25 years of Josh: Where Eagles dared and Bichhoos were brutal!

25 years of Josh: Where Eagles dared and Bichhoos were brutal!

Year 2000. After the staggering success of ‘Kaho Na Pyar Hai’, the next big thing to look forward was Mansoor Khan's ‘Josh’ - marking the coming together of Industry's two most formidable film stars - Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, who were unconventionally paired as twin siblings. Josh had created a massive buzz before its release with the teasers and promotions.

Two warring gangs reflecting the place's diverse cultural tenets, a tradition of rivalry carved in blood, dubious land dealings and a sinister secret buried in the heartland of Goa waiting to be unearthed - Mansoor's desi ‘West Side Story’ had vividly captured the imagery of the young cinephile in me.

As a filmmaker, Mansoor was always fascinated by the concept of rivalry with a history. His mammoth successes, ‘QSQT’ and ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’, also dabbled in this theme at their core. ‘Josh’ established the rivalry between the boys' gangs right from the start - where breaching the demarcated boundaries would invite dire consequences.

Max (Shah Rukh Khan), heading the Eagles gang, and Shekhar (Sharad Kapoor) the leader of Bichhoos, would always find themselves deep neck in the fury of fracas, and they would love to engage in that. Beat each other, get beaten and bruised until interrupted by the local cop, played by Sharat Saxena.

Things take a serious turn when Max's twin sister Sherley (Rai) and rogue Shekhar's younger and much sober brother, Rahul (Chandrachur Singh) fall in love with each other.

Centered in the conflict, Josh reveled in the swagger of Shah Rukh Khan, as much as it soaked itself in the Goan ethos and 80s setting - the serene beaches, the sultry breezes, the soothing shores and a scintillating Aish, lending vibrancy to the picturesque town of Vasco. Shah's bandana embroided with their gang's logo, the ear-studs, the brown leather jacket, the shades and the bike created style statements, beating Aishwarya's short skirts, long curls and resplendent cat eyes. He even lent his vocal chords for the first time with " Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila",  while the lyrics imbibed the mention of traditional dishes like " Kokum Curry"!

Mansoor's directorial prowess, Nitin Desai's meticulous prod-design and gorgeous lensing by KV Anand created a pulsating first half. Implanting rats in the bakery by Eagles, laying a trap for Max by the Bichoos leading to a deadly fight between the two gang leaders, ‘Josh’ drew enormous benefits from these memorable moments.

But what didn't work in favour of the film was its dreary second hour and an underwhelming climax. People didn't like SRK to be captured and beaten by the local cop. Similarly, they wanted more adrenaline rush in the climactic fight, but the tempo and built up was clearly missing.

25 years later, I remember ‘Josh’ for its unique creative design, the characters and the wonderful songs. The swag and the sass remain unbeaten, even though it couldn't match up to Mansoor's prior marvels.