I have recently become more disillusioned that ever with Bollywood and its invariable churning of sugar-coated, feel good products, which lack a heart and soul. but if someone was pick up one film, as a beacon, as an example of the great emotional and spiritual waves that flow though India, it would be this one.

A poignant yet everlasting drama of love and the power of compassion and humanity. it tells the story of a woman (Pushpa), who is ostracized and eschewed by society and its establishments, to rot away on the notorious fringes of it. Yet within the brothel she resides, she builds a temple of love and care for those two people that come to see her. Nandu and Anand are members of society, yet only ostensibly, yearning for the compassion that their families fail to provide them, and in search, they come to Pushpa, whose abundance of love and human sympathy far overshadows her disreputable social standing. They alone see her inner beauty, while society maligns her, yet as the director points, cannot provide the qualities of love, happiness and tranquility for members like Nandu and Anand. Pushpa's relationship with Anand is certainly one of the most beautiful you will see. Theirs is a purely platonic relationship, which succeeds where the social union of marriage - for both - fails.

As they continue to meet, their bond grows, and beyond their own socially certified families, they create a little family of true love, depth and care. They receive from each other the love they so desire - motherly love for Nandu, a true companion for Anand, and a child and husband for Pushpa - though their relationship with each other has no social legitimacy. Samanta succeeds in creating a cynical presentation of society as one that compels people to stay within the confines of its social institution of family yet cannot provide for the very emotional, and spiritual ingredients that constitute it. Add the fact that it is society after all that created the brothel, where unquenched desires can be fulfilled, and what you have is a representation that makes Pushpa's relationship with Nandu and Anand all the more 'holy'.

This film tackled a theme that was very much taboo in Indian Cinema, and succeeds in presenting a mature, yet never over-the-top, nor didactic story that ultimately every Indian household can identify with. The music is an absolute delight and adds to the melancholic yet redemptive nature of the relationship between the three protagonists. Setting presentation is class, with nothing done to hide the vividly grotesque nature of the red light district and the people that patronise it. It has its fair share of stereotypical characters, who function very much as symbols of the unscrupulous, cunning nature of society. Yes, you get doses of the typical Hindi film melodrama, but its very much reserved to a modicum. Where it succeeds is in teaching you about human relationships and that it is love, togetherness and understanding that makes family, and not a social ceremony or some legal document. This is a film for all generations who appreciate human relationships and its power to transcend social boundaries.

I don't claim to be an expert in Bengali literature (far from it), but I have always found stories coming out of Bengal to be a class apart. The characterization, the depth of the plot, the sincerity of the human emotion in those stories are the among the finest to be found anywhere. Kabuliwala is another such great movie to be based on a Bengali story.

Sharmila Tagore is superb, Vinod Mehra plays the grown up Nandu with great sincerity. Rajesh Khanna lends a lot of credibility to Anand-babu despite having turned a major superstar during the making of this movie. Om Prakash is always a pleasure to watch although his role is very small. R.D.Burman and Kishore Kumar top it all off with the great music!

Heartwarming is a word which would best describe Shakti Samanta's Amar Prem. The film is about love, humanity, compassion, and how all these terms are condemned by the cruel society of those times. This is the story of Pushpa, a young woman who runs away from her husband's house after the latter marries again and starts abusing her. She is later brought to a brothel in Calcutta by her village-uncle. There she starts singing while all the passers-by walk and get enchanted by her voice. That's her new job, and there she meets Mr Anand, a young bitter and unhappily married man whose wife does not even care about. Another man from the same village she comes from named Sharma resides close to Pushpa's house. There she meets the little boy Nandu, Sharma's son from his first deceased wife, who is maltreated by his stepmother while his father is at work. A great relationship grows between Pushapa and Anand, and even a greater mother-son relationship grows between Pushapa and Nandu. But the cruel society won't leave it at that.

Amar Prem is a melodramatic movie, but it is a beautiful and sincere melodrama, not a clichéd one. The relationships in this movie are superbly portrayed, my favourite relationship being the one between Pushapa and Nandu. Samanta uses symbolism to illustrate the story. The film is good in writing, dialogues, music and acting. RD Burman's music never disappoints. Where acting goes, this is Sharmila Tagore's movie and she kind of reprises her role in Aradhana, that of a selfless and caring woman, who epitomises Indian feminine beauty. She is indeed beautiful and convincing throughout the movie. Rajesh Khanna is excellent as Anand and does particularly well in the film's final sequences. The child actor who plays Nandu is wonderful. Vinod Mehra does very well as the older Nandu. Amar Prem is a worthy film. It is both moving and enjoyable, and should be a real cinematic treat for lovers of classic Hindi cinema.

