''Chhoti Bahu'' is a 1971 Hindi film. Produced by Seeru Daryani and Darius Gotla, the film is directed by

K. B. Tilak Korlipara Balagangadhara Tilak (14 January 1926 – 23 September 2010), popularly known as K. B. Tilak, was an Indian independence activist, film director and producer. Early life He was born at Denduluru in West Godavari district, Andhra P ...

and written by Raj Baldev Raj. The film stars Sharmila Tagore,

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. He is called as the "First Superstar of Hindi cinema", he consecutively starred in a record ...

, 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 ''Muddu Bidda'' () is a 1956 Telugu-language drama film directed and produced by K. B. Tilak. It is a debut film for Tilak under the banner Anupama Films. It is remade into the Hindi language as ''Chhoti Bahu'' in 1971, directed by K. B. Tilak ...

'', also produced and directed by K. B. Tilak which was based on the Bengali novel ''Bindur Chhele'' written by the famous Bengali author Saratchandra Chatterjee. This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films of 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.

Plot

Radha ( Sharmila Tagore) was the only daughter of a rich merchant. She suffers from epilepsy, triggered especially by the removal of a little doll she always carries with her. Madhu (

) 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). A local unqualified medical practitioner, whose business got a big hit by the practice of Madhu, begrudgingly arranges a match between Madhu and Radha, hiding her illness. Madhu marries her without knowing the problem she has. Immediately after the wedding, Madhu and his family members come to know of Radha's illness and they accept her as wedding has already taken place. After seeing that Radha's attack subsided with the touch of Gopi (son of Shriram and Sita), Sita lets her have him herself. 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 of 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, that go to a 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 her condition becomes critical. While everyone is puzzled by 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.

Cast

* Sharmila Tagore as Radha *

as Madhu * Shashikala as Paro * Nirupa Roy as Sita * I. S. Johar as Premnath (Niku's dad) * Sarika as Gopi * Mehmood Junior as Niku *Master Suraj * Tarun Bose as Shriram *Shivraj as Radha's Father * P. Jairaj as Rajaram Ramprasad Bahadur * Satyendra Kapoor as Vedji Avtar *Radhika Rani * Irshad Panjatan as Servant *Chandrima Bhaduri as Ganga *Master Ratan

Soundtrack

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, 0377636, Chotti Bahu 1971 films 1970s Hindi-language films Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay Films based on Indian novels Films scored by Kalyanji Anandji Hindi remakes of Telugu films Films directed by K. B. Tilak