Mumbai Matinee: Catch a glimpse of St. Anthony's Girls High School in Shammi Kapoor's 1969 film 'Tumse Achha Kaun Hai'

Another interesting story from Chembur that not many people remember, unless you studied at St. Anthony's Girls High School or O.L.P.S. High School in Chembur back in 1968-69. It's connected to these movie posters you're seeing below. Read on to know how. 

Independence Day

Independence Day got me thinking about the flag hoisting ceremony from school. My school which happens to OLPS Boys High School, Chembur - the one next to St. Anthony’s Girls High School. 

Tumse Achha Kaun Hai

The scene above from the 1969 movie 'Tumse Achha Kaun Hai' starring Shammi Kapoor, Babita Shivdasani, Pran, Mehmood, Aruna Irani, Lalita Pawar is of the song ‘Ganga Meri Maa Ka Naam’ - where you can see Shammi Kapoor singing the patriotic song as the students queue up in rows just like for Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations. 

Student turned actors

The students you see in the film are not actors, but rather the ones actually studying there during the academic year of 1968-69.

The two schools share a boundary wall, and are convent girls & boys schools. However, for this song students from both institutions were brought together. You can see the wall here behind the flag pole, and the boys school building too (partially).

The Kapoors and Chembur 

It’s no secret that the Kapoors grew up in Chembur, and also ran the famous R.K.Studios here (pictured below). Why were the songs shot here? What’s the story behind it? I’m not too sure. The only reason I can think of, is that it was super close to their home, although that might not be it :p

Scenes from the School Playground

The houses you see in the back of this scene still stand (well, most of it). Although, I can't recall any of their names right now (maybe I'll update it here once the quarantine is over). 

Watch the clip

You can listen to the song here. Or watch the film on Zee5 or here.

Photo Credits

All screenshots from the dailymotion clip, since I don’t have a Zee5 subscription currently. Colored photo of St. Anthony’s Girls High School from Justdial. (Sorry, I just couldn’t find another that matched well). Photo of R.K.Studios from wikimedia commons. 

Fun Fact

My dad & my uncle were also studying at OLPS when this song was filmed, but damn it - they didn’t make it. Please find below two more photos of OLPS, Chembur from back in the day. If anyone has photos of St. Anythony’s Girls High School, please do share using #BimblingInBombay or write to me on bawmbe@gmail.com. 






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Hey! Thank you for reading this.

It's me, bawmbe. Hrishikesh Singh, on paper. I'm the one behind these stories. If you enjoyed this story, I suggest you take a look at this one I wrote about Belvedere, the heritage bungalow at the corner of OLPS Church in Chembur.  

I also click pretty pictures of Mumbai. But someone once said that these photos have many stories, and stories need to be told. So, here I am writing one new tale at a time as your fellow Bombay lover. By the way, I'm at bawmbe@gmail.com in case you wanna discuss anything from history to heritage over a cup of Mint Tea. (the tea is of course, optional)