# Saajan

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), 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. 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 becomes a roadside romeo and 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 letters to correspond with Aman, revealing she loves and admires him and his poetic abilities. Aman goes to Ooty for a business project where he meets Pooja and recognizes her, but she fails to identify him. They form a friendship and Aman decides to reveal that he is Saagar. One day, on their way back home, some goons misbehave with Pooja. Aman tries to save her but instead gets beaten up by the goons. On the arrival of a police officer, the goons flee. The police officer points out Aman's disability and says that he is unable to protect himself and therefore cannot protect Pooja. As a result, Aman considers himself unworthy of Pooja and doesn't reveal that he is Saagar.
Aakash comes to Ooty too and falls in love with Pooja, and explains to Aman that he is in love with her. Aman decides to unite Pooja and Aakash. Aakash is unaware that Aman is the real Saagar and writes shayaris and poems. Aman asks Aakash to pose as Saagar in front of Pooja so that she also starts loving him. Aman introduces Aakash as Saagar and Pooja is overjoyed to know that she has met "Saagar" finally, unaware of the truth. Gradually, Aakash gets tired of posing as a poet and not only learns that Aman secretly loves Pooja, but also that he is actually "Saagar". He confronts Aman and brings Pooja, and makes Aman admit that he loves her. Pooja meets and tells Aman that she would have loved him if he had revealed that he is "Saagar". Eventually, Aakash decides to unite Pooja and Aman, and sacrifice his love. Pooja realizes that she truly loves Aman (Saagar). Pooja and Aman's marriage is fixed. Both of them bid adieu to Aakash and he leaves, as the movie successfully ends.

## Cast

* Sanjay Dutt as Saagar / Aman Verma: Kamla and Rajiv's adopted son and Aakash's adopted brother
* Madhuri Dixit as Pooja Saxena: Aman and Akash's love-interest
* Salman Khan as Aakash Verma: Kamla and Rajiv's son and Aman's adoptive brother
* Kader Khan as Rajiv Verma: Aakash's father and Aman' adoptive father
* Reema Lagoo as Kamla Verma: Aakash's mother and Aman's adoptive mother
* 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: A local goon in the "Tu Shayaar Hai" song
* Vikas Anand as Inspector Dilip
* Raja Duggal as Babu Lal
* Pankaj Udhas in the song "Jiyen to Jiyen Kaise"
* Lawrence D'Souza in the song "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar"

## Production

Aamir Khan was first offered Aman's role in the film. Despite liking the story, he refused the film as he did not connect to the role.

## Reception

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 (for Khan), Kumar Sanu (for Dutt), Anuradha Paudwal, Alka Yagnik (both for Dixit), and Pankaj Udhas.
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 song "Bahut Pyar Karte Hai" Was copied from the song "Bahut Khubsurat Hai Mera Sanam" of Pakistani Movie Aabshar (1978), which was sung by legendary singer Mehdi Hassan.The soundtrack was #16 on the list of "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks of All Time", as compiled by Planet Bollywood
Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Planet Bollywood | |

## Awards

| Award | Category | Recipients and Nominees | Results |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Music Director | Nadeem-Shravan | Won |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Kumar Sanu for "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai" | Won |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Film | Sudhakar Bokade | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Director | Lawrence D'Souza | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Actor | Sanjay Dutt | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Actress | Madhuri Dixit | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Lyricist | Sameer for "Mera Dil Bhi Kitna Paagal Hai" | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | Pankaj Udhas for "Jiye To Jiye Kaise" | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Male Playback Singer | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for "Tumse Milne Ki Tamanna Hai" | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Alka Yagnik for "Dekha Hai Pehli Baar" | Nominated |
| 37th Filmfare Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Anuradha Paudwal for "Bahut Pyar Karte Hai" | Nominated |