Karz (film)
Encyclopedia
Karz is a 1980 Hindi film directed by Subhash Ghai
, starring Rishi Kapoor
and Tina Munim
as leads, also in a feat of perfect casting was Simi Garewal
, who stood out in her role of Kamini Verma, the murderous wife from the past life, which won her a Filmfare nomination.
Film's music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, giving memorable hits like, 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Dard-e-Dil', and who went on to win Filmfare Best Music Director Award
for this film, even the lyricist received two Filmfare nominations for these two hits.
), a mute man, tries to usurp the wealth of his business partner Shanta Prasad Verma, thus stealing the property from its rightful owners. But Shanta Prasad's son Ravi Verma(Raj Kiran) foils Sir Judah's attempts to take over the estate. However, Ravi has no idea that his ladylove Kamini(Simi Garewal
) is actually Sir Judah's agent. Kamini succeeds in getting married to him.
While they are heading to Ravi's home in Ooty, Ravi plays a somewhat sinister melody on his guitar, which he claims is a tune he loves. This tune later plays an important part in the story. Kamini tricks and brutally murders Ravi by running him over with the jeep on the lonely highway. All this takes place near a small stone statue of the goddess Kali
. Ravi's murder is ruled out as an accident.
25 years later, a young and successful singer named Monty(Rishi Kapoor
), an orphan is taken in by the cunning businessman Mr. Oberoi(Pinchoo Kapoor
). Oberoi exploits Monty's talent to his selfish personal gains and treats Monty without affection or respect. Also, Monty suffers from hallucinations and nightmares, usually triggered whenever he listens or plays that familiar tune. The psychiatrist advises Monty to take a vacation. Monty picks Ooty as his vacation spot.
As Monty travels around Ooty, he finds many of the sights and sounds more than familiar: the Verma estate, the lonely highway where the old Kali statue has now become a small temple. Monty finds out that Tina(Tina Munim
), one of his avid fans, stays there. In a party, Monty is shocked to see the woman in his nightmares. Monty also learns that she is Kamini, the owner of Verma estate & Tina's caretaker. Monty decides to get closer to her to find the truth.
Monty learns that her uncle Kabira(Pran) had to go in foreign, whereupon she was brought up by Kamini. In reality, Kabira was in jail. Kabira tells Monty that Tina's father was killed by Kamini's brother & in retaliation, Kabira killed her brother. Kabira knows nothing, but tells that Tina's father repeated Ravi's name & mentioned the Kali temple before dying. Kabira had no idea what that meant, but realized that Tina's father knew some secret that got him killed. Kabira pretended to know the truth & blackmailed Kamini to provide for education of an orphaned Tina.
When Kabira tells Monty what he knows, Monty suddenly realizes what has happened. He tells Kabira that he is in fact a reincarnation of Ravi Verma. Kabira puts two & two together. Monty now decides to find out what happened to his mother(Durga Khote
) & sister Jyoti(Abha Dhulia). Destiny reunites Monty with his family. He learns that his mother & sister were falsely accused by Kamini. He realizes how Kamini took over his estate. Monty also learns that Kamini is just the face of Verma estate, Sir Judah is the real owner.
After knowing the reality of events that took place 25 years ago, Monty starts playing with Kamini. He seduces Kamini, the same way she did. He & Kabira execute a plan to get her to confess her crime. Kamini decides to open a school in memory of Ravi. Here, Monty performs at the function with Tina. He belts out a song based on the tune he used to like. He & Tina re-enact the way Ravi Verma was killed in the song, which only Kamini realizes. Horrified that Monty knows about her crime, she is shocked to see Ravi's mother & sister being ushered on the stage. Kamini flees to her home.
Monty and Kabira follow her home for the final showdown. Monty succeeds in convincing Kamini that he is indeed Ravi, upon which Kamini freaks & confesses her crime. Kabira & policemen emerge from behind, with her confession on tape. Sir Judah & his men break in too, with Tina, who is kidnapped by them. Tina now realizes the whole story. In a standoff where Tina is to be traded for Kamini, a fight breaks out.