The poignant story and sarcastic representation of the life and moral values of the sub-continent's red light area is captivatingly pictured in this great movie.

The movie underlines the stark facts that depict how a poor and young woman gets entangled in the evils of prostitution. The viewers are compelled to admit the follies and bitter treatment meted out to an innocent woman who ultimately resorts to find refuge in the filthy side of the world. By, coincidence, the most respected, wealthy and influential elite of the city also finds solace in the company of this woman. But something is common in both, i.e., they have been rejected from their homes and yearn to find shelter (physical for the poor and psychological for the rich).

The song "Chingari Koi Barhke" is a classic masterpiece shrouding the excellent screenplay and cinematography coupled with heartrending acting of Rajesh Khanna who has proved that he is a SUPER STAR given his spellbinding screen presence. His brilliant and mesmerizing acting in the boat in a moonlit night speaks volumes about the subtle imagination of the director. The lyrics and music of this song can reverberate the emotions of even an extremely self centered person. Whenever, one watches this song ......one finds something latently vibrant which stirs deep inside the soul. The trio of Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar and Shakti Samantha supercharged the movie with this magically hypnotic song. THIS IS THE HIGH POINT IN Indian MOVIE MAKING. Believe you me, the direction, music, acting and cinematography in this song is very unlikely to be equaled in near future, given the prevailing temporal, crazy, puerile, showy, cheap, vulgar and synthetic direction, acting and main theme of the movies.

Some of the very subtle and bitter human values and sentiments creep at the climactic end of the movie underlying the quintessential lesson for mankind to "do good and earn virtue".

Amar Prem will go down in history as one of the best Indian films ever made. It is superbly directed by Shakti Shamantha (his best effort).

The film takes a look at how society views women who have been forced into the sex trade. Their sensitivities, insecurities etc., are so beautifully touched upon.

The music of the film is by R.D Buraman, a Kaka favorite. All the songs are gems. Specially the "Chingari koi badke" song.

Sharmila tagore has mentioned how Kaka had so masterfully performed in this song in the very limited space they had i.e in a small boat.

It is a lifetime role for sharmila tagore & she makes full use of it. She surely deserved the national award & it is a wonder how she missed it.

The supporting star cast of Madan Puri, Vinod Mehra & Om Prakash are adequate.

Coming to the hero of the film, the eternal superstar Rajesh khanna. He was at his zenith when this film released.

It was reported that when the film crew asked for police permission to shoot the "Chingari koi badke" song near the howrah bridge, the police denied permission stating that they would not be able to control the crowds & that the bridge may collapse. Eventually, the song was shot in a studio set. Such was the popularity Rajesh commanded.

In spite of his super stardom, as is his wont, he did not think twice about accepting this role knowing fully well that this film centers around the heroine. The beauty is he comes out unscathed. He looks handsome in his Bengali dhoti & underplays superbly. The end scenes specially show kaka at his best.

Definitely a film which comes in the top 3 of kaka's films & eternally loved by Rajesh khanna fans.

Watch it over & over again. You will never feel bored.

This movie is a re make of an old Bengali classic starring Uttam Kumar. The role of Uttam Kumar has been played by Rajesh Khanna in this Shakti Samanta movie. However, the performance of Super Star Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and the music of Rahul Dev Burman are a life a time effort and they have created magic in this movie. Other characters also do their part well- Omprakash, Leela Mishra,Sujit Kumar, Vinod Mehra and others have done their part well. The movie will be remembered for its 6 nos- 3 by Kishore Kumar, 2 by Lata and 1 by S D Burman. The story is a classic and the movie deserves more than what share it has got in last 38 years and is a timeless classic and is life time effort of all the cast and crew. Dialogue of the movie "Pushpa I hate tears' is immortal. A must see to see how the magic of Rajesh Khanna, Kishore Kumar and Rahul Dev Burman worked in the early 1970s to be later spoiled by Amitabh Bachchan and his trend of action movies. It is true people forget good things like Amar Prem and remember all the bad things. A must see and a tear jerker.

The first and the real superstar of Bollywood has passed away. Rajesh Khanna took his last breath in Aashirwaad (his residence) today (18.07.2012). Fondly known as Kaka, Rajesh Khanna commanded an era in Bollywood, a short but unforgettable era during 1969-1971. Just three years ! Yes, but the magic they created lasted forever. It is still there and makes us plunge into nostalgia time and again.

