This article is written by Sadanand Kamath, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in other sites without the knowledge and consent of the web administrator of atulsongaday.me, then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.
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Happy birthday to actor-writer-director, Honey Irani who completes 74 years today (17 January 2024). She shares her birth date with her ex-husband, Javed Akhtar who turns 79 today.
Honey Irani is the daughter of Noshir Irani who was one of the partners of Mumbai’s famous Irani Bakery and restaurant, B Merwan & Co. located opposite Grant Road railway station. (I used to visit this place almost every Saturdays to buy their famous maawa cake). Her mother, Perin Irani was fond of Hindi films and was firm that her children should work in films. Honey Irani is the youngest among 5 siblings – Maneka Irani, Bunny Irani, Sarosh Irani and Daisy Irani. Maneka Irani was married to producer-director-actor, Kamran Khan. Farah Khan and Sajid Khan are their daughter and son respectively. Daisy Irani was married to KK Shukla who was a story and screenplay writer. Sarosh Irani was a child actor in early 1960s. He assisted his uncle Kamran in his films. Later, he was associated with B Merwan & Co as one of the partners. Perin Irani produced the film, ‘Bachpan’ (1963) in which her daughters, Maneka Irani and Daisy Irani acted.
My cinematic acquaintance with Honey Irani (also of her elder sister, Daisy Irani) was as a child actor who sometimes got boy’s roles. Her debut film as a child actor was ‘Ek Gaon Ki Kahaani’ (1957). Two songs which have remained in my mind for a long time in which she had an important role as a child actor were “Tim Tim Karte Taare” in ‘Chiraag Kahan Roshni Kahaan’ (1959) and “Naani Teri Morni Ko Mor Le Gaye” in ‘Maasoom’ (1960). As a child actor, Honey Irani has worked in about 20 films and in adult roles in 6 films. She gave up acting in the films after her marriage with Javed Akhtar in 1972. They separated in 1978 and got divorced in 1984. However, they have remained friends.
Today’s generation knows Honey Irani as the mother of the successful film makers, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. But she is more than that. She has moved her filmy career from the front of the camera to behind the camera by turning first, as assistant director to Ramesh Talwar for ‘Basera’ (1981), ‘Duniya’ (1984), and ‘Zamaana’ (1985), and later, as a story and screen-play writer. She had a natural flavor for storytelling from her childhood. She has also been writing short stories as a hobby, but was afraid to publish them as it may be construed as indirect contributions from her now ex-husband Javed Akhtar. Her flavor for writing was recognized by Pamela Chopra, wife of Yash Chopra when she read her story, ‘Aaina’ and had planned to make a TV Serial on this story. However, when Yash Chopra read the story, he decided to make a full-length film, ‘Aaina’ (1993) at a later time. Instead, he gave her to write the full story and screenplay for ‘Lamhe’ (1991) by giving her the basic framework of the story.
After ‘Lamhe’ (1991) was critically acclaimed for its bold story, she wrote story/screenplay for ‘Parampara’ (1992), ‘Darr’ (1993), ‘Suhaag’ (1994), ‘Laawaaris’ (1999), ‘Kaho Na Pyaar Hai’ (2000), ‘Kya Kehna’ (2000), ‘Koi Mil Gaya’ (2003), Krissh’ (2006) and ‘Krissh 3’ (2013) etc. So far, she has written story/screenplay for 18 films. Most of her stories are on human relationship with women-oriented themes. With ‘Armaan’ (2003) she made her debut as a director, the only film she has directed so far.
‘Armaan’ (2003) was produced by Dinesh Gandhi and was directed by Honey Irani. The star cast included Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Gracy Singh, Aamir Bashir, Randhir Kapoor, Arun Bali, Prithvi Zutshi, Preety Dayal, Suhita Thatte, Vijay Kenkre, Rajiv Kumar etc. Probably, this is the first film in which Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor worked together. The film was premiered at IIFA Awards Night at Johannesburg on May 16, 2003, and had a simultaneous theatrical release.
According to Honey Irani, it was her childhood dream to become a doctor. However, due to her busy schedule as a child actor, she could not even complete her schooling leave alone becoming a doctor. The story of ‘Armaan’ (2003) written by her, reflected her imaginations of doctor-patient relationship and also the troubled human relationships in which there are bitter-sweet moments. She decided to make a debut as a director for this film because the subject was close to her heart. (Source: Honey Irani’s interview published in ‘The Telegraph online’, January 26, 2023).
The story of the film is as under:
Dr Siddharth Sinha (Amitabh Bachchan) runs a hospital with his adopted son, Dr Aakaash Sinha (Anil Kapoor) who is a Neurosurgeon. Dr. Neha Mathur (Gracy Singh) joins the hospital as an Anesthetist. Initially, Neha and Aakaash do not get along well as there are professional as well as personal differences in their approach.
Dr Siddharth wants to expand as well as upgrade the hospital for which he forms a group of experts to submit the project report. From the doctor’s perspective, both Aakaash and Neha are also required to jointly prepare and submit a project report. During this time, both Neha and Aakaash come closer and reveal their love for each other.
The expansion and upgradation of the hospital require financial backing which Dr Siddharth is desperately looking for. Here comes in the scene the super-rich, Gulshan Kapoor (Randhir Kapoor) with his spoiled daughter, Sonia Kapoor (Preity Zinta) who has fallen in one-sided love with Aakaash after they met at a party. Gulshan Kapoor offers to bear the financial cost of the expansion and the modernization of the hospital, In return, he wants Aakaash’s hands in marriage with his daughter, Sonia. Siddharth rejects the offer as he already knows that Aakaash is in love with Neha.
