Celebrating the sleeper hit Banjaran (1991): 33 years of Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor's Colourful Surprise

Celebrating the sleeper hit Banjaran (1991). Sleeper? Yep. It was totally written off the first few weeks after the film's release and there are hints in media that Sridevi wasn't a huge fan of this film. She herself went in disguise to watch the movie in theatre and was pleasantly surprised by the audience's reaction to her song and dance routines. 

How do we describe this film? It's a Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor musical, costume extravaganza. Personally, was no fan of this hodge-podge, double-role, too many loud songs, too many colours, reincarnation and revenge beset, deja-vu plot that somehow entertained the masses. The song and dance routines, usually a highlight of a Harmesh Malhotra-Sridevi-Saroj Khan combo, are a bit of a repetitive mess. The costumes are all over the place, the hair, makeup and styling is amped up to such a degree, its a bit of a colour-block-shock on film. The continuity shots are almost a joke; see how the stars' sizes, hair, costumes, makeup changes scene after scene with no interlinking motif. 

Despite saying all that - there's something about it that clearly hit a chord in the interiors, online and in Russia! The movie has a massive cult following for a rather... tepid affair. By all means its not a great film, and yet, nothing can deny its fandom. The number of Russian fans of this film has been extraordinary... Its a lot of colours and movement, the plot is sort of simplistic... something about it works - still works for the fan base as the songs have raked up over a billion hits - even after 33 years! 

The magic of Sridevi - something indescribable. A hit film, is a hit film, is a hit film. Critics be damned.