Mehboob Ki Mehndi

Mehboob Ki Mehndi
Directed by	H. S. Rawail
Produced by	H. S. Rawail
Starring	Rajesh Khanna Leena Chandavarkar
Music by	Laxmikant Pyarelal
Cinematography	Munir Khan
Release date	30 January 1971
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Mehboob Ki Mehndi is a 1971 Hindi movie produced and directed by H. S. Rawail. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Leena Chandavarkar in the lead roles and the supporting cast included Pradeep Kumar, Iftekhar, Sunder, Jagdish Raj, Gurnam Singh, Mumtaz Begum, Sudhir and Rafiya Sultan. The music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal with lyrics by Anand Bakshi. It was based on Muslim Tahzeeb (culture) of the bygone Nawab era, wherein the a young rich Muslim man Yusuf agrees to marry a prostitute's daughter. The movie was released on 30 January 1971. It showed the importance of education in Muslims as preached by Mahatma Gandhi. Shabana, the heroine is able to save herself, and her family, only by educating herself and doing the job of tutor. Rajesh Khanna was the co-producer. The film was declared a box office hit. This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films of Rajesh Khanna between 1969 and 1971, by adding the two-hero films Marayada and Andaz to the 15 consecutive solo hits he gave from 1969 to 1971.

Cast

• Rajesh Khanna ... Yusuf
• Leena Chandavarkar ... Shabana
• Pradeep Kumar ... Anwar Qamaal/Khairudin 'Khairu'
• Sunder ... Gulkand's dad
• Iftekhar ... Safdarjung
• Manorama ... Mrs. Albert
• Paro ... Gulkand
• Jagdish Raj ... Nisar Ahmed/Usman
• Gurnam Singh (as Gurnam)
• Mumtaz Begum ... Shabana's granny

Plot

The film starts with Shabana (Leena Chandavarkar) performing at a singing competition in her college. She lives with her grandmother in Bombay (who is in fact her nanny), while her mother, Najma stays away from her in Hyderabad with her second husband, Nasir Ahmed (Jagdish Raj), who's in fact a pimp, not her husband and Najma, herself lives the life of a prostitute, however, Najma doesn't tell her daughter about this and Shabana doesn't have any idea about her mother's miserable life. One fine day, she is back from her college after winning a singing competition. Shabana is expecting her mother coming within 2–3 days, but the door bell rings and the postman comes with a telegram, which comes from Hyderabad, regarding her mother's illness. She goes with her grandmother and comes to know the truth. When her mother comes to know about this, she locks herself in a room and commits suicide by jumping from a window. In fact, it was Nasir, who sends the telegram to her, to make her come to Hyderabad because now, he wants to use Shabana for prostitution. But her grandmother cleverly saves her from there and take her to Lucknow, where her brother stays. When they come to her brother's house, they come to know that he has died a long time ago. His son is very happy to see them for the very first time and agrees to help them. Next day, A young and handsome Yusuf (Rajesh Khanna), who is the son of a wealthy businessman named Nawab Safdarjung (Iftekhar) who is physically handicapped and uses a wheelchair, comes to Shabana's house and mistook Shabana with her cousin, while she is sleeping and wakes her up. But Yusuf was mesmerized by her beauty and at the same time, both are confused. Yusuf comes to know about Shabana from her cousin. Yusuf's nephew's tutor leaves her job, when Yusuf's nephew teases her with a mouse on Yusuf's advice, who then arranges a new tutor, Shabana (Leena Chandavarkar), for his nephew, because Shabana (who had come to live in the house of Yusuf's friend along with her grandmother) was seen by Yusuf in his friend's home and he immediately liked her. He also appoints Khairuddin (Pradeep Kumar) to take care of his father. However, Khairuddin had arrived only with the intention of killing Nawab Safdarjung's son Yusuf.

Shabana and Yusuf develop feelings for each other and soon fall in love. Nawab Safdarjung and Shabana's grandmother are happy with Yusuf and Shabana's relationship and they start arranging for their marriage. Just before their wedding, it is revealed that Shabana is the daughter of a courtesan named Najma, when she gives a letter to Khairu Chacha to give to Yusuf. Nasir also comes there to blackmail her to tell her past life truth to Yusuf and his family and disgrace them in society. He wants all the jewellery and cash from her. In between, Khairu comes to know that Shabana is his own daughter and he comes to her rescue by killing Nasir. Anwar aka Khairu tells everyone about his real identity and everyone accepts Shabana, being daughter of a reputed person Nawab Anwar Qamaal. In the end, Yusuf and Shabana get married and lived happily ever after.

Soundtrack

All the songs were composed by Laxmikant Pyarelal and lyrics were penned by Anand Bakshi.

#	Title	Singer(s)	Duration
1	"Apna Hai Tu Begana Nahin"	Mohammed Rafi	04:36
2	"Itna To Yaad Hai Mujhe"	Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar	06:20
3	"Jane Kyon Log Mohabbat Kiya"	Lata Mangeshkar	04:24
4	"Mehboob Ki Mehndi"	Lata Mangeshkar, Hemlata	04:34
5	"Mere Deewanepan Ki Bhi Dawa Nahin"	Kishore Kumar	05:01
6	"Pasand Aa Gai Hai Ek Kafir Haseena"	Mohammed Rafi	04:10
7	"Ye Jo Chilman Hai"	Mohammed Rafi	04:32
8	"Mehboob Ki Mehandi Haathon Mein"	Lata Mangeshkar	05:52