When Ramanand Sagar Proved His Genius With This 1960 Bollywood Film

The late Ramanand Sagar, a multifaceted talent in Hindi cinema, is best remembered as the creative force behind the immensely successful television show Ramayan on Doordarshan. Sagar, recognised for his prowess as a writer, director, and producer, also left an indelible mark in the world of filmmaking. Among his notable works is the 1960 film Ghunghat, produced by Gemini Studios under the ownership of SS Vasan. The film featured a stellar cast of eight Bollywood actors, including Pradeep Kumar, Bina Rai, Bharat Bhushan, Asha Parekh, Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi, Agha, Minoo Mumtaz, SN Banerjee, Rajendranath Malhotra, Pratima Devi, Leela Chitnis, Rehman Khan, and Niranjan Sharma. Ghunghat served as an adaptation of the 1906 Bengali novel Noukadubi (The Boat Wreck).

Beyond its captivating storyline and stellar performances, Ghunghat won the audience over with its music. Timeless songs like Laage Na Mora Jiya and Mori Chham Chham Baaje Payaliya became classics, with the legendary Lata Mangeshkar lending her vocals. The lyrics, penned by Shakeel Badayuni, were set to music by Ravi Shankar Sharma, known as Ravi.

Other playback singers such as Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor, and Mohammad Rafi contributed their voices to additional tracks. However, despite the film’s success, it courted controversy at the 8th Filmfare Awards. Bina Rai, the lead actress, received the Best Actress award, overshadowing Madhubala’s acclaimed performance in Mughal-E-Azam. This decision drew criticism from prominent publications, including The Hindu.

Returning to Ramanand Sagar’s illustrious career, spanning over three decades, he left an indelible mark with over 30 films, six TV shows, numerous plays, novels, and verses. His magnum opus, Ramayan, secured a place in the Limca Book of Records for the World’s Most Viewed Mythological TV Series until 2003. Despite concerns about potential Hindutva ideology undertones in the series, it became a massive hit. In recognition of his contributions, Sagar was awarded the Padma Shri in 2000. He passed away on December 12, 2005, due to health complications.