Apart from Gulzar, if there’s anyone who has made the mellifluous yet sophisticated Urdu language more accessible in Bollywood, it would be Javed Akhtar. The lyricist and songwriter is also a recipient of honours like the Padma Shri (1999), Padma Bhushan (2007), the Sahitya Akademi Award as well as about thirteen Filmfare Awards.
But what he deserves special mention for is his status as one of the first star screenwriters of the Hindi film industry - a glory that he shares with Salim Khan.
The dialogues penned by him have seeped into discourses that are relevant to popular culture even today. On his birthday, let’s look back at some of the most unforgettable ones.
"Don Ko Pakadna Mushkil Hi Nahi, Namumkin Hai"
Even today, when you utter those lines out loud from the 1978 film Don, the force remains strong. The play of the words ‘mushkil’ and ‘namumkin’ stays as effective. Such was the power of the dialogues of the film that it merited a remake with Shah Rukh Khan in 2006.
"Yeh Police Station Hai, Tumhare Baap Ka Ghar Nahi"
Amitabh Bachchan’s reputation as a star has been cemented in public consciousness, not only because of his imposing physical stature or his formidable voice but also his repartees. When you think Big B, you think films like Zanjeer. It was this film that catapulted him into popularity as the angry young man.
"Ae Bhai Koi Hai"
This scene from the Dilip Kumar starrer, Mashaal, a story of a fearless crusader, tugs at your heartstrings with its pathos. A simple plea for help was draped in layers of depth with Kumar’s distinct dialogue delivery.
“Mogambo Khush Hua”
A villain as menacing and yet as caricaturish as Mogambo essayed by Amrish Puri in Mr. India deserved a line as cocky as this one. Considering the fact that the tyrannical man does nothing beyond making threats and clicking his fingers on the globe of his throne, the line still exudes a ‘comic book baddie’ fervour.
"Jo Dar Gaya Samjho Mar Gaya"
How often have you used this line to combat your fears? It’s difficult to imagine someone as soft-spoken as Javed Akhtar writing dialogues for the crude, bad men of Bollywood but his flourish is evident. It’s difficult to pick a single iconic dialogue from the film, Sholay since it is speckled with so many gems by Salim-Javed.
"Jao Pehle Us Aadmi Ka Sign Leke Ao..."
The Mere Paas Maa Hai dialogue from Deewar may have been a cult dialogue in the way that it unravels the fault lines between the brothers, but this one is a close second in the way that it lays bare Vijay’s repressed childhood trauma.
"Insaano Ke Paas Ek Cheez Kamaal Ki Hai... woh Hai Zubaan"
Writing profound dialogue for a non-human is no mean feat. Javed Akhtar achieves this with Dil Dhadakne Do as the wordsmith conjures lines for Pluto Mehra, mouthed (dubbed) by Aamir Khan. Pluto, the dog observes the dysfunctional family of this multi-starrer from afar. The idea of a pet as a narrator would have come across as gimmicky if not for Javed Akhtar’s dialogue.
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