Raja Rani - 1973

                                                      RAJA RANI

 Introduction :

Raja Rani is a 1973 Hindi film. Produced by Jagdish Kumar, the film is written and directed by veteran writer Sachin Bhowmick. This was to be Sachin's first and last attempt to take on direction. The film starred Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore along with Iftekar and Asit Sen. Mumtaz makes an uncredited appearance as herself.

The film's music was written by R. D. Burman. His real-life wife Asha Bhosle received a Filmfare Nomination as Best Female Playback Singer for the song "Jab Andhera Hota Hai," the only nomination for the film. This film was less successful than other Rajesh Khanna movies released during the era, and was an average grosser in the box office.

Star Cast :

• Super Star Rajesh Khanna...... Raja 
• Sharmila Tagore...... Nirmala/Rani
• Iftekhar...... Suresh's father
• David...... John F. Periera (Carpenter)
• Raj Mehra...... Goverdhan Das
• Asit Sen...... Lala
• Suresh
• Indrani Mukherjee...... Janaki
• Manmohan...... Shankar Dada
• Parveen Paul...... Nirmala's aunt
• Naaz
• Dulari...... Suresh's mother
• Altaf
• Ratna
• Kanu Roy
• Uma Dutt...... Nirmala's uncle
• Ravikant...... (as Ravi Kant)
• Sharma
• Farida Jalal...... Anita
• Sujit Kumar...... Ravi
• Mumtaz...... Herself (Guest Appearance)
• Achla Sachdev...... Mrs. Sarita Devi

Other Film Crew's :

• Producer : Jagdish Kumar
• Director : Sachin Bhowmik
• Cinematography : Baba Saheb
• Action : Mansoor and Gulab
• Sound : Kaushik
• Story / Writer : Sachin Bhowmik
• Color : Colour
• Release Date : 1973
• Genre : Romance and Family Drama
• Language : Hindi
• Country : India

Summary :

A young widow commits suicide when she is compelled to forgo her modesty to save her child from illness. The child runs away on seeing his dead mother and becomes a thief named Raja. Raja is a very handsome and intelligent thief who manages to steal and escape from police every time. He lives with his friend Tony who dreams of marrying his girlfriend Mary. Raja once steals at a home during a night and police chase him. To escape from police he enters into a marriage hall and in bridegroom's room. He finds a letter of groom who ran away as he does want to marry the girl his father arranged for him. Raja disguises himself as groom veiling his face with flowers when original groom's father knocks the door. Raja eventually marries the girl in the marriage hall.He feels troubled on whatever happened and he escapes from the room during the nuptial night without even seeing who is his wife as she also veiled her face with wedding dress. The groom's father and the bride misunderstands that original groom has escaped from the hall. Raja is caught by police and he sets to jail for six months. The original groom dies in an accident on the same night. Nirmala (the girl whom Raja married) is thrown out by her in-laws as she is an unlucky girl because of which their son died. Nirmala returns to her uncle's home where she is not welcomed due to their financial position. She wanders everywhere and she finds no help from anybody rather try to spoil her modesty. She turns to a courtesan and dances for her living.

Raja is released from jail and he searches for the girl he married. When he does not find the whereabouts of that girl he returns to his normal life of stealing. He rents a room and stays with his friend Tony near the place where Nirmala now courtesan Rani resides. Raja visits Rani's home to escape from police and he sees Rani dancing. Something makes him feel bad and he slaps Rani and throws away one of the clients who tried to misbehave with her. Rani does not get angry but she likes Raja slapping her. Rani and Raja, without knowing about their relation to each other, start to develop a feeling and they start to love.

Rani insists Raja to stop stealing and Raja insists she stop dancing. Both decide to live a decent life. Rani changes the mind of one her clients and because of which his wife accepts her as her sister as she saved her husband from doing wrong. Raja finds a job as school van conductor. But he loses his job when the school finds he was thief before. Raja and Rani do a small business of selling snacks but are charged for child theft one day. The father of the child is the man whom Rani changed from becoming bad. Rani and Raja are released and they become good friends of the man's family. The wife of the person invites to their child's birthday party and gives her good saree and necklace to wear on that day. Rani loses the necklace given by the man's wife. To return the necklace they struggle a lot as it costs in thousands. Raja and Rani are compelled to break the promise made to each other without each other's knowledge. Raja goes to steal in home and gets caught. He finds Rani dancing in front of the owner of the house. When the owner of the house tries to misbehave with Rani, Raja rushes to save her. In a struggle, the owner is killed and Raja is blamed for that.

Music Sound Track :

• Singers : Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle and Bhupinder
• Lyricist : Anand Bakshi
• Music Director : R D Burman

S.No.	Title	Singer(s)
1	"Jab Andhera Hota Hai"	By Bhupinder Singh and Asha Bhosle
2	"Main Ek Chor Tu Meri Rani"	By Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar
3	"Ja Re Ja Maina Tujhe"	By Lata Mangeshkar
4	"Na Tum Se Hui Na"	By Lata Mangeshkar
5	"Phir Aankh Se Ansoo"	By Lata Mangeshkar
6	"Haan To Main Kya"	By Mukesh, Rajesh Khanna and Lata Mangeshkar