Sir Judah traps Ravi's mother, sister & his nephew & niece & sets the house on fire. However, the Verma family is saved & Sir Judah gets killed. Kamini flees the scene in a jeep. Monty follows her on a motor cycle. In the climax, Kamini tries to kill him just as she did 25 years ago. However, Monty manages to escape & Kamini plunges to death. In the end, Monty & Tina get married with his mother's blessings.
, who received two Filmfare
nominations for these two hits, 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Dard-e-Dil', Laxmikant-Pyarelal however won the trophy for Best Music Director of the year. With hits like, "Ek Haseena Thi " and " Om Shanti Om " by Kishore Kumar and "Dard-E-Dil" by Mohd. Rafi, the soundtrack was a trendsetter for the disco music in the Indian music industry and film's background score, especially the signature tune are still remembered as one of the most memorable ones.
The film's chart-buster song, Meri umar ke naujawaanon (aka Om Shanti Om) sung by Kishore Kumar
reached the number 2 spot on the Binaca Geetmala
's annual list 1980
, while another duet between Lata and Kishore, Tu Kitne Baras Ki reached number 13 .
. In a 2008 interview, film director, Subhash Ghai
admitted that film was ahead of its time, and was thus panned by critics of the times, and "flopped" at the box office, it was only years later that it started being considered a classic and even remade several times over .
The film is also one of the finest films of Subhash Ghai
, notable for picturization of songs like Ek Hasina Thi on stage as well as Dard-e-Dil, and set the standard for his future films, as most of them became known for his dramatic flair, and above all their music score. However, the director Subhash Ghai admitted that Karz was partly inspired by the 1975 American film The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
, mixed in with Indian beliefs on reincarnation
. In turn, both Karz and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud may have been inspired by the 1958 Hindi film Madhumati
. Karz was itself remade several times: as the Kannada film
Yuga Purusha (1989), the Tamil film
Enakkul Oruvan
(1984), and more recently the Hindi film Karzzzz
(2008). Karz may have also inspired the American film Chances Are
(1989).
Meanwhile, despite the Filmfare Best Music Director Award notwithstanding, films music turned out to be heavily "inspired" in the later years, like the dramatic Ek Hasina Thi was taken from George Benson
's As We Love, while Om Shanti Om itself came from Trinidad
Calypso
artist Lord Shorty's version
(1958) directed by none other than Bimal Roy
and written by Ritwik Ghatak, starring Vyjayantimala and Dilip Kumar
, where lost lovers reunite in another birth, and also in Chetan Anand
's lyrical Kudrat
(1981), starring Raaj Kumar
, Rajesh Khanna
and Hema Malini
. The modern twist with murder and revenge angle set in made Subhash Ghai's Karz a pot-boiler, and went on to inspire several other Indian remakes, notably the Kannada film
Yuga Purusha
(1989), the Tamil film
Enakkul Oruvan
(1984) starring Kamal Hassan, and more recently the Hindi film Karzzzz
(2008) .
Film's hit song, 'Om Shanti Om', inspired the title of Shahrukh Khan
starrer Om Shanti Om
(2007), which again was a light-hearted tribute to the film .
Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. His most notable films include Kalicharan ,Karz , Hero , Meri Jung , Karma ,Ram Lakhan ,Saudagar , Khalnayak , Pardes and Taal...
, starring Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor is an Indian Bollywood actor, film producer and director.-Early life:Born in Chembur Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and star Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Campion School,Mumbai. His brothers are well-known actors: Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv...
and Tina Munim
Tina Munim
Tina Munim is an Indian film actress who had a successful Bollywood career during the late seventies and early eighties. She is married to Anil Ambani. She is involved in a number of philanthropic and charity activities and is currently running an NGO and a hospital.-Early life and...
as leads, also in a feat of perfect casting was Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal is an Indian actress. She is known for her work in Mera Naam Joker, Siddhartha and Karz.-Early life:Simi Garewal was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Delhi, her father, J S Garewal served in the army rising to the rank of brigadier...
, who stood out in her role of Kamini Verma, the murderous wife from the past life, which won her a Filmfare nomination.
Film's music was by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, giving memorable hits like, 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Dard-e-Dil', and who went on to win Filmfare Best Music Director Award
Filmfare Best Music Director Award
The Filmfare Best Music Director Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to the best composer/arranger of a soundtrack. This category was first presented in 1954. Naushad was the first recipient of this award for his song "Tu Ganga Ki Mauj"...
for this film, even the lyricist received two Filmfare nominations for these two hits.
