1976 film by Shakti Samanta
Mehbooba is a 1976 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film based on the reincarnation theme, produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini and Prem Chopra. The music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman. The film is noted for an impressive performance by the lead pair and for its haunting melodies such as the solo song "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon", sung by both Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar, "Chalo Ri" by Lata and the duet song "Parbat Ke Peeche". The movie is based on Gulshan Nanda's novel Sisakate Saaz. Nanda has also written the screenplay. Upon its release, while the movie was a silver jubilee hit in many territories did not do so well in Mumbai. The film has gained a cult following over the years.[1][2][3]
Plot
Singer Suraj (Rajesh Khanna) was presented with a tanpura by his fiancée's father. Thereafter, he often listens to a haunting song at nights and observes that its name was "Ratna". One day, while going for a stage show, he gets stuck in heavy rain in an unknown place and goes to stay in a small motel, where he meets a woman named Ratna. During the night, he observes that Ratna, singing the same song he often hears at night, is going to a distant palace. He follows her instinctively and enters the abandoned palace. He tries to call out for Ratna, but learns from the old keeper of the palace that Ratna died more than
1000 years ago and people feel that she still haunts that place.
Later, a portrait of Ratna makes him remember their previous life. In the previous life he was Prakash, chief singer of royal court. He was in love with Ratna, a beautiful and talented court dancer. They do not consummate their relationship as Prakash was already promised to Jamuna in his childhood and Ratna was to become a royal courtesan. However, they decided to elope, but were killed on their way, promising each other that they would meet again.
Suraj, after coming to his senses, feels lonely and confused. Shortly thereafter, he meets a gypsy, Jhumri (also Malini), who is Ratna's reincarnation. Soon he makes Jhumri remember her past life and her love for Prakash. This angers Rita Malhotra (Asha Sachdev), Suraj's fiancée and Popatlal (Prem Chopra), who wants to marry Jhumri. Popatlal steals the portrait, and sets the gypsies against Suraj, ensuring a fight between Suraj and gypsies. But Suraj and Jhumri manage to overcome all the obstacles and consummate their relationship this time despite all odds.
Soundtrack
The music was composed by R. D. Burman. The songs "Mere Naina Sawan Bhadon", "Mehbooba" (title track) and "Parbat Ke Peechhe" too, were popular numbers.
