Saaheb
Saaheb is a 1985 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Anil Ganguly.[1] The story centers on Sunil "Saaheb" Sharma, the youngest of four brothers in a middle-class family, who is an avid sports enthusiast, particularly football, and unemployed while pursuing his passion.[2] When the family encounters a severe financial crisis, Saaheb makes significant personal sacrifices to secure a large sum of money to help them, though the full extent of his efforts is revealed only later.[1] The film features a prominent cast, with Anil Kapoor portraying the lead role of Saaheb, Utpal Dutt as the family patriarch Badri Prasad Sharma, Rakhee Gulzar as the mother, and Amrita Singh as Saaheb's love interest.[1] Supporting roles include Biswajeet as the eldest brother, Vijay Arora and Dilip Dhawan as the other brothers, and Deven Verma in a comedic part.[3] Written by Sachin Bhowmick, Madan Joshi, and based on a story by Ranjan Roy, the screenplay highlights themes of family bonds, sacrifice, and the challenges faced by ordinary Indians in the 1980s.[4] Released on 31 January 1985, Saaheb runs for approximately 150 minutes and has received positive reception, earning a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb from over 590 users for its heartfelt storytelling and performances.[1] The soundtrack, composed by Bappi Lahiri with lyrics by Anjaan, includes memorable songs such as "Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re" sung by S. Janaki and Bappi Lahiri, and "Kya Khabar Kya Pata" by Kishore Kumar, which contributed to the film's enduring popularity in Bollywood.[5]Production
Development
The development of Saaheb began as a Hindi remake of the 1981 Bengali film Saheb, directed by Bijoy Bose, which centered on a young man's sacrifices for his family amid financial hardships.) The project was spearheaded by director Anil Ganguly, who adapted the narrative to resonate with a wider Hindi-speaking audience by incorporating additional elements such as a romantic subplot involving the protagonist and his love interest, thereby enhancing the emotional layers beyond the original's focus on familial bonds.[6] This adaptation retained core themes of family dynamics, portraying the protagonist as a metaphorical "goalkeeper" protecting his siblings, while emphasizing sports—particularly football—as a symbol of personal aspiration and sacrifice in a middle-class context.[6] Producer Raj Valia, under the banner of Shri R. F. Films, financed the venture and facilitated the remake by securing the necessary rights, enabling actor Utpal Dutt to reprise his role from the Bengali original as the family patriarch. The scriptwriting process involved Ranjan Roy crafting the story, Sachin Bhowmick handling the screenplay, and Madan Joshi writing the dialogues, with expansions to the source material amplifying dramatic tension through subplots like the protagonist's kidney donation to fund his sister's wedding, underscoring themes of selflessness and familial duty.[7] These choices positioned Saaheb as a vehicle for emerging star Anil Kapoor, capitalizing on his rising popularity following debut successes like Woh Saat Din.Casting and crew
The lead role of Sunil "Saaheb" Sharma was portrayed by Anil Kapoor, who brought a sense of youthful determination to the character of a sports-loving young man facing family pressures.[1] Amrita Singh was cast as the love interest Natasha "Nikki," in one of her prominent early leading roles following her breakthrough debut in Betaab (1983).[8] The ensemble included veteran performers such as Raakhee as the matriarch Sujata Sharma, Utpal Dutt as the patriarch Badri Prasad Sharma, and Deven Verma as the comic relief character Pareshan, collectively emphasizing the film's focus on middle-class family dynamics.[4] Biswajit and Vijay Arora played supporting roles as family members.[1] Key technical personnel included director Anil Ganguly, who adapted the story from the Bengali original, and music composer Bappi Lahiri, responsible for the film's memorable soundtrack. Cinematographer P. R. Subedar captured the urban middle-class settings with a realistic lens, while editors Waman B. Bhosle and Gurudutt Shirali handled the pacing of emotional family sequences.[9]Plot
