Top Dialogues from Hindi movies

Last week, I was watching American Film Institute’s 100 years…..100 movie quotes (with which I have some issues with but maybe more on it later) and I started thinking about famous/classic quotes from Hindi movies – or ‘dialogues’ as one should say since in almost all Hindi films you will find credits for ‘Dialogue’ in addition to the usual ‘Screenplay’ and ‘Story’.

However, inspite of having this dedicated person penning the dialogues, most of them are quite banal and used repeatedly in various films (e.g look here, here and here). Still some quotes like ‘Kitne aadmi the’ transcend the cliches and live in our memories. So I set out to compile the top 10 memorable/classic quotes from Hindi movies. Lists are always subjective and I am by no means a voracious watcher of Hindi films – hence I may have missed some – anyone reading this are welcome to come up with their own list or add to this.

(Additionally, one could argue quite persuasively that all good dialogues are either in Sholay or uttered on screen by Amitabh – but I have tried to mix things a bit).10. Dosti ki hai – nibhani toh padegi – Maine Pyar Kiya : I know, I know – very tacky – but it had become quite famous at the time of its release. Also I had to have one ‘romantic’ quote.

9. Mooche ho to Nathulal jaise ho….warna na ho – Shaarabi – one of the many funny Amitabh quotes (incidentally most of them are spoken when he is drunk)

8. Sara saher mujhe lion ke naam se jaanta hai – Kaalicharan – the quote that spawned hundreds of ‘Ajit jokes’.

7. Police ne tumhe charon taraf se gher liya hain – apne aap ko kannon ke haawale kar do – I know – its one of those hackneyed dialogues – but I included it since it was used so many times by this one actor Iftekar, speaking into a meagphone !

6. Paanch ruapiya bara ana – Chalti Ka Naam Gadi – the most memorable monetary transaction ?

5. Babumoshai…. – Anand

4. Ki..ki…ki…Kiran – Darr – The beginning of SRK’s endless hamming.

3. Mere Paas Maa Hai – Deewar – One of the very few times perhaps when Amitabh’s co-actor has run away with the better dialogue.

2. Mogambo khush hua – Mr. India – Rahul has an entire post on this.

1. Kitne aadmi the – Sholay – I am sure there will be very little arguement on this. (Btw, check this post)

Other contenders:

Chal Dhano! Aaj teri Basanti ki izzhat ka saawal hai – Sholay

Hum jaha pe khade ho jaate hein, line wahi se shuru hoti hai – Kaaliya

I can talk in english, i can walk in english, i can run in english….because english is a phunny language – Namakhalal

I am sure there are some more out there – can’t remember them now.

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