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Anurodh
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| Anurodh | |
|---|---|
Poster | |
| Directed by | Shakti Samanta |
| Screenplay by | Din Dayal Sharma |
| Starring | Rajesh Khanna Simple Kapadia Vinod Mehra Ashok Kumar Nirupa Roy Asrani Preeti Ganguly Dina Pathak Utpal Dutt |
| Cinematography | Aloke Dasgupta |
| Edited by | Bijoy Chowdhary |
| Music by | Laxmikant Pyarelal Anand Bakshi (lyrics) |
Production company | Samanta Enterprises |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Anurodh (English: Request) is a 1977 Hindi-languag musical drama film directed by Shakti Samanta. Produced by Girija Samanta under the banner of Samanta Enterprises, the film is a remake of the 1963 Bengali film Deya Neya.
The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Mehra, Simple Kapadia who made her debut, Rita Bhaduri, Ashok Kumar, Asrani, Asit Sen Utpal Dutt and Nirupa Roy. The music of the film is by Laxmikant Pyarelal. The movie revolves around a rich city boy (played by Khanna), who aspires to be a musician against his father's wishes and assumes a different identity to sing for a radio station, while his songs are written by a poor friend (played by Mehra)
Pyarelal quoted in an interview "Rajesh Khanna had great interest in music and a terrific sense of melody too. His music is dominated by Pancham (R. D. Burman) and we accepted Shakti Samanta's Anurodh only because Rajesh Khanna had some misunderstanding with Pancham then and did not want to work with him."[1] Director Shakti Samanta said that although the film had an "interesting story", he felt that audiences could not accept the leading man, Rajesh Khanna, doing romantic scenes with his real-life wife Dimple Kapadia's sister Simple Kapadia.[2]
Plot
[edit]Arun was the only son of a rich businessman Mr. Chaudhury. He was an upcoming singer, who sang in local radio mostly the songs written by his friend Shrikant. His father wants him to look after their family business and thinks singing is not the kind of job for people of their status. This always leads to friction between father and son. On the other end, Shrikant leads a very poor lifestyle along with his widowed mother. He earns a living by writing songs and articles. Arun frequently helps them with money as Shrikant becomes chronically ill and couldn't work outside.
While things are like this, one day Arun fights with his father and decides to leave his house for Calcutta (presently Kolkata). He joins as a singer there in local radio and works as a driver in the house of Mr. Mathur. He uses name Sanjay Kumar to hide his identity. Mathur lives along with his grandchild Sunita. He lost his son in a war and can't find the whereabouts of his daughter-in-law and grandson for which he continuously organizes searches. Arun grows close with Sunita, headstrong granddaughter of Mathur. Sunita admires Sanjay Kumar without knowing that he and Arun are one and the same. Mathur learns that Arun was the escaped son of his friend Chaudhury and informs him regarding Arun's whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Shrikant becomes critically ill and doctors diagnose it as end stage tuberculosis. His mother comes to Calcutta along with him. Arun gets shocked to see Shrikant like that and swears to save him anyway. He decides to organize a stage show though he decides not to do it till the last minute. He sings on a stage and earns enough money for the operation. The surgeon recognizes Shrikant's mother as the lost daughter-in-law of Mathur and informs him. Srikant's operation becomes a success and he gets reunited with his grandfather. Arun's parents come to Calcutta to see how their son became famous and his father changes his opinions regarding singing. At the end, everyone reconciles and Sunita and Arun marry.
Cast
[edit]- Rajesh Khanna as Arun Choudhury / Sanjay Kumar / Pritam Nath Ghayal
- Simple Kapadia as Sunita Mathur
- Ashok Kumar as Ramesh Chandra Mathur
- Vinod Mehra as Shrikant Mathur
- Nirupa Roy as Radha Mathur
- Utpal Dutt as R.K. Choudhary
- Dina Pathak as Sushma Choudhary
- Rita Bhaduri as Anju
- Preeti Ganguly as Manjeet
- Asrani as Bhishan Singh
- Asit Sen as Saxena (Radio Station Manager)
- Jankidas as Mr.Sharma
- Raj Kishore as Mahir Lucknowi
- Amol Sen as Pooran singh
- Birbal as Veera
- Mrinal Mukherjee as Anand Mathur
- Abhi Bhattacharya as Dr.Sen
- Subroto Mahapatra as Bholuram, Sunita's driver
- Amar Nath as Guptaji
Soundtrack
[edit]All lyrics are given by Anand Bakshi and composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
| # | Title | Singer(s) | Raga |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Aapke Anurodh Pe" | Kishore Kumar | Yaman Kalyan |
| 2 | "Aate Jate Khoobsurat Awara" | Kishore Kumar | |
| 3 | "Mere Dil Ne Tadap Ke" | Kishore Kumar | |
| 4 | "Jab Dard Nahin Tha" | Kishore Kumar | |
| 5 | "Tum Besahara Ho" (Happy) | Manna Dey | |
| 6 | "Tum Besahara Ho" (Sad) | Manna Dey |
Kishore Kumar got nominated for the song "Aapke Anurodh Pe" at Filmfare Awards but lost to Mohammad Rafi for Kya Hua Tera Wada.
