Purana Mandir (1984)

Directors:

Shyam Ramsay
Tulsi Ramsay

Writers:

Kumar Ramsay (screenplay)
Dr. Gurdeep (dialogue)
(more)

Release Date:

19 October 1984 (India)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Horror | Romance

Plot:

After a rich young girl has suddenly known about a demon and it's terrible curse brought by her family for generations, she decides to go to her paternal village with her lover and his friend to find out the truth.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Cemetery | Love | Will

Cast

Mohnish Bahl	...	Sanjay
Arti Gupta	...	Suman R. Singh (as Aarti Gupta)
Puneet Issar	...	Anand
Sadashiv Amrapurkar	...	Durjan - Chowkidar
Ajay Agarwal	...	Samri
Sadhana Khote	...	Mangli (as Sadhna Khote)
Satish Shah	...	Sanga (the woodcutter)
Trilok Kapoor	...	Raja Hariman Singh
Dr. Satish Chopra
Rajendra Nath	...	Sardar Murdhar Singh (as Rajinder Nath)
Vishakha Chotu	...	Rupali H. Singh (as Visakha)
Alka Noopur	...	Bijli - Raka's sister
Binny Rai
Pradeep Kumar	...	Thakur Ranvir Ajit Singh
Dheeraj Kumar	...	Raka - Gypsy
Leena Das	...	Cabaret Dancer / Singer
Ashalata Wabgaonkar	...	Damyanti - Ranvir's sister (as Ashalata)
Lalita Pawar	...	Basanti
Jagdeep	...	Daku Machhar Singh
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Priti Sapru	...	Sapna - Anand's Wife

Directed by
Shyam Ramsay
Tulsi Ramsay

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
J.K. Ahuja		story
Dr. Gurdeep		dialogue (as Dr. Gurudeep)
Siddiqui M.S. Rahman		assistant dialogue
Kumar Ramsay		screenplay

Produced by
Kanta Ramsay	....	producer

Original Music by
Ajit Singh

Cinematography by
Gangu Ramsay		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Shyam Ramsay

Production Design by
Tulsi Ramsay

Makeup Department
Ashok Gavas	....	makeup artist (as Ashok Gawas)
Pijus Kanti Roy	....	makeup artist
Srinivasa Roy	....	makeup artist (as Srinivas Roy)
Ganesh N. Shelar	....	makeup artist (as Ganesh Shelar)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Collin Albuquerque	....	chief assistant director (as Collien Albuqerque)
Surendra Verma	....	assistant director (as Surinder Verma)

Sound Department
Kiran Ramsay	....	sound
Navin Shah	....	sound assistant
Kuldip Sood	....	sound re-recordist
Yusuf	....	sound assistant

Special Effects by
Baldev Malik	....	special effects
Krishan Malik	....	special effects

Stunts
Gulab Rao	....	fights

Camera and Electrical Department
Vijay More	....	assistant camera
Hemant Sharma	....	chief assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sayyed	....	dressman (as Sayed)
Mukesh D. Upadhyaya	....	dressman (as Mukesh)

Editorial Department
A.R. Bhate	....	color consultant (as Bhate)
Gupta	....	assistant editor
Vijay Prabhu	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Asha Bhosle	....	playback singer
Mahendra Kapoor	....	playback singer (as Mahindra Kapoor)
Shiv Mathur	....	music assistant
Ajit Singh	....	playback singer
Uttam Singh	....	music assistant
Alka Yagnik	....	playback singer

Other crew
Manohar Aghicha	....	presenter (as Manohar Agicha)
Ramchand Agicha	....	production controller
Ramesh Agicha	....	production controller
Ravindra V. Chougule	....	accountant (as R.V. Choughule)
Kiran Kumar	....	choreographer
Arjun Ramsay	....	associate director
Ravi	....	publicity designer

Production Companies

• K.R. Enterprises

Distributors

• Mondo Macabro (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• CBS Gramophone Records & Tapes (India)  soundtrack (as C.B.S.)
• Film Center  song recording
• Glamour Color Labs  publicity printers
• Shri Krishna Films  equipments (as Shree Krishna Films)
• Studio Sea Rock  dubbing

Also Known As:

"The Old Temple" - India (English title)

Country:

India

Language:

Hindi

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

India:A | USA:Unrated (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Essel Studios, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

K.R. Enterprises

Movie Connections:

References Superman (1978)

Soundtrack:

Woh Beetey Din Yaad Hain

Before there was Raaz, there was Purana Mandir...

Purana Mandir is without any doubt one of the greatest, if not the greatest, Bollywood horror movie ever made. Directed by the famous Ramsay Brothers, it has a powerful story that grips your attention right from the start, and never let's go.

The story concerns a demonic curse bestowed on a royal family, which forbids its daughter (Aarti Gupta) from marrying. However, she falls for Monish Behl. Before they can marry, they visit, with two friends, the old palace and the nearby temple where, hundred of years ago, an extremely macabre event had taken place...

Much of the credit for the huge success of this masterpiece has to go to the perfect musical score provided by relatively unknown music director Ajit Singh. The music is essential in making this movie genuinely frightening at times. Monish Behl and Aarti Gupta both give very sincere performances, Ajay Agarwal has a very strong screen presence as Samri, and it is a pleasure to also see veteran actor Pradeep Kumar.

The DVD recently released by Mondo Macabro (part of a 2-disc release including also Badh Darwaza) is the best this movie has looked for years. Unfortunately, it is presented in 4:3 aspect ratio, but this is how the movie was originally made.

I would rate this movie right up there with Raaz as the best Bollywood has given its audience in terms of horror.

And, oh, did I forget to say that Purana Mandir also has the most beautiful and haunting love song ever to grace the Indian silver screen, sung by no other than...Ajit Singh himself.