Amar Prem (immortal love) is based on a Bengali story - Nishipadma penned by Bibhuti Bhushan Bandhyopadhyay. It's is the story of Pushpa (Sharmila Tagore) who gets expelled from her Sasuraal (in-law's home) and has to struggle a lot in her life. Finally, she has to take up the profession of a woman who sings privately at her home to entertain the gloomy visitors. She is not a prostitute but this profession is seen by the so-called clean society as a dirty profession only and the women who take to it are seen in a degraded way. The place where Pushpa resides and professes is actually a Kotha, not a brothel. She sells her melodious voice to enable the aggrieved to find solace through that and does not sell her sexual favours as a woman. However the judgmental society is not ready to differentiate between the two.

Among the visitors to Pushpa's Kotha, there's a tender-hearted businessman - Anand Babu (Rajesh Khanna) who is an alcoholic due to the lack of peace in his family life. He and Pushpa comes pretty close in the platonic way. There appears one more source of happiness and enthusiasm in Pushpa's dry life in the form of a little boy Nandu who is the son of her neighbour (Sujit Kumar) and always remains distressed through the bad behaviour of his step-mother (Bindu). He does not stop visiting Pushpa despite being prohibited from his home for that because he is getting motherly love from that lonely woman.

Anand Babu's family's coming to know of his visits to Pushpa and Nandu's family's leaving the place snatch these small joys too from Pushpa and she falls lonely again. However, years later she happens to come across both Anand Babu and adult Nandu (Vinod Mehra) and her loneliness and agony ends at least in the dusk time of her life when Nandu takes her to his home as his mother.

The character of Pushpa is the soul of the movie and the spectator's journey through the entire movie runs alongside her only. Anand Babu's character is not essential for the main story but the thing is that it only infuses the colours of life into the dry narrative. It's through him only that the significance of platonic relationships is underscored emphatically in the movie. Pushpa's agony is felt only in part through herself. Partly, it's conveyed through the character of Anand Babu and that's the beauty of this movie and the relationship between the lead pair. Such relationships cannot be named or explained through words. They can be understood properly only when somebody is able to feel them.

The Bengali society of the period of the story and the status of women has been dealt with quite realistically in the story. And that's why the movie also contains quite impressive and moving sequences. However Shakti Saamanta could not do complete justice to the classic story. This movie could have been much better, had more attention been paid to screenplay and direction. However the day has been saved by performances and music. Let me discuss its music first which contains lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi and tunes composed by R.D. Burman. It contains two memorable songs of Lata Mangeshkar - 1. Raina Beeti Jaaye, Shyam Na Aaye which is based on Raaga Todi and 2. Bada Natkhat Hai Re Krishna Kanhaiya which is touching song filled with motherly love. However the music of this movie is better known for three invaluable gems in the voice of Kishore Kumar - 1. Ye Kya Hua, Kaise Hua, Kab Hua, Kyun Hua, Jab Hua, Tab Hua, Ho Chhodo Ye Na Socho, 2. Chingaari Koi Bhadake To Saawan Usse Bujhaaye, 3. Kuchh To Log Kahenge Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna.

Performances are also great. The supporting cast has done well, the child artist playing the role of young Nandu has delivered a heart-conquering performance and Vinod Mehra as adult Nandu is also up to the mark in his cameo. However, it's the lead pair which has taken this movie to the heights greater than it actually deserves. The character of Pushpa is the heart and soul of the story and Sharmila Tagore has delivered one of the best performances of her career in this movie. Her on-screen chemistry with Rajesh Khanna was amazing and that's why she made one of the most popular on-screen pairs with him.

Rajesh Khanna is at his mannerismic best in this movie. His trademark jerk of the neck, peculiar dialogue-delivery, smile, style; everything is present here in the most loud way. And perhaps this was the peak of the success of his gimmicks which could go down only later. Anyway, in this movie, he is just lovable and it's easy to understand why he was so popular. No other actor can be imagined in the unforgettable character of Anand Babu.

This movie is a treat to watch for lovers of golden oldies. Kaka is no more but Anand Babu will live forever. People have said a lot about Kaka's failure in later years but I repeat for the departed soul - Kuchh To Log Kahenge, Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna ...

I don't know how I somehow missed Amar Prem when it first released in the early seventies. The music is of course, legendary.

I kept watching it in parts when it showed on TV but again never had the time to see the entire movie. I accomplished this today and I am glad I did. What a movie, certainly deserving of the classic tag.

I am not sure whether today's youngsters would relate to this typical dark Bengali drama of those times. I hope they do, for it is superbly depicted by Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore. Vinod Mehra was the only actor who did not do justice to his role but the veterans more than made up for it.

The pathos conveyed in this movie was a typical outcome of society mores of that time, perhaps still extant in parts of rural India. The poignancy remains long after the film ends.

