Saajan
| Saajan | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Lawrence D'Souza |
| Written by | Reema Rakesh Nath |
| Based on | Cyrano de Bergerac (1897) by Edmond Rostand |
| Produced by | Sudhakar Bokade |
| Starring | Sanjay Dutt Madhuri Dixit Salman Khan |
| Cinematography | Lawrence D'Souza |
| Edited by | A. R. Rajendran |
| Music by | Nadeem-Shravan Sameer (lyrics) |
| Distributed by | Eros Entertainment Goldmines Telefilms Divya Films International |
Release date |
|
Running time | 193 minutes[1] |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | ₹18.35 crore (US$8.09 million)[2] |
Saajan (lit. 'Beloved') is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Lawrence D'Souza and produced by Sudhakar Bokade. Loosely based on the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897),[3] it stars Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, and Salman Khan in lead roles, with Kader Khan, Reema Lagoo and Laxmikant Berde in supporting roles. Nadeem–Shravan composed the film's music whereas Sameer wrote the lyrics of the songs.
Saajan was released on 30 August 1991, and grossed ₹18.35 crore worldwide, thus becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of 1991.[4] It received positive reviews from critics upon release, with praise for its soundtrack and performances of the cast. It was unofficially remade in Telugu as Allari Priyudu.
At the 37th Filmfare Awards, Saajan received a leading 11 nominations, including Best Film, Best Director (D'Souza), Best Actor (Dutt) and Best Actress (Dixit), and won 2 awards – Best Music Director (Nadeem–Shravan) and Best Male Playback Singer (Kumar Sanu for "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai").
Plot
Aakash meets Aman, a boy with a disability and they become best friends. Aakash's father, Rajiv Verma, a wealthy businessman, adopts Aman. Rajiv's wife, Kamla, and Aakash also accept Aman as their son and elder brother respectively.
12 years later
Grown-up, Aakash and Aman bond well but are still at loggerheads. Carefree, flexible and gregarious, Aakash is a social worker. More serious, Aman writes shayaris and poems, using the pseudonym Saagar, due to which his fan following increases and he gains millions of fans. A fan of his, is the pretty book store owner Pooja Saxena, who frequently writes fan letters.
Aman goes to Ooty for a business project where he meets Pooja. While he recognizes her from her letters she does know he is Saagar. They become friends and Aman decides to reveal that he is Saagar. When some goons misbehave with Pooja, Aman tries to save her but is unable to. The police officer who arrives to avert the situation points out how Aman's disability hampered him from protecting Pooja. from the goons. Considering himself unworthy of Pooja he doesn't reveal that he is Saagar.
Aakash comes to Ooty too and falls in love with Pooja. Aakash is unaware that Aman is the real Saagar and writes shayaris and poems. Aman introduces Aakash as Saagar and Pooja is overjoyed. Gradually, Aakash gets tired of posing as a poet. He also learns that Aman is the real Saagar and that he loves Pooja. Aakash confronts Aman and brings Pooja to meet him. Pooja tells Aman that she would have loved him if he had revealed his true identity at the outset. Eventually, Aakash decides to sacrifice his love. Pooja realizes that she truly loves Aman (Saagar).
