Chhaayaageet #193 - "Is gaane ko Bumbai mein shoot mat kijiye."
The young actor is in Hyderabad for a few days. His career as an actor has been a bit of an enigma. He had been told he has an actor's face. But he had never gotten a good role to establish himself as a viable hero. All filmmakers only want to work with successful actors. Thinking that it was not in the cards for him to be a leading hero, he had tried his hand at production. He had co-produced a film in which he cast himself as one of the heros. But that had bombed at the box office.
With a young family to support, he had resorted to doing any role that would come his way. He knew the phone numbers of all the big filmmakers by heart. He would call them and ask for work. There is no shame in asking for work.
Today he is in Hyderabad meeting with a mighty filmmaker from the South. This filmmaker is to Telugu cinema what Satyajit Ray is to Bengali cinema. This was not their first meeting. They had met socially before, and had always expressed a mutual desire to work with each other. What had prevented that from becoming a reality was that they did not have a script.
The young actor presents himself at the Telugu filmmaker's residence in the evening. He sees the filmmaker unusually depressed.
"What is the situation? Something seems wrong," he enquires of the filmmaker.
"My new release, Shubodayam, has flopped," the filmmaker shares what's been weighing heavily on his mind.
The young actor realizes the gravity of the situation, and empathizing with the filmmaker, decides to cut his visit short. That night he finds a theater playing Shubodayam and watches the film.
The next morning the young actor calls upon the filmmaker again.
"We have found our script," he tells the filmmaker. He then proceeds to tell him where he thought the story-telling had gone wrong in Shubodayam. They decide to correct the script, and remake the film in Hindi. The young actor will produce it entirely on his own budget, a first for him. But with a strong script, and a veteran director by his side, he is more assured than last time. He will get to play the leading hero's role. This film could be his ticket to getting more offers to play the leading hero.
Feeling optimistic the young actor returns back to Bombay and embarks on this project. The composer and lyricist are on board. Songs are duly composed and recorded. The young actor/producer has a spring in his step. The filming schedule is in place. In a few days, they are to start shooting with a song.
One day the lyricist pays the young actor/producer a visit. He has come with a suggestion.
"Ek guzaarish hai. Yeh gaana itna sundar hai. Is gaane ko Bumbai mein shoot mat kijiye", the lyricist appeals. I have a request. This song is so beautiful. Don't shoot it in Bombay.
Ok. The young actor/producer decides to heed the senior lyricist's suggestion. Out of Bombay, he can only think of one place - Ooty, a beautiful picturesque location, where many a song has been shot. He pulls out a paper and pen and starts doing some rough calculations.
Taking the whole unit there, cost of travel, accommodations, the figures quickly start adding up to big numbers. He is worried. Does it really make sense to start the schedule with an expensive song shoot? But there is merit in the lyricist's suggestion. He decides it is worth it.
He makes some mental math gazing in the distance. The lyricist sees the young actor/producer lost in thought.
"Kis soch mein doob gaye?" he asks. What are you thinking?
"Soch raha hoon gaadi bechni padegi," the young actor/producer replies. I am thinking I may have to sell the car. The additional funds that have not been budgeted for have to come from somewhere.
"Bechiye mat. Girvi rakh dijiye. Ye gaana aur ye picture dono bilkul chalenge. Phir gaadi chhudwa lena," the lyricist suggests a way out. Don't sell it. Mortgage it. This song and this film will do very well. Then you can release the lien on the car.
Rakesh Roshan produced and starred in Kaamchor (1982) along with Jaya Prada. The film was directed by veteran Telugu filmmaker, K Vishwanath, music by Rajesh Roshan and lyrics by Indeevar. The song Tujh Sang Preet Lagayi Sajanaa is sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. The song is filmed in Ooty.
Rakesh Roshan hadn't had much to show for being a leading hero and was coming off co-producing Aap Ke Deewane, which had failed miserably at the box office. He desperately needed something to go his way. Kaamchor became a superhit. The songs also became extremely popular. Besides this song, Kishore Kumar's other duet with Alka Yagnik, Tum Se Badhkar Duniya Mein also was well appreciated.
While Kaamchor became a hit, it did more for Jaya Prada's career than Rakesh Roshan's as an actor. Contrary to his expectations, there were hardly any offers for him as a leading hero. He decided it was his destiny to become a producer, and produced Jaag Utha Insaan also directed by K Vishwanath, and Bhagwan Dada directed by J Omprakash, both of which failed miserably at the box office. Then Rakesh Roshan decided to turn director with Khudgarz which was a hit. A fan wrote to him saying he should stick to making movies with the letter K, since Khubsoorat, Kaamchor, Khudgarz were all hits. Till date, Roshan has directed and produced 50 films starting with the letter K, and has had a string of successes such as Khoon Bhari Maang, Kishen Kanhaiya, Karan Arjun, Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai and the Krrish franchise.
Just like he did for Kaamchor, Rakesh Roshan mortgaged his car for Khudgarz, and mortgaged his house, car and other assets to make Kaho Naa...Pyar Hai.
A nine-year old Sonu Nigam appears as a child artist in Kaamchor, in the role of Rakesh Roshan's nephew.
Music: Rajesh Roshan
Lyrics: Indeevar
Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
*ing: Rakesh Roshan, Jaya Prada
Director: K. Vishwanath
Producer: Rakesh Roshan
Film: Kaamchor (1982)