''Avtaar'' is a 1983 drama film starring

Rajesh Khanna Rajesh Khanna (; born Jatin Khanna; 29 December 1942 – 18 July 2012) was an Indian actor, film producer and politician who worked in Hindi films. Considered as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, h ...

and

Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi cinema, Hindi film industry has spanned Shabana Azmi filmography, over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist paral ...

. It was directed by Mohan Kumar, and the music was by Laxmikant Pyarelal, and lyrics by

Anand Bakshi Anand Bakshi (21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002) was an Indian poet and lyricist. He won Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist 4 times during his career. He wrote over 6000 film songs in more than 300 films. Early life Anand Bakshi (Bakshi Anand Pr ...

. ''Avtaar'' was critically acclaimed and earned around 8

crore Crore (; abbreviated cr) denotes the quantity ten million (107) and is equal to 100 lakh in the Indian numbering system. In many international contexts, the decimal quantity is formatted as 10,000,000, but when used in the context of the India ...

worldwide. The film earned several

Filmfare ''Filmfare'' is an Indian English-language fortnightly magazine published by Worldwide Media. Acknowledged as one of India's most popular entertainment magazines, it publishes pieces involving news, interviews, photos, videos, reviews, events, ...

award nominations. Rajesh Khanna received an All-India Critics Association (AICA) Best Actor Award for his performance in this film in 1983. The film was later remade into the Telugu film ''O Thandri Theerpu'' (1985), starring Murali Mohan and

Jayasudha Jayasudha Kapoor (born Sujatha Nidudavolu), known mononyomusly as Jayasudha is an Indian actress and politician known for her works predominantly in Telugu and Tamil cinema. She has also worked in few Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi films. Known ...

; in Kannada as ''Kaliyuga'' (1984), starring Rajesh and Aarthi; in Malayalam as ''Jeevitham'' (1984), starring

Madhu Madhu (Sanskrit: ) is a word used in several Indo-Aryan languages meaning ''honey'' or ''sweet''. It is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European language, Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/médʰu, ''*médʰu'', whenc ...

; and in Tamil as '' Vaazhkai'' (1984), with

Sivaji Ganesan Villupuram. Chinnaiya Manrayar Ganesamoorthy (1 October 1928 – 21 July 2001), better known by his stage name Sivaji Ganesan, was an Indian actor and film producer. He was mainly active in Tamil cinema during the latter half of the 20th centur ...

Plot

The film starts with wife Radha Kishan garlanding her husband Avtaar Kishan's bust while she mourns his death, then flashes back thirty years. Radha, is the only daughter of Seth Jugal Kishore a billionaire, and is in love with Avtaar, a poor boy. Her father disapproves, so the two elope and marry. After various hardships, the couple ultimately succeed; after three decades, Avtaar is owner of a small house and fortune. They have two sons, Chandar and Ramesh. Chandar is married to Renu, while Ramesh is married to Sudha. Avtaar also has a servant named Sewak. Chandar marries the only daughter of Seth Laxmi Narayan a millionaire and becomes a Gharjamai against Avtaar's wishes. Meanwhile, Ramesh registers the house under his wife's name instead of Radha's. This enrages Avtaar and he leaves his home, accompanied by Radha and Sewak. With help of a moneylender Avtaar starts his own garage. Avtaar faces an uphill task, since he has no money to buy equipment, is aged and his right hand was crippled in an accident. Sewak helps his master by illegally donating blood to arrange funds, but when Avtaar assumes Sewak has resorted to asking help from Avtaar's sons, Bawaji reveals the truth. Moved, Radha and Avtaar come to regard him as a true son. Meanwhile, Avtaar's best friend Rashid Ahmed who is very aged suffers at the hands of his cruel daughter-in-law, Zubaida who has made a slave out of him and doesn't even feed him properly and mistreats him very horribly. His son Anwar works in Dubai and has just arrived home. Old Rashid suddenly becomes very sick due to the ill treatment by Zubaida. Anwar expels him from the house saying he cannot afford to pay for his treatment etc. Avtaar sees this and opens a center for people who are suffering from their cruel relatives and names it "Apna Ghar" (Our Home). Meanwhile, both Ramesh and Chandar are enjoying their lives. Avtaar's luck suddenly changes and the carburetor he is working on gives a successful result. Avtaar starts manufacturing the engine parts, and creates an industrial empire headed by himself, his wife and Sewak. Avtaar out of vengeance, unethically and deliberately puts Laxmi Narayan out of business business by selling his automobile parts at much lower rates than those of Laxmi Narayan and furthermore completely ruins him by offering double wages to all his factory workers and steals them all as well. Someone commits fraud at the bank Ramesh works loyally but he is framed for it and arrested. Sudha comes to Avtaar for help, but he rebukes her and sends her away. Radha is angered, but remains silent. Avtaar secretly gives Bawaji the bail money on the condition that he tells no one; Bawaji bails Ramesh. Meanwhile, holding Chandar responsible for the loss in business, Laxmi Narayan throws him out of the house. Ramesh, Chandar and Sudha go to Radha for assistance, but Avtaar disagrees. Next day, Avtaar goes to the office and does not return. Radha calls him and late at night, tries to convince him to help their children, but he refuses to listen. Emotionally, Radha accuses him of having become heartless. Bawaji meets Radha, who tells him the whole story. Bawaji confesses the truth to her. Meanwhile, Anwar and Zubeida learn that Rashid has received a small fortune as provident fund. Zubeida and Anwar ask him to give them all the money for safekeeping but he spits on their faces and asks them never to show their face to him ever again! After learning the truth, Radha realizes her horrible mistake and tries to call Avtaar. Sewak informs her that Avtaar has had a massive heart attack resulting from her severe reprimand. Avtaar has already written his will. He hands it to Radha and dies. He gave 2 lakhs to both of his sons only due to their mistreatments and betrayals that hardened and toughened him up and led him to becoming a successful businessman. As he considers Sewak his one and only true son he tasks him to carry out his final rites and cremate him. The story return to the beginning of the film once again.

