aur meri bhee tabeeyat kucchh Theek naheen rahtii

Film : Mere Apne

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Biloki Prasad (Asit Sen)

Spoken to : Audience at political meeting

Dialogue writer : Gulzar

It is election time and the two rival candidates are Biloki Prasad and Anokhe Lal (Mehmood). The former is assisted by Shyam (Vinod Khanna) and the latter by Chhainoo (Shatrughan Sinha). Asit Sen, who is normally parodied by most mimicry artistes for his peculiar style of dialogue delivery and his girth, is also a very good actor with excellent comic timing. See this film (or rather this scene), for evidence  of that. So in this political meeting, our great politician starts speaking. And what does he say,

"bhaiyo aur behno desh ke bahut bure din aa gaye hain"

"भाईओ और बहनो, देश के बहुत बुरे दिन आ गए हैं"

"aaj hamaare beech panDit jee naheen hain ...neta ji naheen hain...gandhiji naheen hain..."

"आज हमारे बीच पंडित जी नहीं हैं...नेता जी नहीं हैं...गान्धी जी नहीं हैं..."

Then he takes a pause for effect and delivers the punch line. 

"aur meri bhee tabeeyat kucchh Theek naheen rahtii"

"और मेरी भी तबीयत कुछ ठीक नहीं रहती"

Asit Sen's delivery of this line has made this line walk into this blog. Otherwise I generally avoid joke punchlines. 

This is also a famous technique used in sales - called equation by association. If one goes to buy a TV,  the shopkeeper will say something like...

Sir this is Sony TV. Costs 20k. This is Panasonic. Costs 19.5k. And this is Pappu TV. This costs 16k. 

ek zamaane me.n ye kaam naaii kiyaa karte the

Film : Anand

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Anand (Rajesh Khanna)

Spoken to : Renu's mother (Durga Khote)

Dialogue writer : Gulzar

Anand Sehgal is a friend who comes into Dr Bhaskar's life and tries to turn his staid life around. He finds out from Raghu Kaka (the family retainer) that there was a girl Renu, who was interested in his Babumoshaai (Dr Bhaskar). But since Bhaskar was too reticent, they had never progressed. He decides to take matters into his own hands and first extracts a confession from Bhaskar about the girl he likes. Then he engineers their meeting and declaration of love for each other. After ensuring that the fire has been suitably stoked from both sides, he directly reaches Renu's house. He meets Renu's mother and without beating about the bush, comes out with his proposal for marriage.

"maa.n jee mujhe aapse bahut zaroori kaam hai."

"kyaa kaam hai?"

"ek zamaane me.n ye kaam naaee kiyaa karte the maa.n jee. aajkal bhaaii karte hai.n

एक ज़माने में ये काम नाई किया करते थे माँ जी, आजकल भाई करते हैं."

"mai.n samjhee nahee.n "

"mai.n renu jee ke liye rishtaa lekar aayaa hoo.n, haa.n."

"mai.n unhe.n apnee bhaabhii banaanaa chaahtaa hoo.n "

hamee.n hum hai.n to kyaa hum hai.n tumhee.n tum ho to kyaa tum ho

Film : Sharmilee

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Captain Ajit Kapoor (Shashi Kapoor)

Spoken to : Colleagues at army mess
Dialogue writer : Vrajendra Gaur

This line is actually from a famous Urdu couplet written by the poet Sarshaar. The full couplet which gets quoted in the movie is 

chaman mein iKhtilaat-e-rang-o-buu se baat bantii hai 

hamii.n ham hai.n to kyaa ham hai.n, tumhee.n tum ho to kyaa tum ho

चमन में इख़्तिलात ए रंगो बू से बात बनती है

हमीं हम हैं तो क्या हम हैं, तुम्हीं तुम हो तो क्या तुम हो

The situation is that a few army men are sitting and drinking in the mess. Two of them get into an argument on some small issue. This dialogue marks Shashi's entry in the film, so to defuse the situation he says this couplet.

The amalgamation of various colours and fragrances makes a garden what it is

if it was just your kind or just my kind of fragrances and colours it won't be the same thing

A great line to break up an argument. 

The film by the way has an amazing score by SD Burman. I get gooseflesh just by writing about it. One of his best work for non-Dev Anand, non-Ashok Kumar films. Abhimaan would also rank in that league. Coming back as he was after a debilitating illness, it would have given him a lot of self confidence too. Else it could be quite depressing being unfavourably compared to your one and only son. 

aaye to usse keh denaa Chhainuu aayaa thaa

Film : Mere Apne

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Chhainuu Laal  (Shatrughan Sinha)

Spoken to : Anandi Devi (Meena Kumari)
Dialogue writer : Gulzar

This is an all time classic line. The film is not so great. A remake of Tapan Sinha's Apon Jon. A youthful Shatru (Gambler is another film where you can see him at his youthful best, but this is a bigger role) and the very handsome Vinod Khanna pitted against each other.

