Shalimar (1978 film)

Shalimar
Directed by Krishna Shah
Produced by Suresh Shah
Written by Krishna Shah
Starring Dharmendra
Rex Harrison
Zeenat Aman
John Saxon
Sylvia Miles
Shammi Kapoor
Prem Nath
Aruna Irani
Music by R. D. Burman
Cinematography Harvey Genkins
Edited by Amit Bose
Release date
8 December 1978
Country India
Language Hindi
English

Shalimar (Hindi : शालीमार) is a 1978 Bollywood film. The movie starred Dharmendra, Zeenat Aman, Shammi Kapoor, Prem Nath and Aruna Irani. English actor Sir Rex Harrison and American actors John Saxon and Sylvia Miles appear in supporting roles in their first and only Bollywood film. Jayamalini does a dance number in the film. This was the last time that Mohammed Rafi's voice was picturized on Shammi Kapoor.[1] Its English version is known as Raiders of the Sacred Stone. Rex Harrison's voice was dubbed by Kader Khan.

Plot

On the run from the police, S.S. Kumar, a thief, comes across a private invitation to the island of Sir John Locksley addressed to Raja Bahadur Singh. When the Raja is shot, Kumar takes him to a nearby hospital, dons a Sikh's turban, poses as the Raja's son and goes to the private island of Sir John. Also attending are K.P.W. Iyengar aka Romeo, Dr. Dubari, Colonel Columbus, and Countess Sylvia Rasmussen. A stunned Kumar finds out that all of these invitees are master criminals and thieves. Kumar's guise does not fool anyone, including his former sweetheart, Sheila Enders (Zeenat Aman), nevertheless Sir John permits him to stay on, as he feels that Kumar's career, though an amateur, is consistent with those already present. The reason why John has invited them is to find a successor to take his place as he is dying of cancer. He feels that one of his invitees can be trusted to take his place and for this he has arranged for them to steal a ruby (Shalimar) worth 135 crores of rupees. This gem is placed in a secure room within his palace, which is alarmed, and guarded by armed men 24 hours a day. The ruby itself is located within a display case of bulletproof glass and surrounded by a minefield. He challenges one of them to steal the shalimar - but if anyone fails then they are killed by the security system. Pitted against such veterans, it looks like Kumar has got himself into a bind that he may not come out of alive.

Box office

The film was released in two versions; Hindi and dubbed in English for the USA release. Both were unsuccessful when they were released. However the Hindi version later gained cult status in the DVD-Video circuit, and is now seen as ahead of its times.

Cast

Soundtrack

#TitleSinger(s)
1 "Naag Devta" Mohammed Rafi
2 "Aaina Wohi Rehta Hai" Lata Mangeshkar
3 "Hum Bewafaa Hargiz Na They (I)" Kishore Kumar
4 "Mera Pyaar Shalimar" Asha Bhosle
5 "Hum Bewafaa Hargiz Na They (II)" Kishore Kumar
6 "One Two Cha Cha" Usha Uthup

The soundtrack was featured in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[2]

Nominations

References

  1. Screen The Business Of Entertainment-Music-Cover Story Archived 5 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (7 February 2006). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.
  3. 1st Filmfare Awards 1953
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