indian cinema heritage foundation

Adhikar (1971)

  • Release Date1971
  • GenreDrama
  • FormatColour
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time152 min
  • Length4386.98 meters
  • Number of Reels16
  • Gauge35mm
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate Number63086
  • Certificate Date28/04/1971
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Matrimony is such a holy tie that two different lives merge into one. But for fusion of two lives into one, it is essential that they should obtain the seal of approval of the society. The girl who wants to become a wife without this seal of the society, she is denied the rights of a life companion by the society………and thena story like ‘Adhikar’ is born.

Shyam and Radha met each other on a turning and parted leaving yearning for each other in their hearts.

Shyam was leaving for London for Business Management course, Shyam’s father, Barrister Shukla wanted Shyam to be engaged to his friend Shiv Charan Sharma’s daughter Meera and should wed her on return from abroad. He asked Shyam to call on Sharmaji with a view to approve the bride-to-be. But it wasn’t Meera who welcomed Shyam in the house., it was Radha. Shyam mistook her to be the daughter of Sharmaji. He accepted her as his wife in his heart and returned without meeting Sharmaji.

Radha was baffled…..But just the same in her heart of hearts, she started loving him. When Shyam invited Radha for a picnic, Radha couldn’t decline the invitation. Radha and Shyam met in idyllic surroundings and accepted each other as wife and husband mentally as well as physically. Shyam left for London.

Radha soon discovered that she was to become a mother. She earnestly hoped that Shyam will accept her as legally wedded wife.

Shyam returned home but Radha ‘s misfortune came in the way. Shyam was victim of gross misunderstanding about Radha.

Under pressure of his father, he had to marry Meera

On the day of wedding, Radha came to know of this. She, on the face of it, thought it to be a mere misunderstanding. She wanted to stop this marriage in order to gain her rights but as the luck would have it, the ceremony was over when Radha arrived on the scene. Radha still held her in her arms the eight days old Shyam’s child-the memento of their love.

In order to obtain the rights of the child, she left the child with a note in Meera’s house and proceeded to end her useless life.

She was rescued by Banne Khan Bhopali.

While departing from her house Meera’s mother told her “Husband is God to a woman. The wife ought to forgive all his short comings. That’s her duty”.

Meera adhered to this advice to the letter. After receiving the child with the letter, she, on the first wedding night didn’t charge her husband with any social breech but told him that she was mother of a child. Shyam on hearing this started hating Meera.

Why, Meera took such a risk? Why did she admit such a blasphemy? Could she succeed in securing the rights of the child? What was the fate of Radha?

To know all these answers see ‘Adhikar’.

 

(From the official press booklet)

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