Dharmputra

Dharmputra is a 1961 Hindi film directed by Yash Chopra based on a novel of the same name by Acharya Chatursen. This is Yash's second directorial venture. It was the first Hindi film to depict the partition of India, and Hindu fundamentalism.[1] Produced by his elder brother B.R. Chopra, who was himself uprooted from Lahore, during the partition of India and established B.R. Films in Mumbai in 1956. The film dealt with issues of religious bigotry, fanaticism and communalism amidst the backdrop of the partition.[2][3] Two years earlier, Yash Chopra had made his debut with Dhool Ka Phool (1959), steeped in Nehruvian secularism, wherein a Muslim brings up an "illegitimate" Hindu child and featured the classic song "Tu Hindu Banega Na Musalman Banega, Insaan Ki Aulaad Hai, Insaan Banega". The theme was reversed in this film as herein a Hindu family brings up an illegitimate Muslim child.[4]

Dharmputra
Directed byYash Chopra
Written byB.R. Films Story Department (screenplay)
Akhtar-Ul-Iman (dialogue)
Based onDharamputra
by Acharya Chatursen
Produced byB.R. Chopra
StarringMala Sinha
Shashi Kapoor
Rehman
CinematographyDharam Chopra
Edited byPran Mehra
Music byN. Dutta
Sahir Ludhianvi (lyrics)
Production
company
B.R. Films
Release date
  • 1961 (1961)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

This was Shashi Kapoor's first film as an adult actor playing the pivotal role of a Hindu fundamentalist.[5][6] Noted actor Rajendra Kumar made a special appearance for a song as did Shashikala.[3] At the 9th National Film Awards it was awarded the Best Feature Film in Hindi.[7]

Plot

The film opens in 1925, during the British rule in India and at the height of the Indian independence movement it is the tale of two Delhi families, that of Nawab Badruddin and Gulshan Rai. The two families are so close that they virtually share the same house. The Nawab's daughter, Husn Bano, has an affair with a young man named Javed and gets pregnant. When the Nawab attempts to arrange her marriage with Javed, he finds that Javed has disappeared. Amrit Rai and his wife Savitri assist Husn with the birth of a baby boy, Dilip, and even adopt him and give him their family name. Young Dilip is the apple of the Badruddin and the Rai households. Husn is then reunited and marries Javed. In the meantime, while participating in a protest to force the British to leave India, the Nawab is killed. Years later, Husn Bano and Javed return to a warm welcome by the Rai family. Then she meets Dilip - not the Dilip she had left behind - this Dilip is fascist, a Muslim-hater, who has joined forces with other extremists, in order to force Muslims to leave India and even go to the extent of burning buildings and killing them. How can Husn and Dilip adapt to each other with so much hate and distrust between them?

Cast

Soundtrack

The film's music was composed by N. Dutta with lyrics written by Sahir Ludhianvi.

SongSinger
"Main Jab Bhi Akeli Hoti Hoon" Asha Bhosle
"Naina Kyon Bhar Aaye" Asha Bhosle
"Saare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara" Asha Bhosle, Mohammed Rafi
"Jo Dil Deewana Machal Gaya" Mohammed Rafi
"Jai Janani Jai Bharat Maa" Mahendra Kapoor
"Yeh Kiska Lahu Hai, Kaun Mara" Mahendra Kapoor
"Tumhari Aankhen" Mahendra Kapoor
"Aaj Ki Raat" Mahendra Kapoor
"Chahe Yeh Maano Chahe Woh Maano" Mahendra Kapoor, Balbir

Reception

The raw reconstruction of partition riots and sloganeering led to riot-like situations at theatres during screening the film,[8] and the film flopped at the box office.[9] After Dharmputra's debacle, few directors ventured into the communal theme in Hindi cinema that took it so bluntly, the next film which dealt with the issue was Garm Hava, by M.S. Sathyu, made in 1973.[6] The film's director Yash Chopra never made a political film again, and stuck to love stories till many decades later, when he touched the theme of religious harmony again with Veer Zaara (2004).[8][10]

Awards
National Film Awards
Filmfare Award

See also

References
  1. "Filmmakers refused to portray partition: film scholar". Monsters and Critics. 1 November 2006. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  2. "Blast From The Past: Dharmputra 1961". The Hindu. 6 February 2010. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  3. Dharmputra (1961): Review
  4. "Nehru's vision shaped many Bollywood golden oldies". The Times of India. 16 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013.
  5. "Shashi Kapoor Turns 74". Outlook. 18 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 May 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  6. "Back Story: Separate lives". Mint. 27 July 2012.
  7. "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  8. "Communal holocaust in Hindi films". Sify. 24 June 2004. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017.
  9. "The timeless poster boy of Hindi cinema". Asian Age. 3 September 2011. Archived from the original on 17 October 2011.
  10. "I 'll make a peace video: Yash". The Times of India. 8 November 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013.
  11. Awards IMDb
  • Rachel Dwyer (2002). Yash Chopra: fifty years in Indian cinema. Lotus Collection. ISBN 8174362347.
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