How many Hindi films have been shot in Delhi ? Well, plenty ! Be it the demand of the story line or just a song sequence, film makers have often flirted with Delhi. Lodhi Gardens and the Buddha Jayanti Park were the farourite locations for the directors of 60s and 70s to shoot a song sequence or two for their films. Director Yash Chopra had a special fascination for Delhi and that showed in his films. Some part of most of his films’ story had Delhi as the backdrop.
The earliest film in the genre of Delhi being the part of the films, that comes to my mind is, Navketan’s ‘Tere Ghar ke Samne’. Directed by Vijay Anand, the film had the complete story line based in Delhi. A complete song, with Dev Anand romancing Nutan and singing, ‘Dil ka Bhanwar Kare Pukar…..’, was shot inside the Qutub Minar (those who have missed on being inside the Qutub Minar can avail from this song!). Another one from the same banner and the director, was ‘Nau Do Gyarah’. The film’s story begins in Delhi and then moves on to Bombay in hero Dev Anand’s truck while he sings ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyaa Ke, Humse Kuchh Na Boliye. Then there was Nasir Hussain’s, ‘Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon’ which had some part of the film shot in the locales of Delhi and another, Shashi Kapoor Babita starrer, ‘Ek Shriman Ek Shrimati’ which had a couple of songs and scenes that were shot in Delhi.
In the early 70s – which also was the period of the beginning of the ‘off beat cinema’ in the bollywood – Basu Chatterji made Rajanigandha – the debut hindi film of Amol Palekar and Vidya Sinha. The first half of the film was extensively shot in Delhi.
Sai Paranjpe (my favourite director after Vijay Anand) who made her debut as a director in hindi films in the early 80s with ‘the cult film’, “Chashme Baddoor’, chose to shoot the whole film in Delhi.
Talking of cult, and hindi films shot in Delhi, ‘Rang De Basanti’ is one film, of late, that had Delhi in it’s entire story line and was extensively shot in the locales of Delhi.
Dil Se, Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai, Chini Kum, Dus Kahaniyan, Fana, Dil Dosti Etc, Khosla ka Ghosla and Sunday are few more films that come to my mind. Not to forget the mention of Meera Nair’s, ‘Monsoon Wedding’ !
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You are absolutely right about director Yash Chopra having a fascination for Delhi, particularly New Delhi, as a locale for his films.
Who can forget the romantic songs of “Tere Ghar ke Saamne”! I remember Dev Anand wooing Nutan on the balcony and spiralling stairs of the Qutub Minaar with the lilting “Dil ka bhanwar kare pukaar” the playback for which was done by Mohammad Rafi. Mr Rafi has a special romantic-cum-mischievous tinge in his voice which no other singer has.
Sai Paranjape’s “Chashme Baddoor” happens to be one of my favourite films which has been shot in beautiful and lush locales in New Delhi. I am fascinated by the open-sky restaurant where Deepti Naval has her ice-cream (tutti-frutti)and Faroque Shaikh his coffee. However, I have no idea what the place is. Any clues?
Mani Ratnam’s “Dil Se”, partly shot in Delhi, is a cult film which I just love and can watch it over and over again without getting tired. It has stupendous locales, the cinematography is amazing, and the music is mind-blowing.
Mira Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding”, “Rang de Basanti” and “Khosla ka Ghosla” are some of my favourite off-beat films which have been shot in Delhi. The first has been shot mainly in the city while the other two show both the metropolis as well as its outskirts.
I am sure that I have watched many other films besides the ones that you have mentioned that have Delhi as a locale but whose names I can’t recall right now. But when I do, I will definitely mention them in a post.
However, a major portion of Gulzar’s acclaimed tele-serial “Mirza Ghalib” has been shot in Delhi (if I am not mistaken).
Then there are the numerous Bollywood songs which have Delhi or Dilli in their title like
“Dil ka rishta jodd liya hai
Tumse oh Dilliwaali
Milli pyar ko azaadi
Jhat mangni te patt shaadi”.
I can’t seem to remember the name of the film right now but I am sure the song was picturised on Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. Please correct me if I am wrong.
‘Chhak De’is one more film that should have been added to the list of films shot in Delhi. A lot of scenes of the film were shot in the National Stadium of Delhi behind India Gate.
Yash Chopra definitely has a soft corner for Delhi – Silsila, Chandni, Trishul (where one finds even a ref to Faridabad).
His protege Kunal Kohli continued it with Fanaa. And Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic. Bits of Hum Tum too.
Some others I recall-
Kasak – Stg Rishi Kapoor and Neelam
Bewafaa – had a sequence in the then newly opened Metro
Sirf Tum – stg Sanjay Kapoor… quite a large portion of it and one film that got its Delhi geography correct and even the right DTC bus route to Saket!
IIRC director of Sirf Tum also made Hum Ho Gaye Aapke
(Fardeen Khan) and that too was based in Delhi.
Kurbaan -Saif and Kareena meet in Delhi.
Satish Kaushik,a Delhiite, set his Tushhar Kapoor- Kareena starrer Mujhe Kuchh Kahna Hai here ( tho' mutilating the geography…imagine climbing down stairs frm a Barakhamba Road building and ending up in Ansal Plaza ;-p)
Ahista Ahista – Abhay Deol and Soha Ali Khan walk past McDonald of B-block, CP.
And love blossoms!
Sooraj Barjatya's Vivaah had Anupam Kher giving life's gyaan to his son Shaid Kapur in the same white corridors
In d film Shahid is Dilli-munda who marries Madhopor ki ladki(loosely fashioned on Mathura)
Salman Khan in Chori Chori Chupke Chupke is shown a Delhi rich biz-man. Also has the mandatory India Gate ke saamne scene.
Teenage romance Mera Pahla Pahla Pyaar (stg Ruslan Mumtaz) blooms in Delhi, before moving onto Paris.
North /South block, India Gate roundabout and CP are most shot areas now
@Mohsin – Dil ka rishta jod diya is frm Anjaane Mein.
Overall not many songs on Delhi, or containing 'Dilli'. Sad, no iconic no. like 'ae dil hai mushqil' or 'Ee hai bambai nagariya tu dekh babua' for Bombay/Mumbai.
Delhii6 had the chance, but they squandered it away with an awfully pathetic title song.
'Shaharon mein se shahar suna, shahar suna tha Dilli' from Chandni is a notable one.
Gulzar mentions the city in the bumper hit – 'Kajra re' ( Lines that go- Tujhse milna poorani Dilli mein, chhod aaye nishaani Dilli mein, Ballimaran se Daribe talak, teri meri kahaani Dilli mein).
And then there is – Tadpaye tarsaaye re saari raat jagaaye re pyaar tera Dilli ki sardi (Zameen). No comments there ;-))