Mehbooba (1976 film)

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Mehbooba
Mehbooba 1976 poster.jpg
Poster
Directed by Shakti Samanta
Written by Gulshan Nanda
Produced by Mushir-Riaz
Starring Rajesh Khanna
Hema Malini
Prem Chopra
Nazir Hussain
Cinematography Aloke Dasgupta
Edited byBijoy Chowdhury
Music by Rahul Dev Burman
Anand Bakshi (lyrics)
Production
company
M. R. Productions
Release date
  • 19 July 1976 (1976-07-19)
Country India
LanguageHindi

Mehbooba is a 1976 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film based on the reincarnation theme, produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini and Prem Chopra in pivotal roles. The music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman. The film is noted for an impressive performance by the lead pair and for its haunting melodies such as "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon" sung separately by both Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, "Chalo Ri" and the duet "Parbat Ke Peeche". The movie is based on Gulshan Nanda's novel Sisakate Saaz. Nanda has also written the screenplay. Upon release, the movie was a silver jubilee hit in many territories though it did not do too well in Mumbai. The film has gained cult status over the years. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Plot

Singer Suraj (Rajesh Khanna) is presented with a tanpura by his fiancée's father. Thereafter, he starts hearing a haunting song at nights. One day, while going for a stage show, stuck in heavy rain, he goes to a small unknown motel, where he meets a woman named Ratna. During the night, he sees Ratna, singing the same song he often hears at night, and walking towards an dilapidated palace. Instinctively, he follows her into the haveli and calls out her name. He is told by an old keeper of the palace that Ratna died more than 1000 years ago and people believe that she still haunts that place.

As he walks around, a portrait of Ratna makes Suraj remember their previous life where he was Prakash, the chief singer of the royal court and was in love with Ratna (Hema Malini), the court dancer. They are unable to get married as Prakash is betrothed to Jamuna and Ratna is destined to become the royal courtesan. They decided to elope but are killed on their way. They die promising each other that they will meet again.

Coming back to his senses, Suraj feels confused. He then runs into a gypsy girl Jhumri, (Hema Malini) who he believes is Ratna's reincarnation. He is able to make Jhumri remember her past life and her love for Prakash. The two declare their undying love for each other. This angers Suraj's fiancée Rita Malhotra (Asha Sachdev), as well as Popatlal (Prem Chopra), who is after Jhumri. Popatlal steals the portrait, and sets the gypsies against Suraj, ensuring a fight between Suraj and the gypsies. How Suraj and Jhumri overcome all obstacles and consummate their relationship this time round forms the climax.

Cast

ActorRoleNotes
Rajesh Khanna Prakash & Suraj
Hema Malini Ratna & Jhumri
Prem Chopra Appa
Asrani Sinha
Sujit Kumar Dr. Vinod
Madan Puri Sardar
Manmohan Krishna Bandhe Ali Khan
Asha Sachdev Rita Malhotra
Harindranath Chattopadhyay Rita's father
Nazir Hussain Guruji
Meena T.Gauri
Leela Mishra Jhumri's mother
Alankar Joshi Buntu
Chandrashekhar Thakur Himmat Singh
Yogeeta Bali Jamuna SinghGuest Appearance

Crew

Awards

24th Filmfare Awards :

Nominated

Soundtrack

The music was composed by R. D. Burman. The songs "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon", "Mehbooba" (title track) and "Parbat Ke Peechhe" were popular numbers.

SongSinger
"Chalo Ri, Chalo Ri" Lata Mangeshkar
"Main Tawaif Hoon" Lata Mangeshkar
"Jamuna Kinare Aaja" Lata Mangeshkar
"Mere Naina" (Female) Lata Mangeshkar
"Parbat Ke Peechhe Chambe Da Gaon" Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
"Mere Naina" (Male) Kishore Kumar
"Mehbooba Mehbooba" Kishore Kumar
"Gori Tori Paijaniya" Manna Dey

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References

  1. "Photos: Fans remember Rajesh Khanna on his first death anniversary Photo Gallery, Picture News Gallery – The Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com.
  2. http://www.indianexpress.com/picture-gallery/fans-remember-rajesh-khanna-on-his-first-death-anniversary/3076-6.html%7Ctitle=PHOTOS: Fans remember Rajesh Khanna on his first death anniversary Photo Gallery, Picture News Gallery – The Indian Express.
  3. "Remembrance ad of Rajesh Khanna". Obituary Today.