Seven Hindustani films are often remembered for three big reasons. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Amitabh Bachchan and the Goa Liberation War. Although there were a total of seven lead actors in this film, but today it is remembered only as Amitabh Bachchan’s first film. In the later period, many such Hindi films were made in which the natural beauty of Goa, the seashore and the lifestyle there were shown, but after a long time, the struggle of the liberation war is seen only in the film Pukar. The unique thing is that Amitabh Bachchan was also in Pukar directed by Ramesh Bahl in 1983. Thus Amitabh becomes the only Hindi film artist who has done films on this subject.
Seven in Hindustani Amitabh Bachchan As interesting is the story of how he got the role, it is equally important to know what his role was like and what was its importance in the story. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas was a veteran personality of the Hindi film industry. He not only gave a chance to Amitabh Bachchan in this film but also praised his acting a lot. Other seven Hindustani artists were- Utpal Dutt, Irshad Ali, Anwar Ali, Jalal Aga, AK Hangal and Dina Pathak etc. KA Abbas was the writer-director as well as producer of this film.
“That’s when the angry young man appeared in Amitabh.”
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas had written in his book ‘I am not an island’ – “The way Amitabh Bachchan is gaining fame as an angry young man, it actually started with Saat Hindustani itself. He was a character about whom there was a prejudice. Because of being a Muslim character, there was a feeling of doubt about him but later when he shows bravery, everyone’s doubts are dispelled. Anwar Ali is the bravest and most fearless person in the story. The Portuguese policeman tries to get him to reveal his secrets. After this, the Portuguese officer throws him to a deserted place. The way he acts with trembling legs is an example of bravery and courage.
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas further writes – “In one scene of this film, there was a shot at a depth of at least a thousand feet, in which one had to hang with the help of a rope. For this shot, arrangements were made for a fight master and a duplicate. But Amitabh came forward and said that he wanted to do the shot himself. Ultimately, he did it himself. If the rope had broken, he could have fallen down. But only minor injuries occurred.”
It is noteworthy that Amitabh Bachchan has played Muslim characters many times in his film career, including Andha Kanoon and Coolie etc. He played Jaan Nisar Khan in Andha Kanoon and Iqbal Khan in Coolie. But very few people notice that in his very first film Saat Hindustani, he plays a Muslim character, whose name was Anwar Ali Anwar. He was a resident of Bihar and was a poet. Used to write revolutionary poetry.
That pause dialogue of Amitabh
In Saat Hindustani, Amitabh Bachchan looks different from the rest of the actors in the very first shot. This film was released in the year 1969, the shooting of which had started two years earlier i.e. in 1967. This film is available on YouTube. It can be seen that because of being thin and lean, Amitabh appears taller. Revolutionaries from different states are introducing themselves in a meeting of the brave men of the liberation struggle. During that time, Amitabh’s first dialogue comes- “Born to Maulana Mauz ul Haq and Jaiprakash Narayan, from Bihar; Anwar Ali Anwar.”
In the film, Anwar Ali Anwar was a revolutionary poet who was one of the seven brave men who liberated Goa from the Portuguese occupation. Amitabh’s dialogue delivery is noteworthy. He doesn’t speak fluently in the same breath like the rest. Rather, he continues saying his words with pause. It is during this pause that Khwaja Ahmed Abbas becomes impressed with the depth he expresses.
KA Abbas told how he got the role?
In fact, this meeting of Khwaja Ahmed Abbas and Amitabh Bachchan is like another historical event in a historical film. But this meeting also has a very unique story. Khwaja Ahmed Abbas has also written about this in detail in ‘I am not an island’. He had told that it was not very easy for Amitabh to be a part of this film. When he came for the audition, he told his name only as Amitabh. He had hidden ‘Bachchan’. Perhaps he did not want to tell that Harivansh is Rai Bachchan’s son. But before the contract was signed, when his father’s name was known, he was asked to take permission.
Khwaja Ahmed Abbas had said that Harivansh Rai Bachchan is my friend, he should know that Amitabh is working in my film. After this Amitabh Bachchan told the whole incident to his father. He feared that Babuji might refuse but after getting permission, Amitabh became a part of this historical film and the Hindi film industry got a megastar in the future.
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