Few days back I wrote about 50 years of Rajesh Khanna’s film ‘Sachha Jhutha’ which was one of the 17 consecutive hit films the Superstar offered between the period 1969 to 1971. Today, I would like to mention about his another Super Hit film ‘Do Raaste’ which has completed 51 years, since its release on 5th December 1969. Directed by then reputed director Raj Khosla, who had earlier directed hit films like ‘CID’, ‘Kala Pani’, ‘Who Kaun Thi’, ‘Mera Sayaa’,’Do Badan’, the film had big expectations. And the director and the artistes lived up to the expectations of the film lovers.
Rajesh Khanna & Mumtaz in ‘Do Raaste’
The story of ‘Do Raaste’ written by Marathi litterateur Chandrakant Kakodkar, was based on the trials and tribulations of a lower-middle-class family. It placed emphasis on ‘respect for elders’, the paramount status of the mother, the sanctity of the joint family and the supremacy of relations that are stronger than ties of blood.
The film won the best Story Filmfare award . This family drama which had received good support of music and performances of the artistes was well accepted by the people. Actually, the film had received seven nominations but could win only one. Because of its release in December 1969 , it was perhaps considered for 1971 Filmfare awards and not for 1970 filmfare awards. And therefore, received competition from films like ‘Pehchan’ and ‘Khilona’ . What was more surprising in these awards was that Lata Mangeshkar who was nominated for Best Playback Singer ( Female) for the most popular song ‘Bindiya Chamkegi’ from this film and ‘Babul Pyare..’ song from Johny Mera Naam’, lost this award to singer Sharda for the song ‘Baat Zara… from the film Jahan Pyar Mile’.
Anyway, even after 51 years all the songs of ‘Do Raaste’ are still on our lips and the appreciation of audience is the biggest award for any film. So, let us celebrate this day listening to all these lovely hit songs with a variety, like ‘Bindiya Chamkegi’ , ‘Yeh Rehmi Zulfein’ , ‘Chhup Gaye Saare Nazare’, ‘Mere Naseeb Mein Ae Dost’, & ‘Do Rang Duniya Kea aur Do Raaste’ .