Shakti Samanta's China Town Inspired Don & Hollywood

Filmmaker Shakti Samanta's 100th birth anniversary was recently observed, prompting his son Ashim Samanta to share intriguing details about his father's cinematic legacy. A standout revelation involves Samanta's 1962 film, China Town, which transcended typical Bollywood influences. It was officially remade in Tamil and later found to have inspired the classic Amitabh Bachchan starrer, Don.

Ashim Samanta recounted how screenwriters Salim-Javed themselves acknowledged China Town's role in Don's creation. The film's influence even extended to Hollywood, with a 1991 film, Double Impact, identified by Shakti Samanta as a copy. This discovery highlighted the global reach of his father's work.

China Town's impact was significant, with its soundtrack also noted for the song 'Baar Baar Dekho.' The phrase 'Taali Ho' from the song, Ashim Samanta clarified, originated from World War II soldiers, adding another layer of historical context to the film's enduring appeal.