Shashitabhiness
Who has the Ur-list of Amitabh-Shashi movies, in order of watchability and rewardingness?Not thinking about it too much, just going with my gut, I jumped right in with the following list,* going from best Shashitabhiness to least good (I won't say bad because Shashitabh has yet to disappoint me entirely). Note that this is not the same order I'd put these movies in for quality or watchability or rewardingness overall OR for quality of individual performances from either of them. This is all about making ultimate use of the ultimate jodi.
1. Do aur Do Paanch (1980)
2. TIE: Kaalaa Patthar (1979) and Imaan Dharam (1977)
4. Suhaag (1979)
5. Namak Halaal (1982)
6. Roti Kapada aur Makaan (1974)
7. Deewaar (1975)
8. Trishul (1978)
9. Silsila (1981)
10. Kabhi Kabhie (1976)
11. Shaan (1980)
This will be a much longer post someday, but for now, how would you rank them?
* There are still two films I haven't seen (of thirteen total, not counting Bomay Talkie since Amitaibh's scene got cut or the Amitabh-starring but Shashi-directed Ajooba).
Comments
As for the two films you are missing, Ahsaas has Shashi in two scenes and Amitabh in a special appearance, so they have no screen time together.
Akayla has plenty of Amitabh as a police officer who isn't to bothered by doing things by the book. Shashi plays his superior officer and turns up every twenty minutes to admonish him to stick more closely to the rules. Their interaction really isn't that great. However, my judgement may be coloured by the genereal not very greatness of t he movie.
Just the thought that Shashi Kapoor and Amitabh were playing twins in Suhaag cracks me up.
So in a way Manmohan Desai was the originator of the defected gene milkshake machine featured in the Ivan Reitman movie with Arnie:-)
For me Kaala Patthar would top the list as its their most intelligent collaboration, AND they fight for the rights of the downtrodden with fairly realistic drama. Suhaag and Do Aur Do Paanch would tie for second place on my list, as they are both insane laugh fests. The former may have a slight edge though, as the two looked rather old and tired in the second one. For the rest, I dont have very strong preferences, except that I would take Trishul over Deewar any day, and keep wishing that Silsila could be unmade!
i've seen some of the movies multiple times since the combo ws so good. i would rank the list as follows in the decending order of content quality(my personal favourites list!):
1.Kaalaa Patthar
2.Deewaar
3.Namak Halal
4.Trishul
5.Kabhi Kabhi
6.Silsila
It is really difficult to list rest of the movies as they r more like a part of commercial bollywood movies which try to imitate the 'success formula' of starcast.
Ajooba is a terrible drain on nerves and u can just avoid it unless u r a diehard fan of Amitabh!
would you like to see the trailer review of AB's new fantasy flick ALADIN instead so check out
http://pronefilmviews.blogspot.com/2009/07/aladin-movie-trailer-review.html
AT
http://pronefilmviews.blogspot.com/
Anarchavist - There are a lot, it's true! Hurrah!
Yunus - It's fun, isn't it? :) I love them as twins too - it's good to keep our disbelief-suspending muscles in good working order.
ajnabi - Lemme know if you want more guidance :)
Bollyviewer - you're totally the master of this topic! As for the top three, I can easily imagine I might put them in different orders depending on my mood. I suspect they have more time actually together, or responding to one another, in Do aur Do Paanch, and it's all so funny or awesome in some other way, which is one reason I put it at the top.
I need to see Trishul again (and find a copy with better subtitles). Most of what I remember is Shashi's ENORMOUS movie-star grin and tight-bell bottoms.
Ranjit - Always glad to see another list! I know I'm an oddball in not caring for Deewaar particularly - and maybe even moreso for being fond of Ajooba :)
Mister Naidu - I like Shaan very much as a film, but I feel like Shashi doens't have a lot of presence in it, so I couldn't put it high on this particular list. But as a movie, yeah, I love it! Did you see the "Yamma Yamma" duo on Boogie Woogie awhile ago? So fun!
shell - C'mon in - the water's fine!
proneD - too late! I already like it. I think Aladin looks really fun; I'm especially happy to see Ritesh in a lead.
indiequill - Sigh. The list of watchalong-able things just grows and grows and grows.
I haven't seen it myself but it seems both Amitabh and Shashi is starring:
http://youtu.be/BYOslqgdrs8
Kaala Patthar and Namak Halaal is my favorite Shashitabh films.