Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
| Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Mansoor Khan |
| Written by | Nasir Hussain Mansoor Khan |
| Produced by | Nasir Hussain |
| Starring | Aamir Khan Ayesha Jhulka Deepak Tijori Mamik Singh Pooja Bedi Kulbhushan Kharbanda |
| Cinematography | Najeeb Khan |
| Edited by | Zafar Sultan Dilip Kotalgi |
| Music by | Jatin–Lalit |
Production company | Nasir Hussain Films |
| Distributed by | Eros Worldwide |
Release date |
|
Running time | 169 mins |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | ₹52 million[1] |
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (transl. The one who wins is the king) also abbreviated as JJWS is a 1992 Indian Hindi-language coming-of-age sports film, directed and co-written by Mansoor Khan,[2] and produced and co-written by Nasir Hussain. The film stars Aamir Khan,[3] Ayesha Jhulka, Deepak Tijori, Pooja Bedi, Mamik Singh and Kulbhushan Kharbanda, whilst Aamir's brother Faisal Khan makes a special appearance. The music was by Jatin–Lalit.
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was inspired by the 1979 American film Breaking Away.[4][5] It won two Filmfare Awards, including Best Film.[6] It was remade in Telugu in 1999 as Thammudu which in turn was remade in multiple languages.[7]
Plot
In the hills of Dehradun, a marathon cycle race is the main event at the annual inter-school sports meet. Ratan Lal of Model College, the main contender to the defending champion, Shekhar Malhotra of the elite Rajput School, narrowly loses to him at the finish line. Ratan's father, Ramlal, an ex-champion himself, vows to buy Ratan an expensive new cycle so that he can compete better next year.
Ramlal gathers money for Ratan's cycle from the earnings at his cafe in the town square, which Ratan also helps to run. Meanwhile, Shekhar, who is a rich playboy, sets his eyes on a new entrant to Queens College, Devika. He asks her out on a picnic, but she finds him at the spot romancing her classmate instead. Ratan's younger brother, Sanjay, witnesses all this, and offers a ride to Devika to escape from Shekhar. He pretends to come from a wealthy family to befriend Devika, then helps her plot her revenge against Shekhar. Soon, Devika and Sanjay start going out, and he resorts to stealing from his father's savings to buy Devika expensive gifts.
At an inter-school dance competition event, Devika learns of Sanjay's actual background when she sees him participate on the group from Model College, a modest school visited by the town locals. She dumps Sanjay the next day, by showing up at his cafe with Shekhar. A fight breaks out between Sanjay and Shekhar's friends following this, and one of Shekhar's party gets injured by Ratan. To exact revenge on him, Shekhar's friends accost Ratan the nextorning while he is out training alone. The fight ends with Ratan falling off a cliff, and ending up in the hospital with severe injuries. He enters a coma, but awakes. However, he will not physically recover in time to compete at the annual sports event.
Ramlal, who has bought the new cycle already and wished to see Ratan win, is dejected. Sanjay starts taking more responsibility for the cafe, and also announces an intention to compete in the cycle race, in place of Ratan. He is aided by his tomboy best friend Anjali, who helps him train and prepare for the race. Seeing her dedication for him, Sanjay starts reciprocating her romantic feelings for him.
During the race, Shekhar leads by easily breaking away from the field. The Rajput group seem to have no competition, but Sanjay follows and manages to keep up. They fall behind the main group after going off-track and having another fight. Resuming the race, Shekhar and Sanjay catch up with the leaders. Shekhar emerges in the lead and Sanjay chases him down in second place. At the final turn, he overtakes Shekhar to win the race in a reversal from the previous year. Ratan feels vindicated as Sanjay celebrates Model's first victory in decades.
Cast
- Aamir Khan as Sanjaylal Sharma a.k.a. Sanju aka Sanjay Thapar
- Ayesha Jhulka as Anjali
- Deepak Tijori as Shekhar Malhotra
- Mamik Singh as Ratanlal Sharma a.k.a. Ratan
- Kiran Zaveri Bhatia as Kalpana
- Sooraj Thapar as Shekhar Malhotra's friend
- Prakash Ramchandani as Shekhar Malhotra's friend
- Bobby Khanna as Shekhar Malhotra's friend
- Pooja Bedi as Devika[8]
- Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Ramlal Sharma
- Aditya Lakhia as Maksood a.k.a. Ghode
- Deven Bhojani as Ghanshyam a.k.a. Ghanshu[8]
- Asrani as Mr. Dubey (Model school teacher)
- Faisal Khan in a special appearance (College student)
- Imran Khan as Young Sanjaylal
- Sharokh Bharucha as Young Ratanlal
- Anjan Srivastav as Race commentator
- Ajit Vachani as Rajput's Principal
- Deb Mukherjee as Rajput's Coach
- Ravindra Kapoor as Shakoor Miyaan
- Jatin Pandit as Xavier's college student and performer at the college dance event
- Lalit Pandit as Xavier's college student and guitarist at college dance event
- Amol Gupte as cycle race commentator
- Girija Shettar as lead in the song "Jawa ho yaaron song" - Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
- Ahmed Khan as Girdhari aka Anjali's Father
- Shehnaz Kudia as Rukhsana aka Devika's friend and classmate
- Naushad Abbas as School fighter who gets thrown on the car and injured by Mamik
- Jahangir as Dance Judge
- Hanif Sheikh as School fighter
- Shekhar Shukla as smoking the cigarette that caught fire
- Shiraz Zack as Rita
- Miki Khan as Randheer Thapar
- Salim Khan Ding-Dong as Himself
Production
The film was directed by Mansoor Khan, and written and produced by Nasir Hussain.[9] Akshay Kumar had auditioned[10] and Milind Soman was signed for Shekhar Malhotra's role,[11] before Deepak Tijori played the role. Aditya Pancholi was selected to play the role of Ratan, but the role went to Mamik Singh, as confirmed by DNA.