Reception
[edit]It received five out of five in the Bollywood guide Collections.[3] The film's music became popular, especially the song 'Aapke Anurodh Pe' sung by Kishore Kumar. "Aate Jaate Khoobsurat" and "Jab dard nahi tha", sung by Kishore Kumar, were also memorable.
Kishore Kumar was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Aap Ke Anurodh" and Vinod Mehra for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
References
[edit]- ^ "The original superstar - Rajesh Khanna". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
- ^ "Great Gambler". Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
- ^ "Collections". 1991.
External links
[edit]Anurodh
View on GrokipediaBackground and Development
Pre-production
The pre-production of Anurodh centered on adapting the story from the 1963 Bengali film Deya Neya, directed by Ajay Kar, into a Hindi musical drama that explored generational conflicts over personal ambitions.[6] The screenplay was crafted by Din Dayal Sharma, with the story and dialogues attributed to Gauri Prasanna Mazumder, emphasizing an emotional narrative of a wealthy young man's pursuit of a singing career in defiance of his father's expectations for him to join the family business.[6] Development occurred in 1976, aligning with on-location preparations in Darjeeling that year.[7] Produced by Girija Samanta under the Shakti Films banner, the project prioritized the 1970s Bollywood tradition of melodrama infused with social commentary on the tension between individual dreams and familial obligations.[8] Key creative choices included a heavy focus on music to drive the emotional arc, with compositions by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, lyrics by Anand Bakshi, and playback singing dominated by Kishore Kumar to evoke melancholy and aspiration; the protagonist's identity as a singer was revealed primarily through voice until the climax, heightening dramatic tension.[6] Rajesh Khanna, cast as the lead, played a pivotal role in shaping the production by advocating for his sister-in-law Simple Kapadia's debut in the female lead.[9]Production
Principal Photography
Principal photography for Anurodh began in 1976 and lasted approximately four months, with the majority of interior scenes filmed at studios in Mumbai and outdoor sequences captured in Darjeeling and Kolkata.[10][11][12] The film was shot on 35mm stock, a standard choice for Hindi cinema at the time that allowed for fluid tracking shots during musical numbers.[1] Cinematographer Aloke Dasgupta handled the visuals.[13]Post-production
The editing process for Anurodh was handled by Bijoy Chowdhary, who focused on pacing the film's 2-hour-27-minute runtime to balance the dramatic sequences and musical numbers.[13][1] Sound design involved dubbing completed in Mumbai studios, with integration of the background score alongside live orchestra recordings from the music sessions.[13] Visual effects were minimal, consistent with the era's musical drama genre, but color correction was applied to achieve warm tones in family-oriented scenes; the film obtained censor certification from the Central Board of Film Certification prior to its release.[1][14]Synopsis and Themes
Plot Summary
Anurodh opens with Arun Choudhury (Rajesh Khanna), the son of a wealthy businessman, who harbors a deep passion for singing despite his father's strong disapproval. To pursue his dream secretly, Arun adopts the stage name Sanjay Kumar and begins performing on the radio, lending his voice to lyrics written by his close friend Srikant Mathur ([Vinod Mehra](/page/Vinod Mehra)), a talented but impoverished poet struggling to make ends meet. Arun uses his earnings to support Srikant and his widowed mother, forming a bond that underscores themes of friendship and artistic collaboration.[6][15] The central conflict escalates when Arun's father discovers his son's clandestine career and, furious at the defiance of family expectations, disowns him, forcing Arun to leave home. Relocating to continue his rising fame as Sanjay Kumar, Arun encounters Sunita Mathur (Simple Kapadia), a young woman who becomes an ardent fan of the singer without knowing his true identity. As their relationship blossoms into love, Arun grapples with the secrecy surrounding his background, while Srikant, left behind, sinks into depression and falls critically ill with a life-threatening disease. Interludes of songs, such as "Aapke Anurodh Pe," punctuate these emotional shifts, highlighting Arun's internal turmoil and the strain on his friendships. Family confrontations intensify as Srikant's health deteriorates, revealing deeper connections when it emerges that Srikant is the grandson of a prominent figure running an ashram.