Top 10 Highest Grosser's Of 1969 Which Turn 50 In 2019
Posted On: 11 Jul 2019 | Last Updated : 07 Mar 2022 | Views : 776
The year 1969 will be remembered fondly by cine-goers for a number of reasons. The year not only saw a volley of hits delivered but also saw a huge improvement in the quality of movie making and the emergence of a phenomenon called Rajesh Khanna who took the box-office by storm. Reigning matinee idols of the 50s and 60s like Shammi Kapoor, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajendra Kumar were being replaced by Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jeetendra who had announced their arrival. There were hits in the form of 'Talaash', 'Jigri Dost', 'Khamoshi', 'Sajan', 'Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke', 'Pyar Hi Pyar', 'Waris', 'Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai', etc., but the top 10 highest grosser's of 1969 which turned 50 years in 2019 are listed below.
1. Aradhana (3.50 Crore)
Aradhana not just reigned supreme among the top 10 successful movies of 1969 but also was a landmark film, which set a new box-office record and gave Bollywood its new superstar in the form of Rajesh Khanna singing away Mere Sapno Ki Rani wooing Sharmila Tagore in a jeep. Though Sharmila Tagore won that year's Filmfare Best Actress trophy but it was Rajesh Khanna who turned into an overnight sensation. The songs of Aradhana composed by S.D. Burman is hummed to date while Kishore Kumar bagged his first Filmfare award for Best Playback singer that year for the ever seductive Roop Tera Mastana which was penned by Anand Bakshi.
2. Do Raaste (3.30 Crore)
Released at the fag end of 1969, Raj Khosla took a break from his suspense thrillers and delivered this tearjerker family drama which caught the fancy of movie lovers. Do Raaste starring Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Balraj Sahni, Kamini Kaushal, Prem Chopra and Bindu, was a runaway hit. Songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and penned by Anand Bakshi were instant chartbusters like Bindiya Chamkegi, Yeh Reshmi Zulfein and Chhup Gaye Saare. The film further consolidated Rajesh Khanna’s stardom at the box-office.
3. Ek Phool Do Mali (3.00 Crore)
Loosely inspired by the 1961 Hollywood classic Fanny, Ek Phool Do Mali starring Sadhana, Sanjay Khan, Balraj Sahni, Master Bobby and Durga Khote was released on the 7 of May and turned out to be a surprise hit at the box-office. The story was that of a young girl getting pregnant by her boyfriend who goes missing in an accident. The young girl is married to another man who gives the newborn his name. Directed by veteran filmmaker Devendra Goel, the family drama had some memorable gems by music director Ravi like - O Nanhe Se Farishte, Ye Parda Hata Do, Sajna Sajna O Sajna, Aulad Walon and others.
4. Bandhan (2.80 Crore)
Starring Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Rajendra Nath, Sanjeev Kumar and Jeevan in prominent roles, Bandhan was the directorial debut of Narendra Bedi, which yet again saw Rajesh Khanna deliver a hit. Though, Bandhan was a family drama with a rural backdrop, the pairing of Rajesh Khanna and Mumtaz along with an interesting screenplay made people flock to the theaters. The film also saw Rajesh Khanna and Anju Mahendru share screen space for the first time which reportedly triggered their off-screen romance.
5. Pyar Ka Mausam (2.70 Crore)
After the luke-warm response of Baharon Ke Sapne in 1967, director Nasir Husain was back with his usual lost-and-found romantic tale with Pyar Ka Mausam starring Shashi Kapoor and Asha Parekh in the lead. The movie not just got Shashi Kapoor a well-deserved hit but also saw R.D. Burman churning out some chartbuster numbers like Tum Bin Jaoon Kahan, Ni Sultana Re, Che Khush Nazare and others. Pyar Ka Mausam continues to be etched in our minds as a refreshing musical romantic tale supported by good performances by its leads.
6. Jeene Ki Raah (2.50 Crore)
A remake of the 1953 Telugu movie Bratuku Theruvu, Jeene Ki Raah was produced and directed by L.V. Prasad starring Jeetendra, Tanuja, Anjali Kadam, Sanjeev Kumar and Jagdeep. The film is remembered for its melodious soundtracks by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and lyricist Anand Bakshi that included - Badi Mastani Hai, Aa Mere Humjoli Aa, Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne, Ek Banjara Gaye. Musician’s Laxmikant-Pyarelal bagged that year’s Filmfare trophy while Lata walked away with the Best Playback singer for the song Aap Mujhe Achhe Lagne from the film.
7. Prince (2.00 Crore)
Starring Shammi Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala, Helen, Ajit and Rajendra Nath, Prince was a winner at the ticket windows. Set during the period of resurgent India post-independence, Prince was the story of an alcoholic ruler who looks for inner peace while he falls in love with a princess. The film was one of the last hits of Shammi Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala but the song Badan Pe Sitare Lapetey Hue served as the highlight of the storyline.
8. Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke (1.80 Crore)
Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke followed the success of Aaye Din Bahaar Ke released in 1966, which again had Dharmendra and Asha Parekh in the lead. Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke was a family drama directed by Raghunath Jhalani, which also starred Balraj Sahni, Nazima, Nazir Hussain, Aruna Irani, Nirupa Roy and Rajendra Nath. Laxmikant-Pyarelal who were riding high on success had yet again delivered some memorable songs crooned by Mohd. Rafi and Lata which include Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, Maajhi Chal, Saathiya Nahin Jaana, Bura Mat Suno and others.
9. Ittefaq (1.50 Crore)
Talking about Bollywood suspense thrillers, Yash Chopra’s Ittefaq easily features among the top 10 highest box office collection movies in 1969. A songless film made as a quicky immediately after the debacle of Aadmi Aur Insaan the same year, Ittefaq was a remake of the 1965 Hollywood movie Signpost to Murder. Starring Rajesh Khanna and Nanda in the lead, the film was an instant success getting Yash Chopra back in the reckoning. Ram Gopal Varma later remade the film as Kaun in 1999 and as Ittefaq by Abhay Chopra in 2017.
10. Intaqam (1.40 Crore)
R.K. Nayyar’s revenge drama Intaqam was initially a slow starter but good screenplay and performances got the cash registers ringing at the box office. Starring Sadhana, Sanjay Khan, Rehman, Ashok Kumar, Helen and Rajendra Nath, the story was a remake of the Hollywood film Within the Law and Paid. The chartbuster songs composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and penned by Rajinder Krishan include - Hum Tumhare Liye, Jo Unki Tamanna Hai, Kaise Rahoon Chup, Geet Tere Saaz Ke and Lata’s first cabaret song Aa Jaane Jaan, added sheen to the narration.
