By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
पर्दा है पर्दा, पर्दे के पीछे, पर्दा नशीं है
पर्दा नशीं को बे-पर्दा न कर दूँ तो
अक़बर मेरा नाम नहीं है
Amar Akbar Anthony, Directed by Manmohan Desai was released on 27 May 1977 in India. The film boasts of an impressive star cast comprising Amitabh Bachchan, Vinod Khannna, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Parveen Babi , Nirupa Roy, Jeevan & Pran. Laxmikant Pyarelal scored the music while lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi. Kadar Khan wrote the dialogue. The film reminds us of the 1965 Yash Chopra’s “Waqt” starring Balraj Sahni, Raj Kumar , Sunil Dutt & Sadhana, story of a father who is separated from his three sons.
The film proved a Box Office bonanza becoming the Highest Grossing film ahead of “Dharam Veer”, “Parvarish”& “Chacha Bhatia” also directed by Manmohan Desai, grossing more than 15 crores then, now equivalent to or exceeding 400 crores. The fim was predominantly shot in Bombay at Ranjit Studio Bandra Church & few other spots. “Parda Hai Parda”, “My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves” & ” Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar” were some of the popular numbers rendered by Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar. Music, dialogue, hype and masala contributed to the phenomenal success of the film.
The film also highlights Anthony Prabhu Gozsalves, the celebrated music composer & arranger, born in a village near Margao then in Portugal , now part of Goa.
