Behen Hogi Teri To Jab Harry Met Sejal: Are Bollywood Titles Innovative Or Weird?

The trailer of Akshay Kumar’s August 11 release, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, is out and it’s garnering views in millions. A couple of days ago, Shah Rukh Khan released the first look of his next film with Imtiaz Ali and Anushka Sharma and it is called Jab Harry Met Sejal (Clearly taking a cue from When Harry Met Sally). Then Rajkummar Rao-starrer Behen Hogi Teri also hit the screens last week.

In all this, one thing is very clear that Bollywood filmmakers are looking for catchy titles and they don’t mind if they look weird.

During the ‘80s, Hindi film titles used to be straight suggesting what the film is about. For example, Masoom, Sadma, Saaransh, Meri Jung, Dayavan etc.

Then came the ‘90s. Filmmakers started using taglines. Sometimes meaningful, mostly funny. Consider, Daag The Fire.

It kept getting better. Gadar – Ek Prem Katha, Dhundh The Fog, Baaz – A Bird In Danger. So on and so forth.

Sometimes they used songs as titles. Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya, Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa etc.

Abbreviations also lasted for some time. RHTDM (Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein), KKHH (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), K3G (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham) were the prominent ones in this context.

Sometimes they were inspired from slang and abuses. Take Saala Khadoos, Kaminey, Haraamkhor as example.

The latest in the title trend is films like Hanumaan Da Damdaar, Bank Chor (pronounced in a certain way) and G Kutta Se. and of course, Jab Harry Met Sejal, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha and Behen Hogi Teri are there.

Such trends make us think weather Bollywood filmmakers are running out of good titles or are simply concerned about a trendy name?