40 RETAKES

Have you heard of Footpath (1953), perhaps the most Left-leaning film in which Dilip Kumar gave one of his most nuanced performances? Of director-actor Chandra Shekhar’s Cha Cha Cha (1964), a fascinating musical where the ‘Harijan’ hero becomes a fabulous pop dancer? Of Gaddar (1973), perhaps the finest example of film noir in popular Hindi cinema? Of the Amol Palekar-directed Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jayen (1990), a rare true-blue musical with Nana Patekar at his best? Of Sehar (2005), one of the most underfêted gangster movies by Bollywood? Of Antardwand (2010), a movie on shotgun weddings that gobsmacks you with its authentic portrayal of mofussil Bihar? National Award-winning film writer Avijit Ghosh takes a second look at 40 such compelling Hindi movies that have been largely forgotten. Speaking with the directors, producers,  cinematographers, music directors and actors behind these, he explores how and why they have fallen through the cracks of our memory. Insightful, racy and loaded with interesting anecdotes—did you know Simi Garewal was dating cricketer Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi during the making of Teen Devian? And that Amitabh Bachchan’s Majboor has shots directly inserted from (not inspired by) Charles Bronson’s film, Cold Sweat? This book is as much for Hindi movie fans as it is for serious