The year 1999 saw many memorable films, some of them being Taal, Sarfarosh, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Vaastav and the likes. We take a look at 10 iconic films that turn 20 years old in 2019.
Bollywood has often delivered films that have changed the face of cinema in our country and have forced the who’s who of the industry to think out of the box. Every year has some blockbusters, some disasters, and some of those films that go on to become cult classics later in the day. But not that often has the film industry seen a whole year packed with back-to-back iconic films. 1999 was one such year. 1999 saw many films, some of the memorable ones being Taal, Sarfarosh, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Vaastav and the likes. And all of them are 20 years old this year.
Feel nostalgic yet? We help you take a trip down memory lane and relive these 10 iconic films that turn 20 years old in 2019.
TAAL
Bollywood is known for its music but the rare feat that Taal, a musical romantic drama, achieved, is difficult to beat till date. The film cashed in on Aishwarya Rai’s beauty and her heartfelt performance. Apart from Aishwarya, it starred two outstanding actors, known for their own style – Akshay Khanna and Anil Kapoor. The chemistry of these three actors, along with AR Rahman’s infectious music, made Taal one of the most memorable works of director Subhash Ghai. Anil Kapoor won a Filmfare Award for the film and Aishwarya was nominated in the Best Actress category. Taal is 20 years old this year.
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BAADSHAH
We crave to see more of the 90s’ Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen. One of his films that still makes his fans go gaga over him is Baadshah. Shah Rukh’s comic timing, with his boy-next-door charm, made Baadshah a massive hit. The film is also one of the few memorable films of Twinkle Khanna. Baadshah featured a motley of amazing actors – Raakhee, Johnny Lever, Sudhir, Amrish Puri, Thapar Viju Khote – who made the film a full-on entertainer.
In 2019, Hum Saath Saath Hain has become to be associated with the infamous blackbuck case. The film might have become popular for that court case, but it was more than just that sequence. Directed by the master of family drama Sooraj Barjatya, Hum Saath Saath Hain set a template of how family films are to be made. The film starred an ensemble cast comprising Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Mohnish Behl, Tabu, Alok Nath and others. Hum Saath Saath Hain was also a rare film that saw so many popular actors together on the big screen; something that is hard to imagine today.
SOORYAVANSHAM
What comes to your mind the moment you hear ‘Sooryavansham‘? Set Max, right? The charm of this film is such that every second day, even today, when you flip the channels and land on Set Max, you will find Amitabh Bachchan with his flowy long hair gazing intensely into the camera. But when it hit the screens 20 years ago, Sooryavansham was hardly the cult classic it is today. The film was declared a flop when it was released. But look at it today: every other meme on social media is on Sooryavansham!
SARFAROSH
Sarfarosh marked the time in the Hindi film industry when proper research was done before making a film. Director John Matthew Matthan spent seven years on research and pre-production before releasing Sarfarosh in 1999. The film saw Aamir Khan in the role of an Indian police officer and Naseeruddin Shah in a negative role. Sarfarosh, which was based on the quest to stop cross-border terrorism, was released at the time India and Pakistan were fighting the Kargil War. The state of the country in 1999 also remains one of the main reasons why Sarfarosh had such a huge impact on the audiences’ mind.
HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM
Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgn. Who can forget this love triangle! Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was a dagger through the heart of everyone who has ever seen or been in unrequited love. And the actors brought the best of their craft to the screen in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. After three hit-and-miss films, Bhansali made Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which turned out a massive hit at the box office too. The film received 16 nominations at the 45th Filmfare Awards, out of which it won 7. These included Best Film, Best Director for Bhansali, and Best Actress for Rai. Today, the film is also known as the one that played Cupid for Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai.
HASEENA MAAN JAAYEGI
Having a bad day? Go home and turn on a Govinda film. His dancing, comic timing will surely crack you up. Haseena Maan Jaayegi is that Govinda film which can still make your bad day seem inconsequential. Haseena Maan Jayegi was a film that saw the blockbuster jodi of David Dhawan and Govinda together. It also starred Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor and Pooja Batra in the lead roles. Though a box office success, the film didn’t bag any awards. But when have Govinda fans ever cared for awards?
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VAASTAV
Sanjay Dutt has done many memorably performances in his career (Munna Bhai MBBS, Rocky, Saajan, Khalnayak) but it’s had to erase from your mind those puffy eyes, black kurta and the red tika look from Vaastav. Sanjay’s gangster look in Vaastav inspired a generation of films and became a cult classic. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, Vaastav helped Sanjay win his first Best Actor Filmfare award.
BIWI NO 1
Biwi No 1 was another one of those David Dhawan films that will have you in splits. The film starred Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Sushmita Sen in a love triangle. But it was the crackling chemistry between Tabu and Anil Kapoor that scored numbers from the audience in Biwi No 1. The film was nominated for seven awards at the 45th Filmfare Awards.
