Even after twenty-seven years, the enchanting melody of “Yeh Dil Deewana,” sung by Sonu Nigam in the film “Pardes,” Continues to resonate with Hindi music enthusiasts. This romantic drama musical, a creation of Subhash Ghai in 1997, has reached a significant milestone. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, along with the fresh talents of Mahima Chaudhry and Apurva Agnihotri, the film also boasts memorable performances from Alok Nath, Amrish Puri, and Himani Shivpuri. This anniversary is a perfect time to revisit the film online, immerse in its hit songs, and relive the captivating presence of SRK. You can stream the film on Prime Video and ZEE5.
In the film, Rajiv (portrayed by Apurva Agnihotri), the American-Indian son of Kishorilal (played by Amrish Puri), expresses his desire to marry an Indian woman. In response, the affluent NRI Kishorilal dispatches his nephew Arjun, portrayed by Shah Rukh Khan, to locate a suitable bride. Kishorilal selects Ganga (played by Mahima Chaudhary), the beautiful daughter of an old acquaintance, as the prospective wife. Although Ganga recognizes the cultural differences that exist between her and her American fiancé Rajiv, she remains committed to her Indian heritage. Arjun supports her in this endeavor, catalyzing change. After an unexpected incident, Gauri returns to India, and Arun assists her in returning to India; they contemplate whether their destinies are intertwined during their journey.
Pardes made its theatrical debut in India on August 8, 1997. The soundtrack and the performances of Shah Rukh Khan, Chaudhry, and Agnihotri received acclaim from critics; however, the narrative and screenplay faced criticism. The overall reviews were mixed. Despite this, the film achieved commercial success, securing fourth place among Bollywood releases in 1997, following Dil To Pagal Hai (which also featured Shah Rukh Khan), Border, and Ishq, with a worldwide gross exceeding ₹409 million. Anand Bakshi penned the lyrics, while Nadeem-Shravan crafted the musical composition. Notably, K.S. Chithra’s performance of a Hindi song composed by Nadeem-Shravan was unique to this album. Regrettably for Ghai, the film’s financial constraints did not allow for A. R. Rahman, whom he had envisioned as the score composer. However, they later collaborated on Ghai’s next film, Taal (1999).
For those unfamiliar, the Telugu adaptation of the film Pelli Kanuka (1998) included performances by Banumathi Ramakrishna, Lakshmi, and Jagapati Babu. Unfortunately, the film did not succeed commercially. A week before India’s 50th independence anniversary, Pardes premiered in theaters on August 8, 1997.
