Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi dance upon a storm in Banjaran

Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi dance upon a storm in Banjaran 

 

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. 

Sridevi 's gypsy rose coloured outfit: Banjaran: The Diwali release of 1991

It was the Diwali release of 1991 and the wild colours, song and dance routines, the festive mood, massive dance troupe, a predictable reincarnation storyline with the usual tropes (revenge, deja vu, paintings of Sridevi!)... rarely do Diwali movies tank. This technicolour musical fared well at the box-office despite a lukewarm reception by all critics. 

Despite being a flawed film in many ways, the audiences went wild for the return of the Nagina team; Rishi Kapoor and Sridevi and the cast and crew that included producer/director Harmesh Malhotra, music directors Laxmikant-Pyarelal, lyrcist Anand Bakshi, choreographer Saroj Khan, singers Lata Mangeshkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Suresh Wadkar and so on and on.

It's fun to watch - the music is a bit loud - but for a weekend viewing to see Indian stars who were larger than life... roll up on a couch with a comforting cup. 

Released on 8 November 1991 

Left: The costume designers were all over the place and so were Sridevi's outfits. Before the department was streamlined for a cohesive look. 

Glad Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra and others found fame and recognition in due course. Leena Daru is one of the few I wish got more media love. She did a lot of work in creating looks with the superstars of their time, especially Rekha, Hema Malini and Sridevi. The holy South Indian trinity of B'wood. 

• More images from Banjaran here.
• Sridevi celebrating Diwali over the years here
• Sridevi in pink here. 

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran: Another title role for a Bollywood Icon

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran: Another title role for a Bollywood Icon 

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran

 Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran 

Sridevi in and as Banjaran (1991)

Sridevi in and as Banjaran (1991). Another title role for a Bollywood icon, released 31 years ago today. The elaborate black and gold costume... all glittery. 

Another title role for Sridevi: Banjaran

The surprise success of the 90s, Banjaran.

Released during Diwali 1991 (November 8, 1991 to be exact), the film opened to packed houses as the song and dance extravaganza was just right for the time and period. 

#TBH there are mixed reports about the success of the film floating around on the internet. Did the combination of Sridevi, Rishi Kapoor and producer/director Harmesh Malhotra (famed for the 80s smash Nagina), recreate the same magic at the box-office? No. But was it a hit? Yes. Well... maybe. It certainly broke even as it wasn't an expensive film. There's no accurate accounting for Indian Box Office currently or back then. Only the producer who shelled out the money and waited for returns knows for sure if it did or didn't do well... 

The songs have millions - near billion - views on YouTube and the numbers are constantly escalating - clearly it has a fan base that has repeat viewing.  

Personally, not a fan of the film. Its a long yawn and yarn. The songs are waaaaaaay too loud, there's a lot of sparkle and sizzle in the many, many dance routines and the costumes are as blingy-as Bollwood can be...  

Sridevi's her usual competent self - but is this a star vehicle worthy of her calibre? Hmm. I dunno. 

But for fans, its worth a view. 

31 years of Banjaran. 

We have a massive gallery of Banjaran images and features here.

Sridevi in and as Banjaran: Title role for a Bollywood Icon

Sridevi in and as Banjaran: Title role for a Bollywood Icon. Loads of colourful costumes and looks in the film. 

Gorgeous Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran back in 1991

Gorgeous Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran back in 1991

30 years of Banjaran: Sridevi and Rishi Kapoor's surprise hit

Released on 8 November 1991, this was the Diwali release of the 90s. Celebrating 30 years of its musical success - the movie had record audio sales - we are hesitant to write whether or not this movie was a hit. Mostly because there are such mixed and unreliable reports on the film online. We do know the movie has a cult following - the costumes, the music, the song and dance routines, it has incredible stats in viewership on YouTube. 

But, we distinctly remember some cutting reviews for the movie back in the day, the movie looks extremely dated and the entire narrative is so hodge-podge. 

But, its a title role and yet another double role for gorgeous Sridevi. She looks oh-so-beautiful in it. 

We have a huge archive of images and features regarding the film here. 

Diwali release of 1991: Banjaran! Sridevi's surprise hit

Nov 4 2021, today many are celebrating Diwali around the world. Here's a throwback to 1991 when Sridevi's film with Rishi Kapoor, Banjaran, hit the screens. 

Hindsight now reveals that the movie opened well, dipped after a critical thrashing (its a deeply flawed and poorly edited movie) but rose in popularity again. Currently, the songs of Banjaran featuring Sridevi have over 80 million views. There's a huge cult following for the film for its songs and dances. 

Sridevi on the sets of the film Banajaran (Gypsy): in the early 1990s: Pretty in pink

 

Sridevi on the sets of the film Banjaran (Gypsy): in the early 1990s. On set, on film. 

Sridevi in and as Banjaran (The Gypsy): Bollywood icon in yet another title role

Sridevi in and as Banjaran - yet another title role and a double role for the Queen of Bollywood. Released on 8 November 1991, we have read mixed reports about the success of the film. 

Distinctively remember the movie not meeting expectations and was deemed a flop at the box-office in the early 90s.  

However, now reports online claim it was a hit - but with unnamed sources. The trouble with Wikipedia (and that's a whole other can of worms) is it can be (and often is) edited by randoms. No verifiable sources and information. 

However, if the fandom is to be believed or the record views on YouTube to the film's songs and dances - with over a billion views! - then clearly, the movie has its own cult following. 

Producer and director Harmesh Malhotra's favourite was Sridevi and vice versa. 

Sridevi in Banjaran - a festival of colours: Sridevi with Rishi Kapoor, Saroj Khan: Rare pics on Set

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran

On the auspicious occasion of Holi, here's a festival of colours on screen brought to you by Sridevi in Banjaran. Sridevi just lights up the screen in every frame she's in - even in a less than aces film like this shot-in-the-80s released-in-the-90s flick. 

In an interview held around that time - scroll back in the archives - Sridevi hinted that she knew the film wasn't going to work but held her tongue back due to her respect and fondness for director Harmesh Malhotra (who did the iconic film Nagina with her). But as every reel reflects, Sri put in her efforts in the musical. The film opened well and had a strong reception but... it spiraled to a flop. 

Above gif images of Sridevi from fans on tumblr.

  

Sridevi on the sets of Banjaran with choreographer Saroj Khan. The dance director created many memorable song and dance routines with Sridevi.