Seeta Aur Geeta

Seeta Aur Geeta
Film poster
Hindi	सीता और गीता
Directed by	Ramesh Sippy
Produced by	G. P. Sippy
Written by	Salim-Javed
Starring	Hema Malini Sanjeev Kumar Dharmendra Abhi Bhattacharya Manorama
Music by	R. D. Burman
Cinematography	K. Vaikunth
Edited by	M. S. Shinde
Release dates	1972
Running time	166 mins
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget	₹4 crores

Seeta aur Geeta (translation: Seeta and Geeta) is a 1972 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film directed by Ramesh Sippy. The story is by Salim-Javed and the music by R.D. Burman.

The story is about identical twins (played by Hema Malini) who are separated at birth and grow up with different temperaments. The twins then swap places (like The Prince and the Pauper). Hema's two partners in the movie are played by Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar. Manorama plays the evil aunt who changes her tune after her arm is twisted (literally). Furthermore, Hema Malini was noted for the novelty of her role as Geeta where she is rambunctious and sometimes violent.

This theme has been repeated in other movies before and after. A prior movie on this theme was Ram Aur Shyam starring Dilip Kumar in the leading dual role. Subsequent Hindi remakes of the story have been made, including Jaise Ko Taisa starring Jeetendra, ChaalBaaz starring Sridevi, Kishen Kanhaiya starring Anil Kapoor, Judwaa starring Salman Khan, Duplicate starring Shahrukh Khan, Kuch Khatti Kuch Meethi starring Kajol, in the dual roles. Remakes in other languages include the Telugu film Ganga Manga (1973) and the Tamil film Vani Rani (1974), both starring Vanisri in the dual roles.^[1]

Hema Malini won her only competitive Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career. P. Vaikunth won the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award.^[2] In 1976, the film was shown in Soviet Union where it was a success.

Plot

Seeta and Geeta (Hema Malini in a dual role) are twin girls who were separated at birth. Geeta, a feisty girl is raised in a poor neighborhood and is a street performer, while Seeta is raised by her cruel aunt Chachi and meek uncle. Chachi treats Seeta like a servant, despite the fact that the family is living off her late parents' money. Seeta's only consolation is her old grandmother.

One day, Seeta decides life is not worth living and runs away to commit suicide. She is saved but is mistaken for her identical twin Geeta and is taken to Geeta's home. Meanwhile, Seeta's aunt and uncle are frantically searching for her and find Geeta. They attempt to force Geeta to go with them but, using some of her clever tricks, she escapes them and the police who have been searching for her. She then meets Ravi (Sanjeev Kumar) and, though he also mistakes her for Seeta, she goes home with him. Ravi is surprised by this "Seeta" and the Seeta he had met previously. Geeta realizes the cruelty that Seeta has been living under and vows to teach her aunt a lesson.

Meanwhile, the real Seeta is living in Geeta's house. Her surrogate mother has attributed her new docile attitude to shock. Here, Seeta meets Raka (Dharmendra), Geeta's friend and fellow performer. Raka is also surprised by "Geeta's" sudden gentle nature and desire to do housework. When he tried to coax her into performing, she is unable to do so. Ravi meanwhile falls in love with Geeta. At home, Geeta begins to set everything on a proper course. She resumes control of the money and restores her grandmother to the head of the household, where she belongs. Raka begins to fall in love with Seeta. Trouble begins brewing when Chachi's brother Ranjeet comes to visit and sees the real Seeta in a marketplace. He follows her and discovers the truth, which leads to a showdown in the villains' den and then marriage.

Cast

Soundtrack

All the songs^[3] were composed by Rahul Dev Burman and lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi.

Filmfare Awards

At the 20th Filmfare Awards

References

External links

• Seeta Aur Geeta at the Internet Movie Database