Cast

as Avtaar Kishan *

as Radha Kishan/Radha Kishore (Avtaar's wife) *

Madan Puri Madan Puri (30 September 1915 – 13 January 1985) was an Indian actor of Hindi and Punjabi films. His brothers were actors Chaman Puri and Amrish Puri. As a character actor mainly in negative roles (villain), he acted in about 430 films in ...

as Seth Jugal Kishore (Radha's father) * Sujit Kumar as Bawaji (Avtaar's mentor) * A. K. Hangal as Rashid Ahmed (Avtaar's best friend) * Sachin as Sewak (Avtaar's servant and adopted son) *

Gulshan Grover Gulshan Grover (born 21 September 1955) is an Indian actor and film producer who has appeared in over 100 films. He is popularly known as the "Bad Man" of Hindi cinema because of his ability to create an impact with his negative roles in films. ...

as Chandar Kishan (Avtaar's younger son and Renu's husband) *

Shashi Puri Shashi Puri is an Indian actor who appeared in Hindi Bengali and Punjabi films. He also did a few Punjabi films including ''Saali Adhi Gharwali'', ''Duja Viah'', ''Udeekan Saun Diyan'', ''Jako Rakhe Saiyan'' etc. Filmography Hindi *''Grahan'' ...

as Ramesh Kishan (Avtaar's elder son and Sudha's husband) *

Priti Sapru Priti Sapru (also spelled Preeti Sapru) is an Indian actress known for her works in Punjabi and Hindi cinema. She appeared in a number of films, including '' Nimmo,'' and '' Qurbani Jatt Di'', among others, with actors Veerendra, Gurdas Maan ...

as Sudha Kishan (Ramesh's Wife) *Rajni Sharma as Renu C. Kishan/Renu Narayan (Chandar's wife) *Ranjan Grewal as Anwar R. Ahmed (Rashid's son) *

Madhu Malini Madhu Malini was an Indian film actress. Personal life and career She was originally named Rukhsana and took up the stage name Madhu Malini, which was similar to Hema Malini. She was mysteriously found dead in the late 1980s with no lead on her ...

as Zubaida Anwar Ahmed (Anwar's Wife) * Pinchoo Kapoor as Seth Laxmi Narayan (Renu's father) *

Yunus Parvez Yunus Parvez (1931/1932 – 11 February 2007) was an Indian actor who played supporting roles in over 200 films from 1963 to the 2000s. He is best known for his roles in films like '' Garm Hava'' (1974), ''Deewaar'' (1975), '' Trishul'' (1978), ...

as Ram Dulare Chaurasia, Paanwala (Avtaar's friend) *

Shivraj Shivraj (; 1920 – 3 June 2017) was an Indian actor. Selected filmography *'' Singaar'' (1949) *'' Andolan'' (1951) (He played a key role) *'' Patita'' (1953) *'' Devdas'' (1955) *'' Seema'' (1955) *'' Dekh Kabira Roya'' (1957) *'' Miss Mar ...

as Gopal (Avtaar's servant)

Soundtrack

Lyrics:

Awards

; 31st Filmfare Awards: Nominated * Best Film – Emkay Enterprises * Best Director – Mohan Kumar * Best Actor –

* Best Actress –

* Best Story – Mohan Kumar

References

External links