#sanjeev kumar

The acclaimed film Haider (2014) completed 10 years on October 2. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu and Kay Kay Menon, it is considered one of the finest films by director Vishal Bhardwaj. It is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello and is set in Kashmir where a young student goes on a path of self-destruction after his father is murdered. One of the most memorable parts of the film is when Shahid Kapoor performs the haunting song ‘Bismil’. The song was shot at Martand Sun Temple in Kashmir and thanks to this film, this historical place became widely popular among tourists. It’s a great example of how film tourism can impact tourism positively.

10 Years of Haider: How ‘Bismil’ sparked a tourism boom at Martand Sun Temple; haunting song from Shahid Kapoor-starrer also holds a Sanjeev Kumar connection

This piece of information was shared by Vishal Bhardwaj when he attended the Tourism Development Enclave in Srinagar earlier this year. Along with Vishal, prominent film personalities like Imtiaz Ali, Kabir Khan and Sanjay Suri also graced this event. Here, Vishal Bhardwaj revealed that ‘Bismil’ led to a spike in the footfalls at Martand Sun Temple. The filmmaker further said that the increase in tourist activity prompted the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) to remove encroachments from the site.

The Martand Sun Temple is located around 10 km away from the town of Anantnag in Kashmir and was constructed in the eighth century BC.

‘Bismil’ was penned hauntingly by Gulzar and interestingly, this is the second song of the acclaimed lyricist to be shot in Martand Sun Temple. His much loved song ‘Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi Shikwa Toh Nahi’ from his directorial venture Aandhi (1975), featuring Suchitra Sen and Sanjeev Kumar, was incidentally also shot in the same place.

Coming back to 'Bismil', the song has also been loved for the thought behind it. Vishal Bhardwaj, in a recent interview with The Times of India, revealed his inspiration behind the visuals of the track, “We created this song like a mousetrap where Shahid performs a play within a play. I wanted to create our own ‘Ek Hasina Thi Ek Deewana Tha’ moment in my way for Hamlet (laughs). Karz (1980) had a similar situation where Rishi Kapoor performed in front of Simi Garewal about the murder.”

‘Bismil’ helped choreographer Sudesh Adhana win the National Award. On this, Vishal said, “I used long, oversized puppets by Dadi Pudumjee, a great puppeteer, and he introduced me to Sudesh. I worked with them for two months in Paris, and right after that, I started shooting Haider. I brought all the sensibilities I learned during the opera, working with Dadi Pudumjee and Sudesh. It was so unconventional, so un-Bollywood-like. I'm saying this and I belong to Bollywood. And Sudesh won a National Award for that choreography.”

Aandhi (1975) | dir. Gulzar

While Gulzar directed Koshish, a touching film with a heart, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi and Mili are perennial favourites.

A significant development is that Mili (1975), Koshish (1972), and Bawarchi (1972) will all have official Hindi remakes produced by Anushree Mehta, Abir Sengupta, and JAADUGAR FILMS and Sameer Raj Sippy of SRS Productions. To update these timeless works for the present, SRS Productions and Jaadugar Films have teamed up. Raj Sippy's son Sameer Raj Sippy is the great-grandson of the renowned producer N. C. Sippy.

All three films are regarded as Indian cinematic masterpieces and are beloved by millions. While Gulzar directed Koshish, a touching film with a heart, Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi and Mili are perennial favourites. The filmmakers' original ideas, relatable characters, and wholesome storytelling left a profound impression on successive generations of viewers. These films featured career-best performances from renowned actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Sanjeev Kumar, and others.

Jaadugar Films' Anushree Mehta and Abir Sengupta both stated, "We are absolutely thrilled.  to be setting upon this magical journey of making three of our all-time favourite movies in a new form and mould. It is a huge responsibility as Koshish, Bawarchi and Mili are celebrated in India and across the globe which have been made by the legendary Gulzar Saab and Hrishi da who have set the standards of filmmaking for generations to come. These are the films we have grown up on and they are the stories that the new generation should also witness; to know our rich cinematic legacy. We endeavour to put our best to live upto the expectations, the responsibility and most importantly remake these films which will touch the audiences hearts far and wide."

"I feel movies are about defining moments , interesting enough to share with people, and that’s why I think it’s time we take classic stories and bring them in today’s scenario, with a newer and modern outlook. And that’s the intention behind revisiting Bawarchi, Mili and Koshish. Coming from a legendary family of filmmakers, and being inspired by the family business, I now want to continue this legacy that has been handed down by my grandfather, Shri N. C. Sippy, my uncle Romu Sippy and my father Raj Sippy." said Sameer Raj Sippy.