Directed by Govind Saraiya (who is renowned for the Nutan-Manish starrer "saraswathichandra" (1968), this 1976 movie is about Sajjo Rani, a prostitute's daughter. Sajjo dreams of getting married into a joint family where her brother in law, sister in law, father in law and mother in law dote on her. Her mother (Urmila Bhat) disagrees with her but later on relents. A marriage broker fixes the alliance between Sajjo aka Sujata and the third son in a baniya family (Romesh Sharma). Sharma reminds you of Sanjay Khan but barely manages to deliver the goods despite a FTII qualification. On the first day of the marriage, Romesh discovers that Sajjo Rani is the daughter of a woman of loose character. Urmila Bhat lives with Sajjan as her assistant and Man Friday. But she actually lives in the haveli of Sajjan who has gifted her the bungalow. Sajjo is his daughter.
Sharma refuses to consummate the marriage. But Sajjo continues to persevere and manages to win the affection of her in laws. Her eldest brother in law (Kishore Namit Kapoor) is slightly deranged mentally and is constantly beaten up by the second son Ramesh Deo. The latter's devious attempts to get the property transferred under his name is thwarted by Sajjo. The movie's pace is slow and that is the reason it failed at the box office. But it is worth watching just to know how low cost films were made in 1976.
Finally things take a turn such that Sajjo's identity is exposed and she leaves the house never to return. Her mother's pleas to Sharma falls on deaf ears. Military babu (Satyen Kappu) who was the one responsible for Sharma's misunderstanding about Sajjo Rani's character divulges the truth that Sajjo is as pure as Ganges. Sajjo Rani, exhausted and defeated, finally decides to sell her body to a seth. But in the nick of the moment, Sharma intervenes, has a change of heart and beats up the goons. The finale of the film shows Sajjo Rani making love with her husband.
Music by Sapan Jagmohan has famous numbers like "Nathaniya Ne Hai Mera" (sung by the legendary Shobha Gurtu) and picturised on the voluptuous Jaishree T. LP copied this in Ram Lakhan later ("Bada Dukh Deena"). Another highlight of the film is the chirpy number by Asha Bhosale - "Saiyan Ke Gaon Mein, Taaron Ki Chaaon Mein".
The settings are dark and may be this is an old version of the movie on You Tube. Compared to her other movies, Rehana Sultan has showed less skin in this movie. However, her performance as Sajjo Rani is noteworthy. It is also tragic how Rehana was always stereotyped into doing such characters (prostitute, call girl etc) in most of her movies. Sumati Gupte, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Krishnakant and Kishore Namit Kapoor lend good support. Satyen Kappu, Urmila Bhatt and Sajjan have well-etched characterisations. Looks like the film was shot in real locales in Gujarat. So, the flavor of Gujarat can be felt throughout the movie.
Overall, definitely worth a watch. 7 marks out of 10.
Sharma refuses to consummate the marriage. But Sajjo continues to persevere and manages to win the affection of her in laws. Her eldest brother in law (Kishore Namit Kapoor) is slightly deranged mentally and is constantly beaten up by the second son Ramesh Deo. The latter's devious attempts to get the property transferred under his name is thwarted by Sajjo. The movie's pace is slow and that is the reason it failed at the box office. But it is worth watching just to know how low cost films were made in 1976.
Finally things take a turn such that Sajjo's identity is exposed and she leaves the house never to return. Her mother's pleas to Sharma falls on deaf ears. Military babu (Satyen Kappu) who was the one responsible for Sharma's misunderstanding about Sajjo Rani's character divulges the truth that Sajjo is as pure as Ganges. Sajjo Rani, exhausted and defeated, finally decides to sell her body to a seth. But in the nick of the moment, Sharma intervenes, has a change of heart and beats up the goons. The finale of the film shows Sajjo Rani making love with her husband.
Music by Sapan Jagmohan has famous numbers like "Nathaniya Ne Hai Mera" (sung by the legendary Shobha Gurtu) and picturised on the voluptuous Jaishree T. LP copied this in Ram Lakhan later ("Bada Dukh Deena"). Another highlight of the film is the chirpy number by Asha Bhosale - "Saiyan Ke Gaon Mein, Taaron Ki Chaaon Mein".
The settings are dark and may be this is an old version of the movie on You Tube. Compared to her other movies, Rehana Sultan has showed less skin in this movie. However, her performance as Sajjo Rani is noteworthy. It is also tragic how Rehana was always stereotyped into doing such characters (prostitute, call girl etc) in most of her movies. Sumati Gupte, Ramesh Deo, Seema Deo, Krishnakant and Kishore Namit Kapoor lend good support. Satyen Kappu, Urmila Bhatt and Sajjan have well-etched characterisations. Looks like the film was shot in real locales in Gujarat. So, the flavor of Gujarat can be felt throughout the movie.
Overall, definitely worth a watch. 7 marks out of 10.
