Lal Patthar

Not to be confused with Uttam Kumar, lead actor in Lal Pathar (1964).

Lal Patthar
Directed by	Sushil Majumdar
Produced by	F. C. Mehra (Eagle Films)
Written by	Screenplay: Nabendu Ghosh Dialogue: Vrajendra Gaur Story: Prasanta Chowdhary
Starring	Raaj Kumar Hema Malini
Music by	Shankar Jaikishan
Cinematography	Dwarka Divecha
Edited by	Pran Mehra
Release dates	31 December 1971
Running time	2 hr 28 min
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Lal Patthar is a 1971 Hindi film, produced by F. C. Mehra, and directed by Sushil Majumdar. The film is a remake of the Bengali film, Lal Pathar, which was released in 1964. The film stars Raaj Kumar, Vinod Mehra, Hema Malini, Raakhee, Ajit, Asit Sen and Paintal. The film is one of the rare films where lead actress Hema Malini played a negative role, being a jealous mistress of a zamindar who tries to frame his young wife as an adultress. Her performance received accolades. The music of the film was composed by Shankar Jaikishan with award winning songs.

The film was shot on some minor outdoor locations and at Mehboob Studios, as well as at Natraj Studios Bombay.

Plot

Raja Kumar Bahadur alias Gyan Shankar Rai (Raaj Kumar) has been a total abstainer all his life, never touching a drop of alcohol, and keeping away from women and all known vices all his life. Then one day he sees a young woman named Saudamani (Hema Malini), and instantly falls in love with her. He finds out about her background, and virtually buys her, and brings her to his palatial home. This is when he takes to drinking, and wooing her, and renaming her Madhuri, but refrains from marrying her.

Years later, he sees another beautiful woman, about half his age, named Sumita (Raakhee), meets with her parents, pays off their debts, and marries her in the bargain. He brings Sumita home, but makes it clear that Madhuri's word is law here. Then Kumar finds out that Sumita had a childhood sweetheart in Shekhar (Vinod Mehra), who has now returned from abroad. Kumar meets with Shekhar and finds out that both still have feelings for each other. An insecure and jealous Kumar now schemes a plot against them on the historical grounds of Fatehpur Sikri It is here Kumar's plot unfolds to entrap the young lovers, thus giving the title "Lal Patthar".

Cast

• Raaj Kumar - Kumar Bahadur Gyan Shankar Rai
• Hema Malini - Saudamani / Madhuri
• Raakhee - Sumita
• Vinod Mehra - Shekhar
• Ajit - Raja Raghav Shankar Rai
• D.K. Sapru - Raja Ram Shankar Rai
• Asit Sen - Haricharan
• Paintal - Chhotu
• Dulari - Mrs. Madhu Chakraborty
• Leela Mishra - Gokul's Mother
• Padma Khanna - Courtesan

Critical Reception

Lal Patthar was one of the films featured in Avijit Ghosh's book, 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.

Soundtrack

Lal Patthar
Studio album by Shankar Jaikishan
Released	1971 (India)
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Label	Sa Re Ga Ma- HMV
Producer	Shankar Jaikishan
Shankar Jaikishan chronology
Nadaan (1971)Nadaan1971 Anuraag (1972) Rivaaj (1972)Rivaaj1972

The film s music was given by Shankar Jaikishan and lyrics were by Hasrat Jaipuri, Neeraj and Dev Kohli. The song Geet gaata hoon main by the latter and sung as Kishore Kumar stood 18th on the Annual 1972 listing of Binaca Geetmala. Asha Bhosle received a Filmfare Award nomination for Best Female Playback Singer in 1973, for her rendition of "Suni Suni Sans Ki Sitar Par". Another memorable number in the film is a ghazal, Unke Khayal Aaye To, Aake Chale Gaye, a composition based on Bageshwari/Gara ably sung by Mohammed Rafi. The song "Re Man Sur Mein Ga" by Manna Dey won the "Sur Singar" Award for the year 1971.

Songs	Singer/s	Lyricist
Aa Aaja, Dikhaoon Tujhe Jannat Ki Shyam	Asha Bhonsle	Hasrat Jaipuri
Suni Suni Sans Ki Sitar Par	Asha Bhosle	Neeraj
Unke Khayal Aaye To, Aake Chale Gaye	Mohammed Rafi	Hasrat Jaipuri
Geet Gata Hoon Main	Kishore Kumar	Dev Kohli
Phoolon Se Meri Sez Saja Do	Asha Bhonsle	Neeraj
Re Man Sur Mein Ga	Asha Bhosle and Manna Dey	Neeraj

External links

• Lal Patthar at IMDb
• Lal Patthar at Eagle Films