Waqt (1965 film)

Waqt वक्त وقت
1965 movie poster
Directed by	Yash Chopra
Produced by	B. R. Chopra
Written by	Akhtar-Ul-Iman (dialogue) Akhtar Mirza (story)
Starring	Balraj Sahni Sunil Dutt Sadhana Raaj Kumar Shashi Kapoor Sharmila Tagore
Music by	Ravi
Cinematography	Dharam Chopra
Edited by	Pran Mehra
Distributed by	Yash Raj Films
Release dates	1965
Running time	206 min.
Language	Hindi / Urdu

Waqt (Hindi: वक्त, English: Time) is a 1965 bollywood disaster drama film, directed by Yash Chopra. It made it onto the BFI's long list of films in consideration for their top ten of Indian films award.^[1] It was produced by B. R. Chopra and starred an ensemble cast including Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhana, Balraj Sahni, Madan Puri, Sharmila Tagore, Achala Sachdev and Rehman.

It pioneered the concept of films with multiple stars, starting a trend followed by other films.^[2] The film took the top spot at the box office in 1965.^[3] The plot of this movie re-introduced the lost and reunite formula in Bollywood, originally featured in the 1943 Ashok Kumar, Mumtaz Shanti starrer Kismat (fate). A happy family separated by Waqt (time) goes through a series of trials trying to reunite. The film was later remade into the Telugu as Bhale Abbayilu (1969) and in Malayalam as Kolilakkam (1981).^[4][5]

The film contains the popular Hindi song Waqt se din aur raat sung by legendary Mohammed Rafi Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu sung by Asha Bhosle, and Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen, sung by Manna Dey, composed by Ravi and picturised on Balraj Sahni and Achala Sachdev.

Plot

Lala Kedarnath Prasanta (Balraj Sahni) has three sons whose birthdays are on the same day. On the occasion of their birthday celebration, they are visited by a well-known astrologer, who advises Lala Kedarnath not to be proud for his past achievements and to not be too optimistic about the future as fate (kismat) plays a key role in life. Lala Kedarnath ignores the prediction and is busy making plans for an even wealthier future. Later that night as he is proclaiming his grand plans for the future to his wife, Laxmi (Achala Sachdev), there is a sudden earthquake and the whole town crumbles. When Lala Kedarnath regains consciousness, his house has been destroyed and his family is gone.

The oldest son, Raju ends up in an orphanage, while middle son, Ravi is found on the road by a rich couple who take him to their home to raise him as their own son. The youngest son, Vijay who is still an infant, is with his mother. Unable to find the rest of the family, Laxmi and Vijay live in poverty.

Lala Kedarnath traces Raju to the orphanage but finds that he has run away because the orphanage manager (Jeevan) beat him. Frustrated, he kills the manager and is jailed. As the police drive away with Kedarnath, the audience sees young Raju running in the streets and turning into an adult (Raaj Kumar).

Raju grows up as Raja, a sophisticated thief, who works for Chinnoy Seth. Raja falls in love with Meena (Sadhana) and decides to give up the life of crime. To his dismay he realises that she however intends to marry Ravi (Sunil Dutt), who is a family friend. On the night before their engagement he decides to kill Ravi only to realise that he is his long lost brother. Before he can Ravi about his parentage, Meena's parents decide to break off the engagement on discovering that Ravi is of unknown parentage and religion.

Heartbroken, Ravi leaves home after an argument with his foster sister Renu (Sharmila Tagore), over his objection to her affair with Vijay (Shashi Kapoor) who is working as a driver for Chinnoy Seth. Renu has been in love with Vijay since their college days together but Vijay has not been able to find a suitable job in Mumbai despite having a BA degree. Laxmi has been diagnosed with cancer. To pay for her medical expenses, Vijay has no other option but to be a driver.

Raja hears about Ravi's problem and decides to reveal the truth about their relationship at a party organised by Chinnoy Seth. Chinnoy Seth's employee misbehaves with Meena at the party and Raja threatens to kill him. Later that night the drunk employee gets into a fight with Chinnoy Seth and in self-defense, Chinnoy Seth ends up killing the man. To cover up his crime, he decides to frame Raja and drags the body to Raja's house, hiding it in his closet. Vijay happens to witness this but is shut up with the promise of money for his mother's treatment.

Raja is arrested and Ravi defends him as an advocate, while Vijay initially testifies falsely and then recants his statement. Lala Kedarnath also appears in court as the witness who found Raja being caught by the police. Raja is ultimately proved innocent and Chinnoy Seth is convicted after he blurts out the truth in court, thanks to Ravi. Afterwards, Laxmi arrives in the court to make sure Vijay did the right thing. Lala Kedarnath sees her in the court and the family fully reunites. In the end, Lala Kedarnath and the rest of the family build a new home, and also place Meena's family and Renu's family in the home.

Cast

Soundtrack

The film soundtrack^[6] was composed by Ravi with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi.

Awards and nominations

• Filmfare Best Director Award-Yash Chopra
• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award-Raaj Kumar
• Filmfare Best Story Award-Akhtar Mirza
• Filmfare Best Dialogue Award-Akhtar ul Iman
• Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for a Colour Film-Dharam Chopra
• Filmfare Nomination for Best Film
• Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress-Sadhana^[7]

References

• Oza, Shivom. "Waqt (1965) - Movie Review". MSN. Retrieved 15 May 2012. 

Further reading

• Brown, Rebecca M (2007). "Partition and the uses of history in Waqt/ Time". Screen. Oxford University Press. 48 (2): 161–177. OCLC 365246366. 

External links

• Waqt at the Internet Movie Database