Celebrating 50 Years of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Mili: A Unique Take on Anand
A Landmark Year for Bollywood
The year 1975 marked a significant chapter in Bollywood history, featuring iconic films such as Jai Santoshi Maa, a low-budget mythological film that achieved remarkable success, Pratiggya (which Dharmendra claimed was superior to Sholay), Deewaar, Sanyasi (Manoj Kumar's comeback), Julie (with the tagline 'Lovely Laxmi as Joyous Julie'), and the legendary blockbuster Sholay.
Mili: A Noteworthy Contribution
Mili, while not one of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's most celebrated works, still holds significance. It can be viewed as a gender-reversed adaptation of Anand, where a beloved character faces a terminal illness.
A Humorous Perspective
Hrishikesh Mukherjee often shared a humorous anecdote. When a journalist inquired why death was a recurring theme in his films, except for Sabse Bada Sukh, which was a commercial failure, he quipped, 'Oh, you are mistaken. Someone did die in Sabse Bada Sukh: the unfortunate distributor.'
Themes of Loss and Light
Mili, released in 1975, encapsulated two of Mukherjee's recurring themes: the pain of losing a loved one and the uplifting presence of a cheerful outsider.
The Sunshine Characters
In films like Anand, Bawarchi, Buddha Mil Gaya, Khubsoorat, and Mili, characters portrayed by Rajesh Khanna, Om Prakash, Rekha, and Jaya Bhaduri radiated positivity.
Friendship and Inspiration
Mukherjee expressed his joy in crafting such vibrant characters, stating, 'I always sought friends who brought laughter into my life. I was serious, much like Amitabh Bachchan's character in Anand, searching for my own 'Anand' or 'Khubsoorat.' At one point, Raj Kapoor was my closest friend.'
Reflections on Anand and Mili
The fear of losing Raj Kapoor influenced both Anand and Mili. Mukherjee acknowledged that Mili was a gender-swapped version of Anand, with Jaya embodying a female counterpart to Rajesh Khanna's character. Amitabh Bachchan's role in Mili was a darker variation of his character from Anand.
The Pursuit of Happiness
Mukherjee remarked, 'If you examine my films from the beginning, such as Musafir, they all revolve around the quest for happiness through the company of joyful individuals. Anand Sehgal and Mili Khanna were akin to twins, both determined to remain optimistic in the face of mortality.'