Top 10 Highest Grossers Of 1973 Which Turn 50 In 2023
Posted On: 02 Jan 2023 | Last Updated : 03 Jan 2023 | Views : 2.8k
As Bollywood enters the new year of 2023 with a lot of expectations and hope that we’ll get to see better content and performances which’ll stay with us all through the year. It’s also time we also go down memory lane and look back at some of Bollywood’s previous milestones and become a bit nostalgic. So, we rewind and take you back to 1973 releases that went on to become the top 10 Bollywood movies of 1973. A year where the dominance and supremacy of stars like Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, and Rajesh Khanna continued while actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra and newbie Rishi Kapoor had announced their arrival. Let’s check out some of the top 10 highest grossing Bollywood movies of 1973 that turn 50 in 2023.
1. Bobby (28 September)
Raj Kapoor’s biggest gamble was Bobby which he produced and directed and launched his son Rishi Kapoor along with Dimple Kapadia in this teenage romantic musical saga. Bobby was considered Raj Kapoor’s make or break film because his previous two outings had tanked at the box office. The film went on to become the highest grosser of 1973 that earned a massive 11 Crores at the box office and was declared a blockbuster. Music directors Laxmikant – Pyarelal replaced the regular Shankar – Jaikishan who came up with chartbuster songs that are popular to date. Playback singer Shailendra Singh became Rishi Kapoor’s voice while Pran and Premnath came up with scintillating performances and who can forget Prem Chopra’s signature line – “Prem Naam Hai Mera, Prem Chopra…”
2. Jugnu (31 August)
Talk about the 10 best films of 1973 with box office collection and you have director Pramod Chakravorty’s action-romantic drama Jugnu starring Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Prem Chopra and Pran. Jugnu established Dharmendra as the reigning action star of the 70s who could fight any number of goons on-screen. The film was made on a budget of over one crore but raked in more than the expected moolah at the ticket windows. Music by S.D. Burman added to the film’s success and went on to become that year’s second highest grosser at the box office.
3. Daag (27 April)
Producer-director Yash Chopra’s maiden production venture Daag – A Poem of Love ended up as one of the top 10 films of 1973. Though the film had a bold storyline with distributors doubting whether audiences would accept a man having two wives but Yash Chopra’s way of handling the subject helped the movie strike gold at the box office. Top performances by Rajesh Khanna, Rakhee Gulzar and Sharmila Tagore ensured that the film was a success. And not to forget the chartbuster songs by Laxmikant – Pyarelal penned by the Yash Chopra loyalist Sahir Ludhianvi.
4. Zanjeer (11 May)
Prakash Mehra’s Zanjeer announced Amitabh Bachchan’s arrival as the next superstar of Indian cinema. Zanjeer was written by Salim - Javed that was jinxed as many big stars refused to play the role where they didn’t have anything romantic to do on-screen. Finally, it was Amitabh Bachchan who was signed on to play the ‘angry young man’ and as they say -the rest is history. The film which also had Jaya Bhaduri, Ajit, Bindu and Pran in the cast broke all records and gave Amitabh Bachchan his first big solo hit after eleven continuous box office flops.
5. Yaadon Ki Baaraat (02 November)
If one would say Nasir Husain’s Yaadon Ki Baaraat was one of best Indian films of 1973 it wouldn’t be wrong. Written by Salim – Javed, Yaadon Ki Baaraat was an action musical thriller which had many memorable scenes and dialogues. Starring Dharmendra, Vijay Arora, Tariq, Neetu Singh, Zeenat Aman and Ajit in the main cast, the highlight remains the evergreen music by R.D. Burman that had gems like Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Chura Liya Hai Tumne, Meri Soni, Aapke Kamre Mein Koi, Lekar Hum Deewana Dil, etc. It was reported that the film became the first Hindi film to clock a one-year non-stop run in a Chennai cinema theatre which was unheard of those years. Despite having the regular Nasir Husain lost-and-found formula, the film is regarded as his biggest ever success.
6. Kahani Kismat Ki (28 December)
Director Arjun Hingorani continued his successful association with Dharmendra and delivered yet another hit with Kahani Kismat Ki after the much successful suspense thriller Kab? Kyoon? Aur Kahan? in 1970. The story was that of a simple man who is forced to become a thief by fate and tries to reform but the society doesn’t allow him to. Rekha played the romantic lead opposite Dharmendra in the film and comprised of the superhit song Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai composed by Kalyanji - Anandji. The success of the film continued Dharmendra’s dream run at the box office in 1973.
7. Loafer (30 March)
Director A. Bhim Singh’s Loafer was an action drama starring Dharmendra, Mumtaz, Premnath and Om Prakash. The film’s story revolved around a boy who takes the path of crime only to become a big time criminal until an incident reforms him. The film was Dharmendra’s first big hit that year and ranked 7th in top grossers on 1973. The chartbuster songs like Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan Hai, Koi Shehri Babu, Motiyon Ki Ladi Hoon Main, etc., were composed by Laxmikant – Pyarelal and penned by Anand Bakshi.
8. Dharma (07 December)
Director Chand’s action-drama Dharma was a surprise runaway hit at the box office in 1973. Starring Pran in the titular role, the film also had Navin Nischol, Rekha, Ajit, Madan Puri, and Bindu in the main cast. Though the film did figure in the top 10 biggest earners of 1973, it is mainly remembered for its music by Sonik - Omi and especially the famous qawwali Ishaaron Ko Agar Samjho… sung by Mohammed Rafi & Asha Bhosle in the sequence between Pran and Bindu. Dharma is remembered among Pran’s best ever performances.
9. Heera (16 November)
Heera was an action romantic drama produced and directed by Sultan Ahmed that starred Sunil Dutt, Asha Parekh and Shatrughan Sinha, Farida Jalal, Nazir Hussain, Satyen Kappu and Helen in the main cast. The film was set in a rural area where Heera (played by Sunil Dutt) is framed in a murder case and hits back at the villagers to clear his name. The film was another surprise hit at the box office and was ranked 9th among the top grossers of 1973.
10. Aa Gale Lag Jaa (16 November)
Director Manmohan Desai who was on a roll with back-to-back hits like Sachaa Jhutha (1970), Raampur Ka Lakshman and Bhai Ho To Aisa in 1972, delivered yet another hit with Aa Gale Lag Jaa starring Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Shatrughan Sinha, Om Prakash, and Master Tito. Though the film didn’t perform as expected being a Manmohan Desai film but still did quite well at the ticket windows. The songs by R.D. Burman contributed to the film’s success in a big way which included hits like Waada Karo Nahin Chhodege Tum Mera Saath, Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka Naata Koi, Na Koi Dil Mein, Aye Mere Bete, etc. The film ended up becoming the 10th highest box office grosser of 1973.
