Seeta Aur Geeta (1972)

Director:

Ramesh Sippy

Writers:

Javed Akhtar (dialogue)
Javed Akhtar (screenplay)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance | Drama | Family | Musical

Plot:

Seeta is ill treated by her cruel aunt Kaushalya. Fed up with her atrocities, one day Seeta leaves the house and runs into Raka...

Plot Keywords:

Twins | Dual Role | Gypsy | Revenge | Circus

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Dharmendra	...	Raka
Sanjeev Kumar	...	Ravi
Hema Malini	...	Seeta / Geeta
Manorama	...	Kaushalya
Pratima Devi	...	Dadi Ma (Grandmother) (as Protima Devi)
Satyendra Kapoor	...	Badrinath (as Satyandra Kappu)
Kamal Kapoor	...	Ravi's Father
Ratnamala	...	Ravi's Mother
Radhika Rani	...	Leela (Geeta's Foster Mother)
Honey Irani	...	Sheila
Dev Kishan	...	House Servant (as Dev Kisan)
Alankar Joshi	...	Kaushalya's Son (as Master Alankar)
Roopesh Kumar	...	Ranjeet
Keshav Rana	...	Inspector Rana
Mushtaq Merchant

Also Known As:

Seeta and Geeta
Sita Aur Gita (India: Hindi title) (alternative transliteration)

Runtime:

India:162 min (DVD)

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

India:U

Filming Locations:

Famous Cine Studios, Tardeo, India

Company:

Sippy Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ek Ladka Ek Ladki (1992)

Soundtrack:

Abhi toh haath mein jaam hai

Outstanding picture! Seeta, Geeta and the ever-unforgettable Hema Malini!

Seeta Aur Geeta is easily one of the best comedy films in India ever. And apart from the wonderful screenplay, the exceptionally funny proceedings, the fantastic comedy and romance, there's another very good reason to watch it which is also the main reason: Hema Malini. Seeta Aur Geeta, both played by Hema Malini, are identical twin sisters who are separated at birth. 17 years later: Seeta lives unhappily with her uncles in a big mansion post her parents' death, and is literally treated like a slave, and Geeta, who was stolen by a gypsy couple at birth, lives happily a poor lifestyle with her mother. Seeta is presented as a shy, traditional and very quiet girl, while Geeta is presented as a bubbly, energetic, brave and vivacious girl who works as a street dancer to feed herself and in her free-time is a real prankster who indulges in playing marbles with kids.

The real comedy of errors begins when Seeta, who is unable to tolerate her ill-fate any longer, runs away from home, and the two estranged sisters swap places, that too with a lot of comedy and humour. The biggest fun happens at the big mansion, where the aunt, her brother and daughter think they can maltreat Seeta again. What they don't know is that it is not Seeta, but Geeta! And what happens then is such a hilarious show to watch.

Hema Malini, in one of her best performances ever, is simply splendid and marvelous. She gets two completely different roles to play with very distinct temperaments and personalities (one is a dramatic role and the other is a comic one), and she plays them so brilliantly, skillfully and convincingly that it's simply impossible to believe it is one woman playing these two characters. She is moving and compelling as Seeta, but it's the character of Geeta that remains with you forever, because it shows the most colourful shades of her personality and utilises her superb comic timing to the fullest.

All the rest of the cast members support well, but it is Manorama who stands out as the twins' cruel, evil and hilarious aunt. Her plumpy, amusingly hypocritical, heavily made-up and caricaturish Kaushalia is known as one of the most memorable and funny characters of Hindi cinema, and rightfully so. Manorama is just exceptional in a wonderfully acted comic role, which undoubtedly contributes to the film significantly.

RD Burman's music is outstanding. All the songs are quite modern, from the happily exciting "Oh Saathi Chal" to the catchy "Zindagi Hai Khel" to the ballad "Haan Ji Haan". And speaking of modern, the film portrays the modern-day India very well. Ramesh Sippy's direction is excellent, ditto for the cinematography, the editing and the action. The story never gets to bore, it is engaging and interesting. Overall, Seeta Aur Geeta is one of the best-made Indian films of its time, one of the most accomplished entertainers, a masterful work of pure intentions.