Raj Kapoor’s Bobby (1973) celebrated its 52nd anniversary on September 28. The film marked the debut of Rishi Kapoor (as a leading actor) and was the first-ever acting venture of Dimple Kapadia. The film was always in discussion, but it gained more attention this year following the blockbuster success of Saiyaara. Parallels were drawn between the two films – both starred fresh faces and were not expected by the trade and industry to do blockbuster business. However, they managed to attract audiences in hordes, thanks to the subject, casting, treatment, and, most importantly, music.
52 Years of Bobby: When a Bihar centre that usually earned Rs. 5,000 generated WHOPPING business of Rs. 70,000; trade experts go down memory lane: “Paisa boriyon mein bhar bhar ke aata tha…first film where a star son got TREMENDOUS mileage…”
Trade veteran Taran Adarsh revealed that once the music of Bobby was out, the hype for the film increased, “The songs were released much before the film’s release in theatres and had become a rage. In those days, we used to have LP records. Bobby’s songs used to be played on the gramophone constantly. In fact, rage is a mild word for the term for the film’s songs. Every song like ‘Main Shayar Toh Nahin’, ‘Beshak Mandir Masjid’, ‘Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Band Ho’, ‘Jhoot Bole Kauva Kaate’, etc. was popular. Even after 52 years, I am able to list out these tracks which speak volumes of its impact it had on us (smiles).”
Speaking about the box office performance, Taran Adarsh said, “Then, films were never released simultaneously. When it was released in Delhi, people used to come in truckloads from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and other surrounding regions. They would wait for the ticket counters to open and watch the film! Such was the craze. It came after the colossal failure of Mera Naam Joker (1970). People had predicted that Raj Kapoor was finished. But he bounced back with this film.”
Bobby also went against the norm. Taran Adarsh explained, “Raj Kapoor could have easily kept a conventional title for a love story like Betaab. But the name of the girl was the film’s title! Dimple had already gotten married before the release. It was unheard of that a girl gets married and then gets launched in a love story.”
He added, “Rishi Kapoor became an overnight sensation. Because Dimple was married, Rishi got the maximum attention from everyone. It was the first film where a star son got tremendous mileage.”
The trade veteran then narrated his experience of watching Bobby on the big screen, “I remember watching it in Gaiety-Galaxy, Bandra, with my mother, my aunt and my uncle from Punjab. There was a lot of crowd inside as well as outside the theatre. During the songs, people danced, sang and shouted. But when the protagonists jumped into the waterfall, there was pin-drop silence! Everyone was wondering that, ab kya hoga?”
He added, “For the longest time, current booking for Bobby never opened in Gaiety as shows used to get full in advance. Since we didn’t get tickets there, we went to see the film for the second time in Badal, Matunga, where the distributor was kind enough to arrange for tickets for us.”
He remarked, “It was a love story with newcomers, that too directed by Raj Kapoor when he was not in his top form. The 1970s were dominated by multi-starrers or slightly mature romances. Films were targeted at families, ladies and the elderly. Yet, this film with rank newcomers set new records at the box office. I remember my aunt and uncle enjoying the film and discussing it long after it was over.”
The success of Bobby led the industry to announce a plethora of love stories. Taran Adarsh narrated, “There were many clones of Bobby! Just like how many people are now planning love stories after Saiyaara’s release, similarly, Bobby led to the announcement of many youthful romantic flicks. It was also one film that demanded terrific reruns. Theatres used to play the film again and again. It was house-full for weeks. I wish we could get those golden days back.”
How a sleepy Bihar town created a history with Bobby
Vishek Chauhan, owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, narrated a fascinating episode, “The film went on to do unimaginable numbers. I heard stories from my grandfather and my father about it. My great-grandfather went to Kolkata to book the film for our theatre. Those were the days when limited prints were available. The distributor told my great-grandfather, ‘Abhi toh hum film Kolkata mein nahin chala paa rahe hai, Patna mein nahin laga paa rahe hai. Aur aapko Purnia mein lagana hai. Purnia itna bada centre thodi hai’.”
Vishek continued, “My great-grandfather, however, insisted on releasing the film and asked about the cost of the print. To dissuade him, the distributor quoted a price of Rs. 50,000. He assumed that Purnia Rs. 5,000 ka centre hai; Rs. 50,000 kahan se denge? However, my great-grandfather turned to his manager and told him to hand over Rs. 50,000 to the distributor! The distributor was speechless!”
The risk paid off. Vishek stated, “My great-grandfather recovered the money and made much more than the investment. The film possibly earned Rs. 60,000-Rs. 70,000 from our theatre. Paisa boriyon mein bhar bhar ke aata tha!”
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More Pages: Bobby Box Office Collection
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