Reflections: Hero Kabhi Marta Nahi – The Golden Rule

Ajay Devgn killed in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Company At least at a theme level, Ajay Devgn had a similar part to play in both Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Company. Playing the biggest underworld don of all times, he was powerful, Read More">supreme and trusted a much younger man (EmraanRead More

Ajay Devgn killed in Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Company
At least at a theme level, Ajay Devgn had a similar part to play in both Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai and Company. Playing the biggest underworld don of all times, he was powerful, supreme and trusted a much younger man (Emraan Hashmi and Vivek Oberoi respectively) by turning him into his second in command. He lived like a king till his last breath and every spoken word of his was adhered to. However, he did die in the end and it was the very man whom he trusted most that led to his downfall. Was the audience shocked in both the films? Oh of course yes. It was all too sudden and even though one did expect a heroic act from Devgn in the last minute that would make him live on (despite him carrying negative traits), the writer as well as director in both films didn't oblige and got him killed.

Why did the films still succeed? Well, the reason is simple. In case of Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, it only led to the greed of seeing something more unfold in this story. With Emraan Hashmi picking up reins, the film ended on a high as a sequel was pretty much on cards, something that one can't expect in Dum Maaro Dum with Rana Daggubati going back to strumming guitars. As for Company, Ram Gopal Varma had smartly made Vivek Oberoi into a very strong anti-hero which means it was always on the cards that he would take revenge upon Devgn. There was no 'this way or that way' once Oberoi announced - 'Tu Aur Teri Company Khallas'. Well 'khallas' he did and that too in style!

To summarise the golden rules

- When it comes to Bollywood, a hero can't die
- Even if he dies, he has to get his job done before he breathes his last
- And if he indeed dies without getting the job done, there has to be a stronger hero to take his place and do the needful!

Amitabh Bachchan jumping from a building in Main Azaad Hoon Perhaps the biggest example of it all is closer home with Abhishek’s dad, Mr. Bachchan, too taking a similar risk in Main Azaad Hoon a couple of decades back. Not so young any more but definitely promising to be angry, Read More">he went quieter and subtleRead More

Amitabh Bachchan jumping from a building in Main Azaad Hoon
Perhaps the biggest example of it all is closer home with Abhishek's dad, Mr. Bachchan, too taking a similar risk in Main Azaad Hoon a couple of decades back. Not so young any more but definitely promising to be angry, he went quieter and subtle as a street pauper in Main Azaad Hoon. That too was acceptable for the audience as they had seen their hero rising from the ashes in countless flicks over the years gone by. However, when Bachchan didn't even slap anyone or indulge in a verbal duel, they were surprised whether the film was for real. Later, in the concluding reel, when he actually committed suicide without doing anything that was in conventional sense 'herogiri', the film lost its plot. It stayed true to it's theme but in the bargain it led to severely discontented audience. 'Yeh aise kaise mar gaya bina kuch kiye', was the common sentiment. The same held good for the film as well which was a letdown commercially.

10 days have gone by since the release of Dum Maaro Dum and the debate is still continuing – ‘Should Abhishek Bachchan have remained alive instead of being killed?’ Personally speaking, Read More">I for sure do believe quite strongly that the commercial acceptability of Dum Maaro Dum would have been at a different level altogether ifRead More

10 days have gone by since the release of Dum Maaro Dum and the debate is still continuing - 'Should Abhishek Bachchan have remained alive instead of being killed?' Personally speaking, I for sure do believe quite strongly that the commercial acceptability of Dum Maaro Dum would have been at a different level altogether if the film would have retained it's 'masala' appeal, as evidenced in the first half of the film, and the endeavour of 'being different' curtailed to certain extent in the concluding reels. Bring on the hero, let him bash up the villains, usse Goa mein drugs ka safaaya karaayo, end credits mein phir se 'Thayn Thayn' chalao and lo, audience may just have got their 'paisa vasool'.

Of course in the hindsight all of this is easy talk and with due respect to writer Shridhar Raghavan, his thought process was to bring on a different sensibility. Well, clichéd as it may sound, but my thought is that in a Hindi film, ek hero kabhi marta nahi hai. Aur apna kaam poora kiye bagair to bilkul bhi nahi. He has to take the fight till the end, win it for all concerned and perhaps then take half a dozen bullets on his chest and die a 'hero ki maut'. Cliched? Yes. Conventional? Yes. Convenient? Yes. But then perhaps safer. It has been evidenced in many a Bollywood blockbusters in the past. It may well work for present and future as well. Let's look at many such instances in 'Reflections'.

Amitabh Bachchan killed in Sholay The argument could well be, didn’t Bachchan die in his biggest film of all time – Sholay? After all, the fight was still on when Amitabh Bachchan allowed Dharmendra to get a backup plan in place while he faced the challenge of all the ammunition from Gabbar’s dacoits. Well, Read More">heRead More

Amitabh Bachchan killed in Sholay
The argument could well be, didn't Bachchan die in his biggest film of all time - Sholay? After all, the fight was still on when Amitabh Bachchan allowed Dharmendra to get a backup plan in place while he faced the challenge of all the ammunition from Gabbar's dacoits. Well, he succumbed after a valiant battle and breathed his last in the arms of Dharmendra. Did people feel saddened? Of course yes. Did they create an outrage on his death? No. Were they actually more excited than any before? Definitely yes. Because now they knew that their very own Dharam paaji would leave aside his wise cracks and get into some serious business. 'Kutte, main tera khoon pee jaaoonga' was reverberating from a distance and Dharmendra being a bigger hero (then) meant that audience were all set to have their 'paisa vasool' as he went on to kick Gabbar's butt!

Read More">Hrithik killed in the hands of villains in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai A hero has to finish a business. Period. This didn’t quite happen in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai though where Hrithik Roshan found himself in a helpless state as the mechanics in his motorbike deceived him and he met a watery death deep downRead More

Hrithik killed in the hands of villains in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai
A hero has to finish a business. Period. This didn't quite happen in Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai though where Hrithik Roshan found himself in a helpless state as the mechanics in his motorbike deceived him and he met a watery death deep down in the sea. One did shed a tear; he was so loveable after all. But yes, this was a Hindi film and it wasn't even interval point yet. Boss, kuch to hoga ab! And yes, there was a lot more waiting to happen with Hrithik emerging on the scene again. This time in far more dashing and flamboyant avtar. It was a cry in unison for both girls as well as boys - 'Yeh solid hai, ab yahi badla lega' was a given once Hrithik 2 showed his bulging biceps. Ek hero gaya? Koyi baat nahi because second waala even better hai. Moral of the story? A hero can be killed after all but only if the one replacing him is a better contender!