A remake of Tarun Majumdar’s Bengali classic in which Moushumi Chatterjee had played the chatterbox child-bride, Tarun Majumdar’s second Hindi remake (after the unsuccessful Rahgir) was quite a success. It starred newcomer Rajni Sharma in the title role. The actress did some bit-parts thereafter and vanished from the scene.
Sachin, who played her sober and embarrassed husband, was also appreciated. But it was Asrani and newcomer Kajri who stole the show as the inquisitive relatives. The film recreated the Bengali ambience to perfection and gave Amit Kumar his first major break as a singer. Under R.D. Burman’s subtle stewardship, Amit sang “Bade Achche Lagte Hain” to chartbusting success.
When Amit Kumar sings Bade Achche Lagte Hain, he isn’t just looking down at Nature’s breathtaking creations. He’s also expressing his amazement at the creative processes which made an RD creation a vehicle for much more than mere recreation.
Recalls Amit Kumar, “Pancham called and told my father to send me for a recording the next morning. My father said, ‘What will he do in a recording?’ Pancham said I had to sing a song for a film to be produced by Shakti Samanta and he needed a raw voice. My father said, ‘Main kis khet ka mooli hoon? Why do you need my son when you have me?’ Pancham explained he needed a young voice to sound like a 17-year-old. All this was banter. My father was actually very happy for me. I sang the song Bade Achche Lagte Hain. I never knew it would become so popular. In fact, it didn’t become an overnight rage like Chikni Chameli. It took three years to become popular. Today it’s a household number. Bade Achche Lagte Hain gave me an identity beyond being Kishore Kumar’s son. And I give full credit to Pancham. He forbade me from copying my father. He said no one could sing like him. He said, ‘Sing in your own voice.’ I did.”
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