KACHCHE DHAAGE
Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn are two step-brothers who hate each other in Kachche Dhaage. They meet after years, get themselves into a trap, work together to get themselves out of the trap and finally find new respect for each other – a classic plot for a late-90s Bollywood film. Kachche Dhaage, which also starred Manisha Koirala, was a huge box office success and minted Rs 28.8 crore in its life time.
All of these films are 20 years old in 2019. For that “I’m-SO-old” feeling… we’ve got no remedy!
TAAL
Bollywood is known for its music but the rare feat that Taal, a musical romantic drama, achieved, is difficult to beat till date. The film cashed in on Aishwarya Rai’s beauty and her heartfelt performance. Apart from Aishwarya, it starred two outstanding actors, known for their own style – Akshay Khanna and Anil Kapoor. The chemistry of these three actors, along with AR Rahman’s infectious music, made Taal one of the most memorable works of director Subhash Ghai. Anil Kapoor won a Filmfare Award for the film and Aishwarya was nominated in the Best Actress category. Taal is 20 years old this year.
BAADSHAH
We crave to see more of the 90s’ Shah Rukh Khan on the big screen. One of his films that still makes his fans go gaga over him is Baadshah. Shah Rukh’s comic timing, with his boy-next-door charm, made Baadshah a massive hit. The film is also one of the few memorable films of Twinkle Khanna. Baadshah featured a motley of amazing actors – Raakhee, Johnny Lever, Sudhir, Amrish Puri, Thapar Viju Khote – who made the film a full-on entertainer.
HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN
In 2019, Hum Saath Saath Hain has become to be associated with the infamous blackbuck case. The film might have become popular for that court case, but it was more than just that sequence. Directed by the master of family drama Sooraj Barjatya, Hum Saath Saath Hain set a template of how family films are to be made. The film starred an ensemble cast comprising Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Mohnish Behl, Tabu, Alok Nath and others. Hum Saath Saath Hain was also a rare film that saw so many popular actors together on the big screen; something that is hard to imagine today.
SOORYAVANSHAM
What comes to your mind the moment you hear ‘Sooryavansham’? Set Max, right? The charm of this film is such that every second day, even today, when you flip the channels and land on Set Max, you will find Amitabh Bachchan with his flowy long hair gazing intensely into the camera. But when it hit the screens 20 years ago, Sooryavansham was hardly the cult classic it is today. The film was declared a flop when it was released. But look at it today: every other meme on social media is on Sooryavansham!
SARFAROSH
Sarfarosh marked the time in the Hindi film industry when proper research was done before making a film. Director John Matthew Matthan spent seven years on research and pre-production before releasing Sarfarosh in 1999. The film saw Aamir Khan in the role of an Indian police officer and Naseeruddin Shah in a negative role. Sarfarosh, which was based on the quest to stop cross-border terrorism, was released at the time India and Pakistan were fighting the Kargil War. The state of the country in 1999 also remains one of the main reasons why Sarfarosh had such a huge impact on the audiences’ mind.
HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM
Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgn. Who can forget this love triangle! Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam was a dagger through the heart of everyone who has ever seen or been in unrequited love. And the actors brought the best of their craft to the screen in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. After three hit-and-miss films, Bhansali made Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, which turned out a massive hit at the box office too. The film received 16 nominations at the 45th Filmfare Awards, out of which it won 7. These included Best Film, Best Director for Bhansali, and Best Actress for Rai. Today, the film is also known as the one that played Cupid for Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai.
HASEENA MAAN JAAYEGI
Having a bad day? Go home and turn on a Govinda film. His dancing, comic timing will surely crack you up. Haseena Maan Jaayegi is that Govinda film which can still make your bad day seem inconsequential. Haseena Maan Jayegi was a film that saw the blockbuster jodi of David Dhawan and Govinda together. It also starred Sanjay Dutt, Karisma Kapoor and Pooja Batra in the lead roles. Though a box office success, the film didn’t bag any awards. But when have Govinda fans ever cared for awards?
VAASTAV
Sanjay Dutt has done many memorably performances in his career (Munna Bhai MBBS, Rocky, Saajan, Khalnayak) but it’s had to erase from your mind those puffy eyes, black kurta and the red tika look from Vaastav. Sanjay’s gangster look in Vaastav inspired a generation of films and became a cult classic. Directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, Vaastav helped Sanjay win his first Best Actor Filmfare award.
BIWI NO 1
Biwi No 1 was another one of those David Dhawan films that will have you in splits. The film starred Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Sushmita Sen in a love triangle. But it was the crackling chemistry between Tabu and Anil Kapoor that scored numbers from the audience in Biwi No 1. The film was nominated for seven awards at the 45th Filmfare Awards.
KACHCHE DHAAGE
Saif Ali Khan and Ajay Devgn are two step-brothers who hate each other in Kachche Dhaage. They meet after years, get themselves into a trap, work together to get themselves out of the trap and finally find new respect for each other – a classic plot for a late-90s Bollywood film. Kachche Dhaage, which also starred Manisha Koirala, was a huge box office success and minted Rs 28.8 crore in its life time.