Aasha

About the film

Aasha (transl. Hope) is a 1980 Indian Hindi-language drama film, produced and directed by J. Om Prakash under the Filmyug Pvt. Ltd. banner. It stars Jeetendra, Reena Roy, Rameshwari and music composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The film is recorded as a "Blockbuster" at the box office. It was remade in Telugu as Anuraga Devatha (1982) and in Tamil as Sumangali (1983)

Over the years, the film has become a cult classic. Director J. Om Prakash included in Aasha (1980) the first screen appearance of his grandson Hrithik Roshan.

Plot

Deepak (Jeetendra) is a truck driver who gives a lift to a famous singer Aasha (Reena Roy) when her vehicle breaks down. They become friends. Deepak is already in love with Mala (Rameshwari), whom he marries. Aasha wishes him well calling him "dost" (friend), even though she has fallen in love with him.

Deepak has an accident, and everyone believes that he is dead. His grieving mother tells a pregnant Mala to go away. Mala goes home to her father, but he dies. An upset Mala jumps from a bridge into the water. She is saved by members of a temple community but has lost her eyesight. She gives birth to a daughter and names her Deepamala, thus combining her and her husband's names.

Deepak is also alive. when he comes home his mother is overjoyed. She tells him of Mala's suicide and he becomes depressed.

Production

Director-producer J. Om Prakash enlivened Aasha by having his camera crew secretly shoot without the boy's knowledge as his beloved grandson — Hrithik Roshan, who grew up to become one of India's most acclaimed superstar actors. In 1980, he was a child aged 6, who danced spontaneously while visiting grandpa's set during a song sequence. As J. Om Prakash later recounted the events:

"The song was to be shot on Jeetendra. Hrithik was on the sets, and he liked the interlude music very much and started dancing. I had asked my cameraperson and crew to be ready. I asked Hrithik if he liked the song, and he said, "Yes, Deda, it is lovely music." I replayed the music and he started dancing, and we shot it without his knowledge. When the music got over, the entire studio applauded excitingly. The remaining part of the music was to be shot in the same way with Jeetu. After Jeetu's shot was over, he came to me and said, "For God's sake don't shoot a single more shot in this film with this boy, otherwise the audience will hoot my performance!" That was a remark that came from Jeetu (Jeetendra, the male lead of Aasha and a major Hindi film star)."

Awards

Best Lyricist – Anand Bakshi for "Sheesha Ho Ya Dil Ho"

Key details