How Rajshri’s ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’ remake ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!’ surpassed the original

In the recent past, there have been very few films that you can watch again and again and again. On top of that, its very rare to find a film that can be viewed along with the entire family. Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun…!’ is one such film. I am quite sure films like ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun…!’ top the list whenever it comes to watching something along with the entire family.

It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since the film’s release. Yes, the cast and crew of the film celebrated its 25th anniversary by walking down memory lane and digging out their most cherished memories associated with this evergreen film.

Expressing how the film will always hold a special place in her heart, Madhuri took to Instagram and wrote, “This movie has given me memories that I can never forget. Nisha will always hold a special place in my heart.”

 

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A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene) on Aug 5, 2019 at 3:43am PDT

Renuka Shahane, who played Nisha’s elder sister Pooja, also reminisced about the warm fuzzy family-wala feeling. She wrote, “HAHK25Yrs With great humility and gratitude, I thank #SoorajBarjatya and #RajshriProductions for giving me this once in a lifetime role in a once in a lifetime movie. I am forever grateful to the late Raj Babuji and Sudhaji for their kindness & compassion. I would like to thank all my co-actors. I miss Reema tai, Laxmikant & Ajit Vachhaniji. I would like to thank the audiences for continuing to love this sweet film and to continue showering their blessings for making HAHK 25 not out. Spread love and joy and that warm fuzzy family-wala feeling.”

 

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A post shared by Renuka Shahane (@renukash710) on Aug 4, 2019 at 7:12pm PDT

Anupam Kher also congratulated the entire team of ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ and remarked how the film changed the concept of marriages in India forever.

https://twitter.com/AnupamPKher/status/1158209065983664131

Now coming to the films’ story, simple things are the best and this film is a testimony of that. ‘HAHK’s plotline revolves around Nisha (Madhuri Dixit) and Prem (Salman Khan) who fall for each other as they participate in the wedding celebrations of their siblings (Renuka Shahane and Mohnish Bahl). The turning point in the film comes when Prem and Nisha decide to sacrifice their love for the happiness of their respective families. Now, this is such a simple storyline. So what makes it stand apart from the rest?

There are still many people who are unaware that ‘HAHK’ is actually an adaptation of Rajshri studio’s 1982 film ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’. The original film starred Sachin Pilgaonkar and Sadhana Singh in the lead. Set in the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, Govind Moonis’ directorial ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’ oozes simplicity, the kind which instantly tugs at your heartstrings.

Luckily, I have watched that film as well and I must say that it is one of the most beautiful films that came out of the Rajshri banner. Both Sachin and Sadhana’s innocence is the major reason why you will not only buy their story, but actually start pining for them. The film’s soundtrack too has some great songs like ‘Kaun Disaa Mein Le Ke Chalaa Re Batohiyaa‘ and ‘Jab Tak Poore Na Ho Phere Saat‘. It still succeeds in bringing a smile on your face.

Unlike, ‘HAHK’, ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’ was set against the rural India backdrop. And if you are a sucker for old-school romance, then I bet you will love this film as well. So despite being based on the same story with similar twists and turns, what made ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ surpass the success of the original? First of all, we are not talking about the film’s box office collections. It would be a stupidity to even take that point into consideration.

The major reason why ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ outlived the charm of its source material was undoubtedly the scale on which it was made. Then came the star cast, who naturally had a vast reach when it came to garnering the audience’s attention. Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit’s chemistry made people root for them and eventually dream for a love like theirs. The entire film, which some call a 3-hour long ‘wedding video’, has actually used marriage as one of its motifs.

While ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’ is simplicity personified, ‘Hum Aapke Hai Koun’ is known for the grandeur on which it was made. It indeed changed the way people celebrated marriages in India and brought forth the concept of the ‘Big Fat Indian Weddings’. As Renuka said, the film did bring out the warm fuzzy family-wala feeling which till date no other film has succeeded to match. Interestingly, the IMDb rating of the original is higher than the remakes’.

So have you guys watched ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’?  If yes, then let us know your memories associated with it. And if you haven’t watched it yet then, do yourself a favour and go watch it right away. I bet you will love it too, provided you love such sappy films.

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Pooja Sharma

Cinephile. Bibliophile. Pluviophile. Selenophile. Autophile. Aesthete. Blood group- Tea positive. Poetry lover. Sucker of rom-coms.

PS: Sharmaji ki Ladki sucks at writing bios.
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