Caravan (1971 film)
Caravan (Hindustani pronunciation: [kaːɾʋaːn]; Karwaan; transl. Travellers) is a 1971 Indian romantic comedy thriller film directed by Nasir Hussain and produced by his brother Tahir Hussain, under the Nasir Hussain Films and T.V. Films banners. The film stars Jeetendra and Asha Parekh. Three Hussain fixtures were involved in the music production: composer R.D. Burman, lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, and singer Mohammad Rafi. The film's plot was loosely inspired by Girl on the Run (1953).
| Caravan | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nasir Hussain |
| Written by | Nasir Hussain |
| Screenplay by | Sachin Bhowmick |
| Produced by | Tahir Hussain |
| Starring | Jeetendra Asha Parekh |
| Cinematography | Munir Khan |
| Edited by | Babu Lavande Gurudutt Shirali |
| Music by | R. D. Burman |
Production companies | Nasir Hussain Films T.V. Films |
| Distributed by | Sky Entertainment (DVD since 2002) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 161 min |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Box office | est. ₹353 million ($44 million) |
Caravan was a superhit domestically in India. It found even greater success abroad in China when it released there in 1979, becoming the highest-grossing foreign film in China. The film is estimated to have sold over 300 million tickets in Asia, mostly in China. Adjusted for inflation, it is still one of the highest grossing Indian films of all time.
Plot
The film is an action thriller about a young woman, Sunita (Asha Parekh) and her father Mohandas (Murad), who finds out that his trusted employee, Rajan (Krishen Mehta), has been embezzling money from him. He confronts him but Rajan attacks him, flinging him out of the window of the multi-storyed building, but the police think that the death was accidental. This leaves the coast clear for Rajan to wed Mohandas' only daughter, Sunita. Sunita is distraught and ends up married to this "wrong" man, Rajan. Shortly after the wedding, Sunita finds out the truth. She thinks that Rajan has conspired with his girlfriend Monica (Helen) to murder her. So she runs away to find her father's old friend in Bangalore, who may be able to help. On the way, she experiences an accident and ends up with a band performing gypsies. She meets caravan van-driver Mohan (Jeetendra) and she is attracted to him. Sunita does not know that she has put herself in danger again - this time at the hands of knife-thrower, Nisha (Aruna Irani), who loves Mohan, and will kill anyone who gets in her way. To make matters worse, Rajan has not given up his search for Sunita.
Cast
- Jeetendra as Mohan
- Asha Parekh as Sunita / Soni
- Aruna Irani as Nisha
- Mehmood Jr. as Monto
- Helen as Monica
- Krishen Mehta as Rajan
- Ravindra Kapoor as Johny
- Madan Puri as Mithalal Tota
- Sanjana as Tara
- Manorama as Mrs. Tota
- Anwar Ali as Bhola
- Murad as Mohandas
- Dulari as Mohan's mom
- Shivraj as Karamchand
Production
The film was largely a Khan–Hussain family production, directed by Nasir Hussain (father of future filmmaker Mansoor Khan) and produced by his brother Tahir Hussain (father of future superstar Aamir Khan), under the Nasir Hussain Films banner.
The film's plot was loosely inspired by the 1953 film Girl on the Run, a little-known crime drama set against the backdrop of a carnival burlesque show, which was changed to a gypsy show in Caravan.[1]
Soundtrack
The soundtrack of the film is one of the hit compositions by R. D. Burman. The lyrics of the songs are provided by the veteran poet Majrooh Sultanpuri.
| # | Title | Singer(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Ab Jo Mile Hain To" | Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Aruna Irani, Jeetendra & Asha Parekh |
| 2 | "Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani" | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi | Picturized on Jeetendra & Aruna Irani |
| 3 | "Daiya Yeh Main Kahan" | Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Asha Parekh |
| 4 | "Dilbar Dil Se Pyare" | Lata Mangeshkar | Picturized on Aruna Irani |
| 5 | "Goria Kahan Tera Desh" | Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Jeetendra and Aruna Irani |
| 6 | "Hum To Hain Rahi Dil Ke" | Kishore Kumar | Picturized on Jeetendra |
| 7 | "Kitna Pyara Wada Hai" | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi | Picturized on Jeetendra and Asha Parekh |
| 8 | "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" | Asha Bhosle, R.D. Burman | Picturized on Helen Asha Bhosle won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award |
Box office
Caravan was declared a "Super Hit" domestically according to Box Office India.[2] The film grossed ₹36 million[3] ($4.81 million)[4] in India. It was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1971 at the domestic Indian box office.[3] Adjusted for inflation, the film's domestic box office gross is equivalent to ₹5.09 billion in 2017.[n 1]
Overseas, Caravan released in China in 1979 and became a blockbuster there, surpassing Raj Kapoor's Awaara (1951). Caravan became the highest-grossing foreign film ever in China up until then, with 88 million box office admissions in its initial run. It reportedly sold a total of nearly 300 million tickets including re-runs, the highest for any foreign film ever released in China. At an average ticket price of ¥0.20 RMB,[6] the film grossed an estimated ¥60 million RMB, equivalent to $39 million[7] (₹317 million).[8] Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to $132 million (₹8.59 billion) in 2017.
In total, the film grossed an estimated ₹353 million ($44 million) in Asia. Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to ₹13.68 billion in 2017, or ₹16.3 billion (US$200 million) in 2020.
In terms of footfalls, the film sold an estimated 19 million tickets in India,[3][9] and nearly 300 million tickets in China, for an estimated total of nearly 319 million tickets sold in Asia.
Legacy
Along with Awaara and Noorie (1979), Caravan left a strong impression on Chinese audiences in the 1980s. It took decades before Tahir Hussain's son Aamir Khan later had a similar impact in China,[10][11] with films such as Lagaan (2001),[12] 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), and Dangal (2016).[10][11][13] During his visit to China, Aamir Khan said his father's film Caravan is still fondly remembered there.[13]
Awards and nominations
Won
- Best Female Playback Singer – Asha Bhosle for "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja"
Nominated
See also
Notes
References
- ^ Parekh, Asha; Mohamed, Khalid (2017). Asha Parekh: The Hit Girl. Om Books International. p. 120. ISBN 978-93-86316-98-1.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ^ a b c . BoxOfficeIndia.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Official exchange rate (INR per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1971. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ "Top Adjusted Nett Grossers 1993". Box Office India. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- ^ Link, Perry (2000). The Uses of Literature: Life in the Socialist Chinese Literary System. Princeton University Press. p. 204. ISBN 9780691001982.
- ^ "Official exchange rate (CNY per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1979. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
- ^ "Official exchange rate (INR per US$, period average)". World Bank. 1979. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ Mittal, Ashok (1995). Cinema Industry in India: Pricing and Taxation. Indus Publishing. pp. 71 & 77. ISBN 9788173870231.
- ^ a b "Dangal underlines popularity of Indian films in China". China Daily. 20 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Aamir: I couldn't really enjoy the food in China". Rediff. 21 May 2015.
- ^ Anil K. Joseph (20 November 2002). . Press Trust of India. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ^ a b "Aamir Khan's Father's Film Caravan Still Remembered in China. Now, it Loves PK". NDTV. 11 June 2015.