Amitabh Bachchan: Back to the Beginning
Last year marked the 80th birthday of Indian screen icon Amitabh Bachchan, whose signature combination of tough-guy charisma and emotional depth has made him one of the most beloved public figures in the country.
The occasion prompted a remarkable retrospective of his classic films, curated and restored by the Film Heritage Foundation. The Bachchan Back to the Beginning Festival screened in 19 Indian cities and was a huge success – a testament to Bachchan’s enduring appeal. These four titles selected from that program offer a captivating look at the star’s dominance in the 1970s. Bachchan became the ‘Angry Young Man’ during a decade of social upheaval, and indeed all these films confront issues like class, poverty and bigotry. They are also Hindi cinema at its finest: filled with action, melodrama, life-affirming musical numbers – and Bachchan’s enthralling screen presence.
Introduction and film notes by Jim Poe.
