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Bunty Aur Babli

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Bunty Aur Babli
Amitabh Bachchan‘s character in Bunty Aur Babli holds photographs of the title characters up as if to show the viewer. He has a cigarette between his fingers, is wearing sunglasses, and looks stern.
Theatrical release poster
Directed byShaad Ali
Written byJaideep Sahni
Story byAditya Chopra
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringAmitabh Bachchan
Abhishek Bachchan
Rani Mukerji
Narrated byAmitabh Bachchan
CinematographyAvik Mukhopadhyay
Edited byRitesh Soni
Music byShankar–Ehsaan–Loy
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release date
  • May 27, 2005 (2005-05-27) (India)
Running time
177 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹14 crore
Box office₹63.74 crore (equivalent to ₹217 crore or US$26 million in 2023)[1]

Bunty Aur Babli (transl. Bunty and Babli) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language crime comedy film directed by Shaad Ali and written by Jaideep Sahni, based on a story by Aditya Chopra, who serves as producer under the Yash Raj Films banner. The film stars Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji as the titular leads, along with Amitabh Bachchan, marking the first motion picture starring the Bachchan father-son duo together.[2] Bachchan Jr. and Mukerji play con-artist partners-in-crime, Bunty and Babli, while Bachchan Sr. plays DCP Dashrath Singh, whose focus is solely to catch them. The soundtrack of Bunty Aur Babli was composed by Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy, with lyrics written by Gulzar and Blaaze together, and was released under the banner YRF Music.

Bunty Aur Babli released worldwide on 27 May 2005, and proved to be a commercial success at the box-office, grossing ₹63.74 crore worldwide, thus becoming the third highest-grossing Indian film of 2005. It received positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its direction, novel story, screenplay, soundtrack, humor, costumes, styling and performances of the cast.

At the 51st Filmfare Awards, Bunty Aur Babli received 8 nominations, including Best Film, Best Actor (Bachchan Jr.), Best Actress (Mukerji) and Best Supporting Actor (Bachchan Sr.) and won 3 awards – Best Music Director (Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy), Best Lyricist (Gulzar) and Best Female Playback Singer (Alisha Chinai), the latter two for the song "Kajra Re".

A sequel under the title of Bunty Aur Babli 2, starring Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari Wagh was released theatrically on 19 November 2021.

Plot

Rakesh Trivedi (Abhishek Bachchan) is from a small village named Fursatganj. His father is a ticket collector on a train and wants him to get into a similar occupation as well. However, Rakesh has big dreams; he is forever coming up with new business schemes and is convinced he will make it big one day. He adamantly refuses any notion that he will one day work in a 9-to-5 environment. Rakesh's father gives him an ultimatum – go on the job interview he has arranged or get out of the house.

Vimmi Saluja (Rani Mukerji) is the daughter of a Punjabi family in another small village named Pankinagar; she spends her hours watching films and studying supermodels and dreams of becoming Miss India. However, Vimmi's parents tell her they have arranged her marriage to a young man with a decent job which she is not interested in.

Rakesh and Vimmi pack their bags and sneak out in the dark of night. They bump into each other at a train station and become friends after realizing their stories are similar. They support and encourage each other to achieve their dreams: Vimmi tries to enter the Miss India contest but gets thrown out after an argument. Rakesh tries to sell his ideas for an investment scheme, but a businessman turns him away. In fact, a man he had met at a restaurant stole ideas from Rakesh's presentation file and, when he enters the office, the interviewer states someone before he came in with the same idea. After finding out that the businessman who Rakesh had approached, used his idea to make money, he and Vimmi con him and take the money they believe is rightfully theirs.

Once they realize how easy it is to con people, they decide to run some more cons to raise money to make it to Bombay.

Unfortunately, they find the lifestyle too exciting to give up. Adopting the names of 'Bunty' and 'Babli', they successfully pull off con after con, looting the rich dressed as local guides, religious priests, health inspectors, business partners, etc. Their flamboyant antics make them famous in newspapers nationwide. Soon their friendship leads to romance and they decide to continue conning as husband and wife.

