Bobby

Raj Kapoor proved himself as a successful director by the release of Bobby. He introduced his next son Rishi, (younger than the elder Randhir) who later in years became a screen icon along with Amitab.

Bobby was released in 1973 during the Rajesh Khanna years and this film was eventful in the sense that people learned and became aware of a young entrant of an old Indian cinema family - The first being the Prithvi Raj Kapoor.

The songs composed by R.D. Burman are mesmerizing and the direction is also superb. This film along with Amitabh's "Zanjeer" both released in 1973 served a real shock to the "Khanna phenomenon" which was the talk of every town for the last so many years.

With 8 songs running for nearly an hour, Bobby definitely feels long when watching in 2024. A 16-year-old canoodling with a 19-year-old is also a thorn that sticks out of this hugely entertaining drama that has every reason to be called a classic. I am fascinated by Dimple Kapadia's performance here more than anyone else's as it's evident that she put her best into it, whether it's her dialogues or her dancing. Rishi Kapoor looks nervous in the initial sequences but he manages to match Kapadia's energy, and together they succeed in creating a film that's a love letter to today's lovebirds. Was heartening to see Aruna Irani and Farida Jalal as youngsters. A definitely great watch 50 years later.

The film Bobby is a love story of a rich boy and a poor girl which remains fresh for the generation of 1990s & 2000s too. The character Bobby pretends to be a 21st century girl which is based on prediction of the lifestyle of girls who would live after 27 years. The plot is about the misunderstanding between lovers in the first half and superiority and inferiority complex between parents of the lovers in the second half of the movie. It shows how parents get united due to the strong love between their children. Bobby is suitable for all ages as it shows multiple perspectives i.e, perspectives of both children and parents. So, do watch it to understand self and others.

A completely crazy Romeo and Juliet-style story about two teenagers, him rich and her poor, who fall head over heels for each other and defend their love against all adversity. Maybe not Raj Kapoor's best, but certainly interesting and groundbreaking for its time. This was actually the first Bollywood film I ever saw where it was clearly expressed (even though through a song and dance scene) that the pair was sleeping with each other - even more unusual as the couple consisted of two teenagers! Very Seventies in style with a severely overacting cast, but great fun nevertheless. In many ways a movie of a much freer and more uncompromising spirit than most Bollywood fare of today - but then, it was the Seventies...

Review By Kamal K

It is perhaps because Bobby was so ahead of its time that the film - which introduced Bollywood to the concept of young romance - doesn't seem to have grown old even now. It set countless trends for films that failed to replicate even a fraction of the success that Bobby enjoyed. It took 15 long years for the Hindi film industry to come up with a young romance that could match Bobby in its freshness, innocence and impact - Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, in which Mansoor Khan launched his nephew Aamir Khan, and Juhi Chawla, as two star-crossed lovers who elope to escape their parents' wrath.

Rishi Kapoor, who made his debut in Bobby, has admitted that Aamir's debut, followed by that of the other two Khans - Salman and Shah Rukh, sounded the death knell for his stint as a romantic hero. As the Khans took over as romantic leads, Rishi had to take a backseat and reinvent himself for roles more suited for his age. However, he is proud of being instrumental in changing the tone, language and texture of Bollywood romances with Bobby. He pointed out that before Bobby, the hero and heroine were a man and a woman. But after Bobby, filmmakers and audience realised that the hero and heroine could also be a boy and a girl

This is the love story of a pretty, smart and headstrong Christian school-girl named Bobby, and a romantic, rich and well-mannered young man named Raj, who, unlike most of his contemporaries, prefers to sit at home and write poetry. He falls in love with her the first minute he meets her, and surprisingly enough, it does not look clichéd. The story shows how they start dating each other and how they later fight parental opposition.

Rishi Kapoor and Dimple Kapadia have great charisma. Yes, the performance was plausible but what makes it super is originally the casting. The two of them are real teens. Being in the right age for a romance was always a problem in movies. The bet at the newcomers here was right. Sadly I didn't see both of them as bright except very few times later. And last but not least, the direction by our showman Raj Kapoor. It was great; every scene is directed and edited with care, in order for the movie to be organized as well as entertaining. Some scenes made me cry. The character development is displayed well through the direction.

The hit song "Mein Shayar Tho Nahin" is composed perfectly...the lyrics are quite nice too. "Na Chahoon Sona Chandi" is quite entertaining, Manna Dey sings very nicely

The film's cinematography is effective, the editing is good as well, and the art direction is fantastic. The characters are well-written, and most importantly - the music is simply outstanding. All in all, Bobby was a trend-setter, and it still remains an all-time sensational and fresh love story, which will never look dated.