Khuda Gawaah

1993

The news of Amitabh Bachchan retiring from cinema was in the air. Every movie was like Sachin Tendulkar’s innings in 2013. A year ago I saw Hum. One of my all-time favorite movies ever. Then came Khuda Gawaah.

The movie was good, or so it seemed then. The only thing I remember was my uncle saying “Bachchanwa ne pachchaas hajaar ki shewani pehni hai us gaane mein..”. I watch the song, the sherwaani seemed worthy of pachchaas hajaar. Then I forget the movie.

The only thing I remember about that movie was Badshah Khan riding a horse in the climax. And Benazir chanting “Woh aayega..woh aayega..”.

21 years later..

I started watching Khuda Gawah on youtube. And to my surprise I watched the whole three hours and thirteen minutes of it. It was more nostalgia than anything else that kept me through those tormenting three hours. And of course, Amitabh Bachchan. But then came the climax.

In the words of Yoda, “One of the epic-est climax ever seen, I have”. The sight of Badshah Khan riding the horse brought back those years when Salman Khan - the manliest of all the Khans - was a lover boy. This is what a Khan is. This is what a Khan should be.

The songs were majestic. And I don’t know how Sridevi pulled a Benazir. Danny was, well, Danny. But Bachchan saab, this is why the world fell in love with you – angry man (young or old notwithstanding). Mallika Sherawat was right only once in her life when she said that Amitabh Bachchan running is the sexiest thing ever. Well, Amitabh Bachchan riding is the most majestic thing ever.

What a climax. Man, what a climax.