Little do Rakesh and Vimmi know that DCP Dashrath Singh (Amitabh Bachchan) is catching up with their cons, getting closer each day. He relentlessly pursues them across India in the hopes of putting them behind bars. To complicate matters, Rakesh and Vimmi have a child and, after a very close call eluding Dashrath, they decide to quit conning for their child's sake. This decision leads to their capture by Dashrath. While in custody, their heartfelt confessions and conversation soften the policeman's heart and he lets them go, certain he had destroyed Bunty and Babli's career as criminals.

Three years later, Dashrath rescues them from their mundane domestic lives by offering them to work for the nation thwarting the activities of other scammers.

Cast

Reception

The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming the second highest-grossing Indian film of the year.[2] Designer Aki Narula dressed Mukerji a new look Patiala salwars and kurtis, which became popular.[3]

Influence

The glorification of crime in the movie inspired many people to emulate the glamorous couple, resulting in a trend of real-life Buntys and Bablis.

One such case is that of Sushant and Kajal, a married couple who conned two businesses out of money using a photo frame. The Darjeeling-based couple did a 'Bunty Aur Babli' on their victims, and were caught and arrested.[4]

Another case of the movie's influence on crime is that of another married couple, Suresh and Rekha. Their crimes also mirrored those committed in the film, and they admitted to committing the crimes they were accused of in a "Bunty Aur Babli" style.[5]

Yet another couple, a sister and brother-in-law, were caught for crimes that mirrored those committed in the film. Shahnaaz Bano and Sajid Ahmed were caught smuggling and shoplifting diamonds and other expensive merchandise out of stores, using disguises.[6]

Soundtrack

Bunty Aur Babli
Soundtrack album by
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy
Released13 April 2005 (India)
Recorded2004
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length37:09
LabelYash Raj Music
ProducerYash Chopra
Aditya Chopra
Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy chronology
Phir Milenge
(2004) 		Bunty Aur Babli
(2005) 		Dil Jo Bhi Kahey...
(2005)
Singles from Bunty Aur Babli
  1. "Kajra Re"
    Released: 2005

The soundtrack was composed by the musical trio Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy and was released on 13 April 2005 by Yash Raj Music.[7] Initially, A. R. Rahman was approached to compose the film's music, having worked on Ali's previous film Saathiya (2002), but he declined due to his date issues. The lead actors Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji danced to the tunes of the album.[8] The lyrics were penned by Gulzar and Blaaze. According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 19,00,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's second highest-selling.[9]

Track listing

Lyrics by Gulzar except where noted.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Dhadak Dhadak"Udit Narayan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Nihira Joshi6:33
2."Chup Chup Ke"Sonu Nigam, Mahalakshmi Iyer7:13
3."Nach Baliye"Shankar Mahadevan, Sowmya Raoh, Loy Mendonsa6:02
4."Bunty Aur Babli"Sukhwinder Singh, Jaspinder Narula5:42
5."B N B (Lyrics by Blaaze)"Shankar Mahadevan, Blaaze, Loy Mendonsa3:38
6."Kajra Re"Alisha Chinai, Shankar Mahadevan, Javed Ali8:02
Total length:37:09

Reception

The music of Bunty Aur Babli received positive reviews from critics. Sukanya Verma of Rediff, said in her review, "On the whole, the music of Bunty Aur Babli, with its over-the-top, uninhibited, rustic and teasing spices, makes for one helluva musical masala."[10] Planet Bollywood's review concluded, "Overall, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy do an excellent job of getting different singers for each track, trying to infuse different beats together and creating an album worth buying. It’ll take a few listens to pick your favourites, but its fresh and an above-average album to own. Enjoy!"[11] "Bunty Aur Babli does not contain your routine Yash Chopra genre of music that are choreographed around the meadows and Swiss alps. They are more of situational rhythmic tracks that take a story forward" Joginder Tuteja of Bollywood Hungama said in his review.[12] Glamsham was full of praise for the lyrics by Gulzar, "Throughout this zany, zingy and zippy album, the 70-year-old Gulzar imbues a youthfulness that comes from being young at heart. Indeed that's the quality, which flows freely out of this album. You can't miss its zest for life… or its lunge towards a luscious nirvana obtained from looking at life through rose-tinted glasses."[13] Avijit Ghosh wrote in The Telegraph, "In essence, Bunty Aur Babli is an on-the-road flick about a boy and girl in search of fun and freedom rather than a story of two cons. To capture the splintered yearnings of smalltown India which watches Aastha channel in the morning and FTV at night is a difficult and ambitious task. But like his protagonists, director Ali pulls it off. Bravely. Almost."[14][15]