The plot has similarities to the 1979 American film Breaking Away. However, Mansoor Khan stated that he only became aware of Breaking Away after the likeness was brought to his attention, some time after the release of Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander. Both films have several similarities, including friendship, class barriers, bicycle racing, and parental relationship, but otherwise have different narratives, characters, motivations, treatment and racing rules.[12]
Filming
Though it is clearly mentioned in the introductory voice over that the movie is based in Dehradun (in fact, the first word spoken in the movie is "Dehradun"), it is mentioned twice in the movie (both times by the commentator during the cycle race) that it takes place in Kodaikanal. The movie has been shot predominantly in various locations[13] in the south of India, primarily Kodaikanal.[14] Soman had completed 75% of his scenes before being replaced by Tijori.[15]
Music
| Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1992 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 35:01 | |||
| Label | Saregama | |||
| Producer | Jatin–Lalit | |||
| Jatin–Lalit chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Majrooh Sultanpuri chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Planet Bollywood |   [16] |
The music for the film was composed by Jatin–Lalit and the lyrics were penned by Majrooh Sultanpuri. The soundtrack, the second collaboration between Jatin and Lalit, helped to launch their careers. It was nominated for Best Music at the 1993 Filmfare Awards. "Pehla Nasha" was the fourth film song in Indian cinema (the first one being "Jogi O Jogi" from Lakhon Mein Ek (1971), followed by "Baare Baare" from Naagarahaavu (1972) and "Sundari Neeyum" from Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990)) to be shot in complete slow motion. The technique was later used in many films and music videos. Pehla Nasha was the most popular track of the album and has become a cult song. Other popular tracks were "Humse Hai Sara Jahan", "Rooth Ke Humse" and "Arre Yaaron Mere Pyaaron". The song "Arre Yaaron Mere Pyaaron" was sung by Udit Narayan along with Vijeta Pandit.[17]
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar was the third best-selling Bollywood soundtrack album of 1992, having sold 2.5 million units in India.[18]
All lyrics are written by Majrooh Sultanpuri; all music is composed by Jatin–Lalit
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yahaan Ke Hum Sikander" | Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam, Jatin–Lalit | 5:29 |
| 2. | "Naam Hai Mera Fonseca" | Amit Kumar, Alka Yagnik | 4:41 |
| 3. | "Arre Yaaron Mere Pyaaron" | Udit Narayan, Vijeta Pandit | 5:16 |
| 4. | "Humse Hai Sara Jahan" | Jatin Pandit, Sadhana Sargam | 4:13 |
| 5. | "Pehla Nasha" | Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam | 4:51 |
| 6. | "Rooth Ke Humse" | Jatin Pandit | 5:15 |
| 7. | "Shehar Ki Pariyon" | Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam | 5:16 |
Release and reception
Box office
In India, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar net ₹40 million[19][20] and grossed ₹52 million (US$2.01 million),[1] equivalent to ₹927 million (US$12 million) adjusted for inflation.[21] The film opened to good responses, and was declared a hit at the box office.[22] Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander was also broadcast on Disney Channel India.
Critical reception
In a review dated 29 May 1992, The Indian Express praised Najeeb Khan's photography, the sets and the performances of Aamir Khan, Ayesha Jhulka, and Pooja Bedi, but criticised Jatin–Lalit's music.[23]
Awards
Won
- Best Film
- Best Editing – Zafar Sultan and Dilip Katalgi
Nominated
- Best Director – Mansoor Khan
- Best Actor – Aamir Khan
- Best Supporting Actress – Pooja Bedi
- Best Music Director – Jatin–Lalit
- Best Lyricist – Majrooh Sultanpuri for "Woh Sikandar Hi Doston"
- Best Male Playback Singer – Udit Narayan for "Pehla Nasha"
See also
References
- ^ a b "Box Office 1992". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
- ^ Rewind | Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar | Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film Festival with Star on YouTube
- ^ "Whoa! Aamir Khan Is 'World's Biggest Superstar'!". 13 March 2018. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ^ Dave, Kajol. "Copy cats". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Srivastava, Abhishek (14 March 2018). "Aamir Khan's best films are inspired by Oscar nominees and winners – from Ghajini to Akele Hum Akele Tum". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
- ^ Indian High Commission, Pakistan, Cine Club (2008), Programme: January to March 2008 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2020, retrieved 2 July 2012
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander at 30: Akshay Kumar was rejected for this Aamir Khan film, Pooja Bedi's red skirt sequence acquired a cult status". 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ "Nasir Hussain". Upperstall.com. 2002. Archived from the original on 14 June 2002.
- ^ "Happy Birthday Akshay Kumar: Some interesting facts about Bollywood Khiladi". 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
- ^ "Movies: The Milind Soman interview". rediff.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
- ^ "Classic Revisited: Aamir Khan's coming-of-age in Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar". Rediff. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Filmapia.com Movie locations for JJWS Archived 19 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Filmapia.com Movie Location > Kodaikanal Archived 22 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Milind Soman left Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander after finishing 75 per cent of shoot. Because he wasn't given breakfast on time". The Indian Express. 4 November 2022. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Music Review". Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ "Songs at www.glamsham.com". Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Music Hits 1990–1999 (Figures in Units)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
- ^ "Aamir Khan Box Office Collections Analysis". Indicine. Archived from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Дом и семья". Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Darr – Movie (1993 inflation rate)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
- ^ "Aamir Khan's Koimoi Filmometer". 11 September 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Entertaining all the way". The Indian Express. 29 May 1992. p. 7. Archived from the original on 8 December 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
External links
