore Kumar -- also marked the debut of the charming but temperamental jalopy, Champion -- a 1920s Ford model A.
Dev Anand's checkered cap from Jewel Thief
That striking, checkered print cap worn by Dev Anand in Jewel Thief was purchased from a shop in Copenhagen, Denmark while he was shooting for Pyar Mohabat with Saira Bano.
The clown doll from Mera Naam Joker
All through the lengthy but effective Mera Naam Joker, Raj Kapoor is seen holding a metaphoric clown doll that once belonged to his father and willingly offers it as a gift to every individual he grows fond of.
Oversized sunglasses from Hare Rama Hare Krishna
Playing a hippie was never this glamorous.
Zeenat Aman in her tinted, oversized glasses is a sight to remember even as she slips into a trance chanting RD Burman's chartbuster title song.
The rag doll from Jawani Diwani
Love me, love my doll.
It sure works that way with Jaya Bhaduri and a rag doll that accompanies the cute star of 1970s everywhere in Jawani Diwani -- from classrooms to songs.
Gabbar Singh's bullet belt from Sholay
Sholay has a quite a few items to dole out: Jai-Veeru's toss coin, Thakur's mysteriously hanging shawl, Jai's harmonica, etc.
But it's Gabbar Singh's all-threatening bullet belt he slaps across Ramgarh's rocks that continues to evoke unprecedented terror.
The badge from Deewar
786.
That's a number most Big B fans are least likely to forget.
Indeed, the badge Amitabh Bachchan sports on his arm in Deewar. The strategic prop and religiously significant number guards him from all danger till it drops off in the end.
The chess set from Shatranj Ke Khiladi
Nothing can disrupt Sanjeev Kumar and Saeed Jaffrey's game of chess, even as they oblivious to the life-altering events around them, make one skilful move after another in Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi.
Wonder where that exquisite set is lying now?
The Easter egg from Amar Akbar Anthony
Actors device all sorts of gimmicks to make a smashing entry inside the frame.
But nothing quite beats a hilarious Bachchan stepping out of a giant Easter Egg to introduce himself to all and sundry.
The fake moustache from Golmaal
Move over Nathulal, it's Amol Palekar's now-you-see-it, now-you-don't moustache that decides the course of Hrishikesh Mukerjee's comic classic Golmaal.
Chamko detergent from Chashme Buddoor
How on earth can one resist a box of 'khushboodaar, jhaagwala Chamko', Bollywood's best-known detergent?
The bulb suit from Yaarana
Remember the bulb suit in Yaarana's Saara zamana?
That is not a mere costume, ladies and gentleman. That is an ode to one of man's greatest inventions and a dazzling expression of AB's invincible superstardom.
The camera from Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron
Photogs Vinod and Sudhir's many adventures include lugging an inquisitive camera that captures conspiracies, murders and corpses in Kundan Shah's humourous satire, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron.
The watch from Mr India
Never underestimate the power of a chunky gold watch.
For all you know it could be an invisibility-triggering device as Anil Kapoor discovers to his delight in the supremely entertaining fantasy, Mr India.
The 'friend' cap from Maine Pyar Kiya
When Karan Johar wrote the line, 'Pyaar dosti hai' in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, he was probably thinking of that scene in Sooraj Barjatya's Maine Pyar Kiya when Prem offers Suman a (what would go on to become unbelievably popular) Friend cap.
MF Husain's paintings from Henna
Before embellishing his own outings as filmmaker in Gaja Gamini and Meenaxi, artist M F Husain's gorgeous paintings paid a tribute to Raj Kapoor's brand of creativity as part of Henna's opening credits.
Sridevi's painting from Lamhe
Anil Kapoor's sketch of Sridevi, the women he loves but who loves someone else, is years later discovered by her lookalike daughter leading to misunderstanding and heartache in Yash Chopra's underrated romance, Lamhe.
The mandolin from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
Raj's mandolin and its signature tune is a constant fixture in nearly every important scene of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
Whether he's indirectly serenading Simran or saying goodbye to her irate family in the climax.
The phone from Hera Pheri
Blackmailing and phone go hand-in-hand.
And so Baburao's (Paresh Rawal) dial phone in Hera Pheri is as good as a protagonist.
Jadoo from Koi... Mil Gaya
It's imperative to honour Bollywood's first real encounter with an extraterrestrial -- the blue-skinned, sun-loving Jadoo and his not-bad-by-Indian-standards-designed alien model from Koi...Mil Gaya.
The snow globe from Om Shanti Om
Every reincarnation drama has a haunting theme that links a character's past life with his new one.
And Om Shanti Om's dainty, romantic snowglobe plays one just like that.
The stools from 3 Idiots
An eye-catching prop in the All iz well song and a hit marketing gimmick at the multiplexes, the colorful bum stools of 3 Idiots are too cheeky to overlook.
Bagwati from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Abhay Deol's obscenely expensive purchase for his la-di-da fiancee becomes the butt of several jokes between his pals Farhan Akhtar and Hrithik Roshan during their road trip in Spain.
FA promptly dubs the orange Hermes, Bagwati and even accessorises it with a hat and sunglasses.