Plot
Sir Judah(PremnathPremnath
Premnath Malhotra was an actor in Indian films.-Personal life:Born in Peshawar in a hindkowan Punjabi family, his family moved to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh after partition, he then had moved to Bombay....
), a mute man, tries to usurp the wealth of his business partner Shanta Prasad Verma, thus stealing the property from its rightful owners. But Shanta Prasad's son Ravi Verma(Raj Kiran) foils Sir Judah's attempts to take over the estate. However, Ravi has no idea that his ladylove Kamini(Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal
Simi Garewal is an Indian actress. She is known for her work in Mera Naam Joker, Siddhartha and Karz.-Early life:Simi Garewal was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Delhi, her father, J S Garewal served in the army rising to the rank of brigadier...
) is actually Sir Judah's agent. Kamini succeeds in getting married to him.
While they are heading to Ravi's home in Ooty, Ravi plays a somewhat sinister melody on his guitar, which he claims is a tune he loves. This tune later plays an important part in the story. Kamini tricks and brutally murders Ravi by running him over with the jeep on the lonely highway. All this takes place near a small stone statue of the goddess Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
. Ravi's murder is ruled out as an accident.
25 years later, a young and successful singer named Monty(Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor is an Indian Bollywood actor, film producer and director.-Early life:Born in Chembur Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and star Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Campion School,Mumbai. His brothers are well-known actors: Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv...
), an orphan is taken in by the cunning businessman Mr. Oberoi(Pinchoo Kapoor
Pinchoo Kapoor
Pinchoo Kapoor was a noted Indian actor. He acted in many Hindi films during 70s and 80s. His film career lasted from 1969 to 1989. He was born in Jaipur in Rajasthan. He is best remembered for his role in film Don.-Filmography:- References :*...
). Oberoi exploits Monty's talent to his selfish personal gains and treats Monty without affection or respect. Also, Monty suffers from hallucinations and nightmares, usually triggered whenever he listens or plays that familiar tune. The psychiatrist advises Monty to take a vacation. Monty picks Ooty as his vacation spot.
As Monty travels around Ooty, he finds many of the sights and sounds more than familiar: the Verma estate, the lonely highway where the old Kali statue has now become a small temple. Monty finds out that Tina(Tina Munim
Tina Munim
Tina Munim is an Indian film actress who had a successful Bollywood career during the late seventies and early eighties. She is married to Anil Ambani. She is involved in a number of philanthropic and charity activities and is currently running an NGO and a hospital.-Early life and...
), one of his avid fans, stays there. In a party, Monty is shocked to see the woman in his nightmares. Monty also learns that she is Kamini, the owner of Verma estate & Tina's caretaker. Monty decides to get closer to her to find the truth.
Monty learns that her uncle Kabira(Pran) had to go in foreign, whereupon she was brought up by Kamini. In reality, Kabira was in jail. Kabira tells Monty that Tina's father was killed by Kamini's brother & in retaliation, Kabira killed her brother. Kabira knows nothing, but tells that Tina's father repeated Ravi's name & mentioned the Kali temple before dying. Kabira had no idea what that meant, but realized that Tina's father knew some secret that got him killed. Kabira pretended to know the truth & blackmailed Kamini to provide for education of an orphaned Tina.
When Kabira tells Monty what he knows, Monty suddenly realizes what has happened. He tells Kabira that he is in fact a reincarnation of Ravi Verma. Kabira puts two & two together. Monty now decides to find out what happened to his mother(Durga Khote
Durga Khote
Durga Khote was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions....
) & sister Jyoti(Abha Dhulia). Destiny reunites Monty with his family. He learns that his mother & sister were falsely accused by Kamini. He realizes how Kamini took over his estate. Monty also learns that Kamini is just the face of Verma estate, Sir Judah is the real owner.
After knowing the reality of events that took place 25 years ago, Monty starts playing with Kamini. He seduces Kamini, the same way she did. He & Kabira execute a plan to get her to confess her crime. Kamini decides to open a school in memory of Ravi. Here, Monty performs at the function with Tina. He belts out a song based on the tune he used to like. He & Tina re-enact the way Ravi Verma was killed in the song, which only Kamini realizes. Horrified that Monty knows about her crime, she is shocked to see Ravi's mother & sister being ushered on the stage. Kamini flees to her home.
