Dichotomy of Irony: Trivia Post 31

Some trivia notes for the past few weeks:

1. The sons of Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan on the replica of the iconic bike from Ramesh Sippy's Sholay in Shaad Ali's Jhoom Barabar Jhoom.

2. Horror film posters in Gurmeet Singh's Phone Bhoot.

Band Darwaza
Cheekhti Deewar
Dak Bangla
Jaani Dushman
Shaitan Mujrim
Tah Khana
Paapi Gudiya

3. The poses of Kundan (Dhanush) in Anand L. Rai's Raanjhanaa.

4. Movies in movies of Anurag Kashyap— In DevD, Leni (Kalki Koechlin) is often seen watching Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas. She is fascinated by the dances of Chandramukhi (Madhuri Dixit), who becomes her inspiration. Leni takes the name of Chanda, and she becomes the sex worker with a golden heart in the neon-lit alleys of Paharganj. Anurag Kashyap, in fact, often refers to other films in his films. In the surreal No Smoking, K's wife Anjali (Ayesha Takia) is seen watching Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List. The film's climax in the gas chambers referenced the same scene that Anjali was watching earlier. Anurag Kashyap used this technique of giving a premonition of the film's climax again in Bombay Velvet. At one point, Johnny (Ranbir Kapoor) is watching James Cagney's classic gangster drama The Roaring Twenties. The film inspires him to become a 'big shot.' In a particular scene, Johnny is watching the film in a theater at the sequence when James Cagney is being shot, after which he dies. This is precisely what happens to Johnny, too, in the climax of Bombay Velvet.

5. Amitabh Bachchan as a narrator in films.

6. A couple stands across each other while a train passes by in Mani Ratnam's Guru and Ok Kanmani.

7. Notes from a script: In Vikramaditya Motwane's Udaan, Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) has a Superman figurine. He eventually gifts it to his brother. However, this Superman had a special significance for Rohan. It was a gift from Rohan's mother. The film's script describes a scene (not present in the theatrical version) in the end where he flies the toy with his mother.

8. Notes from a script: In Vikramaditya Motwane's Udaan, the young Arjun (Aayan Boradia) tells his brother Rohan (Rajat Barmecha) that he is like their father Bhairav (Ronit Roy). The father wants to be like his father, a strict disciplinarian, as he asks his young brother Jimmy (Ram Kapoor). The cycle of abuse continues.

9. The knife in the heart in the poster of Rajiv Rai's Gupt.

10. Rats as companions in a survival drama in Vikramaditya Motwane's Trapped and Mathukutty Xavier's Mili.

11. Some interesting notes from Ram Gopal Varma's biography Guns and Thighs : The Story of My Life.

12. In Imtiaz Ali's Love Aaj Kal 2020, Raghu (Randeep Hooda) tells Zoe (Sara Ali Khan) that when he lost Leena (Arushi Sharma), he also lost the person that he was. This is why he keeps searching for himself in other people's stories. The song Shayad from the film also talks about the same sentiment where it says, "Jo tum naa ho, rahenge hum nahin. Jo tum naa ho, toh hum bhi hum nahin." If you aren't there, I won't be able to survive. If you aren't there, I won't be myself either. They lose their identity without love and become someone else.

13. Strangers in Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.

14. Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand and Abhimaan had Lalita Pawar and Bindu, who were more known for their evil characters, in positive roles.

15. Amitabh Bhattacharya and Paigambar:

"Ban liya apna paigambar, tar liya tu saat samandar."—Kabira, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

[You tried being your own messenger of god and crossed all the seven seas.]

"Tu aape sawaali hai, aape hi payambar hai."—Tur Kalleyan, Laal Singh Chaddha

[You are the seeker, you are the messenger of god.]

16. The train played an important role in Imtiaz Ali's Jab We Met. In fact, the film's title was decided by a popular vote with one option related to trains. The audience had to choose Punjab Mail, Ishq Via Bhatinda, and Jab We Met. Not only do some of the most critical things happen related to trains, but there are also a few philosophical references to missing the train, especially from Geet (Kareena Kapoor). At one point, she says, "Pata hai? Mujhe daravne sapne aate hain, kayi maheenon se, ki main na train ke peeche bhaag rahi hoon, aur train chhoot gayee." In the movie's climax, she says, "Ek ajeeb sa darr lag raha tha, jaise kuch galat ho raha hai, jaise koi train chhoot rahi hai." Or the dialogue of the station master, "Zindagi rail ki patri hai. Ek inch ka bend aur aage chal ke meelon ki doori. Ek chhoti si bhool tumhaari saari zindagi badal sakti hai." The train also formed a part of another contrasting symmetry in the movie. In the initial scenes, Aditya (Shahid Kapoor) is about to jump off the train. But Geet sees him opening the door and starts her monologue on how he should not open the door; then, a train passes in the background, and everything goes mute except the sound of the train in the background. Similarly, in the movie's final scene, Geet and Anshuman (Tarun Arora) meet. Anshuman is talking to Geet, and then a train passes in the background, and everything goes mute except the sound of the train. She then realizes what a colossal mistake (akin to what Aditya tried earlier) she is making by getting married to Anshuman. The train, thus, became a metaphor for missed chances in life, and again, Imtiaz Ali uses the element of symmetry to make his point.

