Mere Apne

Awards

• No award information available.

Trivia

Album

• This was Gulzar's debut as a film director.
• This film was a remake of Tapan Sinha's Bengali film "Apanjan" (1968) which won the National Film Award for Best Film in Bengali. In fact, it was Tapan Sinha who was originally chosen to direct the Hindi remake. However, when Sinha insisted on retaining the Bengali film cast for the remake, writer Gulzar was brought on board to direct it. This film was remade again in Kannada as "Benki Birugali" (1984).
• Vinod Khanna played a lead role for the first time in this film. He had debuted earlier in the film "Man Ka Meet" (1968).[1]
• This was actor Danny Denzongpa's debut Hindi film. A legendary story is associated with his rise in Bollywood after his modest beginning. In his early days in the industry, Danny had been humiliated by Mohan Kumar when he had approached the filmmaker for an acting opportunity. The filmmaker had said that Danny could never make it as an actor with his looks and had instead offered him a job as a security guard in his house. Danny had then taken an oath of making it big in the industry and building a bungalow next to Mohan Kumar's. A few years later, Danny fulfilled his ambition by building a house named D'Zongrila (House of Peace) neighbouring Mohan Kumar's house.[2]
• Director N. Chandra, who started his career with Gulzar and considered him his mentor, modelled Nana Patekar's character in his directorial debut "Ankush" (1986) after Vinod Khanna's character in this film.[3]
• Actress Meena Kumari was unwell during the making of this film. She somehow managed to complete the film as Gulzar wrapped up its shooting within forty days. The actress passed away a few months after its release.
• Gulzar paid tribute to his mentor Hrishikesh Mukherjee with a few references to the film "Anand" (1970) in it. He cast in the film actors Ramesh Deo and Sumita Sanyal who had also acted in "Anand" (1970). Also, posters of "Anand" (1970) can be seen in several scenes in the film. In another scene in the film, Deo's character listens to a radio promotion of "Anand" (1970). Gulzar wrote the lyrics and dialogues of "Anand" (1970) and co-wrote its screenplay.[4]
• The climax of this film used a background score cue based on the tune of the song "Koi Hota Jisko Apna". Gulzar used the same tune again in the climax of his film "Achanak" (1973), a songless film whose background score was composed by Vasant Desai. While this musical piece was composed by Salil Chowdhury, he was not credited in "Achanak" (1973).[5]

Song

• Ganga Ki Bhari God Mein - Salil Chowdhury had used the tune of this song earlier for the Bengali film song "Ganga Gangaar Tarange" ("Ganga", 1960). The Bengali film song was recorded in two versions - a solo each by Sabita Chowdhury and Nirmalendu Chowdhury.[6]
• Haal Chaal Theek Thaak Hai - Salil Chowdhury recorded a Bengali, non-film version of this song in 1981 in Hemant Kumar's voice titled "E Jibon Besh Cholchhe".[7]
• Koi Hota Jisko Apna - Salil Chowdhury had used the tune of this song earlier in the background score for "Anand" (1970) before developing it into a full-fledged song in this film.[8]
• Koi Hota Jisko Apna - Salil Chowdhury recorded a Bengali, non-film version of this song in 1982 in Hemant Kumar's voice titled "Jete Jete Path Bhulechhi".[9]
• Roz Akeli Aaye Roz Akeli Jaye - This song was not included in the film because Meena Kumari was too unwell to shoot it and because Gulzar liked the song but did not want to include it in the background.[10]
• Roz Akeli Aaye Roz Akeli Jaye - This song was Salil Chowdhury's adaptation of the Bengali song "Meghla Nishi Bhorey" composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam. "Meghla Nishi Bhorey" has been recorded by many artists. The earliest among them was probably S.D. Burman.[11]

1. ^ Man Ka Meet (1968)
2. ^ The story behind Danny Denzongpa’s D’Zongrila
3. ^ Ankush (1986)
4. ^ Anand (1970)
5. ^ Achanak (1973)
6. ^ Ganga Gangaar Tarange (Ganga, 1960)
7. ^ E Jibon Besh Cholchhe - Hemant Kumar
8. ^ Anand (1970)
9. ^ Jete Jete Path Bhulechhi - Hemant Kumar
10. ^ Salilda.com - Mere Apne
11. ^ Meghla Nishi Bhorey - S.D. Burman