Javed Akhtar calls for ‘Aandhi’ re-release as classic film clocks 50 years

Veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has urged that Gulzar’s 1975 classic ‘Aandhi’ should also be brought back to theatres as it marks its 50th anniversary.

In a recent interview with PTI, Javed Akhtar emphasized that Aandhi remains as relevant today as it was when it was first released. “It’s a really nice film. It needs to be re-released today in multiplexes. There is a certain disadvantage to films that are subtle, intelligent, and of a higher IQ. They perhaps don’t get that kind of audience in big theatres. I think a film like Aandhi, if it re-releases, will do extremely well today,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt highlighted the film’s thematic depth, stating, “People like to say Aandhi is about politics, (but) it’s not about politics, it’s not about lost love. It’s about the quiet ironies of life, about how two human beings meet again only to realize that some distances can never be crossed.”

Mahesh Bhatt further praised Gulzar for crafting a story ahead of its time, particularly in its portrayal of an ambitious woman. “It deals with the cost of choices that you make. It is also a meditation on love and ambition. At that time, for a woman to be ambitious and choose her path was almost unheard of. It was very brave of Gulzar sahab to pick a character who has made a difficult choice. She chose ambition and went against the diktat that a woman must sacrifice her ambition at the altar of what is defined as enduring love,” Bhatt added.

‘Aandhi’, starring Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen, remains one of Indian cinema’s most emotional dramas. Directed by Gulzar and penned by acclaimed Hindi author Kamleshwar, the film explores the struggles of a couple whose love is tested by political aspirations. Suchitra Sen’s portrayal of Aarti Devi, a determined politician, and Sanjeev Kumar’s performance as her estranged husband, JK, made the film a classic.

Apart from its powerful narrative, ‘Aandhi’ is also remembered for its soul-stirring soundtrack composed by RD Burman, with timeless melodies sung by Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar.





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