How often do you wait the entire movie for a song? Not often. One of the most memorable climax songs that marked a movie was “Abhimaan”, the classic Amitabh Bachchan-Jaya Bhaduri starrer, one of the finest musicals in the history of Indian cinema.
Amitabh and Jaya played the main characters of the movie – acclaimed playback singers – but “Aap Ki Khatir” was not based on contribution from the composer. In fact, it had music as its weakest factor. But one song made it to the top hits of the time and it graced the screen only at the fag end.
“Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost” was sung and composed by Bhappi Lahiri and it was a number that appealed across the country. Of course, in Bombay it became the signature number at most weddings and parties. Well, we don’t know if it was a strategic positioning of the song because it had little to do with the narrative.
The leading pair of Vinod Khanna and Rekha may not count this light-hearted movie among their best but it was a enjoyable treat for the effortless ease with which they slipped into the role. Khanna and Rekha were at the peak of their career and were the reason why fans thronged to watch them on screen.
Rekha
Khanna, acknowledged for his versatility in Indian cinema, played the hero, villain, dacoit, student leader, police officer, with élan. He was pitted against the successful stars of the day, Dharmendra, Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, but managed to hold his place with powerful performances.
For Rekha, the challenge lay in playing all kinds of characters and her presence in this movie added substance to the story. She plays a wife who dreams of adding a touch of affluence to her husband’s life. In the process, she encounters a rocky journey which ultimately lands her in trouble.
Khanna plays Sagar, who places self-pride above the rest. He moves away from a wealthy and luxurious life-style to marry middle-class Sarita, who nurses an ambition to grow rich. Having broken away from his family, Sagar earns his livelihood by driving a taxi. He strives to give Sarita a decent life.
Kolkata: Noted music director and singer Bappi Lahiri felicitates Tollywood actor Prasenjit Chatterjee (R) during a musical programme to observe 25th death anniversary of legendary lyricist the late Gouri Prasanna Majumder in Kolkata ob Friday night. PTI Photo (PTI2_12_2011_000026B)
A visit to Sagar’s mansion, well after marriage, leaves Sarita in a depressed state. She holds herself responsible for the state in which Sagar finds himself, driving a taxi and working long hours to please her. Overcome by misplaced guilt of having forced Sagar to leave his comforts in order to marry her, Sarita adopts desperate measures to earn quick and big money.
Her desire to make money takes Sarita to a loan shark. He shells out ten thousand rupees which she compels Sagar to invest in shares. The focus rests completely on Sarita, who is hounded by the loan master, played brilliantly by Tarun Ghosh. His cameo stands out.
Sarita is confronted by challenges at every step as the stock market crashes. She is led to a madam, a cameo by Nadira, who tricks her into entertaining her clients. Sarita loses little time in understanding the gravity of the situation and one unwise step leads to another until the time she reveals the truth her husband.
Watch “Aap Ki Khatir” for the sake of your beloved. Make sure you stay on till the end for the famous “Bambai Se Aaya Mera Dost”.
