Sohni Mahiwal

So, another Indo-Russian co-production from the director duo of the Uzbek Latif Faiziyev and the Indian Umesh Mehra based on the classic love saga Sohni Mahiwal. The film is just as the story predicts, but sadly it just doesn't have enough verve to captivate the viewer. Yes, it does capture the ancient era in which the story takes place, the art direction and costumes are all good, but something is missing here and it ends up being just another love story. Maybe it's my personal problem because I'm not a big fan of such tragic love stories. The film's two leads do really well - Sunny Deol, who was the young heart-throb of the times following Betaab and a very good actor in his own right, works well opposite the beautiful and charming Poonam Dhillon, also a star in those years. It also has a Zeenat Aman in an interesting supporting role.

Where the film scores big time is in the music, in one of the most beautiful soundtracks of the decade. Composed by a young Anu Malik, the songs give the film much of what it otherwise lacks, and they make it memorable today. Asha Bhosle is the female voice of most of the songs, and I can't put into words just how brilliantly she sings each one of them, whether it's the classic gem "Sohni Meri Sohni" (with Anwar), the beautifully melancholic "Bol Do Meethe Bol Soniye" (with Shabbir Kumar), or the sassy "Chand Ruka Hai" (pictured on Zeenat Aman), "Sohni Chinab De Kinare". The underrated Anupama Deshpande, best known today for singing "Humko Aaj Kal Hai Intezaar" from Sailaab, soulfully performs "Sohni Chinab De" (courtesy Bhosle who was supposed to re-sing it but suggested to keep it). I wish the film was as good as its music.

Sohni Mahiwal review :

Sunny Deol's debut 'Betaab' was a smash hit of 1983. Naturally, there were high expectations from his next release and Sohni Mahiwal did not disappoint the audience. Produced by FC Mehra's Eagle Films, this was their second Indo- Soviet co-production after the successful Alibaba aur 40 Chor (1980).

Re-telling the classic love saga of Sohni Mahiwal, Sunny Deol and Poonam Dhillon played the eternal couple whom even death couldn't keep apart. Both the actors were not the first choice and Kumar Gaurav was approached for the lead but dad Rajendra Kumar asked for a high price which lead the producers to Dharmendra who advised beta Sunny to sign the movie. Dimple Kapadia was the original choice for Sohni but she was committed to Ramesh Sippy's Saagar (1985) and declined the role. Poonam Dhillon then came on board.

The character of Zara daku was specially written for Zeenat Aman whom the Russians loved in Abdullah (1980) and Alibaba aur 40 Chor. She even got her own backstory involving Mazhar Khan in a cameo. Zeenat and Mazhar fell in love during the filming and later got married.

Sunny and Poonam made a sweet pair and the film was finely executed with top production values and melodious music. Particularly, Anu Malik became famous with this film and signed many prestigious projects after this. The exotic locales of Ural mountain ranges of the former Soviet Union were wonderfully captured on screen.

Sohni Mahiwal became a huge success at the box office. By the time, it released in Russia and became a blockbuster there, it had already celebrated silver jubilee hit in India. But Sunny Deol had also added two flops to his name by then - Sunny and Manzil Manzil.

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.