Tribute to Yash Chopra

Yash Raj Chopra - The legendary filmmaker and Bollywood's reigning 'King of Romance' is no more, leaving the entire country in a great state of shock. Everybody is numb hearing this sad news. With his 53-year long career, 22 films and the head of India's most powerful production house Yash Raj Films, he ruled the film industry. He defined the word 'Love'. Love was in every hue in every film of his. A man who wanted perfection in every aspect of his film. Who can forget the wonderful songs of his films which make his films immortal. Almost all his films were a box-office hit. Yashji actually knew the intensity, passion and uniqueness of love which no filmmaker was and will never be able to portray. He beautifully showed the complications, rough patches and passion in a man-woman relationship. He was a filmmaker who craved for more and more. He brought in radical themes such as : unwed motherhood in Dhool ka Phool, the communal divide in Dharmaputra, bigamy in Daag, the Oedipal complex in Lamhe, obsessive love in Darr and the Indo-Pak association in Veer-Zaara. He never believed in putting sexuality in his films. He said that for a film to be a blockbuster, there has to be a touch of Indian culture. Thus, he showed mainstream Indian values in each and every film of his. He was immensely in love with Indian culture. Yashji took us through the fabulous Switzerland landscapes, the tram & train journeys there etc in DDLJ apart from the delicious Punjabi wedding rituals & lingo, the famous Brazilian carnival, the canyons with a stream of Iguazu, the beautiful beach & city of Brazil in Dhoom 2, Amsterdam & London in Hum Tum, London & Istanbul in Ek tha tiger,etc etc etc.He announced his retirement from directing after directing the film Jab Tak Hai Jaan which is slated for a Diwali release. Nothing can be more ironical than the fact that he titled his film 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'. There can never be another Yash Raj Chopra. His sad demise marks the end of a whole era of love and romance. He will be missed and remembered forever by generations to come.