Legacy

"Kajra Re" was voted as the best of 2005 overwhelmingly by listeners of 3 radio stations catering for South African Indians.[16]

Hidekaz Himaruya, the manga artist who created Hetalia, embedded the video of "Dhadak Dhadak" on his blog around Christmas time, which caused a sudden influx of Himaruya fans commenting on the video.[17]

Accolades

List of accolades received by Bunty Aur Babli
Total number of awards and nominations[a]
Totals 25 49
References
Award[b] Date of ceremony[c] Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Bollywood Movie Awards 10 June 2006 Best Director Shaad Ali Nominated [18]
[19]
Best Actor in a Comic Role Abhishek Bachchan Won
Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Choreography Vaibhavi Merchant – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Filmfare Awards 25 February 2006 Best Film Aditya Chopra Nominated [20]
[21]
Best Actor Abhishek Bachchan Nominated
Best Actress Rani Mukerji Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Amitabh Bachchan Nominated
Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won
Best Lyricist Gulzar – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Gulzar – (for song "Chup Chup Ke") Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
International Indian Film Academy Awards 15–17 June 2006 Best Film Aditya Chopra Nominated [22]
[23]
Best Actress Rani Mukerji Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Amitabh Bachchan Nominated
Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won
Best Lyricist Gulzar – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Choreography Vaibhavi Merchant – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
MTV Immies 9 December 2005 Best Film Album Bunty Aur Babli Won [24]
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Performance In a Song – Female Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Producers Guild Film Awards 21 January 2006 Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won [25]
[26]
[27]
Best Lyricist Gulzar – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Best Choreography Vaibhavi Merchant – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Screen Awards 11 January 2006 Best Supporting Actor Amitabh Bachchan Nominated [28]
[29]
Best Actor in a Comic Role Abhishek Bachchan Won
Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Nominated
Best Choreography Vaibhavi Merchant – (for song "Kajra Re") Nominated
Jodi No. 1 Abhishek Bachchan & Rani Mukerji Won
Zee Cine Awards 4 March 2006 Best Film Aditya Chopra Nominated [30]
[31]
[32]
Best Director Shaad Ali Nominated
Best Actor – Male Abhishek Bachchan Nominated
Best Actor – Female Rani Mukerji Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male Amitabh Bachchan Nominated
Best Music Director Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy Won
Best Lyricist Gulzar – (for song "Kajra Re") Nominated
Best Female Playback Singer Alisha Chinai – (for song "Kajra Re") Nominated
Best Choreography Vaibhavi Merchant – (for song "Kajra Re") Won
Shiamak Davar – (for song "Nach Baliye") Nominated
Best Track of the Year "Kajra Re" Won
Best Costume Design Aki Narula Nominated
Best Art Direction Sharmishta Roy Nominated
Best Song Recording Empire Studio Won
Best Film Processing Adlabs Films Nominated
Best Publicity Design Cell Nominated

Sequel

Main article: Bunty Aur Babli 2

In December 2019, Yash Raj Films announced a sequel, Bunty Aur Babli 2, to be directed by Varun V. Sharma and produced by Aditya Chopra. The film stars Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukherji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and debutante Sharvari Wagh as the leads,[33][34] and was scheduled to be released on 26 June 2020, but postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic.[35] It released theatrically on 19 November 2021.[36] Although the film is direct sequel and takes places after 16 years of the first film but the character of Bunty is portrayed by Saif Ali Khan replacing Abhishek Bachchan.

