This might seem pretty mental because I’m not one of those ’’I’ve watched every hindi movie ever released including Alam Ara’’ type people. My bank of movies is limited but then, from the ones that I have seen, there are some scenes / moments that can be deemed memorable.
Now Hindi movies have memorable scenes by default. You have:
The 10 minute bleeding to death sequence where the dying actor spews more dialogue than he or she ever did for the rest of the movie. There’s normally enough time to save the fallen person if they just rushed to the hospital instead of talking about how happy the dying person feels because his girlfriend is marrying his best friend or brother.
The ’’siblings lost in mela and reunited because of a common symbol on body’’ routine. The common symbol is normally a tattoo on the body which is revealed just when one sibling is about to jab a spear down the other siblings throat. This is normally followed by emotional outbursts and a revenge against the vile thakur or don for what they did to the happy family. This was a speciality of the late Manmohan Desai.
The ’’yell at a statue of God and work miracles’’ routine. If God really did exist, She (God is a woman after all, right?) must be really ticked off with Hindi movie actors and actresses for the on screen Abuse God sessions. Normally, this happens when some close relative is mortally wounded or ill.
Anyways, Here’s my pick of ten:
The Chaiyya Chaiyya song sequence - Dil Se
A song sequence to start with. Why would a song feature in a ten best scenes list? Simply because Farah Khan and Mani Ratnam packed Shah Rukh, Malaika and a whole bunch of dancers on a wee toy train in Ooty, made them do a great dance sequence, Gulzar penned a memorable song, A.R. Rehman added a huge dose of musical magic to it and finally, Sukhwindra Singh’s voice. So what if the movie didn’t do all that good. That one song on the train will be remembered.
The Chale Chalo song sequence - Lagaan
The entire cricket match might have not been technically correct. The last ball six might have been a bit too much. But the movie had this one gem that shone brighter than the rest of the movie. It’s a song that oozed inspiration from every pore. There were no flashy dancers. No intricate choreography or settings. Just a bunch of ragged villagers, tanned and dirty, egging each other to go further and stand together to oppose the might of the British Raj.
The climax scene of Vaastav
To me, Sanjay Dutt is an actor who came up the hard way. Sure he had an influential dad, but he also had his demons. The one thing the man never lacked is the fire inside to do better each time he started an inning.
The climax scene of Vaastav has an element that is very difficult to digest - a mother taking her son’s life. But they pulled it off... very well. You have the delirious Dutt pleading for deliverance from the demons of his past and his mother, played by the serene Reema Lagoo, releases him from his miseries with the pull of a trigger. It’s intense and touches a raw nerve as you watch Dutt lying motionless on a swing, blood trickling from his forehead... and his stunned mother stares into the distance... knowing that she had given her son the greatest gift of love... and yet...
Kamasutra
Oops... no kamasutra... accidentally wrote that... Kamasutra is not memorable... skip to next movie...
Amitabh’s death sequence - Muqaddar Ka Sikander
First there is the scene where Amjad Khan and Amitabh Bachchan fight (all due to a misunderstanding). Then they stab each other. And then, the death sequence. It’s memorable because of that slow song that wafted in the background... ’’zindagi toh bewafaa hai...’’. During the entire movie, my heart went out to Amitabh. It’s just that lady luck seems to be one picky female...
How many more... ah yes... 6 more:
The climax scene at the railway station - Sadma
It’s Kamal Haasan. And everyone knows that he can act. This movie (based on a tamil flick - Moonram Pirai) had a nice storyline and some good acting by the limited cast consisting of Kamal Haasan, Sridevi and the late Silk Smita. Due to a tragedy, Sridevi loses her memory, thinks she’s 3 years old and ends up with Kamal Haasan who takes very good care of her. In the process, he falls in love with her. She reciprocates (in her 3 year old state of mind).
However, one fine day (after a lot of drama and emotion) she regains her memory and is reunited with her family. She’s all set to go and is sitting smug in a train compartment when a battered Kamal Haasan tries to refresh her memory and remind her of her love for him by making faces and performing the antics that he used to do when she was mentally challenged. She thinks he’s nuts and throws him some money....
Kamal Haasan has that unique ability to convey every kind of emotion without saying a word...
One tragic song - Pyaasa
Yeh Mahalon, Yeh Takhton, Yeh Taajon Ki Duniya
Yeh Insaan Ke Dushman, Samajon Ki Duniya
Yeh Daulat Ke Bhooke, Rawajon Ki Duniya
Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye, To Kya Hai?
For my non-hindi speaking compadres on MS, this roughly translates to ’’Of what use is a world that is the enemy of mankind, laced with greed and rules made by society’’ (not the best translation but you get the drift)
Though it’s banks on self pity and is laced in tragic innuendos and cliche, this black and white classic is memorable thanks to Mohd. Rafi’s voice and Guru Dutt’s craftsmanship.
Is this turning out to be a music review? Maybe, but sometimes music might be the most memorable aspect of a movie...
The lynching of Bhagat Singh and colleagues - Shaheed (1965)
Even though most people believe that India didn’t bleed enough for her independence, there are some moments in history that depict patriotism of the highest degree. To me, the most memorable and most patriotic sequence in India’s history is when Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru kissed the ropemaker’s daughter, smiled... and died... and even when their limp bodies dangled at the end of the rope, one knew that they had managed to do the impossible... spread fear in the hearts of their enemies.
The talented Prem Chopra, perhaps the most endearing villain of all times, was memorable in his role as Sukhdev.
Gabbar Singh’s Entry - in Sholay
I have no words to define this!
The climax - Agneepath
Well... maybe it’s just Amitabh and the way he looked all bloodied and intense... the way he modulated his voice and went against the grain... the way he just tore into the hearts of the people who destroyed his peaceful life at a very young age... classic Bollywood revenge tale... but innovated and implemented well by the legend...
Shah Rukh’s progress towards death... - Kal Ho Na Ho
Face it, it was intense. From the Mahi Ve dance scene onwards, the movie brings forth a flurry of emotions thanks to Shah Rukh’s intense acting and the support lent by the other members of the cast. It’s also safe to say that the title song is one that will also be remembered for a long, long time.
This review has been very taxing and I’ll end it with something I always wanted to tell you:
’’Pachaas pachaas kos door... gaon mein jab bachcha raat ko rota hai... to maa kahti hai beta soja... soja nahin to Gabbar Singh aa jaayega... ’’
~finis~
PS: I’ll admit, movies are not my forte... feel free to crucify my picks.