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Cinema Cinema (1979) and Film Hi Film (1983) - Two rare, lesser known attempts made using clippings of many released and unreleased films. (Did You Know - 33)

05 Jun, 2012 | Did You Know!

Celebrating the 100th year of Indian Cinema, I would like to share a rare info about two lesser known films having some exclusive inclusions in them, which might interest the serious & keen lovers of Hindi Cinema.

Cinema Cinema (1979)

The first film is called “Cinema Cinema” written, produced and directed by Krishna Shah (of Shalimar fame) made in 1979. Actually it’s not a film with any routine storyline but a documentary kind of attempt where it is shown that a movie is running in a local single screen theater and viewers from all walks of life are watching it giving their own personal remarks and comments. In other words it’s an account of ‘Live audience’ watching a Hindi film in the theater.

Now the interesting fact here is that the movie which is running on the screen is a ‘Documentary’ having four superstars of that era (70s) enlightening the viewers about the history of Indian Cinema starting from the year 1912-13. So we have Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra and Zeenat Aman sharing these valuable insights with the viewers as anchors.

Director Krishna Shah reportedly compiled this documentary on Indian cinema after his extensive research on the film archives available all over the world. Hence the film has footage from many officially released films from the beginning of 20th century till 1970s. An interesting sequence of these distinctive clips is used to explain various schools of filmmaking and the historical progression of Indian Cinema starting from its initial years of silent films.

Writer, Producer, Director : Krishna Shah
Starring : All the leading starts of 70s including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Kim and many more.

Film Hi Film (1983)

Second is an amateur but unique kind of movie in which the director uses the unseen, exclusive clips and unused songs of films which could not be made for some undisclosed reasons. Its called “Film Hi Film” made in 1983 which revolves around the story of a producer Gyan Chand (played by Pran) who attempts to complete a film of all newcomers with only a sum of fifty thousand rupees. In the process, Gyan Chand faces many obstacles which he takes up as a challenge and finally releases his film in the theaters. Now throughout the film, a number of unrelated sequences and songs are deliberately incorporated into the script which are actually the uncompleted scenes or tracks from all shelved films.

In clear words, it can easily be called as a messy collage of clips taken from several unfinished movies which could not make it to the big screen. The scenes range from below average to poor, which probably might have been the reason, why they were not used in the projects planned.

The unfinished films (with their probable names) & their unseen footage include the following (in the same sequence) as seen in the movie, along with other films such as "Reporter", "Jahan Mile Dharti Aakaash" & "Picnic":

1. Raj Kapoor (conversing with a talking dog) from “Behrupiya”

2. A complete song “Tauba Tauba” featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha from 'Ek Tha Chander, Ek Thi Sudha'.

3. Amitabh Bachchan’s fight scene in double role where one is wearing a veil and a cowboy hat whereas the other is wearing a red scarf around his neck (dubbed by another artist). The sequence, also featuring Parveen Babi was reportedly taken from Manmohan Desai's uncompleted film “Khuda Gawah”, title of which was later used by Mukul Anand for his mega budget Amitabh Bachchan & Sri Devi starrer in 1992.

4. Another song “Kitna Rangeen Hai” featuring Guru Dutt and Sadhna singing on the deck of a ship.

5. Raj Kapoor as a Joker performing on stage singing a fine song “Hans Kar Hansa, Masti Mein Ga, Kal Hoga Kya Bhool Ja Bhool Ja” from “Behrupiya” (Must be long before his own biographical epic “Mera Naam Joker”).

6. Raj Kapoor’s another scene in a Newspaper office and then with the talking dog from “Behrupiya” (which seems to be edited at a wrong place)

7. Manoj Kumar & Mala Sinha’s family confronting scene from “Naya Mandir”

8. A complete song “Suno Aye Duniya Walon” featuring Manoj Kumar & Mehmood from probably “Naya Mandir” only.

9. Raj Kumar teaching the heroine how to use a gun.

10. Dilip Kumar talking about stopping war on the war-front and facing a court martial along with Nutan from “Shikwa”.

11. Mehmood posing as a modern lady from “Khuda Gawah”.

12. Dev Anand and Sadhna in a romantic scene and a good song “Hum Khoob Jaantey Hain Kya Dil Mein Hai Tumhare” featuring Dev Anand, Sadhna and Zaheeda from “Sajan Ki Galiyan”

13. Helen singing a short version of a club dance number “Aadmi Ko Jeena Hai” with Guru Dutt watching her sitting in style.

