The 70 Best Films Of Amitabh Bachchan -- II

Here's presenting the second batch of Amitabh Bachchan's finest films in our ongoing series, marking the Big B's 70th birthday this October 11.

Read the first part here!

Kabhi Kabhie (1976)

In Yash Chopra's star-studded take on relationships and romance, Amitabh Bachchan took centre stage with his poetic voice and affecting eyes even as Raakhee, Shashi Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh lend terrific support.

Presumed to be dead, Bachchan's erstwhile devoted husband masquerades as an affluent producer to teach his self-centered actress wife (played by Rekha) a lesson in this much enjoyable tale of reprisal.

Taking to the world of crime after being treated poorly by society was a formula followed in several Bachchan capers.

In the box office hit Adalat too, AB plays the double role of a village man-turned-gangster and his UK-bred son.

Manmohan Desai ropes 1970s top most stars to play the titular roles of Amar Akbar and Anthony in his lost and found bonanza to celebrate national integration with generous contribution from Bachchan as the unforgettable Anthony Gonsalves, along with Rishi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna.

The smart twists, stylish treatment and spry compositions of Big B's Don turned it into a cult classic while Farhan Akhtar's remakes with Shah Rukh Khan aims to turn it into a full-blown franchise.

Playing yet another double role, AB is convincing and charismatic as both -- a teacher and, later, his crooked lookalike trying to keep his family of Raakhee and Randhir Kapoor together.

Though not a commercial success, Yash Chopra's on screen adaptation of a real-life coal mine tragedy starring regulars Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Raakhee, Neetu Singh as well as Shatrughan Sinha in a memorable turn is among his best creations.

There are a lot of moments to savour in Basu Chatterjee's Manzil, especially, the imagery of a soaked to the skin Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee enjoying the magic of Mumbai monsoon against Rimjhim gire saawan.
 

Stunning foreign locations, RD Burman's lilting score, glamour quotient provided by Zeenat Aman and Neetu Singh and a zany plot involving AB lookalikes.

The Great Gambler is a toast to escapist fare.
 

Big B's antics in realising the heroic legends of Natwarlal made this an instant hit with the kids.

Also noticeable is his crackling chemistry with co-star Rekha.

While Shaan is certainly no Sholay, Ramesh Sippy's lavish multi-starrer too found an impressive villain in Shakaal while his biggie cast of Bachchan, Shatrughan Sinha, Shashi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Raakhee, Sunil Dutt, Johnny Walker and Bindiya Goswami did their thing to keep the viewer hooked from start to finish.

Personal rivalry notwithstanding, Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha epitomized immortal friendship in Dharma Production's original Dostana.

Long before Farah Khan convinced nearly all of Bollywood to show up in a song of Om Shanti Om, filmmaker Manmohan Desai was a hit by this brainwave of Big B sharing space with the legends of Hindi cinema in the party song, John Jaani Janardhan for his star-spangled Naseeb.

Based on Shaktipada Raajguru's novel Anushandhan, Barsaat Ki Ek Raat is best enjoyed for its silvery soundtrack, elegant AB-Raakhee romance as well as the hostile equation between AB and Amjad Khan.