Yash Chopra's cross border love epic Veer-Zaara completes 10 glorious years today. Released on 12 November 2004, the movie starred YRF favourite Shah Rukh Khan as a dashing Indian Airforce officer Veer and then reigning Bollywood diva Preity Zinta as the pretty Pakistani beauty, Zaara.
The movie depicted the supreme sacrifice made by Veer to protect the honour and life of his love, Zaara and embraced incarceration without even a whisper of protest. Yash Chopra's directorial acumen, Aditya Chopra's heart touching poetry and the soul-stirring melody of Madan Mohan brought to life the beauty of an Indo-Pak love story sans the jingoism and Pak-bashing elements that is often traded in Bollywood.
The movie among many things is still remembered for its songs (sung by Lata Mangeshkar) and powerful acting performances delivered by SRK, Preity and Rani Mukerji and it remains etched in Bollywood history as one finest Indo-Pak love story ever to have been weaved on celluloid. Here's a look at 5 things we love about Veer-Zaara.
Cross-Border love story
Most of our Hindi potboilers love bashing Pakistan. That is a surefire way of arousing jingoistic Indian sentiments. But trust Yash Chopra to tread the path less taken. The auteur along with his prodigal son Aditya scripted a never-before-seen love story that that gave both Indians and Pakistanis a reason to rejoice in that universal feeling which joins mankind called love.
SRK as an old man
While not many may have appreciated SRK playing an old man (masses still like the Rahul of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), the actor displayed his versatility by bringing the character of an old incarcerated man to life. His measured pauses, confused gait and old-age shivering did make for an interesting cinematic watch. But nothing could beat SRK's passionate recital of poetry(penned by Aditya Chopra) in the Pakistani courtroom. That moment even today transfixes you to your seat and transports you to a land where time stands still.
Stellar starcast
SRK, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukerji, Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Manoj Bajpai, Boman Irani, Divya Dutta...the list is endless. Only Yash Chopra could have brought together all these brilliant actors under a single roof for a film.
Rani Mukerji as a lawyer & Preity as SRK's love interest
The movie is one of those rare occasions when Rani didn't have a romantic track opposite the leading man of the film. The lady however shone as a human rights lawyer (her character was based on Pakistani human rights activist and well-known lawyer Asma Jehangi) and held her own throughout the film. Veer-Zaara still remains Preity's best role and her chemistry with SRK was immensely appreciated.
Madan Mohan's melody & Lata Mangeshkar's voice
There is an interesting story behind why Yash Chopra finally decided on using Madan Mohan's melody. Yash who had approached every music director to score the film couldn't find the appropriate music "old-world music," for the film. Madan Mohan's son, Sanjeev Kohli suggested his father's compositions and 11 best were chosen by Aditya Chopra. The songs were immortalized by the one and only Lata Mangeshkar.
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