Kotwal Saab: Retro Gems

#3 Kotwal Saab (1977)

A fantastic movie of its time, Kotwal Saab starred Shatrughan Sinha and Aparna Sen in the lead roles. It also featured seasoned actors like David, Utpal Dutt, and Asrani. What made an everlasting place in my heart again is the beautiful chemistry of Shatrughan Sinha and Aparna Sen.

Credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/Qe2TLWDjg26FeKHf8

Plot

The film revolves around DSP Bharat Sinha (Shatrughan Sinha), assigned to search for Mahesh (Sudhir). Mahesh suddenly disappears from the village, and no one knows his whereabouts.

Bharat Sinha comes to the village to investigate. He then finds out how a wealthy businessman, Dharam Kohli (Utpal Dutt), who is also running for the post of MLA, is using the local people to benefit from his position.

Eventually, he meets Prabha (Aparna Sen) and suspects her of having some connection with the missing Mahesh. Prabha stays as a paying guest at George Fernandes’ (David) house. But later, Bharat realizes her innocence, and they develop a cordial relationship.

Love Blooms

Over time, Bharat and Prabha develop feelings for each other. They realize that they share many common values, such as courage and independence. They marry and start a sweet married life.

Trust

Over time, Bharat also tries to expose Dharam Kohli. He gathers evidence against Dharam Kohli. One fine day, Mahesh reappears. It’s evident that he works for Dharam Kohli. The twist is that he was in love with Prabha once. Mahesh has to prove his loyalty to Dharam Kohli, so he blackmails Prabha. He threatens her to stop Bharat from submitting the evidence, or else he will expose their pre-marital affair to Bharat.

Now, Prabha is in turmoil. She must stop Bharat and make him lose in this case, or else she will let Bharat know the truth, which will separate her from him forever. She dies every minute in this phase of her life, not knowing what to do.

Bharat arrives home early that evening and spends lovely moments with his wife, Prabha. At least they know that this happiness is short-lived. She wants to tell him everything but is scared to lose him . . . forever.

The Final Test

Bharat finally arrests Dharam Kohli but is unaware of its consequences. Mahesh is also arrested later. The Police Commissioner arrives, and Mahesh deliberately reveals the truth of his relationship with Prabha to him. Later, Mahesh tells Bharat the truth, leaving him in shock.

After confronting her, he starts hating Prabha. She decides to leave him but is shattered. Also, Prabha confronts him and tells him he has seen two characters in life, an evil one and a saint, but he has never seen a human.

She is not willing to leave him alone and broken. He, too, is not willing to let her go, as she is his only support and love. But the fact that she hid the truth from him makes his hatred overpower the love he has for her.

She leaves. Later that night, Bharat gets shot accidentally. He is on the deathbed due to the same. He tells his colleague to call Prabha, as he wants to apologize to her. Prabha does come there, and the two share a moment. He is taken to the Govt. Hospital where he is recovered.

They live happily ever after.

The highlight of the movie is the beautiful chemistry the leads share. My personal favourite is the song Saathi Re, sung by Asha Bhosale, which is played when they spend beautiful moments with each other.

A fantastic movie of its time; do watch it. It’s worth it.

See you all with another movie which created magic in its era.