Prem Granth

1996 film

Prem Granth

DVD cover

Directed by| Rajiv Kapoor
Written by| Jainendra Jain
Based on| Tess of the d'Urbervilles
by Thomas Hardy
Produced by| Randhir Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
Rajiv Kapoor
Starring| Shammi Kapoor
Rishi Kapoor
Madhuri Dixit
Anupam Kher
Cinematography| Jal Mistry
Edited by| Rajiv Kapoor
Music by| Laxmikant–Pyarelal

Production
company

R. K. Films

Distributed by| Filmkraft

Release date

* 24 May 1996 (1996-05-24)

Running time

| 156 min.
Language| Hindi

Prem Granth (transl. Scripture of love) is an Indian Hindi-language film which was released in India on 24 May 1996. Directed by Rajiv Kapoor, the movie stars Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit and deals with the subject of rape.[1][2] It serves as an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's English novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles.[3]

## Plot

[edit]

Somen, a lawyer and son of head priest Swami Dharam Bhushan Maharaj, has strong character and courage of conviction. He believes in equality and freedom and often confronts his father on issues of social justice and religion. He especially disapproves of Kedar Nath, who uses his father's clout to exploit the treasury in the temple. His uncle Nandlal owns a prosperous dairy farm and keeps himself away from the affairs of religion and social obligations, citing them as unjust and outdated.

Somen meets a beautiful young woman, Kajri, at the annual festival and is immediately drawn towards her despite her lower caste status and they fall in love. They part unexpectedly, leaving the fire of love burning in Somen. He strives to find Kajri, but in vain. Kajri and her father Baliram are on their way back to their village Bansipura, where en route Kajri is kidnapped and forcefully raped by a mysterious drunkard, leaving Kajri pregnant. Kajri's mother's sister wants to marry her to a shoemaker, but Kajri secretly leaves the village and gives birth. She begs for food so her breasts would become full of milk and her child can survive. But the baby dies and Kajri meets Swami Dharam Bhushan to cremate the child, but he refuses. Kajri buries the baby.

A year passes and they meet again. Somen finds Kajri working at his uncle Nandlal's farm and his love blossoms. He tries to express his love towards her, but she remains evasive despite loving him. She writes a letter to explain to Somen that she was an unwed mother, and unjustly ostracized from her society. But Somen does not read the letter. Meanwhile, Kedarnath burns a woman alive since she wanted to file a case against a powerful man named Roop Sahai who is also his friend.

Kajri and Somen are engaged in Nandlal's dairy farm, but Dharam Bhushan arrives and reveals that a tearful Kajri asked him to cremate her dead child despite not knowing the child's father's name. Somen then leaves, Kajri goes back to her village upset, Nandlal reveals that it was not her fault, showing him the letter. Kajri's aunt Natho, reveals that the man who raped Kajri is Roop Sahai, who also raped her in the past.

Kajri goes to Shreepur and informs Somen that Roop Sahai is the rapist. Kajri, Somen, and Baliram then burn Roop Sahai and Kedarnath on Dusshera and then Somen marries Kajri.

## Cast

[edit]

* Shammi Kapoor as Nandlal
* Rishi Kapoor as Somen
* Madhuri Dixit as Kajri
* Anupam Kher as Swami Dharam Bhooshan
* Om Puri as Baliram
* Prem Chopra as Kedar Nath
* Reema Lagoo as Parvati
* Himani Shivpuri as Natho
* Sulabha Arya as Laxmi
* Govind Namdeo as Roop Sahai

## Soundtrack

[edit]

# | Title | Singer(s)

|
|

1  | "Jungle Mein Sher"  | Alka Yagnik, Vinod Rathod
2  | "Dil Dene Ki Ruth"  | Alka Yagnik, Vinod Rathod
3  | "Is Duniya Men Prem Granth"  | Alka Yagnik, Vinod Rathod
4  | "Bajoo Bandh"  | Alka Yagnik, Suresh Wadkar
5  | "Main Kamjor Aurat"  | Lata Mangeshkar
6  | "Teri Kasam Main Hoon"  | Vinod Rathod

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Film review: Prem Granth, starring Rishi Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Shammi Kapoor". India Today. 15 June 1996.
2. ^ "Box Office 1996". boxofficeindia. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
3. ^ Ghosh, Oindrila. "Bollywood's Long Love Affair with Thomas Hardy's Novels: Adaptations and Cultural Appropriations". Victorian Web.

## External links

[edit]

* Prem Granth at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1891)

Film|

* Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1913)
* Tess of the d'Urbervilles (1924)
* Man Ki Jeet (1944)
* Dulhan Ek Raat Ki (1967)
* Tess (1979)
* Prem Granth (1996)
* Trishna (2011)

Television|

* Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1998 TV series)
* Tess of the D'Urbervilles (2008 TV series)

Related|

* Thomas Hardy's Wessex

* Wikisource texts

*[transl.]: translation
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