Armaan (2003 film)

Armaan (English: Desire) is a 2003 Indian Hindi drama film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Gracy Singh, and Randhir Kapoor. The film was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. The film received mixed reviews but was praised for its production and performances, particularly for that of Zinta in a negative role, for which she received a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Performance in a Negative Role.

Armaan
Movie poster for Armaan
Directed byHoney Irani
Produced byDinesh Gandhi
Written byJaved Akhtar
Honey Irani
StarringAmitabh Bachchan
Anil Kapoor
Preity Zinta
Gracy Singh
Randhir Kapoor
Music bySongs:
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Background Score:
Raju Singh
CinematographyRavi Varman
Edited byShirish Kunder
Distributed byAarti Enterprises
Eros Entertainment
Release date
16 May 2003
Running time
159 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹21.4 crore (equivalent to ₹63 crore or US$8.9 million in 2019)
Box office₹11.2 crore (equivalent to ₹33 crore or US$4.6 million in 2019)

Plot

The film is about Dr. Siddharth Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan) and his son Dr. Akash Sinha (Anil Kapoor). Both work in the same hospital founded by Siddharth. Siddharth wishes to run a state of the art hospital but his work and profession means he dedicates his time to his patients.

Soon enough Dr. Neha Mathur (Gracy Singh) walks into Akash's life and they eventually fall in love with each other. The arrival of Sonia Kapoor (Preity Zinta) changes everything between Neha and Akash. Sonia is a jealous and a spoilt woman who is used to having things her own way and it is not long before she wants Akash for herself. She decides that since Akash is the man for her, she can latch on to him by literally 'buying' his love through financial agreement. The agreement states that on marrying Sonia, her father Gulshan Kapoor (Randhir Kapoor) will help finance the hospital project.

As fate would have it, Siddharth Sinha dies in his attempt to bring a child injured in an accident to his hospital. His last wish is for the hospital to be properly completed. Akash, now burdened with the increasing debts to purchase equipment for the hospital, cannot arrange for further funds. Over a broken heart, he agrees to marry Sonia, in order to set up the hospital, and thus fulfilling his father's final wish. Neha understands this and agrees to break up with Akash, but offers to continue working in the same hospital because she is a professional and dedicated person.

After the marriage, Sonia starts suspecting Akash is having an affair with Neha, and starts annoying both of them. She cannot stand Neha, still working at the hospital, and keeps coming up with all kinds of reasons to get Neha out. In one such quest, she is involved in a serious accident and has serious damage to her brain. Now Akash has to operate on her. For a moment he is in a dilemma, because curing Sonia would mean facing her problems again. But he decides that he is a doctor, and a doctor should never discriminate between patients, but his job is to simply save lives.

Akash operates Sonia and she fully recovers. Sonia comes to know that she was operated by Akash, even when she created all kinds of problems for him. Wisdom dawns on Sonia and she asks for Akash's forgiveness and gives him divorce and walks out of his life, freeing him to marry and settle down with Neha.

Cast

Rest of cast listed alphabetically

  • Arun Bali
  • Anjula Bedi
  • Chandan Bisht
  • Preeti Dayal
  • Vallabh Gada
  • Mangala Kenkre
  • Ahmed Khan
  • Rajiv Kumar
  • Ram Bahadur Renu
  • Suhita Thatte
  • Zutshi

Crew

Production

Irani has completed writing the script by September 2002. All four case members were cast first.[1] Bachchan said of the film: "There are no exorbitant histrionics and other loud ingredients that are generally seen in commercial cinema. Even though Armaan is a complete entertainer, it has been made in a dignified manner. The situations aren't exaggerated. The characters are quite real. We were all given the opportunity to work in the realm of reality."[2]

Release and reception

Box office

The film finally performed poorly at the box office.

Critical Response

Armaan was a highly anticipated 2003 release mainly due to its cast. The film upon release met with mixed critical reviews. The film's production and performances were lavishly praised. Most of the praise was directed towards Zinta for her villainous turn.[3] The film however received a fair share of bad reviews as well for its slow pace and lack of freshness. Sanjeev Singh Bariana of The Tribune was impressed with the film's technical detail, and commended Zinta for having "outclassed everyone".[3] Khalid Mohamed, writing for Mid Day, noted Irani's sincerity but was critical of the outcome. He did, however, praise Bachchan as "faultless" and call Zinta "the peppy scene-stealer, achieving her manic mood swings dexterously".[4] Similar views were written by Vinayak Chakravorty of Hindustan Times concluded that there was "nothing to write home about in this film" except for Zinta's performance, who "takes over the script and, indeed, the film, unleashing a brilliant act as the deceptively bubbly but manipulative wife".[5]

Screen magazine's reviewer Deven Sharma described the film as "the film is a truthful depiction of a professional's integrity to his calling and to himself, and despite the somewhat slow pace, manages to tug at your heart." He further noted the cast, writing, "The four principal actors have risen above their roles and have given splendid performances."[6] Ziya Us Salam of The Hindu wrote of Hirani's direction: "Her ways have to be admired, her lines good enough to bear repetition, her sensitivity worthy of emulation. However, let's refrain from too much adulation as her debut venture Armaan has its bleak moments too, just as it has its sunny ones." He further praised Singh "poised, pleasant" acting and Zinta for her "verve and vivacity" as a "blundering, scheming spoilt child who marries innocence with guile", hailing her performance as "just about perfect".[7] Sify called the film "an entertainer" which is "pleasing to the eye" and with a good storyline. The reviewer noted Irani for having "brought out some of the best moments in Amitabh Bachchan's and Anil Kapoor's career", and took note of Zinta's screen presence, commending her for proving "she is one among those actresses who can combine good looks with histrionics".[8]