Monty and Kabira follow her home for the final showdown. Monty succeeds in convincing Kamini that he is indeed Ravi, upon which Kamini freaks & confesses her crime. Kabira & policemen emerge from behind, with her confession on tape. Sir Judah & his men break in too, with Tina, who is kidnapped by them. Tina now realizes the whole story. In a standoff where Tina is to be traded for Kamini, a fight breaks out.
Sir Judah traps Ravi's mother, sister & his nephew & niece & sets the house on fire. However, the Verma family is saved & Sir Judah gets killed. Kamini flees the scene in a jeep. Monty follows her on a motor cycle. In the climax, Kamini tries to kill him just as she did 25 years ago. However, Monty manages to escape & Kamini plunges to death. In the end, Monty & Tina get married with his mother's blessings.
Cast
- Rishi KapoorRishi KapoorRishi Kapoor is an Indian Bollywood actor, film producer and director.-Early life:Born in Chembur Mumbai, Kapoor is the second son of film director and star Raj Kapoor. He did his schooling with his brothers at Campion School,Mumbai. His brothers are well-known actors: Randhir Kapoor and Rajiv...
- Singer Monty Oberoi - Raj Kiran - Ravi Verma
- Simi GarewalSimi GarewalSimi Garewal is an Indian actress. She is known for her work in Mera Naam Joker, Siddhartha and Karz.-Early life:Simi Garewal was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Delhi, her father, J S Garewal served in the army rising to the rank of brigadier...
- Kamini - Tina MunimTina MunimTina Munim is an Indian film actress who had a successful Bollywood career during the late seventies and early eighties. She is married to Anil Ambani. She is involved in a number of philanthropic and charity activities and is currently running an NGO and a hospital.-Early life and...
- Tina - PremnathPremnathPremnath Malhotra was an actor in Indian films.-Personal life:Born in Peshawar in a hindkowan Punjabi family, his family moved to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh after partition, he then had moved to Bombay....
- Sir Judah - Pran - Kabira
- Durga KhoteDurga KhoteDurga Khote was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions....
- Mrs. Shanta Prasad Verma (Ravi's mother) - Abha Dhulia - Jyoti
- Jalal AghaJalal AghaJalal Agha was an Indian actor and director in Bollywood films. Son of the popular comedian Agha, Jalal studied acting at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.-Career:...
- Dr. Dayal - Pinchoo KapoorPinchoo KapoorPinchoo Kapoor was a noted Indian actor. He acted in many Hindi films during 70s and 80s. His film career lasted from 1969 to 1989. He was born in Jaipur in Rajasthan. He is best remembered for his role in film Don.-Filmography:- References :*...
- Mr. G.G. Oberoi - IftekharIftekharIftekhar was a character actor in Bollywood films, especially known for his roles as police officers in several films.-Career:...
- Dr. Daniel - Viju KhoteViju KhoteViju Khote is an Indian actor who has worked as character actor in more than 300 films in Hindi cinema and Marathi cinema. He is especially famous as the dacoit Kalia in the film Sholay and the dialogue, Sardar maine aapka namak khaya hai and Robert in movie Andaz Apna Apna...
- Baayan (Kabira's Left) - BirbalBirbalRaja Birbal was the Grand Vizier of the Mughal court in the administration of the Mughal emperor Akbar. He one of his most trusted members along with being a part of Akbar's inner council of nine advisors, known as the navaratna, a Sanskrit word meaning nine jewels...
- Daayan (Kabira's Right)
Crew
- Direction – Subhash GhaiSubhash GhaiSubhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. His most notable films include Kalicharan ,Karz , Hero , Meri Jung , Karma ,Ram Lakhan ,Saudagar , Khalnayak , Pardes and Taal...
- Screenplay – Sachin BhowmickSachin BhowmickSachin Bhowmick was an Indian Hindi film writer and director. Writing was his main work and he wrote stories or screenplays for over 94 films. He was also a regular contributor to Ultorath, a Bengali magazine on cinema.-Writing highlights:...
