Namak Haraam

Namak Haraam (transl. Traitor) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The music is by R.D. Burman, the screenplay by Gulzar, and lyrics by Anand Bakshi. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. It also stars Rekha, Asrani, Raza Murad, A. K. Hangal, Simi Garewal and Om Shivpuri. Rajesh Khanna received his third BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) in 1974 for this film and Amitabh Bachchan had won his second Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1974.

Not to be confused with Namak Halaal.

Namak Haraam
Movie poster
Directed byHrishikesh Mukherjee
Produced byJayendra Pandya
Rajaram Satish Wagle
Written byGulzar
D. N. Mukherjee
Hrishikesh Mukherjee
StarringRajesh Khanna
Amitabh Bachchan
Rekha
Music byRahul Dev Burman
CinematographyJaywant Pathare
Edited byDas Dhaimade
Production
company
Mohan Studios
Distributed byR. S. J. Productions
Ultra Distributors
Worldwide Entertainment Group
Release date
  • 23 November 1973 (1973-11-23)
Running time
136 minutes
LanguageHindi

This was the second Hrishikesh Mukherjee film that starred Khanna and Bachchan after Anand. "Diye Jalte Hai", "Nadiya Se Dariya" and "Main Shayar Badnaam" are the most memorable melodies, all rendered powerfully by Kishore Kumar and picturised on Rajesh Khanna. And Kaka, as he was called by friends and fans alike, won the hearts of millions by his meaningful acting and face impressions. The film proved out to be a box office superhit and was the 5th highest grossing film of 1973. The film was remade in Tamil as Unakkaga Naan.[1]

Plot

The story focuses on two friends, Somu (Rajesh Khanna) and Vicky (Amitabh Bachchan). To avenge the fact that Vicky is insulted by the union leader of his factory, Somu infiltrates the factory as a worker and later the trade union as its leader. However, Somu is moved by the plight of the workers and is influenced by their ideals, which leads to a confrontation between the two friends. This story concentrates on the rise of unions with the backdrop of Bombay's textile mills and inflation in the early 1970s.

Controversies

It is said that according to the initial script, Amitabh Bachchan had to die in the last scene. When Rajesh Khanna got to know this, he pressurized Hrishikesh Mukherjee to change the ending so he dies in the end instead of Amitabh Bachchan. It was Khanna's view that death in the end gets viewers' sympathy. The same had happened in Anand, getting lot of popularity for Khanna. Although Mukherjee did not want this change, Khanna was such a big star, he had to do this. This made Amitabh very angry and he vowed never to work with Khanna again. Namak Haram is also said to be a watershed film, which started the downfall of Rajesh Khanna and simultaneous rise of Bachchan.

Cast

Music

The song "Nadiya Se Dariya Dariya Se Saagar" was listed at #18 on the Binaca Geetmala annual list 1974.

All lyrics are written by Anand Bakshi; all music is composed by Rahul Dev Burman.

Songs
No.TitlePlaybackLength
1."Sooni Re Sejaria"Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar2:38
2."Diye Jalte Hain Phool Khilte Hain"Kishore Kumar3:40
3."Nadiya Se Dariya Dariya Se Saagar"Kishore Kumar4:11
4."Woh Jhoota Hai Vote Na Usko Dena"Kishore Kumar3:29
5."Main Shair Badnaam"Kishore Kumar5:21

Awards and nominations
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1974 Amitabh Bachchan Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Won
Asrani Filmfare Best Comedian Award Nominated
Rajesh Khanna BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi) Won

References
  1. "The common man's film maker". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
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