Tyaag

About the film

Tyaag (transl. Sacrifice) is a 1977 Bollywood film directed by Din Dayal Sharma. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore in lead roles. The film was produced by Sharmila Tagore's secretary, N.S. Kabir, and was co-produced by Sharmila Tagore. Rajesh Khanna's real-life secretary Gurnam Singh played the side kick Bansi to Khanna's character Chetan in this film. The film was critically acclaimed and given four stars by critics upon its release in Bollywood Guide Collections. It was the last film to be released of S.D. Burman as music director. This film was not commercially successful at the time of its release. However, over the years this film has gained a cult following in its screening on television.

Plot

The story begins in the Central Jail, where a prisoner is planned to be hanged next day morning and he is very much afraid of dying.His fears are soothed by another inmate named Chetan who tells him that he is not dying but starting a new life elsewhere in a body free from sin. The concept comforts the prisoner and makes him happy. Chetan's 10-year-long sentence for murder is to be ended by an early release for good behavior. The Jailor is curious as to how such an empathetic and honest man like Chetan got to be a murderer, so asks him to explain. And Chetan starts disclosing his past.

Chetan is a penniless poet while Sunita is the daughter of a wealthy man. Both are very much in love. Chetan wants to continue writing books and develop his habit of writing stories with Sunita's full support. Sunita fears to talk before her father. Her rich father wouldn't allow any poor guy marry his daughter because when he was a poor man himself, his wife died, for he couldn't afford proper medical service for her. So Sunita's father has throughout his life dedicated on earning more money for a secure future, but all at the cost of his personal disconnection from Sunita.

Sunita's father decides to marry her to Gopal, a doctor. Gopal and his mother meet Sunita in her house for the first time and they like her. Her dad decides to announce their engagement at the birthday party. Meanwhile, Sunita urges Chetan to ask her hand from her father on her birthday and invites him to the party. At the party her father is rude to Chetan and then announces engagement to Gopal.

Soundtrack

Anand Bakshi has written all the lyrics, and S. D. Burman has composed all the music. This movie marked the final release featuring S.D. Burman as the music director.

Key details