I will not narrate the story line, this is a superb film worth watching more than once. For those who have not seen it yet, please do so.

Must watch the movie, the movie is full of emotion drama and the acting is also very awesome

It is said, that this human race is always progressing but after a point all is destroyed and God will again create it from the very beginning. So I can imagine that it is not possible that this kind of movie can be made again ever. The world has to be created again by God and only than this kind of movie can be made. I slute Shakti Samant Sahib and his team for their eternal contribution to the society. It is not possible that these people will born again for thousands of years. This film also shows Indains have talent and qualities as these people were born and brought up in India and were Indian by heart.

I admire Mughl-e-Azam but in Mughal-e-azam there is king, armies, and glamour to support the story line and creenplay but Amar Prem is purely natural and close to common man therefore it is a lesson and a great satire on our society specially in the subcontinent.

This movie has showed me what is true love. It reminds me of an essay by Krishanmurthy how love is not jealousy, not possession or control over each other not just companionship. Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore had unconditional love. Movie is free of love among blood relationships.

Movie scores century in every area weather it is acting, script, direction or music. Songs in movie not just entertains us but take movie to a new height. Both Rajesh and Sharmila has done a great job.After Anand this is Rajesh Khanna's best acting at the end of movie i had tears in my eyes.

Well how should I describe this movie... the very first scene of the movie itself sets the background of the movie and tells about the masterpiece we are going to witness in the next 155 minutes....... Have you heard the song "doli me Bithay Ke Kanhar..."......? I bet you will forget the songs of recent times.... both son and father namely RD Burman and SD burman and the excellent sharmila Tagore will make you cry in the song............. Well you will take a long time to recover from the movie after watching it .... but if you don't watch it interestingly you will not like it much.... It is very artistic and touchy in its flavour....... It is bound to make you emotional in a very different way. Shakti Da has this great capability of making you cry by his character's plight and on the top of that the music matches the atmosphere of the movie bit by bit.... RD Burman was at his best in this movie.... the songs are incorporated in the movie to carry the viewer into the mind of the character.the lyrics are marvellous. Rajesh Khanna is unstoppable. Don't have words to express how he acted in the movie. As for Sharmila Tagore, she was the same as rajesh khanna.. the second half of the movie is quite touching..... Look at the way the song "BADA NATKAHT HAI" is used in the background when Vinod Mehra returns to search pushpa.. I recommend this movie to all who haven't seen what Indian directors are capable of. watch it to know it.............

Dear IMDb,

Going through your site on the Movie "Amar Prem" I regret that the name of the Child Actor who portrayed "Nandu" as a child has been completely omitted. Kindly revise the site to include this information. I have checked other sites as well. Since I consider your site to be comprehensive, I would imagine it contain complete information. Needless to mention, this Child Actor has appeared in some other movies as well. Maybe you can suggest other ways of myself receiving this information. Thank you for your reply in advance. I regret that this request is not really a Review. It was the only way I could think of getting the information I have requested. Sorry for the inconvenience, if any. If you do not add the information I seek, to your site, I will not be offended. But I will be disappointed.

Amar Prem" is a timeless masterpiece that effortlessly transcends decades. Its poignant narrative, compelling characters, and soul-stirring music make it a cinematic gem. The film's exploration of love, sacrifice, and societal norms resonates profoundly, making it the best movie of the decade. The performances, especially by Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore, are nothing short of exceptional. "Amar Prem" remains a cinematic triumph that continues to captivate audiences with its enduring charm and emotional depth.

The director, Shakti Samanta, weaves a narrative that not only entertains but also provokes introspection. The film's thematic richness and social commentary elevate it beyond typical Bollywood fare. The iconic soundtrack, composed by R. D. Burman, adds an extra layer of emotion, enhancing the overall cinematic experience. "Amar Prem" is a testament to the power of storytelling, leaving an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape and earning its well-deserved status as the best movie of the decade.

A real image of the society showed by the director in this movie,Hats off to the plot,not even a single minute bored me,Om Prakash gave a good performance as always,The lyrics and music of all the 6 songs were best,Amar Prem movie makes it place amar in the history of bollywood cinema.

Review By Kamal K

What a beautiful movie truly depicts true meaning of love which is not bound by any name or relationship but means just giving without expecting anything. Truly Amar prem. Loved this movie awesome acting by Rajeshji sharmila ji and cute nandu.

And kishore ji lataji and RD burman music will echo in ur heart forever.

I have no words to describe what i felt after watching this movie. Imortal love it is.

Very very great heart touching movie.Rajesh khanna prove he was a high quality actor.Really i love this movie.superb story.