- Dialogue – Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza
- Production – Akhtar Farooqui, Jagjit Khurana
- Editing – Waman Bhonsle, Gurudutt Shirali
- Cinematography – Kamalakar Rao
- Direction Assistant – Ashok Ghai, Kuku Khanna
- Art Direction – Sudhendu Roy
- Costume Design – Bhanu AthaiyaBhanu AthaiyaBhanu Athaiya née Rajopadhye is Indian cinema's most well-regarded costume designer, having worked in over 100 films, since 1950s, with noted filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, and international directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.She made her...
, Bhavana Munim, Satyawan - Choreography – Suresh Bhatt
- Music Direction – Laxmikant-Pyarelal
- Lyrics – Anand BakshiAnand BakshiAnand Bakshi was a popular Indian poet and lyricist.-Early days:Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930. His ancestors were from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10...
- Playback – Mohammed RafiMohammed RafiMohammad Rafi , was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. He was awarded National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India....
, Asha BhosleAsha BhosleAsha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
, Kishore KumarKishore KumarKishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
, Lata MangeshkarLata MangeshkarLata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, Manna DeyManna DeyPrabodh Chandra Dey , better known by his nickname Manna Dey , is a playback singer in Bengali Assamese and Hindi films. Along with Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Mukesh, he was a part of Indian film playback music from the 1950s to the 1970s. He has recorded more than 3500 songs over the course of...
, Anuradha PaudwalAnuradha PaudwalAnuradha Paudwal is a popular playback singer in Bollywood in India.She has sung songs in Hindi, Marathi and Nepali.- Biography :She studied at Xavier's College in Mumbai. She was married to the late Arun Paudwal, who worked with music director S. D. Burman as his assistant...
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film includes tracks, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and with lyrics by Anand BakshiAnand Bakshi
Anand Bakshi was a popular Indian poet and lyricist.-Early days:Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930. His ancestors were from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10...
, who received two Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
nominations for these two hits, 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Dard-e-Dil', Laxmikant-Pyarelal however won the trophy for Best Music Director of the year. With hits like, "Ek Haseena Thi " and " Om Shanti Om " by Kishore Kumar and "Dard-E-Dil" by Mohd. Rafi, the soundtrack was a trendsetter for the disco music in the Indian music industry and film's background score, especially the signature tune are still remembered as one of the most memorable ones.
The film's chart-buster song, Meri umar ke naujawaanon (aka Om Shanti Om) sung by Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar
Kishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
reached the number 2 spot on the Binaca Geetmala
Binaca Geetmala
Binaca Geetmala was a weekly radio countdown show of top filmi songs from Indian cinema listened to by millions of Hindi music lovers, that was broadcast on Radio Ceylon from 1952 to 1988 and then shifted to Vividh Bharati network in 1989 where it ran till 1994...
's annual list 1980
Binaca Geetmala annual list 1980
The following is an annual list of the year-end chart toppers of the Radio Ceylon radio show Binaca Geetmala for 1980. Binaca Geetmala was a very popular radio show that counted down the popular film songs from Indian cinema on a weekly basis, listened to by millions of Hindi music lovers, just...
, while another duet between Lata and Kishore, Tu Kitne Baras Ki reached number 13 .
Reception
This story is about the reincarnation and the revenge became the ninth highest grosser of the year, and declared a "Semi Hit" nationwide and 80%/Big City Hit at the Indian Box OfficeBox office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
. In a 2008 interview, film director, Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. His most notable films include Kalicharan ,Karz , Hero , Meri Jung , Karma ,Ram Lakhan ,Saudagar , Khalnayak , Pardes and Taal...
admitted that film was ahead of its time, and was thus panned by critics of the times, and "flopped" at the box office, it was only years later that it started being considered a classic and even remade several times over .
The film is also one of the finest films of Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. His most notable films include Kalicharan ,Karz , Hero , Meri Jung , Karma ,Ram Lakhan ,Saudagar , Khalnayak , Pardes and Taal...
, notable for picturization of songs like Ek Hasina Thi on stage as well as Dard-e-Dil, and set the standard for his future films, as most of them became known for his dramatic flair, and above all their music score. However, the director Subhash Ghai admitted that Karz was partly inspired by the 1975 American film The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud is an American motion picture released by Bing Crosby Productions, and Cinerama Productions Corporation. In the supernatural suspense genre, the film was directed by J...
