Mehbooba

About the film

Mehbooba is a 1976 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film based on the reincarnation theme, produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini and Prem Chopra in pivotal roles. The music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman. The film is noted for an impressive performance by the lead pair and for its haunting melodies such as "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon" sung separately by both Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, "Chalo Ri" and the duet "Parbat Ke Peeche". The movie is based on Gulshan Nanda's novel Sisakate Saaz. Nanda has also written the screenplay.<

Plot

Singer Suraj (Rajesh Khanna) is presented with a tanpura by his fiancée's father. Thereafter, he starts hearing a haunting song at nights. One day, while going for a stage show, stuck in heavy rain, he goes to a small unknown motel, where he meets a woman named Ratna. During the night, he sees Ratna, singing the same song he often hears at night, and walking towards a dilapidated palace. Instinctively, he follows her into the haveli and calls out her name. He is told by an old keeper of the palace that Ratna died more than 1000 years ago and people believe that she still haunts that place.

As he walks around, a portrait of Ratna makes Suraj remember their previous life where he was Prakash, the chief singer of the royal court and was in love with Ratna (Hema Malini), the court dancer. They are unable to get married as Prakash is betrothed to Jamuna and Ratna is destined to become the royal courtesan. They decided to elope but are killed on their way. They die promising each other that they will meet again.

Coming back to his senses, Suraj feels confused. He then runs into a gypsy girl Jhumri, (Hema Malini) who he believes is Ratna's reincarnation. He is able to make Jhumri remember her past life and her love for Prakash. The two declare their undying love for each other. This angers Suraj's fiancée Rita Malhotra (Asha Sachdev), as well as Popatlal (Prem Chopra), who is after Jhumri. Popatlal steals the portrait, and sets the gypsies against Suraj, ensuring a fight between Suraj and the gypsies. How Suraj and Jhumri overcome all obstacles and consummate their relationship this time round forms the climax.

Crew

Costume and Wardrobe: Bhanu Athaiya, Jaya Chakravarthy, Dattaram, Shalini Shah, Shriman

Choreographer: Suresh Bhatt, Gopi Krishna

Playback Singers: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey

Awards

Best Lyricist – Anand Bakshi for "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon"

Soundtrack

The music was composed by R. D. Burman. The songs "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon", "Mehbooba" (title track) and "Parbat Ke Peechhe" were popular numbers.

Key details