Parwana (1971)

Kumar Sen is an artist of eminence, a talented painter, and a renowned sculptor; and like the majority of his clan, he has a sensitive introvert. But no artist can achieve any degree of ... See full summary »

Director:

Jyoti Swaroop

Writers:

Agha Jani Kashmiri (dialogue), Agha Jani Kashmiri (screenplay),

Stars:

Navin Nischol, Amitabh Bachchan, Yogeeta Bali

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Navin Nischol	...	Rajeshwar Singh
Amitabh Bachchan	...	Kumar Sen
Yogeeta Bali	...	Asha Varma / Nirmala
Om Prakash	...	Ashok Varma
Shatrughan Sinha	...	Public Prosecuter (Guest Appearance)
Helen	...	Cabaret Dancer
Laxmi Chhaya	...	Kamla Singh
Lalita Pawar	...	Sarita Singh
Asit Sen	...	Mr. Ghosh
Abhi Bhattacharya
Ranjita Thakur
Anwar Ali
Haroon
Vikram Gokhale
Ram Mohan

Storyline

Kumar Sen is an artist of eminence, a talented painter, and a renowned sculptor; and like the majority of his clan, he has a sensitive introvert. But no artist can achieve any degree of brilliance in his work. Miss Asha Varma is the only niece of a retired, jovial old pensioner, Ashok Varma, and she is truly the light of Kumar's life. One stormy night, Kumar tries to hold Ashok Varma to his unsaid promise of giving him asha's hand in marriage. But the interview ends in unpleasantness for both of them, as angrily the old man ordered Kumar never to darken his doorstep again. Soon after Ashok Varma is strangled to death. Asha's beau Rajesh is arrested for Ashok's murder. The whole drama unfolds in court and truth prevails, who really murdered Ashok Varma and whether Rajesh is innocent or guilty.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | sculptor | train | painting | car breakdown | 

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Taglines:

A murder plan that forced Indian railways to change their train times!

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Genres:

Romance | Thriller

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Details

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shri Ambika Chitra

Technical Specs

Color:

Color Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the first movie in which future superstar Amitabh Bachchan played a villain. He did not play another until 31 years later in Aankhen.

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Connections

Referenced in Guddi (1971)

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Soundtracks

"Chale Ladkhada Ke"
Music by Madan Mohan
Lyrics by Kaifi Azmi
Performed by Asha Bhosle

User Reviews

A fine Howdunit!

I may have seen this film ages ago but seeing clips in Johnny Gaddaar reminded me that I needed to revisit the film. The film was an early career venture for Navin Nischol and Amitabh. Navin was cute, romanced the girl (Yogita Bali - was she a bit squint eyed?), got all the song numbers, and Big B played the sensitive introverted artist who secretly loves the girl but cannot have her. But seeing her with Navin twists the knife of jealousy deeper and deeper in until he decides that all is fair in love and war and declares a most insidious war. Yogita was OK, Om Prakash was a complete natural as ever, and Shotgun Sinha over-acted like hell in a cameo court scene. There was an obligatory item number from Helen. Oh - Kaifi Azmi wrote the lyrics and they were mostly mundane. Two songs were decent - Yun Na Sharma, Phaila De Apni Gori Gori Baahen and Simti Si Sharmai Si Kis Duniya Se tum Aayi ho.

The film had a very B-grade feel to it but the plot was extremely innovative - no wonder Sriram Raghavan got inspired! Navin Nischol was like a lost kid and it was hard to get too involved in the lovers played by him and Yogita. Amitabh was intense all the way through and had flashes of brilliance in the film. But it was the 70s and his negative role had to have redemption at the end. There might have been some problem with the way the character of Kumar developed because while the film was most interesting and engaging throughout I felt a clinical detachment from the players as I watched it. I think this was not very much like Jewel Thief and Johnny Mera Naam, instead of a whodunit suspenseful tale this was a Howdunit and very unique for its time. Worth a watch for the plot and for seeing the beginnings of Big B.