, mixed in with Indian beliefs on reincarnation
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
. In turn, both Karz and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud may have been inspired by the 1958 Hindi film Madhumati
Madhumati
Madhumati is a 1958 Hindi film produced and directed by Bimal Roy, and written by Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi. The music was composed by Salil Choudhury with the lyrics by Shailendra. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala, Pran, and Johnny Walker. It was one of the earliest films to...
. Karz was itself remade several times: as the Kannada film
Cinema of Karnataka
The cinema of Karnataka , sometimes colloquially referred to as Sandalwood and as Chandanavana in Kannada, encompasses movies made in the Indian state of Karnataka based in Bangalore. Most of the movies are made in Kannada, with a handful of them in Konkani or Tulu. Today more than 100 films are...
Yuga Purusha (1989), the Tamil film
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
Enakkul Oruvan
Enakkul Oruvan
Enakkul Oruvan is a 1984 Tamil film directed by SP. Muthuraman, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role. A remake of Subhash Ghai's Hindi film, Karz , starring Rishi Kapoor, and Tina Munim.-Cast:...
(1984), and more recently the Hindi film Karzzzz
Karzzzz (film)
Karzzzz is a 2008 Bollywood film directed by Satish Kaushik. The film stars Himesh Reshammiya and Urmila Matondkar. It is a remake of Karz , and also inspired by The Reincarnation of Peter Proud.- Plot :...
(2008). Karz may have also inspired the American film Chances Are
Chances Are (film)
Chances Are is a 1989 romantic comedy film written by Perry & Randy Howze and directed by Emile Ardolino. Starring Cybill Shepherd, Robert Downey, Jr., Ryan O'Neal, and Mary Stuart Masterson. The original music score was composed by Maurice Jarre.-Plot:...
(1989).
Meanwhile, despite the Filmfare Best Music Director Award notwithstanding, films music turned out to be heavily "inspired" in the later years, like the dramatic Ek Hasina Thi was taken from George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
's As We Love, while Om Shanti Om itself came from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
Calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
artist Lord Shorty's version
Influence
Though the theme of reincarnation was earlier handled in Indian cinema in MadhumatiMadhumati
Madhumati is a 1958 Hindi film produced and directed by Bimal Roy, and written by Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi. The music was composed by Salil Choudhury with the lyrics by Shailendra. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala, Pran, and Johnny Walker. It was one of the earliest films to...
(1958) directed by none other than Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy was one of the most acclaimed Indian film directors of all time. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema...
and written by Ritwik Ghatak, starring Vyjayantimala and Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
, where lost lovers reunite in another birth, and also in Chetan Anand
Chetan Anand (producer & director)
Chetan Anand was an acclaimed Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director from India, whose debut film, Neecha Nagar, bagged the Palme d'Or award, at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946....
's lyrical Kudrat
Kudrat
Kudrat is a Hindi/Urdu word which was probably derived from the Persian language. It means Nature in English. The word is used widely in lots of expressions in Hindi and Urdu languages. There is also a 1981 Hindi movie written and directed by Chetan Anand. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Hema...
(1981), starring Raaj Kumar
Raaj Kumar
Raaj Kumar , born Kulbushan Pandit was an Indian actor in Hindi movies. Raaj Kumar started out as sub-inspector of Mumbai police in the late 1940s before he turned to acting with the 1952 film Rangili...
, Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna
Rajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
and Hema Malini
Hema Malini
Hema Malini is an Indian actress, director and producer, as well as a Bharatanatyam dancer-choreographer. Making her acting debut in Sapno Ka Saudagar , she went on to appear in numerous Bollywood films, most notably those with actor and future-husband Dharmendra. She was initially promoted as...
. The modern twist with murder and revenge angle set in made Subhash Ghai's Karz a pot-boiler, and went on to inspire several other Indian remakes, notably the Kannada film
Cinema of Karnataka
The cinema of Karnataka , sometimes colloquially referred to as Sandalwood and as Chandanavana in Kannada, encompasses movies made in the Indian state of Karnataka based in Bangalore. Most of the movies are made in Kannada, with a handful of them in Konkani or Tulu. Today more than 100 films are...