Billoo (Dinesh Thakur) was abducted by Raghu (Asrani) who is part of the rival Chhainoo gang. Shyam (Vinod Khanna) goes and rescues him. Later Raghu is rounded up by Billoo and team, but they run away after seeing naani maa or Anandi (Meena Kumari). She takes Raghu home and tends to his wounded leg.

Since she stays in what is a  known hideout of Shyam's gang, Chhainoo and gang land up there to rescue Raghu. The moment he goes in, Raghu stands up and blurts out

"Chhainoo...Billoo .. aur uske saath do aur bhee the"
"छैनू...बिल्लू...और उसके साथ दो और भी थे"

Anandi  says,

"dost hai teraa?... aa baiTh"
"दोस्त है तेरा? ....आ बैठ"

A very angry Chhainoo says

"shaam kahaa.n hai"
"शाम कहां है?"

Anandi who has not really wisened up to the gangwars, naively says

"dekh naa beTe... ye laDke bahut laDte hain aapas me.n...tu to baDaa hai inme.n... inko samjhaataa kyo.n nahee.n...jaane kis baat pe kaTTi kiye baiThe hai.n...too baTTi karaa degaa to ye nahee.n laDenge"
"देख ना बेटे...ये लडके बहुत लडते हैं आपस में...तू तो बडा है इनमें...इनको समझाता क्यों नहीं...जाने किस बात पे कट्टी किये बैठे हैं...तू बट्टी करा देगा तो ये नहीं लडेंगे"

Though Chhainoo is surprised at this warmth, he still persists with

"shaam kahaa.n hai"
"शाम कहां है?"

"wo to biTToo ko lekar dawaakhaane gayaa hai"
"वो तो बिट्टू को लेकर दवाखाने गया है"

"aaye to usse keh denaa chhainoo aayaa thaa...bahut garmee hai khoon me.n to beshaq aa jaaye maidaan me.n..jo hasrat nikaalnee ho wo nikaal le wo, lekin aaindaa...mere kisii laDke ko haath lagaayaa to muhalle kaa muhallaa uDaa ke rakh doo.nga"
"आये तो उससे कह देना छैनू आया था...बहुत ग़र्मी है ख़ून में तो बेशक़ आ जाये मैदान में ...जो हसरत निकालनी हो वो निकाल ले वो...लेकिन आइन्दा मेरे किसी लडके को हाथ लगाया तो मुहल्ले का मुहल्ला उडा के रख दूंगा"

The trade mark rub of the left side of the neck with the right hand today defines any sketch of Shatrughan Sinha. And yes this dialogue too...though many artists use a variant of this 

"Shyaam se kehnaa Chhainoo aayaa thaa. "

But the actual line is,

"aaye to usse keh denaa Chhainuu aayaa thaa"

"आये तो उससे कह देना छैनू आया था"

Jab tak zindaa hooN tab tak maraa naheeN, jab mar gayaa saalaa maiN hee naheeN

Film: Anand
Year of release : 1971
Spoken by : Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna)
Spoken to : Dr Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan)


Jab tak zindaa hooN tab tak maraa naheeN, jab mar gayaa saalaa maiN hee naheeN

MaiN tumheN is tarah Khaamosh naheeN hone dooNgaa

Film : Anand

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Dr Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan)

Spoken to : Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna)

This is the climax scene of the tear-jerker Anand. Still manages to clean my eyes out, though I would have seen it over 100 times.

Anand is bed-ridden and about to breathe his last. Suddenly a desperate Dr Bhaskar tells Dr Prakash Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo) that Dr Shastri (who is a cancer specialist) might have found some new miraculous cure for the disease and rushes out to Dr. Shastri's house. A dying Anand begs Bhaskar to stay, as he knows that it is futile to find a cure at this late stage. Even Prakash tells Bhaskar not to be foolish and stay with Anand during his dying moments. But a stubborn Bhaskar goes anyway.

While Bhaskar is away, Anand is dying and asks for Bhaskar. When he realises that Bhaskar is not there, he asks Prakash to play the tape which has Bhaskar's and his voice. It is the same "maut too ek kavita hai" poem in Bhaskar's voice which ends with the "zindagi aur maut to oopar waale..." dialogue (which you can read here). If you have seen the scene, you would remember that between Bhaskar's poem and Anand's dialogue there is a long interlude when Anand is figuring out what he should say. In fact, Bhaskar has to goad him with the famous 'tumhe bhee bolnaa paDegaa bolne ke liye" dialogue (Read it here). This interlude is used very cleverly in the climax.

