Samadhi

That Dharmendra never got an award for his memorable performance in this great movie is nothing short of shameful in the annals of Indian Cinema. In fact, Dharmendra never got one, in spite of giving such great performances in movies like Anupama, Satyakam and Chupke Chupke, amongst others.

The movie has Dharmendra as a notorious bandit who kidnaps, then falls for and marries Asha Parekh. Dharmendra tries to turn over a new leaf but his wife falls critically ill. When he tries to borrow money to have her treated, all his efforts fail. He then kidnaps a millionaire's young son. The millionaire agrees to pay but when Dharmendra goes to deliver the boy, he kills the latter by accident. Broken-hearted, Dharmendra buries the boy. His "samadhi" (tomb) remains as indelible in the viewer's psyche as it remains in Dharmendra's destiny...

Dharmendra is just brilliant. The pathos he conveys is incredible when, in one scene, he asks God how he is going to return the dead son or, in another, he is slapped by his son (played by Dharmendra also) and curses his own destiny.

The movie is by the way directed by the great Prakash Mehra and, if you like it, check out also the older "Mujhe Jeeno Do", another superior flick with Sunil Dutt.

R D Burman's music shines as usual with a hauntingly beautiful song by Asha Bhosle (Jab Tak Rahe), an offbeat gem by Kishore (Jane Jaana) and a great solo by Manna Dey (Bhagwan Bhi), amongst others.