The circumstances drastically changes when Siddharth dies of heart-attack. Aakaash is now in desperation to fulfill his father’s dream of upgrading his hospital for which he needs financial help. So, Aakaash sacrifices his love for Neha by marrying Sonia. Neha understands Aakaash’s predicament and moves on with her life by continuing to work in the hospital.
Post-marriage with Sonia, Aakaash has to face the unpredictable behavior of his wife who is possessive about Aakaash and jealous with Neha. Her bizarre behavior at home affects Aakaash’s professional works in the hospital. It is a hell of a life for him to deal with a wife who is akin to a mental case. The death of Neha’s mother in the hospital due to Aakaash’s absence at the operation theater creates his intense dislike for his wife who had deliberately not informed him about the surgery. He leaves the house never to return to his wife.
Angered by Aakaash’s behavior, Sonia takes a revolver and drives her car to reach Neha’s house, probably to kill her. However, due to her intense anger in her mind, Sonia losses control of her car and is met with an accident with a serious head injury. She is brought to the hospital where her chances of the success of her brain operation is minimal. As a neurosurgeon, it is a challenge for Dr Aakaash to make her brain surgery successful to give Sonia a second life. On the other hand, if operations is unsuccessful, people would talk about his professional integrity especially in the background of the strained relation with his wife.
Aakaash conducts Sonia’s brain surgery successfully against all odds with the help of Neha. Sonia is discharged from the hospital. After a couple of months when she has fully recovered, Sonia visits Aakaash and tells him that after a successful surgery, her brain has become hyper-active which is telling her that they are not made for each other. She hands over the divorce papers signed by her to Aakaash and leaves his house for London. Aakaash and Neha are united.
I enjoyed the film though some parts of the story did appear familiar to me. All the four main actors have given good performances with Preity Zinta in her grayish role topping the list. The film was pleasing to my eyes because of its hill station backdrop with forest trails.
The film had 7 songs including one version song which were written by ‘birthday boy’, Javed Akhtar and set to music by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. I present the first song from the film, “Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye Ho” to appear on the Blog. The song is rendered by Sunidhi Chauhan and Sonu Nigam. One can call it a ‘cycle song’ during which both Anil Kapoor and Gracy Singh express love for each other while cycling on a road passing through forest.
The background to the song is that Dr. Neha Mathur (Gracy Singh) and Dr. Aakaash Sinha (Anil Kapoor) work in a hospital as colleagues. But they are loggerhead with each other – both professionally and personally. It is during their project work for the upgradation of the hospital, they become close. This song follows when both reveal their love for each other.
Javed Akhtar surely wrote this song keeping in mind the situation in the film. But if he had written this song in 1972, he would have dedicated this song to Honey Irani. It was after his marriage with her in 1972 that he tasted tremendous successes as a writer in ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ (1972), ‘Zanzeer’ (1973), ‘Majboor’ (1974), ‘Sholay’ (1975), ‘Deewaar’ (1975), ‘Don’ (1978), ‘Trishul’ (1978) etc.
Video Clip:
Audio Clip:
Song-Meri zindagi mein aaye ho (Armaan)(2003) Singers-Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam, Lyrics-Javed Akhtar, MD-Shankar Ehsan Loy
Both
Lyrics (based on audio clip):
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gaya hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gayaa hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
ho tum hi kaho
tum hi kaho
dil jo aise gaaye
koi kyon na gungunaaye
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gayaa hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
o ho o o o
o o
ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
tumko paa ke
hans ke gaa ke..ae
nikhri hai sanvri hai zindagi
ujli subahen rangeen shaamen
aa gayi ek nayi dilkashi..
ho maan bhi lo
maan bhi lo raat jo hai kehti
ye fiza jo samjhaaye
meri zindagi mein
o ho o o o
o o
ho o o o
o o
ho o o o
o o
ho o
o o
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gaya hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
tum se pehle
dekhe kab thhe
maine ye khwaabon ke kaarwaan. . .
tum jo aaye
tum ho laaye
ankahee ansunee daastaan
o suno zaraa
suno zaraa
mera dil bhi haaye
wo kahaani dohraaye
meri zindagi mein
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gayaa hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
ho tum hi kaho
tum hi kaho dil jo aise gaaye
koyi kyun na gungunaaye
meri zindagi mein aaye ho
aur aise aaye ho tum
jo ghul gayaa hai saanson mein
wo geet laaye ho tum
o ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
o ho o o o
o o
——————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
——————————————
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
हो तुम ही कहो
तुम ही कहो
दिल जो ऐसे गाये
कोई क्यों ना गुनगुनाए
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
तुम को पा के
हंस के गा के
निखरी है संवरी है ज़िंदगी
उजली सुबहें रंगीं शामें
आ गई इक नई दिलकशी
हो मान भी लो
मान भी लो रात जो है कहती
ये फिज़ा जो समझाये
मेरी ज़िंदगी में
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
तुम से पहले
देखे कब थे
मैंने ये ख्वाबिन के कारवाँ
तुम जो आए
तुम हो लाये
अनकही अनसुनी दास्ताँ
ओ सुनो ज़रा
सुनो ज़रा
मेरा दिल भी हाय
वो कहानी दोहराए
मेरी ज़िंदगी में
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
हो तुम ही कहो
तुम ही कहो
दिल जो ऐसे गाये
कोई क्यों ना गुनगुनाए
मेरी ज़िंदगी में आए हो
और ऐसे आए हो तुम
जो घुल गया है साँसों में
वो गीत लाये हो तुम
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
ओ हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ
हो ओ ओ ओ
ओ ओ