Shatranj (transl. Chess) is a 1969 Indian Hindi-language spy thriller film co-produced and directed by S. S. Vasan.[1] His final directorial venture, it stars Rajendra Kumar and Waheeda Rehman, with Mehmood, Madan Puri, Shashikala, Helen, Achala Sachdev, Manmohan Krishna and Agha in pivotal roles.
| Shatranj | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | S. S. Vasan |
| Produced by | S. S. Vasan N. N. Sippy |
| Starring | Rajendra Kumar Waheeda Rehman |
| Music by | Shankar–Jaikishan |
Production company | |
Release date | 1969 |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Plot edit
This article needs an improved plot summary. (December 2022) |
Sharda has been married to Thakur for several years, and both have a daughter: Meena. Sharda and Meena suddenly decide to leave India and settle down in a communist country, without letting Thakur know. Concerned about them, Thakur hires Jai, a spy, to locate them, and bring them back if possible. Jai agrees and soon arrives in that country, which is ruled by a military general who has not shown his face to anyone. Jai assumes the identity of Shinraaz, goes around trying to locate the two women, and finds Meena, who works as a dancer in a hotel. Jai eventually learns what brought Meena and her mother to this country, and why they both are not willing to return to India.
Cast edit
- Rajendra Kumar as Jay / Vijay / Shinraz
- Waheeda Rehman as Meena
- Mehmood as Ameer
- Madan Puri as Comrade Chang
- Shashikala as Suzy
- Helen as Salma
- Achala Sachdev as Sharda
- Manmohan Krishna as Thakur
- Agha as Comrade Lee Jung
Production edit
Shatranj was the final film directed by S. S. Vasan.[2] He co-produced the film with N. N. Sippy under Gemini Studios.[3][4] Madan Puri's character was modelled after the fictional character Fu Manchu.[5] The film was colourised using Eastmancolor.[6]
Soundtrack edit
The music was composed by the duo Shankar–Jaikishan. Hasrat Jaipuri, S. H. Bihari, Indeevar and Kiran Kalyani were the lyricists.[7]
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Na Socha Na Samjha Na Seekha" | Asha Bhosle | |
| 2. | "Aao Tumhen Pyar Karna Seekha Doon" | Mohammed Rafi | |
| 3. | "Badli Mein Chhupe Chand Ne" | Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar | |
| 4. | "Shatranj Ki Chaal Hai Hamari" | Mohammed Rafi | |
| 5. | "Jungle Mein Mor Nacha Kisne Dekha" | Lata Mangeshkar | |
| 6. | "Samjho Zara Kahti Hai Kya" | Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle | |
| 7. | "Batkamma Batkamma ekkaDa pOtAv raa" | Mohammed Rafi, Sharda Rajan Iyengar | |
| 8. | "Ajnabee Hoon Main Is Jahan Mein" | Lata Mangeshkar | |
| 9. | "Tumhen Agar Main Apna Saathi" | Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle |
Release and reception edit
Shatranj was an "anti-China movie", and theatres screening the film in West Bengal were burnt down by Communist revolutionaries.[8] It was later forcibly removed from exhibition by the Government of that state.[9] In Bathinda, Naxalites tried to blow up the theatre where the film was being screened, but the police successfully removed the bomb before it could do any damage.[8] In a review dated 29 March 1969, the magazine Thought wrote, "Watching a game of shatranj, one needs some intelligence and common sense to follow the opponents' moves and countermoves. Watching Shatranj, the film, one has to suspend both intellect and [judgement]."[10] The film was commercially successful but, according to Vasan's son Balan, "not to the extent expected by the maker".[11]
References edit
- ^ "Shatranj Cast & Crew". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ Bali, Karan (26 August 2015). "SS Vasan". Upperstall.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
- ^ Pinto, Jerry (2006). Helen: The Life and Times of an H-Bomb. India: Penguin Books. p. 242. ISBN 978-0-14-303124-6.
- ^ Zaveri, Hanif (2005). Mehmood, a Man of Many Moods. Popular Prakashan. p. 183. ISBN 81-7991-213-2.
- ^ Kini, Nandan (2 May 2015). "Gabbar is back but here is a must watch guide to the best of Bollywood's worst villains". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
- ^ "Shatranj". The Indian Express. Madras. 17 October 1969. p. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
- ^ "Shatranj (1969)". Music India Online. Archived from the original on 27 December 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
- ^ a b Judge, Paramjit S. (1992). Insurrection to Agitation: The Naxalite Movement in Punjab. Popular Prakashan. p. 111. ISBN 81-7154-527-0.
- ^ Mahmood, Hameeduddin (1974). The kaleidoscope of Indian cinema. Affiliated East-West Press. p. 152.
- ^ "Banner on Ground Level". Thought. 29 March 1969. p. 19.
- ^ Ghosh, Avijit (18 March 2012). "Gun-ho in Bollywood". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