[6][15] In the climax, Arun organizes a public concert to raise funds for Srikant's treatment, culminating in a dramatic revelation of his real identity to his father, Sunita, and the audience. This act of vulnerability leads to forgiveness from his father, who finally accepts Arun's talent, and emotional reconciliation across the divided families. Srikant recovers after receiving care and reunites with his grandfather at the ashram, where he performs his own poignant song, "Tum Besahara Ho Toh." The film resolves with the characters united in a harmonious family, emphasizing sacrifice and mutual support, marked by the celebratory song sequences that tie the narrative together.[6]Themes and Analysis
Anurodh examines the central conflict between individual passion and familial duty within the socio-cultural landscape of 1970s India, where personal aspirations often clashed with traditional expectations of conformity and sacrifice. The protagonist Arun's rebellion against his wealthy father's desire for him to join the family business in favor of pursuing music illustrates this tension, portraying art as a form of self-expression stifled by societal pressures.[16] The film's depiction of women's roles underscores their limited agency in a patriarchal framework, as female characters like Sunita are positioned primarily as supportive figures whose affections are mediated through family approvals and social norms, reflecting the era's gendered constraints on personal choice. Melodramatic elements drive the story, with songs serving as pivotal moments that propel emotional progression and reveal inner conflicts, a staple trope in 1970s Hindi cinema that blended romance, tragedy, and reconciliation to engage audiences on familial discord.[6][16] Critically, Anurodh has been interpreted as a homage to unsung poets and artists, emphasizing their societal value in providing solace amid contrived joy and emotional hardship, with the poet's voice symbolizing unfiltered truth and vulnerability. This reading aligns with the film's narrative focus on creative struggle, positioning it as a reflective piece on the artist's marginalization in a duty-bound world.[6]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
Rajesh Khanna portrayed the triple roles of Arun Choudhury, his alias Sanjay Kumar, and Pritam Nath Ghayal to pursue his passion for music, in Anurodh. As Bollywood's first superstar, Khanna was celebrated for his romantic personas in landmark films like Aradhana (1969) and Amar Prem (1971), where his expressive performances and on-screen chemistry defined an era of Hindi cinema romance.[17][18] In this film, his role allowed him to blend musical flair with emotional depth, highlighting his range beyond pure romance.[4] Simple Kapadia made her acting debut as Sunita Mathur, the supportive and innocent love interest who embodies vulnerability and kindness amid family dynamics. At 18 years old during filming, Kapadia, sister of Dimple Kapadia, brought a fresh, relatable portrayal to her character's emotional journey, marking a promising entry into the industry opposite her brother-in-law Khanna.[19][13] Vinod Mehra played Shrikant Mathur, Sunita's brother and a key ally to the protagonist, contributing to the film's themes of friendship and support. Mehra, an established leading man in the 1970s, delivered a nuanced performance that complemented the leads' chemistry.[13] Ashok Kumar essayed the role of Ramesh Chandra Mathur, Sunita's father, providing paternal authority and emotional grounding to the narrative. A veteran actor with a career spanning decades, Kumar's authoritative yet compassionate depiction added gravitas to the family-oriented storyline.[13]Supporting Roles
A.K. Hangal portrayed the wise grandfather in Anurodh, offering moral guidance to the central family amid their conflicts.[13] As a veteran character actor, Hangal brought depth to the role, drawing from his acclaimed performance in films like Avishkaar (1974). Iftekhar played the authoritative family elder, embodying the stern yet principled figure common in Shakti Samanta's family dramas.[13] His presence reinforced the generational tensions central to the narrative.[1] Aruna Irani appeared in minor roles, including cameo appearances in song sequences that provided comic relief and lightened the film's dramatic tone.[13] Nirupa Roy played Radha Mathur, the mother of Sunita and Shrikant, adding emotional warmth to the Mathur family dynamics.[13] Utpal Dutt portrayed Mr. Choudhury, Arun's strict father whose opposition to his son's musical ambitions drives the central conflict.[13] Bindu appeared as Renu D. Sharma, contributing to the film's interpersonal relationships.[13] Asrani played Bhishan Singh, providing comic support and enhancing the ensemble's depth.[13] The supporting ensemble, including these actors, enriched the family dynamics by highlighting interpersonal relationships and emotional layers without dominating the principal characters.[13]Music and Soundtrack
