Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai

When Radhu Karamkar, then cinematographer, expressed his desire to direct a film, Raj Kapoor made him direct Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai(1960), later to be considered as magnum opus of his career.

Raj Kapoor, Padmini, Pran and Lalita Pawar starrer is dacoit drama in which Raju saves the injured dacoit Sardar and feeds him. Later he is abducted by Sardar's fellowman. Sardar's daughter Kammo falls in love with Raju, and convinces him that the dacoits are actually socialist in order to keep him, contrary Raka(Pran) is in love with Kammo. The truth is exposed on the wedding, where the dacoits killed a newly wed couple and stole everything.

The film has amazing lyrics by Shailendra, Hasrat Jaipuri and Music by Shanker-Jaikishen, which turned in beautiful melodies, romantic and moral songs. Starting with, Mera Naam Raju Gharana Anaam; Kya Howa Ye Mujhy Kya Howa Kya Pata Janey Kyun Machal Raha Hai Aaj Dil Mera; Honton Pe Sachaye Rehti Hai; Ho Mene Pyar, Oye Kya Jurm Kiya; Hai Aag Hamare Seene Main; O Basanti Pawan Pagal, and ending to Aa Ab Laut Chalen, sung by legendary playback singers Lata, Mukesh, Geeta, Manna Dey, Asha and Mahedra Kapoor.

Story by Arjun Dev Rashk, the movie amalgamates Gandhian values of truth and sacrifice.

Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai review :

The last RK film made in black & white and first film of Raj Kapoor without Nargis as his heroine; Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai is a beautiful film with a poignant message of dacoit rehabilitation. Pran's performance as the cruel bandit Raka won him accolades and significantly enhanced his career. The buxom Padmini looked ravishingly hot while bathing under a waterfall. Oye Hoye!!

Raj Kapoor played Raju, a tramp who saves a dacoits life and he takes him in his fold. The bandit's daughter Kammo (Padmini) falls in love with the simpleton Raju which angers her suitor and fellow daku Raka.

Directed by RKs cinematographer Radhu Karmakar, Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai had Raj Kapoor stamp all over it. Infact, it can be called a precursor to his future productions :

• The idea of pure Ganga and the sensuous Padmini bathing under a waterfall was replicated in Raj Kapoor's blockbuster hit Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985).

• The song Aa Ab Laut Chalen became title of son Rishi Kapoor's directorial debut in 1999.

• The background tune in one scene became the famous song Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan in Kapoor's cult classic Mera Naam Joker (1970).

Shankar Jaikishen's music was fab. So was the camerawork and shot placement. But I love Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehti Hai for its wonderful climax. Only Raj Kapoor could think of it. "Love conquers all" is the mantra here. Excellent cinema!!

Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.

Great cinematograph by Tara Dutt and Radhu Karmakar. Great music. Padmini exudes unmatched sex appeal (and this is a black and white film). Runs 20 reels with a leisurely pace. But a must watch.

A simple innocent guy with a heart of gold is abducted by bandits; and he is determined to raise the bandits from their bad deeds and make them good people. A single man against hundreds of bandits seem to be a bit preachy and unrealistic, but the story somewhat works in "Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai" which is considered one of the classics of Raj Kapoor, which won several awards including Best Picture of the year.

Well, there are certain flaws in the film, which can be overlooked for the goodness and time period of the film. The innocence of Raj Kapoor or the heroine, Padmini is a bit overdone; but Raj Kapoor gives a brilliant performance, just like the one Aamir Khan did in "Pk", asking simple innocent questions whose answers convert lives of many. The music and camera work deserves a huge applaud and captures the mood of patriotism effectively with memorable songs like "Aa Ab Laut Chalein," "Begani Shadi Mein Abdullah Deewana," or the title song itself. The camera work is superb in capturing the landscapes full of caves and gorges portraying the areas of bandits.

Pran as usual appears a regular villain; but Lalita Pawar, in her very small role, leaves her impact. Overall, the film despite being overlong, never bores you and by the end, you leave your seats with a gratitude. Besides a simple lovable story, the film carries a nice message that bandits are also human with a loving family who need to be awaken from their bad deeds, for which the film deserves to be considered a classic.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

I'd rate this as one of my favorite Raj Kapoor films, even though he didn't direct it, right up there with Shree 420. I like the music a lot, especially, the drumming and percussion. The dancing is pretty fun too, particularly when Padmini and Chanchal are jumping around together. I also liked the water ballet sequence, when the women are leaping into the the pool. This movie had a number of the elements I appreciate in a Raj Kapoor film, besides the music: the river symbolism is well-developed,and Raj plays one of his trademark simple, good-hearted tramps who prevail despite the odds -- without TOO much melodrama (which I don't care for.) I tend to prefer earlier films, both from Raj Kapoor specifically and from Bollywood in general -- from the sixties on they get too westernized for my taste, and the dacoit setting here places the story squarely in Indian territory. I also liked Padmini's spunky energy, and her repeated exclamation "Hoi hoi hoi!" (whatever that means, I'd like to know,) it really got stuck in my head!