New Delhi. Although Amitabh Bachchan has done many films, but some of his films are such that no matter how many times the audience watches them, they do not get bored at all. Along with films like Sholay, Don, Deewar, he did a multi-starrer film in the year 1977, in which Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna were seen together. The name of the film was ‘Amar Akhbar Anthony’. This film was in the headlines not only for the story but also for the songs. Although there were many songs in this film, but today we will talk about that song, which Pyarelal composed to pay tribute to his guru Khan and that song boosted Amitabh’s career.
‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ is a 1977 film which made huge profits at the box office. All the songs of the film proved to be superhit. Be it the title track of the film, Pardah Hai Pardah or My Name is Anthony Gonsalves. Do you know that there was a song in the film in which Amitabh had given his complete address.
Full story of the song ‘My Name is Anthony Gonsalves’
The song we are talking about is ‘My Name is Anthony Gonsalves’. Let us tell you for whom the Laxmikant-Pyarelal duo composed this song. Why were the English lines added at the beginning of this song? Who actually wrote those lines? Let us tell you.
The film ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ was a blockbuster film of 1977.
Anand Bakshi had written the lyrics of the song
Actually, the film’s director Manmohan Desai had named Amitabh Bachchan’s character Anthony Fernandez for this film. According to this name, lyricist Anand Bakshi had written the lyrics of the song ‘My name is Anthony Fernandez’. But, when the tune of the song started being composed, Laxmikant-Pyarelal clearly said that it was not fitting, hence the name would have to be changed. He suggested that Gonsalves could be kept in place of Fernandez. If you are also understanding the story only this much, then wait. Actually, Laxmikant-Pyarelal had changed the title of Anthony due to personal reasons.
Who was Anthony Gonsalves?
As soon as Pyarelal saw the name of Anthony Fernandez, he remembered his violin trainer Anthony Gonsalves. Anthony Gonsalves used to be a famous music arranger in the 50-60s. He also had the distinction of being the first music arranger in Indian music history. His specialty was that he knew how to play every musical instrument which was in vogue in those days. Pyarelal had changed the lyrics of this song to pay tribute to his guru. His career started in the year 1943 by joining the team of music composer Naushad.
Anthony Gonsalves was Pyarelal’s guru.
When Kishore Kumar placed a condition before singing
When the lyrics of the song were ready, Laxmikant-Pyarelal called Kishore Da to sing. On the day of recording, after seeing the lyrics, he said, ‘I will sing it on one condition only’. In fact, ‘he laid down the condition that the initial English lines in the lyrics of the song should be recorded in Amitabh’s voice’. However, everyone agreed and Amitabh recorded it after several attempts. In this song, Amitabh tells his full address as ‘Roop Mahal, Prem Gali, Coolie No. 420’.
The film was a blockbuster
According to the figures given in Sacnilk, this film made for Rs 1 crore had collected Rs 7.20 crore in India, while the film had made the makers of this film rich by collecting Rs 15.50 crore worldwide.
Tags: amitabh bachchan, Entertainment Special, rishi kapoor, Vinod Khanna
FIRST PUBLISHED: May 8, 2024, 13:25 IST