Nagina

About the film

Nagina is a 1986 Indian fantasy romance film, produced and directed by Harmesh Malhotra, with a screenplay written by Ravi Kapoor and story by Jagmohan Kapoor. The film stars Sridevi as Rajni, a Nāginī who marries a civilian to avenge the death of her spouse at the hands of an evil saint. It also stars Rishi Kapoor, Komal Mahuvakar, Amrish Puri, Sushma Seth and Prem Chopra. Then dubbed in Telugu as Naagini.

Nagina was theatrically released on 28 November 1986. Upon its release, it was a widespread success, grossing over ₹13 crore at the box office, becoming the second-highest-grossing Indian film of 1986. The success of the film proved to be one of the biggest blockbusters of the year. And a major watershed moment in Indian cinema, as the film, despite being a woman-centric movie, became a massive commercial success. Nagina is credited as being the film which established Sridevi's position as the biggest female star of the 1980s. A sequel to the film was released; Nigahen: Nagina Part II (1989), but failed commercially. Today, Nagina is considered one of Sridevi's finest performances.

Plot

Rajiv, who fails from a wealthy land-owning family, return from abroad after completing his education and lives in a palatial home with his mother, who would like him to marry a beautiful young woman named Vijaya Singh, the only daughter of Thakur Ajay Singh. Rajiv, however, meets and falls in love with Rajni, who is an orphan without connections. When Rajiv informs his mother of his intent to marry Rajni, she refuses to give her blessings, but relents after a favourable meeting with Rajni. But Thakur Ajay Singh, who has been managing Rajiv's family estate for years hoping his daughter will marry Rajiv one day, does not like that. He sends his goons to kill Rajni but she is saved by two snakes. The marriage is arranged, and they enjoy their marriage. One day, Bhairo Nath, a sadhu capable of controlling snakes, arrives at their home and senses a strange presence. When he sees Rajni he informs Rajiv's mother that Rajni is an Ichchadhari Naagin, a female shape-shifting venomous Cobra who has married Rajiv to avenge the death of her spouse during Rajiv's childhood. Rajni's real form is revealed to Rajiv's mother and she is shocked but Rajni promises her that no harm will come to her family due to Rajni. Rajiv is attacked by Thakur Ajay Singh's goons and he is in critical condition in hospital. Bhairo Nath sends a snake to kill Rajiv, in hospital, Rajni transforms into he snake form…

One day as Rajiv's mother is returning from a visit to Bhero Nath, she finds Rajni in her car and is scared of her. Rajni tells her the truth why she can't leave Rajiv. Years ago at Rajiv's sixth birthday at an old Haweli Ruins, he was bitten by a snake and died. Bhero Nath, who happened to be passing by arrives and charms the same snake back and boy wakes up. But before he realizes that the snake was an Ichchadhari Naag who possessed not only shape shifting ability but also powerful Mani, he is surrounded by people who chant in praise of miracle he performed. He is unable to chase the snake. Snake was the spouse of Rajni, and Bhero Nath took his life and put in Rajiv's body. That is why Rajiv had nightmares as a child and was sent abroad. Upon his return, Rajni's plan was to kill him and have his soul re-transferred to her spouse's body but seeing his mother's love for him she abandons her plan and instead married him as he still had soul of her spouse. Old temple still has the dead body of her snake spouse which is protected by the two snakes who have always been protecting Rajni as well.

Still not convinced, Rajiv's mother sends him away and invite Bhairo and his disciples to capture and take Rajni away. Unknown to her, Bhero had agenda to get the information about the Mani from Rajni. Rajni to change herself to her snake form by the tunes of a snake charmer's flute. However, when Rajiv comes into the house, Rajni escapes to the old Haweli, only to be caught by Bhairo. To end his plan, Rajni throws dead body of her snake spouse in fire. An enraged Rajiv engages in a fight with Bhairo, who is bitten by two snakes and dies. But as he takes his last breath, he prays that Rajni be transformed into a woman from a snake which is granted.

Soundtrack

The music for the 1986 movie Nagina was released by T-Series. The label is also known as Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. The film's music was provided by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Lyrics were written by Anand Bakshi. The soundtrack contained a total of five songs, one of which was a duet and the rest were all solo numbers. There is also a song called “Aaj Kal Yaad Kuch Aur Rehta Nahin” which isn’t in the film’s soundtrack but it was filmed on sridevi rishi and included in the movie

Lyrics were written by Rajasri and Gona Vijayaratnam.

Release

According to Taran Adarsh, Nagina turned out to be the biggest blockbuster of the year, with Box Office India stating that Sridevi remained "the undisputed No.1". The movie was appreciated for its screenplay, dialogues and direction. Named one of the best snake fantasy films by Yahoo, Times of India ranked Nagina as one of the 'Top 10 Snake Films of Hindi Cinema'. Sridevi's climax dance number "Main Teri Dushman" also remains one of the best snake dances in Bollywood with Desi Hits calling it "one of Sridevi's most iconic dance numbers... that still gives fans goose bumps" and iDiva describing it as "the stuff of movie legends".

Key details