Yuga Purusha
Yuga Purusha
Yugapurusha is an Indian 1989 Kannada language film which stars Ravichandran, Khushboo.It is the remake of Bollywood movie Karz.Its music is by Hamsalekha. The movie is about reincarnation where a boy is murdered by her own girlfriend in his previous life for the sake of property. In the new life,...
(1989), the Tamil film
Tamil cinema
Tamil cinema is the film industry based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, dedicated to the production of films in the Tamil language. It is based in Chennai's Kodambakkam district, where several South Indian film production companies are headquartered...
Enakkul Oruvan
Enakkul Oruvan
Enakkul Oruvan is a 1984 Tamil film directed by SP. Muthuraman, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role. A remake of Subhash Ghai's Hindi film, Karz , starring Rishi Kapoor, and Tina Munim.-Cast:...
(1984) starring Kamal Hassan, and more recently the Hindi film Karzzzz
Karzzzz (film)
Karzzzz is a 2008 Bollywood film directed by Satish Kaushik. The film stars Himesh Reshammiya and Urmila Matondkar. It is a remake of Karz , and also inspired by The Reincarnation of Peter Proud.- Plot :...
(2008) .
Film's hit song, 'Om Shanti Om', inspired the title of Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
starrer Om Shanti Om
Om Shanti Om (film)
Om Shanti Om is a 2007 Bollywood musical film directed and choreographed by Farah Khan. It stars Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles while Arjun Rampal, Shreyas Talpade, and Kirron Kher feature in supporting roles...
(2007), which again was a light-hearted tribute to the film .
Awards and nominations
- 1981: Filmfare Award
- Best Music DirectorFilmfare Best Music Director AwardThe Filmfare Best Music Director Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to the best composer/arranger of a soundtrack. This category was first presented in 1954. Naushad was the first recipient of this award for his song "Tu Ganga Ki Mauj"...
: Winner: Laxmikant-Pyarelal - Best Supporting ActressFilmfare Best Supporting Actress AwardThe Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Awards is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a supporting role...
: Simi GarewalSimi GarewalSimi Garewal is an Indian actress. She is known for her work in Mera Naam Joker, Siddhartha and Karz.-Early life:Simi Garewal was born in a Jatt Sikh family in Delhi, her father, J S Garewal served in the army rising to the rank of brigadier...
: Nominated - Best Male PlaybackFilmfare Best Male Playback AwardThe Filmfare Best Male Playback Award is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song....
: Kishore KumarKishore KumarKishore Kumar , born Abhas Kumar Ganguly, was an Indian film playback singer and an actor who also worked as lyricist, composer, producer, director, screenwriter and scriptwriter.Kishore Kumar was one of India's greatest performers of the late 20th century...
: "Om Shanti Om": Nominated - Best Male PlaybackFilmfare Best Male Playback AwardThe Filmfare Best Male Playback Award is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a male playback singer who has delivered an outstanding performance in a film song....
: Mohammed RafiMohammed RafiMohammad Rafi , was an Indian playback singer whose career spanned four decades. He was awarded National Award and 6 Filmfare Awards. In 1967, he was honoured with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India....
: "Darde Dil": Nominated - Best LyricistFilmfare Best Lyricist AwardThe Filmfare Lyricist Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.The awards were first given in 1953, however the Award for the best lyricist was first given in 1958.-Superlatives:...
: Anand BakshiAnand BakshiAnand Bakshi was a popular Indian poet and lyricist.-Early days:Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930. His ancestors were from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10...
: "Om Shanti Om": Nominated - Best LyricistFilmfare Best Lyricist AwardThe Filmfare Lyricist Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.The awards were first given in 1953, however the Award for the best lyricist was first given in 1958.-Superlatives:...
: Anand BakshiAnand BakshiAnand Bakshi was a popular Indian poet and lyricist.-Early days:Anand Bakshi was born in Rawalpindi, now in Pakistan, on 21 July 1930. His ancestors were from Kurree, near Rawalpindi, and had origins in Kashmir. His mother, Sumitra, died 1940, when he was 10...
: "Darde Dil": Nominated"
- Best Music Director
External links
- Karz at Bollywood HungamaBollywood HungamaBollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, owned by hungama.com....
- Review of the film