Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (transl. Yet, My Heart is Indian) is a 2000 Indian Hindi comedy thriller film released by Dreamz Unlimited (now Red Chillies Entertainment) on 21 January. The producers derived the title from lines of the song Mera joota hai Japani from the 1955 Raj Kapoor film Shree 420 (originally written by Shailendra and composed by Shankar-Jaikishan). Aziz Mirza directed stars Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, focusing on the TV media war. Ajay Bakshi and Ria Banerjee are two television reporters for rival news channels who try to save the life of a man who has been fixed by politicians for the death of his brother, from a death sentence. The film marked the first attempted by Khan, Chawla, and Mirza under their new production company Dreamz Unlimited, now Red Chillies Entertainment. This film won the IIFA Award for Best Special Effects. The film had a few plot points derived from the 1988 movie Switching Channels.

For the TV series of the same name, see Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (TV Series).

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Directed byAziz Mirza
Produced byShah Rukh Khan
Juhi Chawla
Written bySanjay Chhel (story idea & dialogues)
Screenplay byRaaj Kumar Dahima
Manoj Lalwani
StarringShah Rukh Khan
Juhi Chawla
Johnny Lever
Paresh Rawal
Music byJatin-Lalit
CinematographySantosh Sivan
Edited byChandan Arora
Production
company
Dreamz Unlimited
Release date
  • 21 January 2000 (2000-01-21)
Running time
166 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹13 crore[1]
Box office₹25.46 crore[2]

Plot

Ajay Bakshi (Shahrukh Khan) is a successful loudmouthed reporter, working for a reputed news channel. The rival news channel ropes in Ria Banerjee (Juhi Chawla) to bring him down. Ria is the antithesis of Ajay and uses her intelligence, charm and wits to get her work done.

Pappu Junior alias Choti (Johnny Lever) is a don who is to be ousted from his own gang, owing to his inability to make it big in the crime world. Ajay approaches Choti with an offer: arrange a fake attack on minister Ramakant Dua's (Shakti Kapoor) brother-in-law Madanlal Gupta (Mahavir Shah), on national TV. Choti will earn respect & Ajay's channel will gain ratings. Little does Ajay know that the plan is going to turn too real.

Ramakant Dua's brother-in-law is gunned down by an assailant named Mohan Joshi (Paresh Rawal). Minister Ramakant takes advantage of his brother-in-law's death to gain votes and sympathy; he also instigates a pogrom to ensure his position in the government. Ajay and Ria start getting along as they work together to cover the city riots. Mohan is arrested and to avoid public unrest, the Police Commissioner declares that Mohan is a foreign terrorist. Mohan escapes jail and hides in Ajay and Ria's car.

When Mohan accosts them, Ajay accuses him of being a terrorist. Mohan yells that he is not and tells the two his story: Mohan had a happy family with a wife (Neena Kulkarni) and daughter. One day, his daughter went for an interview and Ramakant's brother-in-law raped and beat her. She died from the trauma and as no lawyer was willing to fight the case due to the perpetrator's political power, Mohan was left helpless, running from door to door for justice. Hence hopeless, he took the law into his own hands and killed the rapist.

Ajay and Ria decide to help Mohan, who sees them as his own kids and helps them realize their love for each other. Ajay hands over the videotape of Mohan's confession to his boss and uncle Kaka (Satish Shah). Unfortunately, the minister has joined hands with rival minister Mushran (Govind Namdeo) as he fears that their secrets might come out if Mohan's truth is revealed. Ajay's boss forms an alliance with Ria's boss Chinoy (Dalip Tahil). The ministers and channel heads come together and trick Ajay and Ria into giving them the tape.

When Mohan is arrested and sentenced to be publicly hanged, Ajay and Ria realize they were tricked. They work together with Choti to get the tape back. Ajay succeeds in broadcasting Mohan's confession just an hour before Mohan's execution and tearfully requests the nation to stop this injustice.

