WHY ‘KATI PATANG’ IS THIS WEEK’S PICK
- Asha Parekh delivered a standout performance in the 1970 classic film ‘Kati Patang,’ directed by Shakti Samanta. For her role in the film, Asha Parekh received the Filmfare award for Best Actress. As the actress celebrated her 81st birthday recently, we watched her iconic film again. The film is also notable because of Rajesh Khanna’s iconic style and its soundtrack.
New Delhi: ‘Kati Patang’ is adapted from a book by Gulshan Nanda with the same title with superstars Rajesh Khanna and Asha Parekh and the immensely beautiful soundtrack of R.D. Burman. The protagonist (played by Asha Parekh) of this tale is a lonely woman who feels like a kite whose string has been snicked just before it soars joyfully into the sky. The plot twists and turns in this film are intense.
Rajesh Khanna is as soft and romantic kind as he has been in many other movies. A special appreciation for Asha Parekh’s expressive eyes and sad expressions. Those eyes can surely make you cry. When it comes to dramatic intensity, the film scores a perfect 10 out of 10.
Asha Parekh’s character Madhavi or Madhu is madly in love with Kailash (played by Prem Chopra). She ran from her hour on her wedding day to marry Kailash but now he abandons her. Heartbroken Madhu returns her home only to discover that she has lost everything. Her maternal uncle, her guardian, passed away in shock after she ran away from the wedding. She tries to escape from the situation and gets on a train. Luckily, she found an old friend Poonam with her son, who was going to her in-law’s place. The train met with a tragic accident and Poonam died. Before dying, she gave her son to Madhu and instructed her to pose as Poonam so that she could raise her son as her own.
Filmy enough? The scriptwriter obviously didn’t waste time and presented a compelling premise right away. The film’s greatest strength is how quickly it captures and holds our interest. The story’s dramatic opening and spectacular plot hook the viewers throughout.
During her time Madhu meets Kamal (played by Rajesh Khanna) and ends up staying in his house for one night. Later, she realises that Kamal was supposed to be her future husband but she ran away from the wedding. Eventually, Kamal falls in love with Madhu (who is Poonam for him).
It would be impossible to include all of the connections and backstories but be assured that the film contains everything you need to get hooked. The film’s value also is enhanced by the fact that it was created in the 1970s and has noteworthy editing.
‘Kati Patang’ incorporates many head-tilting songs. Kishore Kumar’s songs like ‘Ye Shaam Mastaani’, ‘Jis Gali Mein Tera Ghar Na Ho Baalma’, ‘Ye Jo Mohabbat Hai’, and ‘Pyar Deewana Hota Hai’. These songs surely boosted the emotional range of the narrative. And how can one forget their favourite Holi song, ‘Aaj Na Chhodenge’?
Every event in the film seems plausible, from Poonam’s confession of her actual identity to Kamal to her persuading her father-in-law that she has no ulterior motivations.
Bindu and Prem Chopra’s portrayals of villains are praiseworthy. Nonetheless, there will be times that might make you feel cringy – exaggerated acting or wordplay can be the reason.
To conclude, ‘Kati Patang’ is the kind of film that sticks in the mind for all the right reasons: the music, the drama, and the pairing of Asha Parekh and Rajesh Khanna.