ChaalBaaz

Chaalbaaz

1989 · India

Director: Pankaj Parashar
Music: Laxmikant-Pyarelal
Cinematography: Manmohan Singh

Cast

Annu Kapoor

What it is about

Identical twin sisters are separated at birth when their nanny, who has mental disabilities, mixes them up. Anju grows up under the roof of her scheming uncle Tribhuvan, who wants to take her inheritance and treats her harshly. Manju is raised in a slum; she is a lively, street-smart stage dancer. An unexpected chain of events brings the sisters together and leads them to swap places, drawing in Suraj, the son of one of Tribhuvan's friends, and others around them.

How it was made

The project began when producer A. Poorna Chandra Rao, prompted by director L. V. Prasad, asked Pankaj Parashar to make a stylish film. Parashar wanted to work with Sridevi, then a major star after Mr. India, and proposed a remake of Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), which she accepted. The screenplay was written by Parashar with Kamlesh Pandey, from a story by Rajesh Mazumdar. Parashar said his friend Kamal Haasan advised him to stay close to the original plot. Laxmikant-Pyarelal composed the music, Anand Bakshi wrote the lyrics, and Manmohan Singh shot the film. Sridevi plays both twins.

Reception and legacy

Critics and audiences responded well, and the film was a commercial hit, ranking among the year's biggest earners in 1989. Its story, music and Sridevi's performance in the dual role were especially praised, and the latter is often considered one of her best. At the 1990 Filmfare Awards it received three nominations and won two, for Best Actress (Sridevi) and Best Choreographer (Saroj Khan). It was remade twice in Kannada, as Rani Maharani (1990) and Naa Rani Nee Maharani (2010).