We at Mr. and Mrs. 55 – Classic Bollywood Revisited! are getting tired of some of the recent unhinged political rhetoric being thrown around. Sometimes we have to take a moment to realize that not everyone was lucky enough to learn important life lessons as we were from classic Bollywood films.
Amar Akbar, Anthony (1977) is one of India’s most beloved masala films, telling the story of three brothers who are separated in childhood and eventually united after one is raised a Hindu, one a Muslim, and one a Christian. Let’s take a moment to reflect on what Vinod Khanna, Rishi Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachhan’s title characters would have to say about recent events.
3 Life Lessons From Amar, Akbar, Anthony (1977):
1. We CAN all live in harmony.
Plurality makes us better. Families, communities, and countries are enriched because we embrace and learn from our differences.
2. A family that sings and dances together, stays together.
On a related note, always, always have a giant Easter egg handy. Just trust me.
3. Karma is a b****.
A really huge b****. If you insult a man when he’s down, you’re going to be that man soon. And everyone, even your kids, will hate you. Until, of course, you repent and join them in a group chorus (see rule #2).
Pass this along to friends, shady pharmaceutical executives, and bombastic political wannabes who don’t quite get it. And if your childhood was completely empty, you can now watch Amar, Akbar, Anthony online and subtitled here!
Your welcome.
– Mrs. 55
Mr. & Mrs. 55 - Classic Bollywood Revisited! 
I am so happy to read this, best analysis of a movie I have ever seen! This needs to be read on CNN.
You’re absolutely right.
Seriously one of the best posts! I think all these news networks ought to see this and we should pass it along to Modi because he also seems to have forgotten the message.
Thank you for this post. Amar Akbar Anthony was a formative part of my childhood, (and remains a touchstone, for me as well… It warms my heart to know others feel the same! But what about doing the lyrics/translation for one of the triple A songs?
You, and millions more like you, will ensure that our country will continue to meander along despite a few nut cases in sphere of life.
Sanjay Somani
I saw it as a 10 year old, what an awakening it was It also taught me:
1] How far ahead of its time it was, with the opening showing 3 people at once donating blood to one person
2] How the beauty of Parveen Babi could stop my heart beating momentarily
3] The hypocritical nature of Religious people, Rishi to Mukri
Rishi: hamko hai maalum kisi se, kisi se
chupkar ye bhi milta hai
main naam bataau
mu: na ji, na ji, na ji
4] That if you were as cool as Rishi Kapoor you could “satisfy” your lady just singing to her
“Khafa Hoke Chehara Chhupa Le, Magar Yaad Rakh Husn-Waale
Jo Hai Aag Teri Jawani, Meraa Pyar Hai Sarz Paani
Main Tere Gusse Ko Thanda Na Kar Dun To
Akbar Mera Nam Nahin Hai
Parda Hai Parda…”
(feel free to translate the above)
There is a full 344 page book on this film written by 3 Harvard Professors: Discussing
“the film’s sunny exterior only partially conceals darker elements: the shadow of Partition, the crisis of Emergency Rule, and the vexed implications of the metaphor of the family for the nation.”
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674504486
My this is such a multiply facetted, deep film but overall, what an incredibally joyous film this was
About the blood donor scene at the beggining of the film: Checkout the symbolism of a Muslim, Christian and Hindu literally giving their blood to a Mother Earth /India figure (Nirupa Roy) to sustain and bring her life.
That married with Rafi’s divine voice and the credits showing the mixture of cast and crew from all religions, may show that in many ways the 70s were a more tolerant, multi cultural times in India