The ministers and policemen try to prevent the protesters from entering the prison ground but the ACP joins Ajay and Ria, thus neutralizing the police barricades. In a blatant mockery and critique of media's selfish obsession with ratings and views, Mohan is made to wear a shirt sporting logos of sponsors and companies. Seconds before the execution, Ajay saves Mohan and the protesters beat up the politicians and chase them out, ensuring their careers are over.

Mohan's execution is called off and the film ends happily as Ria proposes to Ajay, who accepts.

Cast

Music
Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
Studio album by
Jatin Lalit
Released26 November 1999[3]
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length33:26
LabelSony Music
ProducerJatin-Lalit
Jatin Lalit chronology
Mohabbatein
(2000)		 Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani
(1999)		 Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya
(2000)
External audio
Audio Jukebox on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Planet Bollywood[4]

The music was composed by Jatin Lalit who also composed the background score assisted by brother in law Aadesh Shrivastava. All lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar. The music of the film was appreciated. Manish Dhamija of Planet Bollywood gave 8.5 stars stating, "Overall, the album is a pleasant surprise from Jatin-Lalit".[4] the soundtrack and feature song "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani" in particular, with its concept of "Love our country", were well-received and praised for their patriotism. Author M. J. Akbar highlighted the "very heavy winking" by Khan during his performance of the song, accompanying the evocative lyrics.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani"Udit Narayan04:01
2."I'm the Best" (Male Version)Abhijeet Bhattacharya04:19
3."I'm the Best" (Female Version)Jaspinder Narula04:19
4."Banke Tera Jogi"Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik04:43
5."Vande Mataram"Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani04:39
6."Kuch To Bata"Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Alka Yagnik04:32
7."Aur Kya"Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Alka Yagnik05:04
8."Aao Na Aao Na"Jatin Pandit01:53

Box office

Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani grossed ₹18.20 crore (US$2.6 million) in India and $1.67 million (₹7.26 crore) in other countries, for a worldwide total of ₹25.46 crore (US$3.6 million), against its ₹13 crore (US$1.8 million) budget. It had a worldwide opening weekend of ₹7.45 crore (US$1.0 million), and grossed ₹12.50 crore (US$1.8 million) in its first week.[2] It is the 13th-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2000 worldwide.[6]

On Up Close & Personal with PZ, Shah Rukh Khan said that the movie "was the biggest failure for Juhi [Chawla], Aziz [Mirza], and him".

India

It opened on Friday, 21 January 2000, across 240 screens, and earned ₹91 lakh (US$130,000) nett on its opening day. It grossed ₹2.74 crore (US$380,000) nett in its opening weekend, and had a first week of ₹5.08 crore (US$710,000) nett. The film earned a total of ₹10.74 crore (US$1.5 million) nett, and was declared "Flop" by Box Office India.[2]

Overseas

It had an opening weekend of $650,000 (₹2.82 crore) and went on to gross $900,000 (₹3.91 crore) in its first week. The film earned a total of $1.67 million (₹7.26 crore) at the end of its theatrical run.[2]

'Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani' worldwide collections breakdown
Territory Territory wise Collections break-up
India Nett Gross:
₹10.74 crore (US$1.5 million)
Distributor share:
₹5.57 crore (US$780,000)
Total Gross:
₹18.20 crore (US$2.6 million)
International
(Outside India)		 $1.67 million (₹7.26 crore)
Worldwide ₹25.46 crore (US$3.6 million)

Awards
Awards Category Recipients and Nominees Results
International Indian Film Academy Awards Best Special Effects Dreamz Unlimited Won
Best Comedian Johnny Lever Nominated
Filmfare Awards Best Comedian Johnny Lever Nominated
Screen Awards Best Comedian Johnny Lever Nominated
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See also

References
  1. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Budget". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  2. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani Box office". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  3. "Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". iTunes.
  4. "PBDHH: Music Review by Manish Dhamija". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  5. Akbar, M. J. (1 January 2003). Byline. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9788180280030.
  6. "Top Worldwide Grossers 2000". Box Office India. 22 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
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