Chhoti Bahu

Chotti Bahu
DVD cover
Directed by	K. B. Tilak
Starring	Sharmila Tagore Rajesh Khanna Nirupa Roy
Music by	Kalyanji Anandji
Release date	1971
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Chhoti Bahu is a 1971 Hindi film. Produced by Seeru Daryani and Darius Gotla, the film is directed by K. B. Tilak. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Rajesh Khanna, Nirupa Roy and I. S. Johar. The music is by Kalyanji Anandji. The film was successful at the box office.

It is a remake of 1956 Telugu film Muddu Bidda produced and directed by K. B. Tilak.

The story is originally based on a Bengali novel "Bindur Chhele" written by the famous Bengali author Saratchandra Chatterjee.This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films Rajesh Khanna between 1969 and 1971, by adding the two hero films Marayada and Andaz to the 15 consecutive solo hits he gave from 1969 to 1971.

Radha (Sharmila Tagore) was the only daughter of a rich merchant. She suffers from epilepsy, triggered especially by the removal of little doll she always carries with her. Madhu (Rajesh Khanna) was a young doctor, practicing in a village. He lives along with his older brother Shriram (Tarun Bose) and sister-in-law Sita (Nirupa Roy). Local unqualified medical practitioner, whose business got a big hit by the practice of Madhu, begrudgingly arranges match between Madhu and Radha, hiding her illness. Madhu marries her without knowing the problem she has.

Immediately after wedding, Madhu and his family members come to know of Radha's illness and they accept her as wedding already took place. After seeing that Radha's attack got subsided with the touch of Gopi (son of Shriram and Sita), Sita lets her have him herselves. Radha feels so happy and starts taking care of Gopi as her own son.

Years pass and Gopi, now seven years old, grows up thinking Radha as his mother. Things go well till Madhu and Shriram's sister Paro comes along with her husband and son to stay with them. Her son Niku (Mehmood Jr), with his playful attitude, spoils Gopi too, much to the worry of Radha. Later Paro starts misunderstandings between Radha and Sita, those go to bigger level because of Radha's innocence and Sita's indolence. Moreover, Paro frightens little Gopi that if he sees his mother, she would die. Frightened Gopi stays away from Radha, much to the agony of Radha. Gradually she falls ill and condition becomes critical. while everyone puzzled by the Gopi's behavior, Niku carefully extracts the reason for his behavior. He tells that to everyone. Everyone scolds Paro and convinces Gopi that his mother wouldn't die if he talks to her. Gopi comes to Radha and her illness goes away. Even bitterness between Radha and Sita goes away and they start living together happily as before.

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