Manmohan Desai’s Amar Akbar Anthony: A Fluke Hit or Timeless Masterpiece?

 A renowned director renowned for his lavish storytelling and larger-than-life characters, Manmohan Desai is one of the names that stands out the most in the vibrant tapestry of Indian cinema. Out of all the cinematic gems that Desai has created, “Amar Akbar Anthony” is particularly noteworthy since it embodies his distinct style of entertaining. Amazingly, though, Desai once called it his “least favourite film” and wrote off its popularity as a “fluke hit.”
 The 1977 film “Amar Akbar Anthony” is a classic Bollywood masala, skillfully fusing aspects of romance, action, comedy, and drama. The narrative is about three brothers who were reared in three distinct faiths—Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism—after being split up as children and then reunited under unusual circumstances. With a cast that included Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead parts, the movie was an immediate hit.

But Manmohan Desai’s first impression of the movie was anything but positive, even in spite of its lasting appeal and iconic significance in Indian cinema. He publicly acknowledged being surprised by its success in interviews, even going so far as to call it his “least favourite” work. Both supporters and detractors…
 There is room for speculation as to why Desai appeared to be so critical of his own work. Maybe the director’s concept did not quite match the finished result as it appeared on screen, leading to an instance of creative disappointment. Perhaps Desai, who was well-known for his meticulousness, thought that “Amar Akbar Anthony” didn’t live up to his own high expectations even if it was a huge commercial success.

However, Desai’s designation of the movie as a “fluke hit” begs interesting concerns of what constitutes success in the motion picture business. Can a movie’s commercial success eclipse its artistic value in a time when box office performance and audience response reign supreme? Is the public’s praise more important than the filmmaker’s own opinion?
 Recall that Desai made these statements during a period of dramatic transformation in the Indian film industry. A time of change, the 1970s saw filmmakers experimenting with new genres and narrative approaches. With its vibrant story and unique blend of genres, “Amar Akbar Anthony” became a symbol of the time against this backdrop, encapsulating the spirit of the moment.

Looking back, Desai’s evaluation of “Amar Akbar Anthony” might seem illogical, if not contradictory. How could a movie that has been captivating viewers for decades be written off as a simple “fluke hit”? Maybe even Desai, after all his early misgivings, realised the design’s timeless charm.
 In the end, “Amar Akbar Anthony” continues to be a monument to Manmohan Desai’s extraordinary storytelling talent and his capacity to break free from genre norms. The film’s legacy lives on as a brilliant example of Bollywood’s golden age—a cinematic spectacle that enthrals fans with its ageless charm and limitless imagination—even though the filmmaker may have miscalculated the film’s effect at the time.


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