Trama

A popular singer convinces his new wife to enter show-business, but his pride is wounded when she outshines him.

Subir Kumar is a famous pop singer with huge fan following and enjoys his lavish life.His only companion is his friend cum secretary Chandru and shares a good bond with Chitra.Subir has no plans for marriage until he meets Uma in his village who is also a trained singer.Subir and Uma fall in love and get married and brings her to Mumbai.When Subir's career is at the top he also introduces Uma as a singer.Uma becomes a star in short time and much bigger then Subir.Her success makes him jealous and cracks develop in their relationship.—alex.mjacko@gmail.com

Subeer Kumar (Amitabh) is well on his way to becoming India's top pop singer. He has no intention of getting married, but when he goes to visit his Durga Mausi (Mausi=mother's sister), he falls in love with religious, simple Uma, by whose voice he's enchanted. He marries her and returns to Bombay where he announces that he will never sing without Uma again. However, Subeer encourages Uma to sing alone and when her popularity is soon greater than his own, the seed of jealousy begins to grow... The major difference between Uma and Subeer is that she sings for herself, whereas he sings for the public. It is the difference between geet and sangeet. This is the root of the thing that later causes problems, and based on which the movie is named.—Gita Lal <trinetri@i-2000.com>

Bombay-based famous pop-singer, Subir Kumar, is thronged by female fans everywhere, some even proposing marriage. But Subir is not certain that marriage is for him, until he meets Uma, while on a visit to see his Durga Mausi. He and Uma are soon married. Upon his return to Bombay, he announces that Uma and he will sing songs together. Noted poet Brajeshwarlal cautions Subir against this, but Subir goes ahead anyway, and soon realizes that Uma has stolen his popularity, and is much more sought for than he himself.—rAjOo (gunwanti@hotmail.com)

Subir (Amitabh Bachchan) is a professional singer whose career is soaring. Subir has many female fans including a local socialite Chitra (Bindu), who is in love with him. but Subir, while encouraging her advances, has no real feelings for her. Subir's manager Chandru (Asrani) wants him to focus on his career. Chandru says Subir has the potential to be a world famous singer, but Chitra is distracting him. Subir doesn't disagree with Chandru, and knows that Chitra is not the right girl for him. Chandru is Subir's childhood friend & Subir trusts him & allows him to manage his complete finances. Soon, Subir is living a full public life followed by photographers and autograph seekers wherever he goes. But he is unable to sleep, as either smitten girls keep calling him or he gets the glare of flashes in his eyes every time he shuts them.

Subir has some visitors who want him to sing a song for their charity. Subir wanted to politely decline them till they produced a letter from his Durga Mausi. Subir is in the village near Bangalore to visit his Mausi Durga (Durga Khote), who has cared for him since childhood & whom Subir respects too much. Subir goes to village to visit Durga Mausi. He plans to stay for just one day, but hears a sweet singing voice when he visits the village temple. Subir learns that the voice belongs to Uma (Jaya Bhaduri), a sweet village girl who also sings. Uma is daughter of Sadanand (A. K. Hangal), who is a master of classical singing and has trained Uma himself. Subir is smitten with Uma and decides to stay a few more days. Durga introduces Subir to Sadanand and this Subir meets Uma formally. Subir starts spending more time with Uma. he asks Chandru to cancel his engagements for the entire week, saying he is sick and cannot travel. Subir talks to Uma and finds that she likes him as well.

Subir falls in love with Uma and marries her (shotgun wedding arranged at short notice). He returns to Mumbai with his new bride. Chandru is upset and convinces Subir to hold a grand party to mark the happy occasion. Brajeshwarlal (David) is a classical singing maestro and attends Subir's wedding function. Brajesh asks Subir to sing and Subir includes Uma. Uma gains Brajesh's attention. Chitra is heartbroken.. Brajesh recognizes that Uma is more talented than Subir and is not happy to hear that Subir plans to have Uma sing professionally, as he can anticipate that his male ego will be hurt. Subir continues as a singer and also fosters Uma's singing career. Uma starts singing in parties thrown for or by Subir's friends & is quickly noticed as a better talent than Subir. Soon Uma starts to get singing offers on her own merit. Initially Subir is very supportive and encourages Uma to sing, even though she is very hesitant and says repeatedly, that she doesn't want to sing professionally.

His career falters, however, just as Uma's singing career begins to thrive. Eventually, she becomes more famous than her husband, sparking jealousy from Subir. She wins many major awards, which Subir never did. Now, her autograph is in more demand than his own. She commands a much higher price for private functions (Subir got rs 2000, while Uma gets rs 5000). His pride and jealousy tear the marriage apart. Subir's dissatisfaction with Uma drives him to Chitra, who welcomes him with open arms into her home. Chandru confronts Subir over his jealousy with Uma, but Subir insults Chandru by saying that its his life and his personal matter. This is when Brajeshwarlal calls Subir and tells him that Uma has won a national award and her song will be broadcast live over AIR. Subir listens to the song at Chitra's house.

Uma talks to Subir and says she will give up singing for the sake of her marriage, but Subir interprets this as pity and says he does not need anyone in his life. The movie reaches a very sensitive situation when the couple separates, & Uma goes back to her village to stay with Subir's mother's sister (Mausi). She is preggers & Subir has no idea of the same. Uma writes a letter to Chandru & begs him to inform Subir of her condition. Subir gets the news, but takes it as another insult that Uma wrote to Chandru & not to him, & refuses to go to the village to get Uma. Chandru travels alone and spins a tale that Subir didn't travel due to recording commitments. Uma senses the truth.

Uma has a miscarriage. Still Subir refuses to travel as now he is ashamed of what he has done. Mausi travels to Subir's house & gives him a good scolding, which prompts Subir to go to the village, apologize to Uma & get her back. But Uma has now lost all interest in life. Subir shows her to the best doctors, but to no avail. Subir goes to Brajeshwarlal for help who tells Subir to sing, as that's the one thing that brings Subir and Uma together. He says that if Subir starts singing, Uma will get better. In what is considered a masterpiece of direction by Mukherjee and scoring by Burman, the couple comes together again in an emotional reunion and they sing together. As Subir sings, Uma starts crying as she remembers her happy life before Subir stopped singing. Brajeshwarlal orders Uma as an elder and a father to join Subir on stage and they complete the song together.