Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Nirupa Roy, Sujit Kumar, Jeevan, Jagdeep and Om Prakash Director: Manmohan Desai Rajesh Khanna and Manmohan D...
Cast: Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Nirupa Roy, Sujit Kumar, Jeevan, Jagdeep and Om Prakash
Director: Manmohan Desai
Rajesh Khanna and Manmohan Desai came together for the second time (after their blockbuster 'Sachha Jhutha' in 1970) and delivered one of Rajesh Khanna's biggest hits -'Roti'. Ironically both these films were ghost-produced by Rajesh Khanna! This film came when Rajesh Khanna (fondly called Kaka) had not-so-good years in 1972 and 1973. But in 1974, Kaka bounced back with films like 'Aap Ki Kasam', 'Premnagar' and 'Roti'. This was another successful collaboration with Mumtaz as a leading lady with Kaka and together have only given hits (8 films). The film also was a huge musical blockbuster with Laxmikant Pyarelal as the music director. Songs like 'Yeh public hai', 'Yaar humari baat suno' 'Gore rang pe jo itna' all being hits. But topping the list was that year's number one song 'Naach meri bulbul'. The Kishore Kumar-Rajesh Khanna jodi was ravaging year after year right from 'Aradhana' (1969) and 'Roti' was no exception to the rule.
A young Mangal (Master Tito) steals a 'roti' for his ill mother but is caught and is also saved by Suraj (Pinchoo Kapoor). Mangal couldn't give the 'roti' to his mother who had died by then. Cut to Mangal (Rajesh Khanna) has become a top crook under the smuggler Suraj. But in a twist of fate, Mangal gets the death punishment for the murder of a man for the sake of 'roti'. Suraj plans Mangal's escape from the gallows, with police officer Sujit (Sujit Kumar) in hot pursuit. While escaping by train, Mangal accidentally pushes Shravan Kumar (Vijay Arora in a special appearance) off the train during a scuffle. He lands up in the valley (Kashmir) and takes the identity of Shravan's friend Ramu and with the help of the local dhabewali Bijlee (Mumtaz) goes to live with aged blind couple Lalaji and Malti (Om Prakash and Nirupa Roy) not knowing that they are the parents of Shravan Kumar. Does Mangal get caught? Does Bijlee fall in love with Mangal? Is the true identity of Mangal revealed? Does the police catch Mangal?
The film had terrific performances from superstar Rajesh Khanna and the fiery Mumtaz (both in tragic roles). As inspector Khadak Singh, Jagdeep was at his hilarious best copying K N Singh to the hilt. Om Prakash puts in another fine performance and so does Nirupa Roy. Vijay Arora is also good in his brief appearance. Sujit Kumar and Pinchoo Kapoor lend able support. But as the wily and evil Lala, Jeevan is brilliant and his breakdown scene upon discovering his daughter whom Mangal had saved and re-unites with him, is truly memorable. Jeetendra appears as himself in a miss-if-you-blink role in the song 'Yeh public hai'. The dialogues (Akhtar-ul-Iman and additional dialogues by Kader Khan) were also memorable and clapworthy - 'Insaan ko dil de, jism de, dimaag de lekin yeh kambakht pet mat de. Usse pet deta hai toh usse bhook mat de. Usse bhook deta hai toh do waqt ki roti ka intezam karke bhej, varna tujhe insaanon ko paida karne ka koi haq nahin hai.' and 'Mera naam Mangal hai, main mangal ko paida hua tha, mangal ko hi pakda gaya aur mangal ko hi marunga. Aaj toh somvaar hai'.
This larger-than-life film, the breath-taking climax in the snow-laden hills, and the lead pair dying, all add up to this blockbuster of a film- Roti. It is still worth a re-watch even after 50 years!
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