To mark the 50th year of its commercial release, B.R. Chopra-directed Naya Daur is being released in colour on August 3 by his son Ravi Chopra.

The film's music re-release function was held in Mumbai last Monday and the occasion brought back B.R. Chopra, Dilip Kumar, Asha Bhonsle and others.

It was also an occasion for a trek down memory lane as Dilip Kumar reminisced about the badminton matches he and leading lady Vyjanthimala used to play after pack up. "Vyjanthimala was a very good player", recalled Dilip Kumar.

It was left to another noted directed-producer of Bollywood, Yash Chopra, younger brother of B.R. Chopra, to recall the culinary skills of Dilip Kumar. "Every evening, Dilip Sahab used to make delicious chicken dishes which the two of us ate with great relish," Yash Chopra said.

"I was an assistant director of Naya Daur and in those days we had to make our own living arrangements. We stayed in a veterinary hospital in Bhopal," he added.

Asha Bhonsle thanked B.R. Chopra for giving her the opportunity to sing in the film at a time when she was a "nobody" in Hindi film music.

"This was the time when my sister (Lata Mangeshkar) was at her peak and there were other great singers like Shamshad Begum. I was just a newcomer but B.R. Chopra trusted me and took a chance on me," Asha recalled.

Asha Bhonsle also took the opportunity to point out that Yash Chopra's favourite singer was her elder sister while B.R. Chopra's preferred her.

Ravi Chopra said, "I think Naya Daur is one of my father's best films. It has everything -- ace performances by actors, great music and a social message. This re-release is a tribute to my father.

After the success of Mughal-e-Azam, this is the second Hindi classic, which is set to hit the theatres in coloured version.