Namak Haraam

Not to be confused with Namak Halaal.

Namak Haraam
File:Namak Haraam.jpg Movie poster
Directed by	Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Produced by	Jayendra Pandya Rajaram Satish Wagle
Written by	Gulzar D. N. Mukherjee Hrishikesh Mukherjee
Starring	Rajesh Khanna Amitabh Bachchan Rekha
Music by	Rahul Dev Burman
Cinematography	Jaywant Pathare
Edited by	Das Dhaimade
Production company	Mohan Studios
Distributed by	R. S. J. Productions Ultra Distributors Worldwide Entertainment Group
Release date	23 November 1973 (1973-11-23)
Running time	136 minutes
Language	Hindi

Namak Haraam (transl. Traitor) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The music is by R.D. Burman, the screenplay by Gulzar, and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. It also stars Rekha, Asrani, Raza Murad, A. K. Hangal, Simi Garewal and Om Shivpuri. Rajesh Khanna received his third BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) in 1974 for this film and Amitabh Bachchan had won his second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1974.

This was the second Hrishikesh Mukherjee film that starred Khanna and Bachchan after Anand. "Diye Jalte Hai", "Nadiya Se Dariya" and "Main Shayar Badnaam" are the most memorable melodies, all rendered powerfully by Kishore Kumar and picturised on Rajesh Khanna. And Kaka, as he was called by friends and fans alike, won the hearts of millions by his meaningful acting and face impressions. The film proved out to be a box office superhit and was the 5th highest grossing film of 1973. The film was remade in Tamil as Unakkaga Naan.

Plot

The story focuses on two friends, Somu (Rajesh Khanna) and Vicky (Amitabh Bachchan). To avenge the fact that Vicky is insulted by the union leader of his factory, Somu infiltrates the factory as a worker and later the trade union as its leader. However, Somu is moved by the plight of the workers and is influenced by their ideals, which leads to a confrontation between the two friends. This story concentrates on the rise of unions with the backdrop of Bombay's textile mills and inflation in the early 1970s.

Controversies

It is said that according to the initial script, Amitabh Bachchan had to die in the last scene. When Rajesh Khanna got to know this, he pressurized Hrishikesh Mukherjee to change the ending so he dies in the end instead of Amitabh Bachchan. It was Khanna's view that death in the end gets viewers' sympathy. The same had happened in Anand, getting lot of popularity for Khanna. Although Mukherjee did not want this change, Khanna was such a big star, he had to do this. This made Amitabh very angry and he vowed never to work with Khanna again.

Cast

• Rajesh Khanna as Somnath Chander Singh (Somu)
• Amitabh Bachchan as Vikram Maharaj (Vicky)
• Simi Garewal as Manisha
• Rekha as Shyama
• Asrani as Dhondu, Shyama's brother
• A. K. Hangal as Bipinlal Pandey
• Manju as Rama, Pandey's assistant
• Om Shivpuri as Damodar Maharaj
• Manmohan as Jai Singh
• Durga Khote as Somu's mother
• Manisha as Sarla, Somu's sister
• Raza Murad as Alam
• Jayshree T. as Courtesan

Music

The song "Nadiya Se Dariya Dariya Se Saagar" was listed at #18 on the Binaca Geetmala annual list 1974.

All lyrics are written by Anand Bakshi; all music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman.

Songs

No.	Title	Playback	Length
1.	"Sooni Re Sejaria"	Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar	2:38
2.	"Diye Jalte Hain Phool Khilte Hain"	Kishore Kumar	3:40
3.	"Nadiya Se Dariya Dariya Se Saagar"	Kishore Kumar	4:11
4.	"Woh Jhoota Hai Vote Na Usko Dena"	Kishore Kumar	3:29
5.	"Main Shair Badnaam"	Kishore Kumar	5:21

Awards and nominations

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1974	Amitabh Bachchan	Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor	Won
	Asrani	Filmfare Best Comedian Award	Nominated
	Gulzar	Filmfare Best Dialogue Award	Won
	Rajesh Khanna	BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi)	Won

External links

• Namak Haraam on IMDb