Shaan review :
Following up a blockbuster like Sholay (1975) was never going to be an easy task. Nevertheless, Ramesh Sippy envisaged his next as an urban thriller set in a James Bond style milieu. His vision was grand, his starcast comprised half the film industry and his villain was modelled on Blofeld. He named it Shaan. His biggest venture ever.
Salim Javed's script, despite its excesses and loopholes, had the potential to become a complete commercial potboiler and Sippy ensured Shaan became just that!! The hype and hooplah surrounding the film was such that it released in practically every theatre in Mumbai including the Minerva where Sippy's Sholay was still running for five years since 1975. The all time biggest blockbuster was removed from Minerva just to accommodate Shaan. The first week tickets were sold out in advance in every cinema hall in India.
While Shaan as a standalone product made for an entertaining watch, the audience expected something bigger and better than Sholay. Although there was no connection between the two. After all, Sholay was set in a village called Ramgarh and dealt with a ferocious dacoit while Shaan's villain sat comfortably with his remote controlled gadgets on an island. But still, the comparison happened and Shakaal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) though considered one of the best Bollywood villains today, was then derided for being nowhere close to Amjad Khan's Gabbar.
The box office collections slid in subsequent weeks and the trade was quick to label Shaan as a flop. Though its collections were not that bad at all. The film celebrated a silver jubilee (25 weeks) at the Minerva and other cinemas across India. But yes, it couldn't repeat the success of Sholay. Nor could any other film directed by Ramesh Sippy. Shaan actually did better in its multiple re-runs through the '80s and '90s.
Personally, I have lot of memories associated with Shaan. It was my first film as a four year old kid accompanying my parents at Badal Cinema at Matunga. I was happily playing on the staircase of the auditorium while my parents were enjoying the movie. Later, I caught it again in a re-run at Mahim's Citylight Cinema in a housefull Sunday afternoon show.
Amitabh's superstardom, RD Burman's outstanding score, brilliant production values and Ramesh Sippy's solid direction were the film's positives. But yea, a Sholay it wasn't!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
Following up a blockbuster like Sholay (1975) was never going to be an easy task. Nevertheless, Ramesh Sippy envisaged his next as an urban thriller set in a James Bond style milieu. His vision was grand, his starcast comprised half the film industry and his villain was modelled on Blofeld. He named it Shaan. His biggest venture ever.
Salim Javed's script, despite its excesses and loopholes, had the potential to become a complete commercial potboiler and Sippy ensured Shaan became just that!! The hype and hooplah surrounding the film was such that it released in practically every theatre in Mumbai including the Minerva where Sippy's Sholay was still running for five years since 1975. The all time biggest blockbuster was removed from Minerva just to accommodate Shaan. The first week tickets were sold out in advance in every cinema hall in India.
While Shaan as a standalone product made for an entertaining watch, the audience expected something bigger and better than Sholay. Although there was no connection between the two. After all, Sholay was set in a village called Ramgarh and dealt with a ferocious dacoit while Shaan's villain sat comfortably with his remote controlled gadgets on an island. But still, the comparison happened and Shakaal (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) though considered one of the best Bollywood villains today, was then derided for being nowhere close to Amjad Khan's Gabbar.
The box office collections slid in subsequent weeks and the trade was quick to label Shaan as a flop. Though its collections were not that bad at all. The film celebrated a silver jubilee (25 weeks) at the Minerva and other cinemas across India. But yes, it couldn't repeat the success of Sholay. Nor could any other film directed by Ramesh Sippy. Shaan actually did better in its multiple re-runs through the '80s and '90s.
Personally, I have lot of memories associated with Shaan. It was my first film as a four year old kid accompanying my parents at Badal Cinema at Matunga. I was happily playing on the staircase of the auditorium while my parents were enjoying the movie. Later, I caught it again in a re-run at Mahim's Citylight Cinema in a housefull Sunday afternoon show.
Amitabh's superstardom, RD Burman's outstanding score, brilliant production values and Ramesh Sippy's solid direction were the film's positives. But yea, a Sholay it wasn't!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.