Amar Prem is a memorable Indian classic. Director Shakti Samanta gracefully romanticizes The Great Indian City's social struggle with itself via the relationship between its two heroic faces - the charming businessman and the slick woman of the street. Samanta is nonjudgmental and overtly exposits his characters with deft.

The film shows its characters facing a raw reality beginning to depend on each other more by the day. Fate does not agree with this new deal and tragedy strikes with the lovers being seperated. The pair however, gets reunited after a very long time at an old age for all the saddening loss that has struck them.

There is an excellent performance by both Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna. Khanna is often caught playing to the gallery if and when the film demands so. The script hovers on a haunting and brilliant soundtrack but the dialogues are slow and dry though gradually engaging.

The symbolism is poor and missable and here Samanta falls short in lifting and imposing the film as the chief commentary on nascent Indian ambition. Set in free Calcutta, Amar Prem preaches a kind of personal independence and human character in this newly born city.

All songs are classic and almost all of them have found place in the favorite top 10 Hindi film songs of almost all Hinduistani Classical musicians, including sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Khan, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia and Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma.

"Kuch to log kahenge" is classic and will always be remembered for its simple and hard-hitting lyrics and being based on classical music but at the same time simplified enough to be very appealing to general public.

Watch for its songs and the aura Rajesh Khanna radiates across to the audience. Simple story line but with a poetic plot.

In the 1970s only 3 directors were very popular in making thoughtful films: Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Bhattacharya and Shakti Samanta (Amar Prem).

Today (29/12/23) on the birthday of Late Rajesh Khanna I watched Amar Prem for the first time!

It's a masterpiece when it comes to depiction of human relationships, frailities & compassion! What I really liked that it presented the Tawaif in a very decent way. Even she is a human with her own needs, likes, longings and need for appreciation and compassion.

Songs are very meaningful and soulful - which were so common in that Golden era of Indian film music.

Picturisation of songs in that era was usually simple and focused - which held our attention till the very end.

Amar Prem (1972) - 100%

An Absolute Classic From Shakti Samanta With Extraordinary Performances From Rajesh Khanna & Sharmila Tagore... "Amar Prem" Like Director's Previous Ventures (Aradhana, Kati Patang) Is The Story Of Affection Of A Mother Towards Her Child & This Time Too He Has Handled The Subject In The Most Beautiful Way... Tears Will Automatically Roll Down Your Eyes, Especially Towards The Climax... Music Like Majority Of Khanna's Films Is Of Great Quality... The Golden Trio Of Kishore Kumar, R. D. Burman & Anand Bakshi Have Successfully Delivered Another Evergreen Album... Vinod Mehra Shines In A Small, But Memorable Role.

Amar Prem review :

After Aradhana (1969), this was another hit from Shakti Samanta who completed a successful hattrick with Rajesh Khanna (Kati Patang came in between) and second straight hit with Sharmila Tagore. She was truly mesmerizing as the unfortunate Pushpa who is forced to sell her body but still doesn't lose her good soul. Her regular customer Rajesh Khanna is also kind hearted human and loves Pushpa for her personal goodness.

The unique mother-son like bonding that Pushpa shares with her neighborhood child Nandu forms the crux of the plot and makes way for many emotional scenes between the two - like the one when the young Nandu defies his evil stepmom (Bindu) to tend to the wound on Pushpa's foot. He grows up to be a well educated engineer (Vinod Mehra in a cameo) and searches for his long lost maa Pushpa only to find her in a pitiable condition..

R. D. Burman's music score was extraordinary and every song was a blockbuster. Kishore Kumar literally breathed life in to those compositions and his voice suited Khanna perfectly. "Pushpa, I hate tears" catchphrase is still famous just like "Kitne Aadmi the.." from Sholay (1975).

Amar Prem was actually a Hindi remake of a Bengali hit where Uttam Kumar had played Rajesh Khanna's role but Kaka did lend his own touch to the character in the remake. He is outstanding, no less. But the film belongs to Sharmila Tagore and she looks absolutely gorgeous in those puff sleeve blouses. This is one of the finest performances of her career. Probably next to Mausam (1975) - another intense movie where she played a prostitute!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

The music of amar prem is one of the greatest of all time, songs like "ye kya hua", " kuchh toh log kahenge" and "chingari koi bhadke are considered the songs which everybody relate to.

I'd like to thank RD burman for making indian cinema so beautiful, his father must be proud of him for such a courage to make music beyond the limits, i always listen to those songs which were filmed on kaka and enjoy it. Finally i want to say that if u ever feel alone just listen to these songs , your ears will be purified with sweetness of kishore da's voice.

Thank u kishore da for singing not classical❤🙏🇮🇳