Muqaddar Ka Sikandar

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) : Brief Review -

The biggest Blockbuster of Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar for a reason. My father has seen this film in theaters 3 or 4 times and called it the most memorable masala entertainer of the 70s after Sholay. We have seen the film multiple times on TV, and since we all know the story and everything, I won't waste my and your time with that. I'll talk about cut-to and off-to elements. An orphan boy who starts with nothing in his hands ends up being a rich man with a golden heart and makes everyone cry over his death. "Rote hote aate hai sab, hasta hua jo jayega. Wo muqaddar ka Sikandar jaane man kehlayega" is how he starts. Big B with that sexy hair makes it the most handsome bike scene in Bollywood history. Period. The same lyrics hit differently in the last frame of Big B because Rafi's voice takes it to a whole new level. The girl he has loved since his childhood falls in love with his brother-like friend, and the girl who is in love with him is loved by someone else. So, there are two love triangles, and both have smartly written conflicts and misunderstandings that make the script and screenplay a rich experience. Kalyanji-Anandji gave 4 super hit songs, two of which have sad versions too. It's 2024, and I can still listen to Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Oo Saathi Re, Salaam-E-Ishq, and Dil Toh Hai Dil on repeat mode and never get bored. Oo Saathi Re has two versions, and both come in perfect situations. The same goes for the title track. I mean, those were the days when songs used to be part of the narrative and used to elevate the meaning of the scenes, unlike today, when there are no situations for songs but they are forced into them for commercial purposes. The dynamic personality of Sikandar ends up with a stature you can't just hate. More than a Sikandar, he is called "Farishta"-by his loved ones and the ones who hated him. Story, music, acting, dialogues, action, drama, heartbreak, emotions, and Mehra's direction-every single thing is "Sikandar" (conquering) in itself. Among the top 5 best commercial films of the 1970s.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Amjad Khans best Role after Gabar Singh.

Everyone is top Notch in this Music is brilliant, they don't make em like this anymore. It's a modern re telling of Devdas.

When I first saw Muqaddar Ka Sikandar as a kid, I absolutely loved it and all I wanted to do is to watch it again, which I ultimately did the following day. Something in the film's emotional ingredients really moved me. Today I of course look at it differently, but I still enjoy it. Muqaddar Ka Sikandar is a melodramatic and tragic fairy tale, and that's how I prefer to see it. The story of the film is actually fantastic, it is the script that often resorts to sentimentality. But as I said, if you see the movie from a clear perspective and take it as a fairy tale, there should be no problems. Some of the scenes in the movie are very good, particularly the one with the old man played by Kader Khan telling young Sikandar and his sister that the best way to deal with problems in life is to laugh when you want to cry and cry when you want to laugh. Never tried this tactic, but in the film it looked quite effective.

This is the story of a little orphaned boy who works as a servant in the house of a wealthy man named Ramnath. The boy develops a friendship with his employer's daughter Kaamna, but Ramnath notices this and fires him. All alone in the big city, he is found and adopted by a poor widow named Fatima, who names him Sikandar. When Fatima passes away, Sikandar remains all alone with the responsibility to take care of her daughter. Years go by and Sikandar grows to be a rich man. His only wish is to meet again Kaamna, who he has not stopped thinking of. They finally meet, but Kaamna does not love him the way he would want her to. He finds solace in a brothel where he often watches the dances of a beautiful courtesan names Zohra Begum. He befriends a young lawyer named Vishal, who actually later falls for Kaamna.

The story of the film looks quite complicated but it is actually very easy to follow. Despite being melodramatic, it is for the most part enjoyable and it often moves you with its impossibly tragic proceedings. Some scenes are really well done. The main character of Sikandar is a good one. He is tough, loving, selfless and caring, and sadly he fails to get what he longs for the most - Kaamna's love. And Amitabh Bachchan is there to portray it with utmost sincerity. Raakhee plays his love interest with a usual dignified and modest persona. Vinod Khanna does a very good job as Vishal. Rekha steals the show with a heartfelt portrayal of a courtesan who hopelessly falls for Sikandar, knowing she has no chance of being loved in return. One can see this role as a prologue to her all-time great performance as Umrao Jaan. No one could play such roles better.