Composition and Recording
The music for Anurodh was composed by the renowned duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal, selected by director Shakti Samanta for their proven track record in delivering hit romantic compositions that aligned with the film's themes of love and aspiration. Their work on the project began in 1977, during the film's pre-production phase, allowing the score to integrate seamlessly with the narrative centered on a aspiring musician.[6][20][21] The background score emphasized orchestral arrangements, with violins providing sweeping, emotive layers and flutes adding subtle, melancholic tones to heighten the intensity of emotional and dramatic scenes, reflecting the duo's signature fusion of Indian classical elements and Western symphonic techniques.[20] Laxmikant–Pyarelal conducted live performances with an ensemble of skilled musicians to achieve the score's dynamic and textured quality. Playback singers, including Kishore Kumar and Manna Dey, were chosen specifically for their expressive vocal styles that conveyed profound emotional nuance, enhancing the music's role in character development. Anuradha Paudwal provided vocals for a version picturized in the film.[20][6] The soundtrack features six songs designed to propel the plot forward, with melodies drawing on classical influences to infuse romantic and introspective moments with cultural depth.[20][6]Track Listing and Lyrics
The soundtrack of Anurodh features six primary tracks composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal with lyrics penned exclusively by Anand Bakshi, emphasizing emotional depth through playback singing dominated by Kishore Kumar's versatile renditions that evoke nostalgia and romance.[22] The songs are sequenced to align with the film's narrative progression, from introductory optimism to poignant climactic reflections, with "Jab Dard Nahin Tha Seene Mein" serving as a melancholic closer during the story's emotional peak.[23] Durations vary from introspective solos to upbeat duets, contributing to the album's total runtime of approximately 30 minutes.[24] Note that a female version of "Aate Jaate Khoobsurat Awara Sadkon Pe" sung by Anuradha Paudwal appears in the film but is not part of the official album release. The track listing includes the following songs from the official album, with credits for singers, durations (sourced from official album releases), and brief notes on lyrical themes derived from their poetic content:| No. | Title | Singers | Duration | Lyrical Theme and Picturization Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aapke Anurodh Pe | Kishore Kumar | 5:01 | A performative plea responding to an audience's request, exploring themes of obligation and melody as solace; picturized on Rajesh Khanna in a concert-like setting with ensemble cast.[22][24] |
| 2 | Aate Jaate Khoobsurat Awara Sadkon Pe | Kishore Kumar | 5:35 | Celebrates the carefree wandering of youth on picturesque roads, symbolizing transient joys and budding romance; picturized on Rajesh Khanna and Simple Kapadia during a lively outing. A female reprise by Anuradha Paudwal (duration approx. 4:45) adds a tender echo in the film.[22][24] |
| 3 | Mere Dil Ne Tadap Ke | Kishore Kumar | 6:32 | Conveys the heartache of unfulfilled longing and emotional yearning, with poetic lines on love's torment; featured in a solo sequence highlighting the protagonist's inner turmoil.[22][24] |
| 4 | Jab Dard Nahin Tha Seene Mein | Kishore Kumar | 4:54 | Reflects on life's pains through nostalgic reminiscence of pain-free days, delving into themes of sorrow and resilience; integrated into dramatic scenes with multiple characters, underscoring the film's tragic undertones.[22][24] |
| 5 | Tum Besahara Ho Toh (Happy Version) | Manna Dey | 4:35 | Motivational advice to find purpose by supporting others in despair, promoting empathy and selflessness; picturized on Ashok Kumar mentoring younger characters in uplifting group moments.[22][24] |
| 6 | Tum Besahara Ho Toh (Sad Version) | Manna Dey | 3:22 | A somber extension emphasizing isolation and quiet resolve amid hardship, echoing heartbreak's poetic exploration; used in reflective, intimate scenes towards the film's resolution.[22][24] |
