Amrapali (film)
| Amrapali | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Lekh Tandon |
| Written by | Story & screenplay: Omkar Sahib Dialogue: Arjun Dev Rashk Balbir Singh (Additional dialogue) |
| Produced by | F.C. Mehra |
| Starring | Vyjayanthimala Sunil Dutt Prem Nath |
| Cinematography | Dwarka Divecha |
| Edited by | Pran Mehra |
| Music by | Shankar-Jaikishan |
Production company | Eagle Films [1] |
Release date | 1966 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Amrapali is a 1966 historical Hindi film, directed by Lekh Tandon, starring Vyjayanthimala and Sunil Dutt as leads.
It was based on the life of Amrapali (Ambapali), the nagarvadhu (royal courtesan) of Vaishali in present-day Bihar, the capital of the Licchavi republic in ancient India around 500 BC and Ajatashatru, the Haryanka dynasty king of the Magadha empire, who falls in love with her. Though he destroys Vaishali to get her, she in the meantime has been transformed by her encounter with Gautama Buddha, of whom she becomes a disciple and an Arahant herself. Her story finds mention in old Pali texts and Buddhist traditions.[2][3]
The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[4] Though the film wasn't a commercial success, in time it started being seen as classic and is remembered not just for its dramatic cinematography of war scenes by Dwarka Divecha,[5] and Bhanu Athaiya's costumes for which she travelled to the Ajanta Caves, to seek references in Buddhist frescoes of the era, to create period costumes that subsequently became a template for costumes of that era, but also for the strong Anti-war sentiment, the film reveals in the end.[6][7][8]
Cast
- Vyjayanthimala – Amrapali
- Sunil Dutt – Magadh Samrat Ajatashatru
- Prem Nath – Senpati Veer of Magadh
- Bipin Gupta – Vaishali's Samrat
- Gajanan Jagirdar – Kulpati Mahanam
- K.N. Singh – Balbadra SIngh
- Madhavi – Raj Nartaki
- Mridula Rani – Raj Mata (Ajaat Shatru's Mother)
- Ruby Mayer – Vaishali's Empress
- Narendra Nath – Lord Buddha
- Baburao Pendharkar – { } Not known – he is there in the song Neel Gagan Ki – A Bald Person
Crew
- Art Direction: M.R. Acharekar
- Dance director: Gopi Krishna
- Costume Design: Bhanu Athaiya
Music
Another highlight of the film was its music by the duo Shankar Jaikishan, then at the peak of their career, who gave a highly restrained yet fully Indian classical music-based score in the four songs, another rarity in the period film of the era to have so few songs. All the song were sung by Lata Mangeshkar who also has some of her career's finest among them, including, "Tumhen Yaad Karte Karte", "Neel Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein" and "Jao Re Jogi".[9]
Track list
| # | Title | Singer(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Jao Re" | Lata Mangeshkar | |||
| 2 | "Tumhen Yaad Karte Karte" | Lata Mangeshkar | |||
| 3 | "Neel Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein" | Lata Mangeshkar | |||
| 4 | "Tadap Yeh Din Raat Ki" | Lata Mangeshkar | 5 | "Nacho Gao Nacho Dhoom Machao" | Lata Mangeshkar |
In popular culture
A scene clipping from the film, was used in the Dhoom tana song dance sequence in film Om Shanti Om (2007), wherein Deepika Padukone dances as Vyjayantimala, who was digitally removed from the frames, as Deepika was playing the role of an actor of the 1970s.[10]
See also
- List of historical drama films of Asia
- List of submissions to the 39th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
- Chitralekha (1964)
References
- ^ "Office Office maker passes away". Screen (magazine). 31 July 2008.
- ^ History of Vaishali[permanent dead link]
- ^ Ambapālī (Ambapālikā) in Buddhist Dictionary of Pali names
- ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- ^ "V.K.MURTHY: Lens and Sensibility". Screen (magazine). 3 February 2006.[dead link]
- ^ "Are they calling the shots?". Screen (magazine). 29 February 2002.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Clothes maketh the film". The Hindu. 25 February 2010.
- ^ What if Amrapali were remade today? Rediff.com Movies, 4 March 2004.
- ^ "MUSIC DIRECTOR: Down Melody Lane". Screen (magazine). 22 March 2010.
- ^ "Magical music video". Screen (magazine). 23 November 2007.