Manmohan Desai Laxmikant-Pyarelal AMAR AKBAR ANTHONY, Musical Blockbuster.

In sixties Manmohan Desai has directed many hit films under the different banners. He was considered to be the successful director of the sixties / seventies / eighties. 

Manmohan Desai was known for making family-centered, action, song and dance films which catered to the tastes of the Indian masses and through which he achieved great success. Manmohan Desai’s common plot was lost and found formula with a happy end. 

Prior of ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ Manmohan Desai have directed followings of the Films, with various music directors, mentioned in brackets.

1957 Janam Janam  Ke Phere   (S N Tripathi)

1960 Chhaliya  (Kalyanji-Anandji)

1963 Bluffmaster (Kalyanji-Anandji)

1966 Badtameez (Shankar-Jaikishan)

1968 Kismat (O P Nayyar)

1970 Sachcha Jhutha (Kalyanji-Anandji)

1972 Rampur Ka Laxman ( R D Burman)

1972 Bhai Ho To Aisa (Sonik-Omi)

1973 Aa Gale Lag Ja (R D Burman)

1974 Roti (Laxmikant-Pyarelal). 

When Manmohan Desai started his production house named MKD Films, he wanted to have top class, inform artists for his very first film as a Producer and Director. It was a star-studded film with Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi, Shabana Aazmi in lead roles. Pran and Jeevan in supporting roles.

Music directors duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal in supreme form, then and considered for the music. The association of Manmohan Desai with Laxmikant-Pyarelal started from “Roti.

Music was an asset for Amar Akbar Anthony. The songs became popular. Most of the songs are sung by Mohammad Rafi except one (My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves), by Kishore Kumar.  There are two songs that remain special for Amar Akbar Anthony. 

Amitabh Bachchan’s character name was Anthony Fernandies initially. Laxmikant-Pyarelal requested Manmohan Desai to change it to Anthony Gonsalves. Pyarelal wanted to pay tribute to Mr. Anthony Gonsalves, the violin guru of Pyarelal. Manmohan Desai agreed. The song was recorded. The song “My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves” is Pyarelal’s tribute to his violin teacher. 

The song  .Hum Ko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar Kya Kare

A  HISTORIC  MOMENT  OF  HINDI  FILM  MUSIC  WHEN  FOUR  SENSATIONAL  SINGERS..Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar and Mukesh at a one stage for the FIRST and LAST time for the recording of the song from Manmohan Desai’s “Amar Akbar Anthony” .  

Binaca Geetmala:-

Almost all the songs of “Amar Akbar Anthony ” appeared in the weekly countdown show. In the 1977 finals of Binaca Geetmala

41 Position :- Tayyab Ali Pyar Ka Dushman

11 Position :-  Anhonee Ko Honee Kar De

02 Position :- Parda Hai Parda 

Filmfare Awards for ”Amar Akbar Anthony”

Best Film:- “Amar Akbar Anthony” (Manmohan Desai)

Best Actor:- Amitabh Bachchan

Best Music:- Laxmikant-Pyarelal

Best Editing. 

Amar Akbar Anthony was Musical Hit. The songs of AAA are still popular 

All the songs of Amar Akbar Anthony are written by Anand Bakshi. 

1   PARDA HAI PARDA …..Mohmmad Rafi

 Qawwali style composition, brilliantly rendered. Rafi Saab sang this song at the age of 53 years old for 25 years old Rishi Kapoor in this film. The divine talent of Rafi Saab. The sweetness in the voice is beyond words. What a variation in the pitch !!! Only Rafi Saab can do this. Awesomely orchestrated by using MANDOLIN, SHEHNAI / NADASWARAM synchronised with amazing DHOLAK / TABLA rhythm. Rishi Kapoor rocks.  

2  SHIRDIWALE SAI BABA…..Mohmmad Rafi

When it comes to devotional songs,, Rafi Saab is the best. It also has a Qawwali rhythm. Clapping  (ताली ) nicely intermixed with the DHOLAK rhythm. Interludes are orchestrated with MANDOLIN, SHEHNAI / NADASWARAM . Rishi Kapoor performs best. 

3  TAYYAB ALI PYAR KA …..Mohmmad Rafi and Mukari. 

Once again a Qawwali rhythm. Rishi Kapoor dominates the song.

4  MY NAME IS ANTHONY…..Kishore Kumar and  Amitabh Bachchan. 

This song will always be remembered for the tribute to the ‘Violin” “GURU” of Mr. PYARELAL Mr Anthony Gonsalvis. The song has western beats. All the BRASS instruments are brilliantly used, synchronizing with BONGO drum rhythm. Amitabh Bachchan’s rendering in the “interludes” is just brilliant. As an actor Amitabh Bachchan is the best in this song. 

5  HUMKO TUMSE HO GAYA…Lata Mangeshkar, M. Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh

All the three “mukhada” with different tunes, all the three “interludes” have different musical notes.

6  ANHONEE KO HONEE KAR DE….Shailendra Sing, Kishore Kumar, Mahendra K. 

Very popular peppy song. 

Amar Akbar Anthony is one of the biggest musical blockbusters of all time. The partnership of Manmohan Desai with Laxmikant-Pyarelal gets a firm grip. Later this combo delivered a few more musical hits, five of them with Amitabh Bachchan.

Dharam Veer 1977

Parvarish 1977

Chacha Bhatija 1977

Suhag  1979

Naseeb  1981

Desh Premi 1982

Coolie  1983

Deewana Mastana 1998. 

Ajay Poundarik. Atlanta (Georgia) USA