<p>It's no secret that <em>Hero No 1</em> is one of the most popular Hindi movies from the 90s, a decade many consider to be a gamechanger for Bollywood. The comedy-drama, a star vehicle for Govinda, emerged as a massive hit at the box office and helped 'Chi Chi' consolidate his standing as the choice of the masses. On Monday, as the cult film turns 25, here is a look at its rich legacy.</p>.<p><strong>Simple formula, effective execution </strong></p>.<p>It is not uncommon for filmmakers to rely on tried and tested formulae to entertain their target audience. Director Suresh Krissna used the concept of 'meek man with a violent past' in <em>Baashha </em>to redefine the tenets of Tamil cinema. The theme was previously been used in <em>Hum</em>, widely regarded as one of the finest films of Amitabh Bachchan's career. With<em> Hero No 1</em>, director David Dhawan utilised familiar themes to offer the audience paisa vasool entertainment. The film was loosely based on the Rajesh Khanna-starrer <em>Bawarchi</em>, itself an adaptation of the 1966 release <em>Galpo Holeo Satti.</em> It, however, felt fresh as Dhawan tweaked the story to suit Govinda's over-the-top yet lovable brand of comedy.</p>.<p><strong>Bankable pair</strong></p>.<p>Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, who consolidated their standing as a bankable pair with Dhawan's 1995 hit <em>Coolie No 1</em>, reunited for<em> Hero No 1</em> to set the screen on fire with their chemistry. Lolo's stylish looks complemented the comedy superstar's lively antics quite well, adding new life to their scenes.</p>.<p><strong> Popular songs</strong></p>.<p>Dhawan's films have always been synonymous with catchy music.<em> Coolie No 1 </em>for instance boasted of chartbusters such as H<em>usn Hai Suhana</em> and <em>Raste Se Jaa Raha Tha</em>, which have attained cult status over the years. <em>Hero No 1</em> was no exception on this front as tracks such as <em>Sona Kitna Sona Ha</em> and <em>Main Tujhko Bhaga Lay</em>a proved to be instant earworms, making the light-hearted narrative all the more enjoyable. </p>.<p><strong>Family-friendly movie, perfect remake material</strong></p>.<p><em>Hero No 1</em> remains popular even today because of numerous re-runs on television. It is regarded as the choice of the family audience as it provides clean entertainment. The film was remade in Telugu in 2000 as <em>Goppinti Alludu</em> with Balakrishna and Simran in the lead, something that added to Hero No 1's legacy.</p>
<p>It's no secret that <em>Hero No 1</em> is one of the most popular Hindi movies from the 90s, a decade many consider to be a gamechanger for Bollywood. The comedy-drama, a star vehicle for Govinda, emerged as a massive hit at the box office and helped 'Chi Chi' consolidate his standing as the choice of the masses. On Monday, as the cult film turns 25, here is a look at its rich legacy.</p>.<p><strong>Simple formula, effective execution </strong></p>.<p>It is not uncommon for filmmakers to rely on tried and tested formulae to entertain their target audience. Director Suresh Krissna used the concept of 'meek man with a violent past' in <em>Baashha </em>to redefine the tenets of Tamil cinema. The theme was previously been used in <em>Hum</em>, widely regarded as one of the finest films of Amitabh Bachchan's career. With<em> Hero No 1</em>, director David Dhawan utilised familiar themes to offer the audience paisa vasool entertainment. The film was loosely based on the Rajesh Khanna-starrer <em>Bawarchi</em>, itself an adaptation of the 1966 release <em>Galpo Holeo Satti.</em> It, however, felt fresh as Dhawan tweaked the story to suit Govinda's over-the-top yet lovable brand of comedy.</p>.<p><strong>Bankable pair</strong></p>.<p>Govinda and Karisma Kapoor, who consolidated their standing as a bankable pair with Dhawan's 1995 hit <em>Coolie No 1</em>, reunited for<em> Hero No 1</em> to set the screen on fire with their chemistry. Lolo's stylish looks complemented the comedy superstar's lively antics quite well, adding new life to their scenes.</p>.<p><strong> Popular songs</strong></p>.<p>Dhawan's films have always been synonymous with catchy music.<em> Coolie No 1 </em>for instance boasted of chartbusters such as H<em>usn Hai Suhana</em> and <em>Raste Se Jaa Raha Tha</em>, which have attained cult status over the years. <em>Hero No 1</em> was no exception on this front as tracks such as <em>Sona Kitna Sona Ha</em> and <em>Main Tujhko Bhaga Lay</em>a proved to be instant earworms, making the light-hearted narrative all the more enjoyable. </p>.<p><strong>Family-friendly movie, perfect remake material</strong></p>.<p><em>Hero No 1</em> remains popular even today because of numerous re-runs on television. It is regarded as the choice of the family audience as it provides clean entertainment. The film was remade in Telugu in 2000 as <em>Goppinti Alludu</em> with Balakrishna and Simran in the lead, something that added to Hero No 1's legacy.</p>