Top 10 Highest Bollywood Grossers Of 1972 That Turn 50 In 2022
Posted On: 03 Jan 2022 | Last Updated : 16 Mar 2022 | Views : 892
The beginning of the 1970s was of huge cultural significance, as the decade foisted overnight fame to several actors, and also marked the end of the black-and-white era. The year 1972 saw romantic-driven comedy or thrillers with evergreen soundtracks. The era of Manoj Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Dev Anand and Kishore Kumar almost came to an end. Actors like Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Vinod Khanna, Shatrughan Sinha, etc. started to gain their supremacy at the box office, while Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, Raakhee, Mumtaz and Rekha were the top actresses of the year. The start of the 1970s saw a frequent increase in the film releases, and around 100 Bollywood movies were released in 1972. The music industry saw a transformation too, and the focus was shifted from classical and devotional songs to dance and rock music. Let’s have a glance at the top 10 highest grossers of 1972 which turn 50 in 2022.
1. Seeta Aur Geeta (24th Nov) (Budget – 1.00 Cr., Dom. Collection – 3.25 Cr., Worldwide – 6.15 Cr.)
Ramesh Sippy’s comedy drama Seeta Aur Geeta starred Hema Malini, Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in the lead roles. The movie follows the story of identical twins (played by Hema Malini), Seeta and Geeta, who were separated at birth and grow up with different temperaments. Geeta is brought up in a poor neighbourhood and grows up into a gutsy and spirited girl, while Seeta is brought up by her abusive aunt and uncle, who treat her like a servant. Their lives change when they meet and decide to swap their lives. The girls fall in love with different men, which creates a lot of misunderstandings and confusion as the two have identical faces. The movie was a commercial success and became the highest grosser of the year. The success of the movie further consolidated the stardom of Hema Malini. Many more films with the similar theme were made like Jaise Ko Taisa (1973), Geeta Mera Naam (1974), Chaalbaaz (1989), Kishen Kanhaiya (1990), Judwaa (1997), and Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi (2001), which were all box-office hits.
2. Pakeezah (4th Feb) (Budget – 1.00 Cr., Dom. Collection – 3 Cr., Worldwide – 5.85 Cr.)
Starring the top actors of the time – Ashok Kumar, Raaj Kumar and Meena Kumari, Kamal Amrohi’s musical romantic drama Pakeezah premiered on 4th February 1972 and garnered the praises for its music and actors’ performances. The movie revolves around a courtesan, Sahibjaan (Meena Kumari), who falls in love with the forest ranger, Salim Ahmed Khan (Raaj Kumar). However, they face objections from Sahibjaan’s family and the two plan to elope to live peacefully. Soon after the release of the movie, Meena Kumari fell seriously ill and passed away on 31st March 1972. She was posthumously nominated for the Filmfare Award for the Best Actress and the movie successfully ran in the theatres for 33 weeks, and became the second highest grosser of the year.
3. Dushmun (7th Jan) (Budget – 1.10 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.75 Cr., Worldwide – 5.50 Cr.)
Based on the novel by Virendra Sharma, Dushmun starring Rajesh Khanna, Meena Kumari and Mumtaz, was directed by Dulal Guha and became a super-hit at the box office and was the third highest grosser of the year. The movie revolves around a rash truck driver named Surjit Singh (Rajesh Khanna), who kills a poor farmer named Ram Din, while in an inebriated state. Surjit is brought before the court and instead of imprisonment, the judge forces Surjit to live with Ram Din’s family and look after their financial needs. Surjit, while staying with the family, experiences a change of heart and helps the family and other villagers to fight against an evil landlord. The movie was later remade in Tamil as Needhi (1972), in Telugu as Khaidii Babay (1974), in Malayalam as Maattoly (1978), in Kannada as Hosa Theerpu (1983) and in Bengali Nishpap Asami (1997). The song Waada Tera Waada became a chartbuster song.
4. Raja Jani (3rd Nov) (Budget – 0.90 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.50 Cr., Worldwide – 4.90 Cr.)
Dharmendra and Hema Malini starrer romantic drama Raja Jani was directed by Mohan Sehgal. The movie follows the story of a princess named Ratna, who disappeared when she was 12 years old. Rajmata (Durga Khote), the queen and the grandmother of princess Ratna, is looking for her long lost granddaughter. Raj Kumar Singh ‘Raja’ (Dharmendra) finds a street dancer Shanno (Hema Malini) and trains her with the etiquettes so she can disguise as the long-lost princess and he can get hold of the reward money. With evergreen music composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and incredible performance of actors, the movie became the fourth highest grosser of the year. It was later remade in Tamil as Adutha Varisu (1983).
5. Be-Imaan (15th Dec) (Budget – 1.00 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.25 Cr., Worldwide – 4.45 Cr.)