17. Sriram Raghavan pays homage to Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anand by recreating its last scene in his film Johnny Gaddar. After Sheshadri (Dharmendra) dies, his recorded voice starts playing, startling Johnny (Neil Nitin Mukesh), like it happens in Anand.

18. Chetan Anand's Haqeeqat has some beautifully shot frames, like this one where the couple is not shown together in a frame; a barrier comes between the two. Or, the other one, where the smoke takes the soldier to his past when he puffs out.

19. List of Shah Rukh Khan's special appearances:

Pehla Nasha (1993)
Army (1996)
Dushman Duniya Ka (1996)
Gudgudee (1997)
Achanak (1998)
Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000)
Gaja Gamini (2000)
Saathiya (2002)
Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005)
Kaal (2005)
Silsiilay (2005)
Alag (2006)
I See You (2006)
Heyy Babyy (2007)
Krazzy 4 (2008)
Bhoothnath (2008)
Luck By Chance (2009)
Dulha Mil Gaya (2010)
Shahrukh Bola "Khoobsurat Hai Tu" (2010)
Always Kabhi Kabhi (2011)
Love Breakups Zindagi (2011)
Bombay Talkies (2013)
Bhoothnath Returns (2014)
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016)
Tubelight (2017)
Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022)
Laal Singh Chaddha (2022)
Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (2022)

20. Shekhar Kapur's Mr. India in Ayan Mukerji's Wake Up Sid and Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva.

21. Notes from the script of Vikas Bahl's Queen.

22. In Vikas Bahl's Queen, the heart piece with the names of Rani (Kangana Ranaut) and Vijay (Rajkummar Rao) is seen in the film's opening moments when the wedding preparations are going on. Moments later, when Vijay refuses to marry Rani, the piece is sent back in the truck.

23. Random trivia on passports:

Isha (Alia Bhatt) is a British citizen in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra.
Harry (Shah Rukh Khan) in Imtiaz Ali's Jab Harry Met Sejal was a Canadian citizen.
Other passports in Zoya Akhtar's Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Anurag Basu's Jagga Jasoos, and Vikramaditya Motwane's Bhavesh Joshi Superhero.

25. In Yash Chopra's Lamhe, Pallavi (Sridevi) gives Viren (Anil Kapoor) a traditional dress. Viren wears it after some hesitation to not hurt Pallavi's feelings. Years later, Pallavi's daughter Pooja (Sridevi) gives Viren a colorful sweater, which again doesn’t go well with his taste, but he wears it to not hurt Pooja. It is also noteworthy the two women give something that goes with their personalities. Pallavi — something traditional — like the way she dresses in the film. Pooja — something colorful — like the way she is in her life.

26. Sumona Chakravarti as a child actor in Indra Kumar's Mann.

27. A lovely montage from Roger Michell's Notting Hill: William Thacker (Hugh Grant) walking through the area of Notting Hill during the four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. Bill Withers' beautiful Aint No Sunshine When She’s Gone plays in the background as William mends his broken heart over the movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts).

28. The glass of water from Prakash Jha's Rajneeti marked the turning point for Samar (Ranbir Kapoor), where he joined politics. He drinks water that turns red. The blood could represent family ties, or maybe revenge.

29. An early sign of time travel in Anurag Kashyap's Dobaaraa. How we often think of travel in terms of time.

30. Apna Time Ayega from Zoya Akhtar's Gully Boy on the kid's shirt in Vasan Bala's Monica, O My Darling.

31. Parallel scenes in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.

32. Milind Dhaimade's Tu Hai Mera Sunday is a film about people who do not want to be a part of the rat race. It is seen in the case of the character of Rashid (Avinash Tiwary). His room is dirty, and a rat scurries all over. He then dreams of a rat in his ear. 'Rules are meant to be broken' is written on his vest. Finally, in the end, his room is clean, and the rat is dead.

33. Shah Rukh Khan and the 'palat' scene from Aditya Chopra's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in Nitesh Tiwari's Dangal.

34. Angels in Nikkhil Advani's Kal Ho Naa Ho.

35. Aditya Lakhia, who played Kachra in Ashutosh Gowariker's Lagaan, has also acted alongside him in Kundan Shah's Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa.

36. Parallels in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Black.

37. Souls and eyes in Abhishek Kapoor's Kedarnath.

38. Art in Sriram Raghavan's Andhadhun.

39. Sriram Raghavan's Andhadhun refers to Tabu's role in Vishal Bhardwaj's Maqbool and Haider.

40. There have been a few Hindi films that mentioned or depicted the liberation of Goa. These are

Johar-Mehmood in Goa (1965)
Saat Hindustani (1969)
Pukar (1983)
Trikal (1985)
Bombay Velvet (2015)

41. Hindi films shot/set in Japan:

Love In Tokyo (1966)
Aman (1967)
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)
Youngistaan (2014)
Tamasha (2015)

42. The first line in Besharam Rang from Siddharth Anand's Pathaan says, "Humein to loot liya milke ishq waalon ne." This is the same line with one different word from the old song. "Humein to loot liya milke husn waalon ne." Kumaar has written the lyrics. He did something similar in Ghunghroo from Siddharth Anand's War, taking a line from an old song Ghunghroo Toot Gaye.