So as Anand listens to the poem on death in his friend Bhaskar's voice, he dies with a last scream of "babu moshaai". There is a hushed silence all around. This is broken by Bhaskar who bursts into the room with

"Prakash, Dr. Shastri..."

He breaks off as he realises that Anand is dead. He turns to the supine form of his friend and delivers those great lines which will give you gooseflesh even if you are part human. Full humans beware.

"naheeN ...maiN tumheN is tarah Khamosh naheeN hone dooNgaa"

"नहीं...मैं तुम्हें इस तरह ख़ामोश नहीं होने दूंगा"

"Chhah maheene se tumhaaree bak bak sun rahaa hooN maiN"

"छह महीने से तुम्हारी बक बक सुन रहा हूं मैं"

"bol bol ke meraa sar khaa gaye ho tum. bolo...baateN karo mujhse - baateN karo mujhse - baateN karo mujhse"

"बोल बोल के मेरा सर खा गये हो तुम. बोलो...बातें करो मुझसे - बातें करो मुझसे - बातें करो मुझसे"

That's when the tape interlude ends and Anand's voice rings out from the Sony tape recorder. For a moment, everyone feels that the prankster in Anand has actually come to the fore. In a moment they realise, it is only the tape. That's when the words dry up and everyone breaks down. Great scene.

Majority dekhkar mai bhee usee side ho gayaa

Film : Anand

Year of release : 1971

Spoken by : Dr Prakash Kulkarni (Ramesh Deo)

Spoken to : Suman Kulkarni (Seema Deo)

Another great line from that all time classic - Anand. It is not a very well known fact that the dialogues of this film were written by Gulzar. But even when I did not know this fact, I could feel the poetry in the dialogues.

At a party, when Dr Bhaskar and Anand are egging Suman to sing a song by referring to her as Bhaabhii, her husband Prakash also says

"Haan haan bhaabhee"

which results in Suman's obvious displeasure and she says (as is her wont throughout the film) something in Marathi. A sheepish looking Prakash responds with

"Majority dekhkar maiN bhee usee side ho gayaa"

"मॅजॉरिटी देखकर मैं भी उसी साइड हो गया"

I don't know if you have been in a situation where you are taking the feedback from a group of people. Most of the times if there are ten people and seven people have gone in a particular way, the other three will surely veer to that side. Such is the power of majority.

Tumhe bhee bolnaa paDegaa bolne ke liye

Film : Anand

Year of release : 1970

Spoken by : Dr Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan)

Spoken to : Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna)

Another classic from Anand. The famous recording scene, which has the Sony tape recorder and the mike. Bhaskar has been requested by Anand to record his famous poem

"मौत तू एक कविता है, मुझसे एक कविता का वादा है मिलेगी मुझको"

And once he has done it, he asks Anand too to record something. Anand stands wondering what he should say. He says this aloud. A laconic Bhaskar says

"तुम्हे भी बोलना पड़ेगा बोलने के लिये"

"tumhe bhee bolnaa paDegaa bolne ke liye"

A great line to use with the normally garrulous when they are tongue-tied.

Shaadii karne se to khaanaa achchhaa hai

Film : Anand
Year of release : 1971
Spoken by : Dr Bhaskar (Amitabh Bachchan)
Spoken to : Raghu Kaka

This is one of my personal favourites for entirely personal reasons. :)

Raghu Kaka (I dont know who is the character who plays this role, so if someone knows the answer please do tell me, because he did a damn good job and he deserves to be named and 'famed') is the man friday in Bhaskar's household. But many times he serves the dinner on the dining table, only to find that Bhaskar hasn't touched it. Bhaskar of course is busy reading some medical journal or some case papers. On one such occasion, Raghu Kaka's concern turns to frustration.

He tells Bhaskar to get married. He reasons that, then he could retire and go to his village and absolve himself of the crime of not feeding Bhaskar properly.

"तुझे अपने हाथों से पाला है ना, तुझे इस हाल में देख भी नहीं सकता और छोड़ भी नहीं सकता"

The angst in his voice hits home and a sardonic Bhaskar agrees to have dinner immediately, because

"shaadee karne se to khaanaa achchhaa hai"

"शादी करने से तो खाना अच्छा है"

Every time I see Anand, this line makes me smile. Next time you see this movie, pay attention to this line. I am sure it will make you smile.

