Saajan

About the film

Saajan (lit. 'Beloved') is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Lawrence D'Souza and produced by Sudhakar Bokade. The film is a remake of Bengali film Apan Amar Apan. Loosely based on the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), it stars Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, and Salman Khan in lead roles, with Kader Khan, Reema Lagoo and Laxmikant Berde in supporting roles. Nadeem–Shravan composed the film's music whereas Sameer wrote the lyrics of the songs.

Saajan was released on 30 August 1991, and grossed ₹18.35 crore worldwide, thus becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 1991. It was unofficially remade in Telugu as Allari Priyudu.

Plot

Aakash meets Aman, a boy with a disability, and they become best friends. Aakash's father, Rajiv Verma, a wealthy businessman, adopts Aman. Rajiv's wife, Kamla, and Aakash also accept Aman as their son and elder brother, respectively.

Grown-up, Aakash and Aman bond well but are still at loggerheads. Carefree, flexible, and gregarious, Aakash is a social worker. More seriously, Aman writes shayaris and poems, using the pseudonym Sagar, due to which his fan following increases and he gains millions of fans. A fan of his is the pretty bookstore owner Pooja Saxena, who frequently writes fan letters.

Aman goes to Ooty for a business project where he meets Pooja. While he recognizes her from her letters, she doesn't know he is Sagar. They become friends, and Aman decides to reveal that he is Saagar. When some goons misbehave with Pooja, Aman tries to save her but is unable to. The police officer who arrives to avert the situation points out how Aman's disability hampered him from protecting Pooja from the goons. Considering himself unworthy of Pooja, he doesn't reveal that he is Sagar.

Production

Aamir Khan was offered Aman's role but refused as he did not connect with the role. Sanjay Dutt was finalised after this.

Reception

The film was a blockbuster and The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1991.

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Nadeem-Shravan, with lyrics by Sameer and Faiz Anwar (for "Pehli Bar Mile Hain"). The album was the year's top seller, with around 7 million copies sold.

Vocals are supplied by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Salman Khan, Kumar Sanu for Sanjay Dutt, and Anuradha Paudwal and Alka Yagnik both for Madhuri Dixit. Pankaj Udhas sang another version of Jeeye Toh Jeeye.

The soundtrack of the film fetched Nadeem-Shravan their second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. Sanu won his second Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai". All the singers were nominated for Filmfare Awards. The Composition of this song "Bahut Pyar Karte Hai" was copied from the song "Bahut khubsurat Hai" from Abshar (1978), which was sung by Mehdi Hassan. The soundtrack was #16 on the list of "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time", as compiled by Planet Bollywood.

Key details