Mehbooba

Mehbooba
Directed by	Shakti Samanta
Produced by	Mushir-Riaz
Written by	Gulshan Nanda
Starring	Rajesh Khanna Hema Malini Prem Chopra Nazir Hussain
Music by	Rahul Dev Burman Anand Bakshi (lyrics)
Cinematography	Aloke Dasgupta
Edited by	Bijoy Chowdhury
Release date	19 July 1976
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Mehbooba is a 1976 Hindi film produced by Mushir-Riaz and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini and Prem Chopra. The story is based on reincarnation theme. The music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman. The film is noted for impressive performance by the lead pair and for its haunting melodies such as the solo song 'Mere naian sawan bhadon' sung by both Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar, Chalo Ri by Lata and the duet song Parbat Ke Peeche. The plot it is based on Gulshan Nanda's novel Sisakate Saaz, and Nanda also wrote the screenplay himself. Upon its release the film was big hit in the metropolitan cities but was flop in the rural areas. This film has gained a cult following over the years and appreciation from audiences in its screening in television.

Singer Suraj (Rajesh Khanna) was presented with a veena (stringed musical instrument) by his fiancee. Thereafter, he often listens to an haunting song at nights and observes that name 'Ratna' was written on that. One day, while going for a stage show, he gets struck in heavy rain in an unknown place and goes to stay in a small motel, where he meets a woman named Ratna. During night, he observes that Ratna, singing the same song he often hears at night, going to a distant mahal (grand house of olden times). He follows her reflexively and enters the abandoned mahal. He tries to call out for Ratna, but learns from old keeper of mahal that Ratna died more than a hundred years ago and people feel that she still haunts that mahal.

Later portrait of Ratna makes him remember their previous life. In previous life he was Prakash, chief singer of royal court. He was in love with Ratna, a beautiful and talented court dancer.They fell in love but both have problems to marry as Prakash was already promised to Jamuna in his childhood and Ratna couldn't marry as she was to become royal courtesan, At last, they decided to run away but killed on their way, promising each other that they would meet again.

Suraj, after coming to senses, feels lonely and confused. Shortly after he meets a gypsy, Jhumri (also Malini) who looks exactly like Ratna. Soon he makes Jhumri to remember her past life and her love for Prakash. This angers Rita Malhotra (Asha Sachdev), fiancee of Suraj, and Appa (Prem Chopra), who wants to marry Jhumri. Appa steals the portrait, and sets the gypsies against Suraj, ensuring fight between Suraj and gypsies. But Suraj and Jhumri manage to overcome all the obstacles and stay together in this life.

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Wikipedia