Ham aanewaale gham ko kheenchtaan ke aaj kee khushee par le aate haiN

इसे हिन्दी में पढने के लिए यहाँ क्लिक करें

Film : Anand
Year of release : 1971
Spoken by : Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna)
Spoken to : Dr Bhaskar Bannerjee (Amitabh Bachchan)

It is not an ideal line for this blog, as it is too long. But then the concept is so real and relevant. If I recall correctly, one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's friends who was a journalist (a MalayaaLee Christian name that I cannot remember), used to say this very often. Hrishida was very taken in by the concept and used it in his film too.

Anand is approaching death and he finds Bhaskar getting more irritable every day. One such day when Anand is in a jovial mood and is trying to get Bhaskar also into a similar mood, Bhaskar snaps at him rather rudely. Anand decides to go back to Delhi, as he can no longer watch his own death - reflected in the fear and the behaviour of his friends. He feels that he is alive till the time he dies and he would not like to be reminded of the impending death all the time. And when Bhaskar behaves in such a serious and irritable manner, that is exactly what is happening. Suddenly, Bhaskar realises that Anand is right and promises to stop being irritable and serious. Immediately, Anand lightens up and says, you know the problem is that we actually take the present value of future troubles and start worrying about it. We are never able to enjoy the present moment.

I quite agree with Anand. In fact a friend of mine would say when everything was going fine, that it was the calm before the storm. That something really bad was going to happen. Always reminded me of this line from Anand,

Ham aanewaale gham ko kheenchtaan ke aaj kee khushee par le aate haiN

हम आनेवाले ग़म को खींचतान के आज की ख़ुशी पर ले आते हैं

kab…kaun…kaise uThegaa…koee naheeN bataa saktaa

Film : Anand
Year of release : 1971
Spoken by : Anand Sehgal (Rajesh Khanna)
Spoken to : Dr Bhaskar Bannerjee (Amitabh Bachchan)

Anand is another classic which has some great lines. But this line is very interesting. Actually the line is spoken by Isaabhai Suratwala (Johnny Walker) to Akbar in a play based on Anarkali. Anand likes the lines so much that when he is invited by Bhaskar to record his voice, he recites these lines

zindagi aur maut ooparwaale ke haath hai jahaanpanaah, use na aap badal sakte hain aur na maiN. Hum sab rang manch kee kathputliyaaN haiN, jinkee dor ooparwaale kee ungliyoN me bandhee hai, kab…kaun…kaise uThegaa…koee nahee bataa saktaa…hahaha
ज़िन्दगी और मौत ऊपरवाले के हाथ है जहांपनाह, उसे ना आप बदल सकते हैं और ना मैं. हम सब रंग मंच की कठपुतलियां हैं, जिनकी डोर ऊपरवाले की उंगलियों मे बन्धी है, कब कौन कैसे उठेगा...कोई नही बता सकता...हा हा हा

This is a very pithy dialogue. Most Indians above the age of 25 years would have heard it many times before. I struggled to pick the line to feature as the title. All lines could be used – but the reason I used this one is because someone recently used it in a very interesting manner.

I was speaking to a colleague about another ex-colleague who was not considered to be very capable by all who knew him. But news had just come in that he had moved to a very senior position in an organization. As my colleague shared this piece of news with me, my visage registered great surprise.

Oh really, said I

And my colleague responded with this classic. He said

कब… कौन… कैसे उठेगा...कोई नही बता सकता

A very funny usage of this line indeed. I thought, why not put this line up as it is. It is great if a line has layers – each reader sees it in his own unique way. So that is exactly what I am going to do. Put this line up on the blog. Use it as you please.

Ek maraa nahee aur doosraa marne ke liye paidaa ho gayaa

This is from the 1971 all time classic Anand. One of Amitabh’s earliest movies. There are very few movies which can make you laugh and cry with extreme passion. More so it makes you do so alternately. A truly great movie indeed. I must have watched it ‘One crore times’ as my sibling puts it. But I still find a new layer every time I see it.

Dr Bhaskar Banerjee (Amitabh Bachchan) is a brilliant doctor – but disgruntled with the medical profession. He feels helpless as he sees people dying like flies due to lack of basic amenities. In one such visit to a shanty, he examines the patient and walks out shaking his head. His prognosis is death. The patient’s wife runs behind him begging him to do something. Just as he gets rid of the woman, another woman comes rushing to him with a box of sweets. She is celebrating the birth of a boy. This causes Dr Bhaskar to comment in his laconic way

Ek maraa nahee aur doosraa marne ke liye paidaa ho gayaa
एक मरा नहीं और दूसरा मरने के लिये पैदा हो गया
Use this, if you are in customer acquisition or customer service. Or even in project management. You barely are able to lament the failure of an abortive project, that you are told to spearhead a new project. The situation is crying out for the use this line

एक मरा नहीं और दूसरा मरने के लिये पैदा हो गया