Dastaan

About the film

Dastaan (lit. 'The Tale') is a 1972 thriller film produced and directed by B. R. Chopra. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Bindu, Prem Chopra, Iftekhar, I. S. Johar and Madan Puri. The film's music is by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Dastaan was a commercial failure and Dilip Kumar's first outright flop in 6 years since Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966). This movie is based on director's own 1951 film named Afsana, starring Ashok Kumar in leading role.

Plot

Anil and Sunil are identical twin brothers. They have a friend named Meena who likes Sunil. As a child, Sunil gets separated from his family in a fair, due to heavy storm. None of the trio remembers the incident. Sunil has lost his memory, found by a man named Sahay, who renames him Vishnu.

Vishnu Sahay grows up to become a reputed Judge. He has everything, money, fame, happiness and a seemingly devoted wife Mala. However, he is blissfully unaware that Mala and his best friend Rajan are having an affair behind his back. Meanwhile, Anil has grown into a Don Juan. He is involved with a dancer and also flirts with Meena, who, however, wants nothing to do with him and still in love with Sunil.

One day, Anil accidentally kills a man and runs to Mussoorie to hide from the cops. Judge Vishnu Sahay comes to the same hotel as Anil. When Anil sees Vishnu, he observes that they are lookalike. If Vishnu's facial hair and spectacles are removed, even the police will have a hard time distinguishing between him and Anil. Vishnu does not realize this. Anil spikes Vishnu's coffee and knocks him out. After removing Vishnu's facial hair and glasses, he checks out of the hotel as Vishnu. However, his plan turns out to be disastrous as Vishnu's car suffers an accident, killing Anil on the spot.

Soundtrack

The lyrics of the songs were penned by Sahir Ludhianvi.

Key details