A very Happy Birthday Mr Amitabh Bacchan

Wishing Mr Amitabh Bachhan, the biggest superstar of Indian cinema a very happy birthday and a tribute to the living legend for his enormous achievment and mamoth persona. Wish him a greater success and health and wellness and glory.

Vijay, Anthony, Amit, Jai, Vicky… Each of his filmy characters became epitomes in life… larger than life yet humble.He tried each every nook and corner of cinema. Acting, dubbing, singing, ads, producing… Hero, anti-hero, baddie, supportive, cameo… He even tried to spread his persona into politics too. Sadly, it didn’t work out and he backed off at the proper juncture. Then he stepped in to the small screens…and his career took ahead like never before. With ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’, Amitabh stormed into many more hearts and enjoyed an adorable status among the people. He went on to create a new stream for other stars to follow, a career beyond cinema, in television. He can be seen with same ease delivering intriguing argument with Lord or healing a mirror in an inact of drunken himself or protraying a forced husband still searching for the lost love of yester years. Versatility is not just small word to descibe his wide range of acting credentials. But for me what is most fascinating about him his protrayal of 'Angry Young Man ' of 1970s'.

'Angry Young Man' a term inspired by realist London theatre of the 1950s, in particular Osborne’s Look Back In Anger. This defiant character, who appeared across several films in the 1970s and 80s, was typically called Vijay ('Victorious'). Created by writers Salim (Khan) – Javed (Akhtar) as an epic hero rather than a novelistic type, In some ways his roles draw parallel to Karna in the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. Like Karna, Vijay faces frequent childhood injustice: seeing his parents killed (Zanjeer), growing up without the father who abandoned his mother before marriage (Trishul), or losing the whole family after a dispute at work (Deewaar) or a disgraced Merchant Navy working as coal labour. He embodies the besieged male hero in a precarious world who fights a personal war against injustice – specifically the wrongs done to him and his family.

The power of these films is their ability to portray an outraged but sympathetic character. Despite his ongoing struggles, Amitabh as Vijay maintains his self-respect, gains respect from others and is a model of moral rectitude, especially in his interaction with women, elders and children but also in upholding his religious beliefs. He is fierce but controlled and noble, never losing his dignity but robbing others of theirs. Vijay is not a rebel. His fury is not random but focused on righting moral wrongs, which he pursues at the risk of his own life.

Amitabh as Vijay differs from other 1970s 'AYMs' such as Bruce Lee, Robert De Niro or Clint Eastwood. He is not an isolated vigilante subversively taking the law into his own hands but rather an upright man, motivated by family justice. The viewer empathises with Vijay’s anger and his humiliation. He is sad but admirable in his self-sacrifice and fortitude, even when he is doing wrong. We share his pain. We believe he is right, at least most of the time, and that his desire for vengeance is virtuous.

It is perhaps for this reason that Amitabh’s Angry Young Man had such far-reaching cultural impact.He epitomised a heroic masculinity whilst providing a link to India, its traditional values and a proud, unapologetic sense of self. He was also celebrated as the ideal son, deeply attached to his mother, who would look after family when the father failed. His brooding good looks (and lack of interest in women) added to his appeal.

Amitabh Bachchan, Hindi film’s biggest star, is a great communicator of the moral sentiments while Shahrukh Khan the other bigger star of the country often specializes on depicting tenderness.Indian film still wants the moral hero and, even today, there is only one that will do.

Once again wish Mr Bachhan a very happy birthday.