Mera Saaya

Director: Raj Khosla
Music: Madan Mohan
Lyrics: Raja Mehndi Ali Khan
Cast: Sunil Dutt, Saadhna, KN Singh, Anwar Hussain, Prem Chopra

This is director Raj Khosla’s third film with Sadhana after Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1963) and Woh Kaun Thi (1964). The film became a superhit at the box office. It won the Filmfare Best Sound Award for Manohar Amberkar, the only win for the film. The Title song Mera Saaya was composed by the legendary Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang of Kabul Afghanistan. The film brought about a very intense performance from Sunil Dutt as a lawyer.

Synopsis
The film begins with the death of Geeta; the wife of lawyer Thakur Rakesh Singh.Thakur Rakesh Singh is disheartened and spends most of his time alone until one day when he comes to know that a criminal named Raina, who recently has been arrested with her gang members, claims that she is Rakesh’s wife Geeta. Rakesh is surprised to see that Raina indeed resembles Geeta but doesn’t believe her as he had himself cremated his wife, However Raina takes the matter to court where Rakesh must prove that she is an imposter. The film is a courtroom drama and a thriller till the end.

Songs:

* Tu jahan jahan chalega – Lata Mangeshkar
* Nainon mein bhadra chhaye – Lata Mangeshkar
* Nainowali ne haaye mera dil – Lata Mangeshkar
* Aap ke pehloo mein aakar – Mohammed Rafi
* Jhoomka gira re – Asha Bhosle

Raj Khosla (1925–1991) was one of the top directors in Hindi films from the 1950s to the 1980s. Raj Khosla wanted to become a playback singer however went on to become one of the great directors of Hindi Cinema.He assisted Guru Dutt and in 1954 got a break with Milap, starring Dev Anand and Geeta Bali. However the film did not do well at box office.
C.I.D. (1956) was Khosla’s second film. A thriller which showcased Khosla’s stylish shot taking and beautiful and innovative song picturisations, something passed down from Guru Dutt. His musical background also helped him with the picturisations of songs like “Leke pehla pehla pyar” , “Aankhon hi aankhon mein” and “Jaata kahan hai deewane”.The film went on to become one of best from Dev Anand’s mega hits.
Solva Saal (1958) again starring Dev Anand was an offbeat story of a girl who elopes with her lover only to find she has been cheated. She is helped back home by a journalist before her father wakes up and realizes what the girl has done.”Hai Apna Dil to awara” in the voice of Hemant Kumar became a big hit.
Bombay ka Babu (1960) had the hero, a killer, entering the family of the man he has killed as their long lost son and falling in love with his ‘sister.’ The film showcased a very bold script for those days and Khosla was able to bring out a great on screen chemistry between Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen.
In the Sixties Khosla experimented with different styles of cinema and gave some more hits. The musical Ek Musafir Ek Hasina (1962), suspense thrillers Woh Kaun Thi (1964), Mera Saaya (1966), Anita (1967) – his mystery trilogy with actress Sadhana, melodramas (Do Badan (1966), Do Raaste (1969) dacoit dramas (Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971) – which inspired Sholay (1975).
Seventies was not a good period for Khosla with the exception of Main Tulsi Tere Aangan ki (1978) starring Nutan. After this none of his films did well with the exception of Dostana (1982).
A dejected Khosla took refuge in alcohol and passed away in 1991. As he had once said – “It’s a losing game.There are no winners here.”