Sohanlal Kanwar’s family drama Be-Imaan starred Manoj Kumar and Raakhee in the lead roles. The movie follows the story of Shyam (Manoj Kumar) and Sapna (Raakhee). The two fall in love and want to get married but their alliance is opposed by Sapna’s rich father, who takes help from an influential police officer Constable Ram Singh (Pran) to create problems between the lovers and persuade them to leave each other. The movie went on to win several Filmfare Awards and did commercially well at the box-office. It became the fifth highest grosser of the year because of the excellent performance of lead and supporting actors and the music by Shankar - Jaikishan. The film was remade in Tamil as En Magan in 1974.
6. Gora Aur Kala (22nd Dec) (Budget – 1.00 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.20 Cr., Worldwide – 4.30 Cr.)
Released at the close of the year, Gora Aur Kala, directed by Naresh Kumar and starring Rajendra Kumar, Hema Malini and Rekha, was the remake of the 1971 Tamil movie Neerum Neruppum. The movie revolves around conjoined twins – Karan Singh and Kali Singh (both played by Rajendra Kumar), who are born in a royal family but are separated at birth. Years later, when the two meet, they decide to free their kingdom from traitors and also save Princess Anuradha Singh. The film became a hit at the box office and became one of the top highest box office collection movies of 1972 which turn 50 in 2022.
7. Apna Desh (26th May) (Budget – 1.05 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.10 Cr., Worldwide – 4.15 Cr.)
Starring superstar Rajesh Khanna, Apna Desh was an action drama directed by Jambu. It also starred Mumtaz, Om Prakash, Jagdeep, Madan Puri and Roja Ramani. The movie was the remake of the 1969 Telugu film Kathanayakudu. It revolved around Akash (Rajesh Khanna), an honest employee, who is accused of being corrupt by his seniors. He takes it to himself to prove himself innocent and bring the culprits in the light. The film is best remembered for its soundtrack composed by R. D. Burman, which includes ‘Duniya Mein Logon Ko’, ‘Kajra Lagake Gajra Sajake’, ‘Rona Kabhi Nahin Rona’, ‘Sun Champa Sun Tara’, etc. The movie was successful at the box office and became the seventh highest grosser of the year.
8. Victoria No. 203 (8th Dec) (Budget – 0.75 Cr., Dom. Collection – 2.00 Cr., Worldwide – 3.80 Cr.)
The heist comedy drama Victoria No. 203, produced and directed by Brij, starred Saira Banu, Navin Nischol, Ranjeet, Anwar Hussain, Helen, Ashok Kumar and Pran. The movie revolves around a theft of expensive diamonds. After stealing the diamonds, a dying thief leaves a series of clues to track down the diamond. Now, everyone tries to decode the clues and claim the diamonds. The performances of the star cast and music by Kalyanji-Anandji made the movie a super hit at the box office. It was further remade in Telugu as Andaru Dongale (1974) and in Tamil as Vairam (1974). The spiritual remake of the movie with the same name was released in 2007, which was produced by Brij’s son, Kamal Sadanah.
9. Jawani Diwani (14th July) (Budget – 0.80 Cr., Dom. Collection – 1.75 Cr., Worldwide – 3.40 Cr.)
The musical romantic drama Jawani Diwani, directed by Narender Bedi and starring Randhir Kapoor, Jaya Bhaduri, Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy, is most remembered for its songs by R. D. Burman, including – ‘Jaane Jaan Dhoondta Phir Raha’, ‘Saamne Yeh Koun Aaya’, ‘Nahin Nahin Abhi Nahin’ and ‘Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani’. The movie revolves around Vijay (Randhir Kapoor), who falls in love with Neeta (Jaya Bhaduri), the daughter of a Thakur. Things take a turn for the lovers when they find out that Neeta has been promised in marriage to someone else. The film was a musical hit and was the ninth highest grosser of the year.
10. Samadhi (22nd Dec) (Budget – 0.75 Cr., Dom. Collection – 1.60 Cr., Worldwide – 3.25 Cr.)
Directed by Prakash Mehra, the action-drama Samadhi was released on the same date as another highest grosser of the year – Gora Aur Kala. Samadhi starred Dharmendra in a dual role of father and son, and Jaya Bhaduri and Asha Parekh as his love interests. Other important actors in the movie include Tun Tun, Madan Puri and Abhi Bhattacharya. The movie is about a dacoit named Lakhan Singh (Dharmendra), who gives up crime after falling in love and marrying Champa (Asha Parekh). However, he is forced to become a criminal after Champa falls sick. The popular song from the ‘Bangle Ke Peeche’ was remixed as ‘Kaanta Laga’ by T-series, and further popularised. The film was commercially successful and made to the top 10 successful movies of 1972 which turn 50 in 2022.
