One of Bimal Roy's underrated works, Prem Patra is a soft love story against the back drop of the medical profession. Kavita Kapoor (a luminous Sadhana) and Arun Kumar (a very charming Shashi Kapoor) develop a liking for each other while finishing up their medical studies. A misunderstanding related to anonymous letters to Kavita causes Arun to be falsely accused and suspended from the college. A severely disillusioned Arun agrees to marry the illiterate daughter Tara (Seema Deo) of his landlord in lieu of a loan to finish his studies abroad.
Arun, wanting to know his fiancée better, starts corresponding with her through letters. These are answered by Kavita, who happens to be Tara's cousin. Getting to know each other better through those letters, Kavita and Arun fall in love again. Tara, meanwhile starts liking Sudhir, one of Kavita's potential suitors. A mishap and some medical miracles later, everyone gets a happily ever after.
The movie has a lot of filler scenes, particularly some featuring Rajendranath enacting the buffoon. Some things are conveniently coincidental, like Tara and Kavita's relationship. Still the movie is a great watch for some very strong supporting performances by Chand Usmani and for the ethereally beautiful Sadhana who is lovely as the slightly aloof, slightly heartbroken and infinitely vulnerable Kavita.
The music, though not on par with the earlier Bimal Da chart busters has gems like "Do Aankhiyan Jhuki Jhuki si" , "Yeh Mere andhere ujale na hote" and the lyrical "Sawan ki raaton mein".
Arun, wanting to know his fiancée better, starts corresponding with her through letters. These are answered by Kavita, who happens to be Tara's cousin. Getting to know each other better through those letters, Kavita and Arun fall in love again. Tara, meanwhile starts liking Sudhir, one of Kavita's potential suitors. A mishap and some medical miracles later, everyone gets a happily ever after.
The movie has a lot of filler scenes, particularly some featuring Rajendranath enacting the buffoon. Some things are conveniently coincidental, like Tara and Kavita's relationship. Still the movie is a great watch for some very strong supporting performances by Chand Usmani and for the ethereally beautiful Sadhana who is lovely as the slightly aloof, slightly heartbroken and infinitely vulnerable Kavita.
The music, though not on par with the earlier Bimal Da chart busters has gems like "Do Aankhiyan Jhuki Jhuki si" , "Yeh Mere andhere ujale na hote" and the lyrical "Sawan ki raaton mein".