14. Madhubala singing a short song “Idhar To Dekho” in a hotel with Balraj Sahni watching her in the getup of a villager from “Yeh Basti Yeh Log”.

15. Vaijyantimala performing on stage on only an instrumental start of a song.

16. Rekha singing the mukhda of a song “Lambi Lambi Kaali Raatein” in an Arabian getup.

17. Clipping of a well shot police-dacoits encounter from reportedly K.Asif’s unfinished venture called “Sasta Khoon Mehnga Paani” as told by Pran in the film itself.

18. Rajendra Kumar’s scene of saving a girl from a dacoit’s den where he fights in a filmy manner using his “Chappal” as his weapon.

Incorporating all the above clippings, the film keeps returning to the story of Gyan Chand who in the end is able to complete his film, which becomes a Hit after it gets released on the silver screen. Honestly, “Film Hi Film” is no doubt a poorly directed venture often referred to as “C” grade cinema. But still its indeed interesting to watch once, for all those unseen and unused sequences featuring many of our favourite stars.

Produced By Shahab Ahmed
Directed By Hiren
Starring : Pran, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo and more.

Tags : Cinema Cinema (1979), Film Hi Film (1983), About 2 rare lesser known films at bobbytalkscinema.com, Did You Know Facts About Bollywood, Films made out of unused footage of shelved films, Rare Bollywood Films.

05 Jun 2012 / Comments ( 17 )

Parth N. Acharya

submitted on 05 June 2012

Thanks a lot for sharing.
I was checking if any of these two films are available online and found "Cinema Cinema".

Watching it right now, thanks again for sharing.

Bobby Sing

submitted on 06 Jun,2012

The pleasure is all mine Parth and I hope you enjoy wathcing it too.

Cheers!
HIS BLESSINGS

Shehroz Khan

submitted on 13 November 2012

Hi, I came across Film hi Film by chance and watched it for a while and then came across your article. The information you provided is really very interesting. Thanks for good research.

Regards
Shehroz

Bobby Sing

submitted on 15 Nov,2012

Hi Shehroz Khan,
Thanks for visiting and writing in too.
I am glad that my research here was found useful by your good self and as per your interest there is lot more here in store similar to the said article.
So do Keep Visiting.
Cheers!
HIS BLESSINGS

Abhishek Kumar

submitted on 27 February 2013

Can anyone please get me "Ek Tha Chander Ek Thi Sudha" full movie *ing Amitabh Bachan and Rekha!!

Bobby Sing

submitted on 28 Feb,2013

Hi Abhishek Kumar,
Actually no one can get you that film as it was never made in totality.......To have it straight from the MAN himself you can read more about it in details here at Amit Ji's blog only.

http://blogs.siliconindia.com/Amitabhbachchan/DAY_1347_Amitabh_Bachchan_Blog-bid-4w7V8hDF53373812.html

Cheers!
HIS BLESSINGS

Film Hi Film

submitted on 01 May 2013

Film Hi Film is now available from Friends Video on VCD and also on youtube.
So You can now watch it or buy it. Or both!

Bobby Sing

submitted on 02 May,2013

Thanks Film Hi Film for your valubale information for all readers here.
(Probably you are representing its Home Video Company here which is great to see.)

Cheers!

SHAILENDRA MISHRA

submitted on 26 July 2019

Hi Bobby ji,

I am fan of your film write-ups.Came to know about your website through facebook group Vintage film and magazines.You also commented on my certain remarks positively in past.

Today there was a post regarding song 'tauba tauba' in 'Film hi Film'. Some member has credited the song to Ek tha Chander Ek thi Sudha' but actually it was from movie' Haseeno ka Devta' which had Amitabh in it but was replaced by Sanjay Khan.The same song is used in film after reshoot with Sanjay.Film hi Film had another scene from incomplete Ek tha Chander Ek thi Sudha' starring Amitabh and Jaya which is credited in initial part of the movie.Today when I was trying to collect information , came across your this article which also had same mistake.

I request you to please check details and correct me if I am wrong

Regards.

Your
Shailendra

Bobby Sing

submitted on 27 Jul,2019

Hi Shailendra ji,
First of all thanks for being a fan of my write-ups. Thats really encouraging and it keeps me going giving me the much need support.

