Revisiting the golden era of Bollywood cinema, the sensational sixties that witnessed some of the biggest blockbusters produced in Hindi cinema, replete with class, timeless music and breathtakingly beautiful photography, and not to forget the celluloid stars whose charisma and charm attracted the audience to cinema halls.
MUGHAL E AZAM(1960)
An epic, a masterpiece that has been revered over the decades continues to charm the cinema lovers, directed by K Asif the tragic love story between Salim and Anarkali impressed the audience. Naushad’s music and Madhubala’s aristocratic beauty were also major crowd pullers.
GANGA JUMNA(1961)
The tale of two brothers portrayed on screen by real life brothers, thespian Dilip Kumar and the lesser known Nasir, turned out to be a box office blockbuster. Naushad’s melodies were chartbusters so were Vyjayantimala’s dancing histrionics.
BEES SAAL BAAD (1962)
A chilling murder mystery with the haunting song Kahin Deep Jaley pulled the crowd to the theatres, a rare case where the storyline was the hero here. An edge of the seat suspense thriller featuring Biswajeet and Waheeda Rehman overpowered bigger banners and bigger stars that year.
MERE MEHBOOB (1963)
Soulful romantic music, emotionally drenched storyline about sibling sacrifice, a budding romance, too many factors to guarantee a musical blockbuster. Ashok Kumar and Rajinder Kumar were soaring high on success but Sadhana’s Classic beauty and fashion trend pulled youth to the theatres.
SANGAM (1964)
A triangular love story featuring Raj Kapoor, Rajinder Kumar and Vyjayantimala this was an out and out romantic musical and the first Hindi film shot abroad! That’s how it was marketed and the cinema lovers lapped up the emotional storyline backed by chartbuster music by Shankar Jaikishan.
WAQT (1965)
Labelled the first multi starrer of Bollywood this ensemble cast attracted maximum viewers. Music by Ravi was a bonus with Aye Meri Zohra Zabeen still being sung at weddings. Raj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Balraj Sahni were first rate and Sadhana’s gorgeousness was an upper selling point.
PHOOL AUR PATHHAR(1966)
The public went crazy when they saw a bare chested Dharmender on the posters! The he man cast opposite tragedy queen Meena Kumari was an opposites attract winning streak for the film. Action, comedy, emotions all coupled into a delightful cocktail made it a repeat favourite that year.
UPKAR (1967)
Manoj Kumar’s brought the patriotic slogan Jai Jawan Jai Kisaan to the celluloid. Infused with strong values of patriotism, brotherhood, and a sincerely poignant performance by Pran the movie was a blockbuster. Who can forget Mahender Kapur’s ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’?
ANKHEN(1968)
A spy thriller directed by Ramanand Sagar and shot across luscious locations across the globe it had a dynamic lead pair Dharmender and Mala Sinha along with Mehmood providing comic relief and a dozen villains including an evil vamp played by Lalita Pawar. The music by Ravi was a big hit with songs like Milti Hai Zindagi Mein.
ARADHANA (1969)
Though released at the end of the decade this musical romance had all the 60s classic ingredients. Soulful melodies by S D Burman, a fresh blooming romance, emotions galore, rising super star Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar’s melodiously addictive vocals in Mere Sapnon Ki Rani and Roop Tera Mastana, and who can ignore the sexy and glamorous Sharmila in a role of a lifetime.
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