Remembering Yash Chopra

A Yash Chopra heroine was a breed apart. Right from his first directorial venture, Waqt in 1965, in which he introduced the concept of an ensemble cast, his heroines became cult figures. They were elegant, dignified, polished; very Indian but with a mind of their own; very modern yet steeped in the wholesomeness of family and relationships. They crossed the lines of propreity and convention at times for they were free spirits but did so with a remarkable stamp of decency. Starting from Sadhana, who had her own personal charm and charisma, he clothed them in fashions that defined that age and looks that were copied by millions of fans. This song is sung by Asha Bhonsle, a personal favourite with music by Ravi and lyrics by Sahir. But later on Lata was a staple in all Yash Chopra movies.





Yash Chopra's Midas touch metamorphosed many a girl next door into devastating divas. Honed at his easel and crafted on his canvas, they emerged, born anew, sylph like in sylvan surroundings to enchant and haunt cine-goers. So be it a Sridevi or Rekha who were more North-Indianised for a wider audience or a Madhuri who was given a new avataar in muted pastels for a change, fresh from intensive ab work outs! For over 4 decades Yash Chopra heroines, mostly assisted by Lata's voice took our breath away....





If winter's almost here, can spring be too far behind? Life lives on hope and redeeming symbols. Beautiful, positive images...beauty, natural and abundant....love, bonding, celebrations, hearty meals, warm razais. To me winter is all of this and more. Sad songs or happy songs, he did full justice to every situation but first happy ones, since I am essentially a happy person and want you all to be. Noone showed romance on Hindi screen like Yash Chopra. Let's listen to some of Lata-Kishore bests from the Chopra stable. This one's got Shiv Hari's music to boot and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Need we ask for more? Well, yes, Rekha's flowing tresses and Amitabh's dreamy eyes (not to miss the shair in the beginning in his own voice)....dream on...:-)





How the Southern belles won hands down in Hindi movies was with their chiselled features, doe eyes, lustrous tresses, statuesque figures and impeccable dancing skills. Yash Chopra capitalised on these beauties from South and presented them in a slightly different manner, giving them a Punjabi make-over and the result was often startling. Rekha in this song could easily pass off for a lissome Sardarni from Chandigarh. This was one of the many songs of Yash Chopra movies with a definite Punjabi tadka that went on to become extremely popular. Heroes from North and heroines from South was a success formula for many years. The male singer, Kishore here is a Bengali (East) and female, Lata from Maharashtra(West). Delicious National Integration!!;-)





And when the vivacious and gazelle-like Sridevi was transported into a typical Punjabi wedding by Yash Chopra in Chandni, she took on a new persona. In a decade known for its garish bright coloured fashions, her pristine white Chandni salwar kameezes became a rage. Uff there is an absolutely stunning collection of white suits in that movie accentuated with little colour details. When she danced in abandon to dhol beats in her inimitable style, audiences all over India couldn't help saying Balle balle!





So when Amitabh jilted the other Chandni of Silsila to keep a vow made to his deceased brother of looking after his pregnant fiance-uff! These apocalyptic kasams of Hindi movies-she sank into a kodachromatic depression. Never before had pathoes looked so photogenic as Rekha in this movie. In matinee shows specially screened just for women, ladies sniffled and cried buckets full and went out to quickly buy Silsila lace sarees, extra long lash waterproof mascara and the deepest maroon lipsticks of Rekha's luscious lips. On this beautiful moonlit night,enjoy this melodious and lullaby-like Lata song written by the wordsmith Javed Akhtar and music by Shiv Hari (That's santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and flautist par excellence Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia). Couldn't get better than this.





Gripping tales were told textured with chiffon and fuelled with cognac. Romance reigned supreme and Switzerland was just a 'flight of fantasy' away. Yash Chopra pretty much started the trend of foreign locales and particular looks of a cast in terms of clothes and colours at the same time not letting go of content. Other staples were verdant mustard fields of Punjab seconded only by bonfire picnics and gushing brooks..and stately conifers. Amongst his tall list of accolades is the Swiss Ambassador's Award 2010 for his contribution in promoting 'Brand Switzerland' through his movies!:-)





He will be remembered for his lavish helicopter shots, his surf excel whites, his undying belief in romance and for trying out bold, new stories. Some were accepted, some rejected. This movie for instance showed love that defied age gap. It was the first time a Hindi movie hero was sporting grey at the temples (Anil Kapoor did exceptionally well). They said it was ahead of its times. True, watch it today and it gels. The probability of relating to such stories is directly proportional to the number of grey in your own hair!




He will be remembered for showcasing Indian culture in an entertaining format-not just Punjabi, in this movie it was a wonderful revival and renewed interest in Rajasthan. Also for leading ladies who were traditional yet alive and vibrant, who saw dreams and aspired to have more than what they had, whose eyes sparkled with a million mischiefs and hearts were ablaze with the joy of life and passion. And talking of dealing with complex relationships, he caught the bull by the horns in this movie. He first had a young Anil Kapoor having a crush on a much older Sridevi No 1 and then many years later her daughter Sridevi No 2 falling for the much older Kapoor. But ofcourse all this is interspersed with a lot of song and dance to recochet the shock waves.




Romance being their leitmotif, Yash Chopra movies were the first to show teeny bopper bubble gum romance. Who doesn't remember humming this ditty in their younger days-an antakshari staple for some reason-featuring the gorgeous Chandigarh Cutie Poonam Dhillon with the lithe figure, an enviable mane albiet with two left feet and the sweet and sugary Sachin. Guys you can have a good laugh now, written by Sahir uncle and music is by Khayyam!



But then depicting teenybopper romance is a cakewalk as compared to showing mature romance in India. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that most of us did not really grow up watching our parents getting touchy feely like these goras. I mean we have no qualms watching a 50+ Meryl Streep kissing a 60+ Robert Redford but didn't we all cringe at Dharmendra doing the same with Nafisa Ali in Life in a Metro.Yash Chopra however got it right most of the times, as in this lovely Lata-Yesudas duet enacted just right by two great actors. Simple, balanced and subtle. Aah notice those times when the opening titles of a film would have the name in Urdu too. Gone with the wind? As is old world, older age, mature romance in movies?


To be contd....