The Sharma family is a middle-class joint family headed by retired Badri Prasad Sharma and his wife, living with their three elder sons and their wives, unmarried youngest son Sunil "Saaheb" Sharma, and their daughter Gulti. Saaheb, an avid football enthusiast and the family's goalkeeper, is unemployed and has failed his exams multiple times, drawing criticism from his father and brothers for not taking life seriously. Despite this, he helps around the house and supports his sister Gulti. The family faces a severe financial crisis when Gulti's prospective groom demands a dowry of ₹50,000 for their marriage. The elder brothers, focused on their own families, refuse to contribute, leading Badri Prasad to consider selling their ancestral home. Unbeknownst to the family, Saaheb learns of a wealthy businessman, Mr. Sinha, seeking a kidney donor and offering a large sum in return. To save the home and fund the wedding, Saaheb secretly donates one of his kidneys, securing the money but jeopardizing his ability to play football. Parallel to the family drama, Saaheb develops a romantic relationship with his neighbor Natasha "Nikki", who admires his carefree spirit. The full extent of Saaheb's sacrifice is revealed only after the wedding, when he collapses and is hospitalized, earning the family's respect and gratitude.[1]Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Anil Kapoor | Sunil "Saaheb" Sharma |
| Rakhee Gulzar | Sujata Sharma |
| Utpal Dutt | Badri Prasad Sharma |
| Amrita Singh | Natasha "Nikki" |
| Deven Verma | Popatlal |
| Biswajit Chatterjee | Rajesh Sharma |
| Vijay Arora | Vijay Sharma |
| Dilip Dhawan | Anil Sharma |
| A. K. Hangal | Girdharilal |
| Aruna Irani | Ruby |
| Pinchoo Kapoor | S. P. Sinha |
| Satyen Kapoor | Natasha's father |
| Suresh Chatwal | Football coach |
Soundtrack
Composition
The soundtrack for Saaheb was composed by Bappi Lahiri, who skillfully blended his characteristic disco influences with poignant emotional melodies to align with the film's dramatic narrative of family struggles and youthful aspirations. This stylistic fusion is particularly evident in tracks like "Kya Khabar Kya Pata," where upbeat rhythms underscore themes of uncertainty and hope.[10] The lyrics were penned by Anjaan, whose contributions emphasized relatable and heartfelt expressions centered on youth, love, and familial bonds, enhancing the emotional resonance of the songs.[11] Recording involved collaborations with leading playback artists, including Kishore Kumar, who provided vocals for key numbers such as "Kya Khabar Kya Pata" and "Chalte Chalte Lehron Ke Saath," while Bappi Lahiri himself sang duets, notably "Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re" alongside S. Janaki.[12] The soundtrack comprises six tracks in total, incorporating disco elements that captured the vibrant trends of 1980s Bollywood music.[13]Track listing
The soundtrack of Saaheb features six songs composed by Bappi Lahiri with lyrics by Anjaan. The album was released in 1985 by Saregama in vinyl and cassette formats.[13]| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Yaar Bina Chain Kahan Re" | Bappi Lahiri, S. Janaki | 4:35 | Romantic duet picturized on Anil Kapoor and Amrita Singh in a lively dance sequence.[13][14] |
| 2 | "Chalte Chalte Lehron Ke Saath" | Kishore Kumar | 7:30 | Reflective solo picturized on Anil Kapoor strolling along a beach, contemplating life.[15][16] |
| 3 | "Jawan Hai Dil Jawan Hain Hum" | S. Janaki | 4:40 | Upbeat number picturized on Amrita Singh and the lead cast in youthful, energetic scenes.[17][18] |
| 4 | "Kya Khabar Kya Pata" | Kishore Kumar | 6:25 | Melancholic solo picturized on Anil Kapoor amid family struggles and emotional turmoil.[19][20] |
| 5 | "Tukur Tukur Pyar Karoongi" | Asha Bhosle | 4:35 | Playful duet picturized on Amrita Singh and Anil Kapoor in flirtatious, dance-oriented moments.[21][22] |
| 6 | "Tukur Tukur Pyar Karoongi" (Sad version) | Asha Bhosle | 1:00 | Brief melancholic rendition picturized in a poignant scene involving the leads.[21][12] |