Roti Kapada Aur Makaan

Roti Kapada Aur Makaan (transl. Food, Cloth and Shelter; occasionally written as Roti Kapda Aur Makaan) is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language action drama film written, directed, and produced by Manoj Kumar, who also acts in the film. The title of the movie is based on the Hindi phrase, which refers to the bare necessities of life, popularized in the late 1960s by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, ahead of the 1967 general elections.[2]

Roti Kapada Aur Makaan
Poster
Directed byManoj Kumar
Written byManoj Kumar
Produced byManoj Kumar
StarringManoj Kumar
Shashi Kapoor
Amitabh Bachchan
Zeenat Aman
Moushumi Chatterjee
CinematographyNariman A. Irani
Edited byManoj Kumar
Music byLaxmikant–Pyarelal
Production
companies
Chandivali Studio
Filmistan Studios
Mohan Studios
R.K. Studios
Rajkamal Studios
Distributed byV.I.P. Films
Digital Entertainment
Eros Entertainment
Shiva Films
Spark Worldwide
Release date
  • 18 October 1974 (1974-10-18)
Running time
161 mins
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Box office5.25 crore (equivalent to 157 crore or US$19 million in 2023)[1] (Nett)

The film is about a family that Bharat (Manoj Kumar) attempts to provide for after falling into a financial struggle. The film also stars Amitabh Bachchan as Vijay, the brother of Bharat, and stars Zeenat Aman as Sheetal, Bharat's love interest, Moushumi Chatterjee as Tulsi, a friend of Bharat in poverty, and Shashi Kapoor as Mohan Babu, a wealthy businessman. It has been remade into the Telugu film Jeevana Poratam, and is still considered to be highly influential, and one of the best Bollywood films of its era.[3]

Plot

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After the retirement of his father (Krishan Dhawan), it falls upon Bharat (Manoj Kumar) to look after his Delhi-based family. He has two younger college-going brothers, Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan) and Deepak (Dheeraj Kumar) and a sister of marriageable age, Champa (Meena T.). Although Bharat is a college graduate, the only work he can find is as a low-paid singer, much to the frustration of his girlfriend, Sheetal (Zeenat Aman). Meanwhile, Vijay has turned to crime as a last resort to provide for the family, but after an argument with Bharat, he leaves home to join the army.

Sheetal starts working as a secretary for rich businessman Mohan Babu (Shashi Kapoor) and Mohan becomes attracted to her. Sheetal loves Bharat but cannot contemplate a life in poverty. Bharat finally finds a job as a builder but starts to realise that Sheetal is slowly drifting away from him. Soon he loses his job after the government takes over the building site and his financial problems increase. When Mohan proposes marriage, Sheetal accepts, leaving Bharat heartbroken. Bharat loses his father soon after and is left devastated. He burns his diploma on his father's funeral pyre in frustration, .

Meanwhile, Champa has found a suitor, but Bharat has no money to pay for the wedding. Depressed at the state of his life, Bharat soon finds salvation by helping Tulsi (Moushumi Chatterjee) who lives in poverty. He also makes friends with Sardar Harnam Singh (Prem Nath) who comes to his rescue when he attempts to save Tulsi from a gang of hoodlums. He then receives an offer from a corrupt businessman named Nekiram (Madan Puri) who persuades Bharat to do his illegal activities so he and his family will come out of poverty, and he accepts.

Deepak joins the police force. Bharat, who is working for Nekiram, decides to inform the police about his malpractices. Nekiram finds out and frames Bharat instead. Deepak is the police officer appointed for arresting Bharat. Vijay joins forces with Bharat to stop Nekiram. During this conflict Sheetal, who is regretting her mistake of choosing wealth over her love, sacrifices her life. Bharat, Vijay, Deepak, Mohan Babu and Sardar Harnam Singh get Nekiram and his troops jailed in the end. Bharat sees Sheetal in Tulsi and accepts her as his wife.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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The music was composed by the duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal and Lyrics by Santosh Anand. Lyrics of Mehngai Maar Gayi, Hay Hay ye Majboori and Pandit ji mere marne ke baad were written by Verma Malik.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Hay Hay Yeh Majboori"Lata Mangeshkar04:16
2."Main Na Bhoolunga"Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh05:39
3."Aur Nahin Bas Aur Nahin"Mahendra Kapoor06:25
4."Mehngai Mar Gayi"Lata Mangeskhar, Narendra Chanchal, Mukesh, Jaani Babu Qawwal08:51
5."Panditji Mere Marne Ke"Lata Mangeshkar06:10
6."Main Na Bhoolunga (Sad)"Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh06:00
Total length:37:21

Reception

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This film was a major commercial success,[4] emerging as the highest grossing Indian film of 1974, and was declared an all time blockbuster. The film received three Filmfare awards, as well as being nominated for eleven others.[5]

Awards and nominations

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Award Category Recipients and Nominees Results
22nd Filmfare Awards Best Director[6] Manoj Kumar Won
Best Lyricist Santosh Anand for "Main Na Bhoolunga"
Best Male Playback Singer Mahendra Kapoor for "Aur Nahin Bus Aur Nahin"
Best Film Manoj Kumar Nominated
Best Actor
Best Supporting Actor Prem Nath
Best Supporting Actress Moushumi Chatterjee
Best Music Director Laxmikant–Pyarelal
Best Lyricist Santosh Anand for "Aur Nahin Bus Aur Nahin"
Best Male Playback Singer Mukesh for "Main Na Bhoolunga"
Best Story Manoj Kumar

References

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  1. ^ "Top Earners 1970-1979", Box Office India.com
  2. ^ Kumar, Surendra; Kapur, Pradeep Kumar (2008). India of My Dreams. Academic Foundation. ISBN 9788171886890. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  3. ^ Hungama, Bollywood (14 June 2012). "Roti Kapada Aur Makaan: Is it still relevant? : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Rewind - Greatest Indian Film Sholay Is 43 Years Old - Box Office India". www.boxofficeindia.com. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Top Earners of 1974 at the Box Office". BoxOfficeIndia.com website. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  6. ^ Filmfare Awards (1954 - 2021) List (scroll down to year 1975) Filmfare Awards website, Retrieved 25 January 2022
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