Jitesh Pillai of The Times of India was left with "mixed feelings" about the film, disliking the film's "crippling pace", but appreciating the credibility of the script, the cinematography, and the actors, calling Bachchan "brilliant", Kapoor "first-rate" and commending Singh for bringing dignity to her underdeveloped role and Zinta for adding "vim, vigour and sparkles with comic timing" to her part.[9] Rediff.com's critic Deepa Gumaste was particularly critical of the film, disliking the performances and finding the overall product to be "way off the mark".[10] Namrata Joshi of Outlook found the film disappointing.[11] Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama praised the acting but concluded that Armaan "[12] Another review for Mid Day, by Narendra Kusnur, wrote it off as extremely slow but liked the performances.[13]

Manish Gajjar from the BBC wrote that "thanks to Honey Irani's approach, we revisit the same formula with added freshness and zest", further noting Kapoor for delivering "his best", Zinta for her "superb acting", and Bachchan for "outstanding performance".[14] Derek Elley of Variety was pleased with the film: "Headlined by veteran Amitabh Bachchan, but largely driven by fresh playing from the other three leads, pic moves at a brisk pace and isn’t overburdened by too much extreme emotion or the usual formulae. Bollywood watchers should keep an eye out for this well-scripted item." He further noted the most colourful performance by Zinta, who, "though playing an archetypal bad sort, manages to make the self-obsessed Soniya an almost sympathetic character through the sheer vivaciousness of her part-child, part-vamp playing."[15]

Accolades

Zinta was nominated for two awards: the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role at the 49th Filmfare Awards, and the Producers Guild Film Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[16]

Music
Armaan
Soundtrack album by
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Released
4 April 2003 (India)
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Label
ProducerShankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy chronology
Nayee Padosan
(2003)		 Armaan
(2003)		 Kuch Naa Kaho
(2003)

The movie soundtrack contains 8 songs composed by the award-winning trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. Lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

SongSinger(s)
Aao Milke Gaayen Aisa Gaana Mahalakshmi Iyer, Shankar Mahadevan, Udit Narayan, Amitabh Bachchan
Jaane Yeh Kya Ho Gaya Alka Yagnik, Shankar Mahadevan
Jugal Bandi - Instrumental
Main Gaoon Tum Gao Mahalakshmi Iyer, Shaan, Udit Narayan
Mere Dil Ka Tumse Yeh Kehna K. S. Chitra
Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye Ho Sonu Nigam, Sunidhi Chauhan
Tu Hi Bata Zindagi Roop Kumar Rathod
Tu Hi Bata Zindagi Shreya Ghoshal

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Planet Bollywood[17]

The album garnered positive responses from critics. Bollywood Hungama's Joginder Tuteja in his review called the album a class product which has though been composed keeping the elite in mind, still strikes a chord with everyone alike[18] while The Hindu review, described the score as uplifting.[19] Planet Bollywood was full of praise for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy - " For Armaan, Shankar Ehsaan Loy have shown us why their talent is worth our attention and how they are different from other great composers, like A.R. Rahman"[17]

The track "Mere Dil Ka Tumse Yeh Kehna" was also featured in the 5th edition of 100 Love Songs To Die For (Limited Edition) by T-Series.

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See also

References
  1. "Amitabh Bachchan sold on Honey Irani's Armaan - Times of India". The Times of India. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  2. K. Jha, Subhash (15 May 2003). "'Armaan is a gracious film'". Rediff. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  3. Bariana, Sanjeev Singh (18 May 2003). "Preity Zinta all the way". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.
  4. Mohamed, Khalid (18 May 2003). "What's up doc?". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 5 February 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  5. Chakravorty, Vinayak (17 May 2003). "Armaan". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  6. Sharma, Deven (23 May 2003). "Choices..." Screen. Express Group. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  7. Us Salam, Ziya (19 May 2003). "Some fulfilment, some negation". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 April 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  8. "Armaan: Philanthropy, love et al". Sify. 16 May 2003. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  9. Pillai, Jitesh (21 May 2003). "Armaan". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  10. Gumaste, Deepa (16 May 2003). "'Armaan' is way off the mark". rediff.com. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  11. Joshi, Namrata (2 June 2003). "Armaan". Outlook. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  12. Adarsh, Taran (17 May 2003). "Armaan Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  13. Kusnur, Narendra (17 May 2003). "Slow, unsteady". Mid Day. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  14. Gajjar, Manish (16 May 2003). "Armaan". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  15. Elley, Derek (18 May 2003). "Armaan". Variety. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  16. "Preity Zinta: "I am dying to win an award in the 'Best Villain' category" - The 49th Manikchand Filmfare Awards". Filmfare. 2004. Archived from the original on 12 March 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  17. "Music Review - Armaan". Planet-Bollywood. 22 March 2003. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  18. "Armaan : Music Review by Joginder Tuteja". Bollywoodhungama.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  19. "Chords & Notes". The Hindu. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
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