The film's soundtrack by Anandji-Kalyanji is excellent. My favourite track is of course "O Sathi Re..." which is beautifully performed by both Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle in their individual versions. "Salam-e-ishq Meri Jaan" is also a nice song which introduces Rekha's Zohra Begum. The film's ending is tragic and a bit unpleasant to see, but as I said, this movie is better seen as fairy tale and so everything is acceptable in that context, even the melodramatic ending. Lovers of Hindi cinema and Amitabh Bachchan fan in particular will totally love this movie. Muqaddar Ka Sikandar is a nice movie by Prakash Mehra, which is always good to see with the family.

As an orphan on the streets in Shimla, young Sikandar (Amitabh Batchchan). Has no one to care for him. For a short while he works for Mr. Ramnath, little Kamna Ramnath (Rakhee Gulzar) gives Sikandar the kind of consideration friendship no one has ever before given him. After that Ramnath, leave Shimla for Bombay, Sikandar follows them there. Eventually Fatima, a young widow who works for Ramnath, adopts Sikandar. At Kamna's birthday party Ramnath mistakes Sikandar for a thief and has him thrown out. Little Kamna turns against Sikandar and wants to have nothing further to do with him. At Fatima's grave yard, a Darvesh (Kader Khan) advice young Sikandar how to deal with the realities of life. Young Sikandar works hard and grows up to be a wealthy respected young man. Kamna, who still wants to have nothing to do with Sikandar, is unaware that he has been helping her all along by paying for her handicapped father's medical bills. Sikandar meets a dancing girl, Zohra Bai (Rekha), who falls in love with at first sight. But Sikandar still loves Kamna. Dilawar (Amjad Khan), a vengeful lover of Zohra, declares Sikandar to be his enemy. When a young lawyer Vishaul (Vinod Khanna) saves Sikandar's life, Sikandar takes him in to his home and treats him more than a brother. Vishaul who know nothing of Sikandar's feelings for Kamna, becomes Ramnath's assistant and falls in love with Kamna. Before Sikandar can declare his love to Kamna, his life long dream is shattered when he see her in vis haul arms. Sikandar feels he has been betrayed by his best friend and by his love.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar review :

Prakash Mehra's interpretation of the classic 'Devdas'; Muqaddar Ka Sikandar was an intense love saga where each of its key characters is madly in love with someone who doesn't love him or her.

Amitabh Bachchan loves Rakhee Rakhee loves Vinod Khanna Rekha loves Amitabh Amjad Khan loves Rekha.

Mehra's execution was extraordinary as he beautifully blended the hearttouching characters with superlative songs.

"Rote hue aate hai sab Hastaa hua jo jaayegaa Woh Muqaddar Ka Sikandar Jaaneman kehlayega" sings Amitabh racing down Marine Drive in Mumbai on his bike setting the tone of the film.

"O saathi re" and "Pyaar zindagi hai" are ever memorable tracks while Rekha's mujra number "Salaam-e- ishq" has attained cult status today.

Muqaddar Ka Sikandar is as much Amitabh's film as it is Mehra's. The superhit actor-director jodi had truly reached a creative crescendo with this venture. I simply love Amitabh's expressions while seeing his love Rakhee dancing with Vinod Khanna in the "Pyaar Zindagi" song. Admittedly, Vinod Khanna was a formidable angle to this love quadrangle and he impressed me with his swag even in a somewhat underwritten role. Trust me, any other actor wouldve fallen flat in this role and it is to the credit of Khanna that he could stand strong in front of the unbeatable Amitabh. Rekha looks alluring as the kind hearted courtesan and this is one of the finest performances of her illustrious career.

Amjad Khan, as Dilawar, was another brilliant character and his climactic encounter with Amitabh is a major highlight of the movie. Both are fighting for their love willing to risk their life for it...Super!!

Rightfully, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, a 1978 Diwali release, took the biggest opening in history of Bollywood. It remains the biggest hits of that year and one of the top grossers of the '70s decade. Many films tried to replicate this theme later including Sajid Nadiadwala's Jeet (1996) but Sikandar remains special. And immortal like the great Alexander from whom its draws its name!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.