Cast
- Sanjay Dutt as Aman/Saagar
- Madhuri Dixit as Pooja Saxena
- Salman Khan as Aakash Verma
- Kader Khan as Rajiv Verma
- Reema Lagoo as Kamla Verma
- Ekta Sohini as Menaka
- Laxmikant Berde as Laxminandan
- Anjana Mumtaz as Manyata Saxena
- Dinesh Hingoo as Lalchand
- Yunus Parvez as Anees
- Raju Shrestha as Yashvant Saxena
- Tej Sapru as Veera
- Vikas Anand as Inspector Dilip
- Raja Duggal
- Pankaj Udhas (Cameo in the song Jiyen to Jiyen Kaise)
- Lawrence D'Souza (Cameop in the song Dekha Hai Pehli Baar)
Production
Aamir Khan was offered Aman's role but refused as he did not connect with the role.[5] Sanjay Dutt's was finalized.[6]
Reception
The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1991.[2][7]
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Nadeem-Shravan, with lyrics by Sameer and Faiz Anwar (for "Pehli Bar Mile Hain"). The album was the year's top seller, with around 7 million copies sold.[8] Vocals are supplied by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (for Khan), Kumar Sanu (for Dutt), Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik (both for Dixit), and Pankaj Udhas.[9]
The soundtrack of the film fetched Nadeem-Shravan their second consecutive Filmfare Award for Best Music Director. Sanu won his second Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai".[10] All the singers were nominated for Filmfare Awards. The Composition of this song " Bahut Pyar Karte Hai" was copied from the song "Bahut khubsurat Hai" from Abshar (1978), Which sung by Mehdi Hassan. The soundtrack was #16 on the list of "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time", as compiled by Planet Bollywood
| Saajan | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 47:00 | |||
| Label | Venus Records & Tapes | |||
| Producer | Nadeem Shravan | |||
| Nadeem Shravan chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Planet Bollywood |   [11] |
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai" | Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik | 05:25 |
| 2. | "Bahut Pyar Karte Hai (Male)" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 03:05 |
| 3. | "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Alka Yagnik | 06:13 |
| 4. | "Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise" | Kumar Sanu, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Anuradha Paudwal | 06:38 |
| 5. | "Bahut Pyar Karte Hain (Female)" | Anuradha Paudwal | 04:25 |
| 6. | "Tumse Milne Ki Tamanna Hai" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 05:30 |
| 7. | "Tu Shayar Hai Main Teri Shayari" | Alka Yagnik | 06:30 |
| 8. | "Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise (Solo)" | Pankaj Udhas | 03:30 |
| 9. | "Pehli Baar Mile Hain" | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | 06:16 |
| Total length: | 47:00 | ||
Awards
| Award | Category | Recipients and Nominees | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Music Director | Nadeem-Shravan | Won |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Kumar Sanu for "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai" | ||
| Best Film | Sudhakar Bokade | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Lawrence D'Souza | ||
| Best Actor | Sanjay Dutt | ||
| Best Actress | Madhuri Dixit | ||
| Best Lyricist | Sameer for "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai" | ||
| Best Male Playback Singer | Pankaj Udhas for "Jiye To Jiye Kaise" | ||
| S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for "Tumse Milne Ki Tamanna Hai" | |||
| Best Female Playback Singer | Alka Yagnik for "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar" | ||
| Anuradha Paudwal for "Bahut Pyar Karte Hai" |
References
- ^ "Saajan | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Box Office 1991". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ Rayachoti, Saritha Rao (26 November 2018). "'Cyrano de Bergerac' is the gift that keeps giving, whether it's 'Padosan' or 'Bareilly Ki Barfi'". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 17 January 2025.
A departure from the Pasher Bari template was Lawrence D'Souza's Saajan (1991), which harked back to elements from the French original and had a chart-busting soundtrack by Nadeem-Shravan.
- ^ "Madhuri Dixit reveals what made her sign Saajan instantly, shares pic with Salman Khan as film completes 29 years". Hindustan Times. 30 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
- ^ Usman, Yasser (2018). Sanjay Dutt: The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood's Bad Boy. Juggernaut Books. p. 108. ISBN 978-93-86228-58-1.
- ^ Patwa, Priyadarshini (4 August 2022). "Aamir Khan rejected these 7 movies that changed Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan's career graphs and went on to earn Crores at the box office". GQ India. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ "Lawrence Dsouza to remake Saajan?". The Times of India. 5 April 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
- ^ "Music Hits 1990–1999". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ Sharma, Devesh. "25 years of Saajan! | Filmfare.com". Filmfare. No. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ "India Today". India Today. 17. Aroon Purie for Living Media India Limited: 54. July 1992. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ^ "Saajan Music Review". Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.