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On This Day

26 Mar, 1947

Cinemaazi remembers Ajit Verman on his birth anniversary

26 Mar, 1975

Cinemaazi remembers Majnu on his death anniversary

26 Mar, 2013

Cinemaazi remembers Sukumari on her death anniversary

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Kati Patang (1971)

Shakti Samanta

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LanguageHindi

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KATI PATANG' a kite which is cut from the string from the base symbolises the story of a woman whose life is detached from all social bindings-taking a course as destiny shapes it.

Madhavi's marriage, is fixed by her rich uncle with Kamal, a decent and gentle boy. On the night of the marriage she runs away from home to meet Kailash with whom she was in love. But destiny plays a different game. She goes to her lover only to discover that he is in a compromising position with another girl Shabnam. She receives a rude shock and loses her equilibrium. She comes back running and finds her uncle dead due to the shock.

With an acute mental agony she remains indecisive and ultimately goes to the railway station where accidentally she comes across Punam, her childhood friend (who is a widow now) going to her in-laws with her child. Punam forces her to accompany to her in-laws place in Nainital where she had never gone before.

As luck would have it, the train meets with an accident. Punam is fatally wounded and before she succumbs to her injuries entreats Madhavi to travel to the destination along With the child and present herself as Punam to the parents of her late husband. Madhavi could not ignore the appeal of her dying friend and promised to fulfil her wishes. On the way she is saved from a dacoit by the forest officer-he is the same Kamal who was to marry Madhavi that night and is also an old friend of Punam's late husband. Madhavi in the garb of Punam arrives at the house of her in-laws and brings a lot of happiness to ihe old Dewan Sahib and his wife. They treat her to be their real daughter-in -law and the child to inherit their massive fortune.

Kamal and Madhavi become very friendly with each other and their frequent meeting developed into love. Madhavi again starts dreaming of good times and is trying to settle down mentally and feel at home to the new environments. But destiny again plays with her and like a withered leaf in Autumn she too again becomes a victim of misfortunes. Kailash, the debautch, and once lover of Madhavi learns from Shabnam, now a dancing girl that Madhavi is now reigning over vast fortunes. Kailash meets Madhavi and threatens her that unless she parts with half of the fortune she is enjoying, he would disclose the truth to the old Dewan.
Madhavi is tired and can ill-afford to be up,-rooted any longer. She decides to admit frankly and acquaint Kamal with the truth. Accordingly she sends a letter to him which unfortunately falls into Dewan's hands. The contents of the letter give a rude shock to Dewan but the old man being ,vastly wise knows how to protect the honour and preserve the integrity of his family. After a discussion with Madhavi he insists on her remaining as his daughter-in-law. Being aware of her love for Kamal he discusses with Kamal's father the question of her marriage with Kamal. Meanwhile Kailash conspires with the maid servant and manages to add poison into the milk of Dewanjee and Madhavi is charged with the murder of Dewan.

Kamal, the hero, is disguested with the chain of events but with the timely interruption of his father with the letter of Madhavi written earlier, is convinced of the innocence of Madhavi. A haven is in sight-the string of the kite is being joined to control its course.

The guilt cannot be proved and Madhavi is acquitted. The two hearts unite happily.

[from the official press booklet]