Saajan

Saajan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLawrence D'Souza
Written byReema Rakesh Nath
Based onCyrano de Bergerac (1897) by Edmond Rostand
Produced bySudhakar Bokade
StarringSanjay Dutt
Madhuri Dixit
Salman Khan
CinematographyLawrence D'Souza
Edited byA. R. Rajendran
Music byNadeem-Shravan
Sameer (lyrics)
Distributed byEros Entertainment
Goldmines Telefilms
Divya Films International
Release date
  • 30 August 1991 (1991-08-30)
Running time
193 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Box office₹18.35 crore (US$8.09 million)

Saajan (lit. 'Beloved') is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Lawrence D'Souza and produced by Sudhakar Bokade. The film is a remake of Bengali film Apan Amar Apan. Loosely based on the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac (1897), 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.

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

As adults, Aakash and Aman share a strong bond, though they often find themselves at odds. Aakash, who is laid-back, adaptable, and sociable, dedicates himself to social work. In contrast, Aman takes on a more serious demeanor, crafting shayaris and poems under the pseudonym Sagar. This creative pursuit has skyrocketed his popularity, attracting millions of fans. Among his admirers is Pooja Saxena, the charming owner of a bookstore, who regularly sends him fan letters.

Aman goes to Ooty for a business project where he meets Pooja. While he recognizes her from her letters, she doesn't know he is Sagar. 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 Sagar.

Aakash comes to Ooty too and falls in love with Pooja. Aakash is unaware that Aman is the real Sagar 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 Sagar 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 (Sagar).

Cast

Production

Aamir Khan was offered Aman's role but refused as he did not connect with the role. Sanjay Dutt was finalised after this.

Reception

The film was a blockbuster and The film was the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 1991.

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. Vocals are supplied by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam Salman Khan, Kumar Sanu for Sanjay Dutt, and Anuradha Paudwal and Alka Yagnik both for Madhuri Dixit. Pankaj Udhas sang another version of Jeeye Toh Jeeye.

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". 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 was sung by Mehdi Hassan.[citation needed] The soundtrack was #16 on the list of "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time", as compiled by Planet Bollywood.

Saajan
Soundtrack album by
Nadeem Shravan
Released1991
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length47:00
LabelVenus Records & Tapes
ProducerNadeem Shravan
Nadeem Shravan chronology
Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin
(1991)		 Saajan
(1991)		 Saathi
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Planet BollywoodStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar
Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Pagal Hai"Kumar Sanu & Alka Yagnik05:25
2."Bahut Pyar Karte Hai (Male)"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam03:05
3."Dekha Hai Pehli Baar (Darbari)"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Alka Yagnik06:13
4."Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise"Kumar Sanu, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Anuradha Paudwal06:38
5."Bahut Pyar Karte Hain (Female)"Anuradha Paudwal04:25
6."Tumse Milne Ki Tamanna Hai"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam05:30
7."Tu Shayar Hai Main Teri Shayari"Alka Yagnik06:30
8."Jeeye To Jeeye Kaise (Solo)"Pankaj Udhas03:30
9."Pehli Baar Mile Hain"S. P. Balasubrahmanyam06:16
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

  1. ↑ "Saajan | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Box Office 1991". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "জানেন শতাব্দী রায়ের কোন বাংলা ছবির গল্প থেকে বিখ্যাত হিন্দি ছবি তৈরি হয়?".
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ Usman, Yasser (2018). Sanjay Dutt: The Crazy Untold Story of Bollywood's Bad Boy. Juggernaut Books. p. 108. ISBN 978-93-86228-58-1.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Lawrence Dsouza to remake Saajan?". The Times of India. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ "Music Hits 1990–1999". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 15 February 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Sharma, Devesh. "25 years of Saajan! | Filmfare.com". Filmfare. No. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "India Today". India Today. 17. Aroon Purie for Living Media India Limited: 54. July 1992. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Saajan Music Review". Archived from the original on 15 November 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.