Notes

  1. ^ Awards in certain categories do not have prior nominations and only winners are announced by the jury. For simplification and to avoid errors, each award in this list has been presumed to have had a prior nomination.
  2. ^ Awards, festivals and organizations are in alphabetical order.
  3. ^ Date is linked to the article about the awards held that year, wherever possible.

References

  1. ^ "Top Lifetime Grossers Worldwide (IND Rs)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Box Office 2005". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. ^ "FASHION: How to Dress a Rockstar". Tehelka. Vol. 8, no. 39. 1 October 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  4. ^ "Real life 'Bunty Aur Babli' couple held for cheating Archies" (Document). HT Media Ltd. ProQuest 470024645. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |work= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "The Pioneer" (Document). HT Media Ltd. ProQuest 1143849740. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |work= ignored (help)
  6. ^ "Bunty aur Babli plot goes wrong, woman thief held" (Document). HT Media Ltd. ProQuest 471194997. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |work= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "Yash Raj Music – Bunty Aur Babli Audio CD". Yash Raj Music. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  8. ^ "Bunty Aur Babli Music Launch". Yashraj Films. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  9. ^ "Music Hits 2000–2009 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008.
  10. ^ Verma, Sukanya. "Bunty Aur Babli's Music Rocks!". Rediff.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Bollywood – Music Review – Bunty Aur Babli". Planetbollywood.com. 20 August 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  12. ^ "Bunty Aur Babli : Music Review by Joginder Tuteja". Bollywoodhungama.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  13. ^ "Bunty Aur Babli music review". glamsham.com. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  14. ^ "The Telegraph – Calcutta : etc". The Telegraph. Kolkota.
  15. ^ "Time to have fun". The Hindu. 26 May 2005.
  16. ^ "Kajra Re is song of season in S Africa". Hindustan Times. 5 January 2006. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  17. ^ "Broadcast Yourself". Retrieved 25 June 2011 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "Nominees of Bollywood Movie Awards". Bollywood Movie Awards. Archived from the original on 3 November 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Winners of Bollywood Movie Awards: 1999 to 2007". BollywoodAwards.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ^ "The 51st Filmfare Awards 2006 Nominations". Indian Times. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 8 July 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  21. ^ "Winners of the 51st Filmfare Awards". Zee News. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  22. ^ "IIFA 2006 Nominees". Bollywood Hungama. IndiaFM News Bureau. 6 May 2006. Archived from the original on 11 November 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  23. ^ "'Black' bags major IIFA awards". The Tribune. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Press Trust of India. 18 June 2006. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Music across borders". The Times of India. 5 December 2005. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  25. ^ "2nd Apsara Producers Guild Awards Nominations". Producers Guild Film Awards. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  26. ^ "2nd Apsara Producers Guild Awards Winners". Producers Guild Film Awards. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Bhansali's 'Black' bags 10 Apsara Awards". Hindustan Times. Press Trust of India. 23 January 2006. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Nominations for 12th Annual Screen Awards". Bollywood Hungama. IndiaFM News Bureau. 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Black sweeps Screen Awards". Rediff.com. 12 January 2006. Archived from the original on 14 January 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Zee Cine Awards 2006 nominations". Bollywood Hungama. IndiaFM News Bureau. 27 January 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Blockbuster award show in Mauritius today". Daily News and Analysis. 3 March 2006. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  32. ^ "Black dominates ZEE Cine Awards 2006". BizAsia. 4 March 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Bunty Aur Babli 2: Saif Ali Khan Joins Rani Mukerji Because 'Things Didn't Work Out' With Abhishek Bachchan". NDTV. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  34. ^ "Rani Mukerji to Team up with Saif Ali Khan on Bunty Aur Babli 2". News18. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Rani Mukerji, Saif Ali Khan to have Hum Tum reunion in Bunty Aur Babli 2". Hindustan Times. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  36. ^ "BREAKING: Yash Raj Films announces theatrical release dates for Bunty Aur Babli 2, Prithviraj, Jayeshbhai Jordaar and Shamshera!". Bollywood Hungama. 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
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