Regarding the song and its inclusion, you are right in your observations but there is another interesting twist in it.
Firstly this write-up was posted at the site in 2012.
But when I researched it again with confirmations while writing my first book DID YOU KNOW Vol.1 then I found the same thing about this particular song (which you have mentioned) but had to write about it differently as this was NOT MENTIONED IN THE FILM's Credits.

So when I re-wrote this chapter for my book I tackled it differently by giving the names of all shelved films in one para and then mentioning all the scenes and songs in details as pointers.
But I couldnt mention that this song was from another film as it was not mentioned in the film's titles.
Why?
Because when we are documentinig something as a book then we have to stick and rely on what has been mentioned in the film's credits unless we have got some other reliable source in print or video revealing something contradicting.

Since such documentation mostly relies upon what the filmmakers write in the their credits so I had to do it that way.
Exactly like the case wherein some films are directed by someone else but credited to some other person.
So when we quote them in a book, then we have to stick to what has been stated in the credits.

Supporting the above explanation with another unsure confusion,
you mentioned that the song 'Tauba Tauba' was actually movie' Haseeno ka Devta' which had Amitabh in it but was replaced by Sanjay Khan.

But as per my info, the film's name wa DUNIYA KA MELA that again could have been 'Haseeno Ka Devta' earlier - again an unconfirmed info that cannot be documented.
That is the story behind the song inclusion.

Howeve since you have pointed it out so I think I should update this article with the new one written in my book.
So thanks for that reminder too and
Keep Visiting and Writing in,
HIS BLESSINGS

Shailendra Mishra

submitted on 27 July 2019

Bobbyji

Thanks for detailed information.Greatful that you spared time for such old article.Best wishes for your future projects.

Yours

Shailendra

Bobby Sing

submitted on 26 Mar,2020

Sorry for the late reply as many comments got hidden due to a technical glitch.
Many thanks for your kind appreciation.
Please keep visiting and writing in.
Cheers!

Shailendra Mishra

submitted on 15 January 2020

Bobbyji,

While re-reading your article I remembered one film which could find place along with these two films.I remember seeing one film called 'Sunahari Yaadein' around 1979/80 .It was simply collection of clips from Filmfare awards with commentary by Ameen Sayani.

Hope the information may be useful for any of your write-up.

Yours

Shailendra Mishra

Bobby Sing

submitted on 07 Jul,2020

Dear Shailendra Ji,
Its indeed a valuable info on a similar subject. Though I vaguely remember seeing it but do not recall it exactly. Would certainly look for it to write upon in details.
Please do share if you have any info of a link or a write-up on it as that will certainly help.

Keep Visiting and Writing in,
Cheers!

Vinay Kumar

submitted on 15 May 2021

Dear Bobby ji,

So lucky that I found you!
Actually I was looking for more info about this movie, Film hi Film, and I got into this very good informative article.ðŸ’“ðŸ˜
I have seen both these films! That too I had seen Cinema Cinema in the same Edward cinema of Mumbai, which is actually shown in this movie!
Cinema Cinema was a great experience and pleasant to watch. It has been made authentic as well.

On the other hand, Film hi Film, is a loose film suffering from poor script, poor editing, poor music! Film's USP is Pran and clips of un released movies. It would have been a great movie if executed property. Subject is good, but wasted.

See you soon on Twitter!
Actually I have lot to talk and discuss about old bollywood movies. Certainly we have lot in common and lot to share. Avid fan of bollywood movies of 1960s and 1970s, but not limited to this era!ðŸ’“ðŸ’–â¤ï¸

Bobby Sing

submitted on 19 Jun,2021

Dear Vinay,
Sorry for replying late.
Really felt overwhelmed reading your comment praising the honest efforts made at the site.
Would surely love to discuss more about movies as thats what this site is all about.
Besides you can also join me at FB or Twitter for more regular updates.
Also do read my book DID YOU KNOW Vol.1 as it has this chapter on the two films mentioned too.
Keep Visiting and Writing in,
Cheers!

Anupam

submitted on 25 September 2021

Rajshri Productions also made a unique film - Rimjhim Geeton Ki - which was released in 1986. It was a just of collection of some of the melodious songs from the various films of Rajshri Productions. In between there were comments from various artistes such as Anupam Kher, Zareena Wahab, Dharmendra etc who worked in some of these films.

Bobby Sing

submitted on 27 Sep,2021

Hi Anupam,
Yes you are very right about Rajshri Production's 'Rimjhim Geeton Ki'. It is there uploaded by Rajshri on the official channel too.
Will surely try to write on it soon.
Keep Visiting and Writing in.
Regards

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