'Shola Aur Shabnam' is one of Dharmendra's very early films, made long before he was shabbily stereotyped as "Garam Dharam". It's the story of a young man torn between love for his long lost childhood sweetheart, and devotion towards a friend who has helped set him up in his career.
Ravi (or 'Punnu' as he's called at home) and Sandhya are childhood sweethearts despite Ravi being poor, and Sandhya being rich. Sandhya's father who is a senior official in the Railways is posted to a distant location, Ravi and Sandhya are separated and out of contact.
Many years later, Ravi has matured into a strapping young man (topless shots of a dashing young Dharmendra, anyone?). Not being rich or influential, Ravi finds it hard to find a job and decides to approach his friend Prakash (played by M.Rajan). Prakash is a happy-go-luck rich kid, whose family runs a large timber factory amid lush jungles, and is only too happy to hire Ravi at a generous salary (Rs.300 per month, although Ravi asks for only Rs.100 - generous in 1961, I guess!).
Prakash's elder brother is Aakash played by the veteran character actor Abhi Bhattacharya. Aakash is a bachelor, his devious father having caused the suicide of his paramour, a poor village girl. Aakash is often drunk, pining for his lost love, but loves his younger brother dearly and generally spoils him.
Prakash is smitten with and soon to be engaged to, his father's friend's daughter Sandhya, who arrives at their jungle home. Yes, this is the same Sandhya who had betrothed herself to Ravi in her childhood. Ravi does not recognize her at first, but the moment of truth comes when Prakash asks Ravi to sing the song 'Janam ka bandhan'. This was the same song that Ravi and Sandhya sang in childhood, and they both realize it, though neither reveals this secret. The musical score by Khayyam is not exceptional, however, this one song is melodious and still remembered today, 45 years after the movie was released.
Sandhya is played by Tarla Mehta, who shows no great talent as an actress, and is distinctly 'wooden' in many of her scenes. There isn't any chemistry between her and Dharmendra. Tarla Mehta did not act in many movies in her youth, and many years later (1982) played a bit part of Sarojini Naidu in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, and also appeared in 'Heat and Dust' (1983) and 'Ek Chaadar Maili Si' (1986).
Rajan however, playing Prakash performs well as Ravi's boss and close friend. Till the climax of the movie, he remains oblivious of the special relationship that Ravi and Sandhya have. His performance seems genuine and spontaneous.
Ravi is still in love with the girl he was separated from in childhood, but does not wish to come in the way of his friend Praskash's happiness. Sandhya also loves Ravi, and wants to marry him instead of Prakash. Ravi's feelings for Sandhya are sensed by Aakash who has lost in love himself. Aakash is now faced with a choice: either ignore Ravi & Sandhya's true love and proceed with the union of Sandhya and Prakash, or break his brother's Prakash's heart and side with Ravi & Sandhya.
Oblivious of Ravi's feelings for Sandhya, Prakash keeps asking him to entice Sandhya towards him. Ravi smilingly soldiers on, trying to find his own happiness in his friend's. Until, Sandhya threatens to reveal all to Prakash, and break off their engagement. Faced with this catastrophe, Ravi decides to leave his job with Prakash, and return to his village, but Aakash steps in and persuades him not to leave. Aakash has finally decided to defend the childhood love, against the will of his father.
The seemingly complex love triangle, reaches a climax, with the childhood sweethearts being united, but at the cost of Aakash losing his life in the same manner as his beloved did.
The talented Dharamendra throughout his long career (more than 200 films), has been a versatile and hard-working actor. Even here, in this early performance, his sincerity shines through. He remains one of the most underrated, unsung heroes in Hindi cinema.
Ravi (or 'Punnu' as he's called at home) and Sandhya are childhood sweethearts despite Ravi being poor, and Sandhya being rich. Sandhya's father who is a senior official in the Railways is posted to a distant location, Ravi and Sandhya are separated and out of contact.
Many years later, Ravi has matured into a strapping young man (topless shots of a dashing young Dharmendra, anyone?). Not being rich or influential, Ravi finds it hard to find a job and decides to approach his friend Prakash (played by M.Rajan). Prakash is a happy-go-luck rich kid, whose family runs a large timber factory amid lush jungles, and is only too happy to hire Ravi at a generous salary (Rs.300 per month, although Ravi asks for only Rs.100 - generous in 1961, I guess!).
Prakash's elder brother is Aakash played by the veteran character actor Abhi Bhattacharya. Aakash is a bachelor, his devious father having caused the suicide of his paramour, a poor village girl. Aakash is often drunk, pining for his lost love, but loves his younger brother dearly and generally spoils him.
Prakash is smitten with and soon to be engaged to, his father's friend's daughter Sandhya, who arrives at their jungle home. Yes, this is the same Sandhya who had betrothed herself to Ravi in her childhood. Ravi does not recognize her at first, but the moment of truth comes when Prakash asks Ravi to sing the song 'Janam ka bandhan'. This was the same song that Ravi and Sandhya sang in childhood, and they both realize it, though neither reveals this secret. The musical score by Khayyam is not exceptional, however, this one song is melodious and still remembered today, 45 years after the movie was released.
Sandhya is played by Tarla Mehta, who shows no great talent as an actress, and is distinctly 'wooden' in many of her scenes. There isn't any chemistry between her and Dharmendra. Tarla Mehta did not act in many movies in her youth, and many years later (1982) played a bit part of Sarojini Naidu in Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, and also appeared in 'Heat and Dust' (1983) and 'Ek Chaadar Maili Si' (1986).
Rajan however, playing Prakash performs well as Ravi's boss and close friend. Till the climax of the movie, he remains oblivious of the special relationship that Ravi and Sandhya have. His performance seems genuine and spontaneous.
Ravi is still in love with the girl he was separated from in childhood, but does not wish to come in the way of his friend Praskash's happiness. Sandhya also loves Ravi, and wants to marry him instead of Prakash. Ravi's feelings for Sandhya are sensed by Aakash who has lost in love himself. Aakash is now faced with a choice: either ignore Ravi & Sandhya's true love and proceed with the union of Sandhya and Prakash, or break his brother's Prakash's heart and side with Ravi & Sandhya.
Oblivious of Ravi's feelings for Sandhya, Prakash keeps asking him to entice Sandhya towards him. Ravi smilingly soldiers on, trying to find his own happiness in his friend's. Until, Sandhya threatens to reveal all to Prakash, and break off their engagement. Faced with this catastrophe, Ravi decides to leave his job with Prakash, and return to his village, but Aakash steps in and persuades him not to leave. Aakash has finally decided to defend the childhood love, against the will of his father.
The seemingly complex love triangle, reaches a climax, with the childhood sweethearts being united, but at the cost of Aakash losing his life in the same manner as his beloved did.
The talented Dharamendra throughout his long career (more than 200 films), has been a versatile and hard-working actor. Even here, in this early performance, his sincerity shines through. He remains one of the most underrated, unsung heroes in Hindi cinema.
