Vishwa Mehra

Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985), directed by Raj Kapoor, is a bold film that explores themes of purity, love, and social morality against the backdrop of rural India. The film marked Raj Kapoor`s return to filmmaking after a long gap and became one of his most talked-about works. The film stars Rajiv Kapoor, Raj Kapoor`s younger son, in the role of a simple and idealistic young man, Ram, who sets out to bring back his fiancee, Ganga (Mandakini), whom he had promised to marry. Ganga is symbolically portrayed as the "pure" Ganga river, but her journey is fraught with exploitation, corruption, and tragedy. The film contrasts Ganga`s purity with the dirty waters of the River Ganga, metaphorically suggesting that society often taints what it considers pure.

A group of poor and helpless tenants are left to fend for themselves when the selfish daughter of their kind-hearted landlady decides to sell the property in order to afford a luxurious lifestyle. Seema lives a wealthy lifestyle with her widowed mom in Bombay, India. Her mother is a compassionate soul who rents out several rooms in a self-owned building, which is occupied by very poor and nearly destitute people like Chandu - who sells Rotis for a living; Rammurthy - who sells milk; as well as Murari who is physically handicapped, and Manglu who is unable to find employment nor food for his wife and malnourished children. Seema's mom often ends up looking after her tenants financially and also gives them ample time to find money to pay the rent. While returning home from a picnic in Khandala, Seema ends up in the wrong train compartment and meets a young man by the name of Rajan. She finds out that he wants to rent a room in Bombay and asks him to approach his mother. Upon arrival he does locate Seema's mom, and is permitted to share a room with Chandu and Rammurthy - much to his displeasure as he had expected a room to himself. Eventually both he and Seema fall in love. Seema's mother wants to retire and as a result transfers the property to Seema's name and goes for a Tirth Yatra. When she returns nothing is the same anymore as Seema, who wants a luxurious lifestyle, has sold the building to Bihari, and is all set to evict the tenants forcibly. Watch what happens when Seema's mother and Rajan decide to confront her to try and stop this sale. —rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

The story of Barsaat revolved around two contrasting love storiesone rooted in innocence and the other in heartbreak. Two friends, Pran (Raj Kapoor) and the womanizing Gopal (Prem Nath) romance two local girls Reshma (Nargis) and Neela (Nimmi) while holidaying in the valley of Kashmir. While Pran and Reshma's love is true, Gopal is a womanizer, who disregards the faithful Neela and condemns her to wait faithfully for his return. The music of the film marked the debut of the legendary duo Shankar-Jaikishan and has songs that are hummed even today. The poster of the film that depicted the romantic pose of the heroine gazing up at the hero as she bends backwards on his arm inspired the famous insignia of R.K. Films.