Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Men

This is a movie from 1964, but feels as if it has released tomorrow. Gripping, engaging and touching, the movie reminded me of The Pursuit of Happiness, starring Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. Although the plot lines are different, both have a father going all the way to make life better for his son.

The plot revolves around Army man Shankar (Kishore Kumar) who returns to his village to find his home burnt down in an accident, his father and wife killed in the accident and his son going mute due to the trauma. Shankar leaves the village in an attempt to get his son medically treated and have his voice back. Along the way, he must fend off a ferocious landlord and his sons along with a dreaded bandit who supposes he is the romantic interest of a beautiful, wealthy and respected girl played by Supriya Chowdhury who has caught the eyes of the lascivious son (Iftekar) of the landlord.

Kishore Kumar delivers a poignant performance that is terrific, and is just the opposite of the madcap comedies he is known for. The film has many of the elements of Bollywood spicy movies, but everything is kept subtle. In her Hindi role, Supriya Chowdhury is apt and grace personified. Amit Kumar, Kishore Kumar's son, delivers an amazing performance as the mute Ramu who can put his life in the line to save his dad. The film has wonderful music composed by Kishore Kumar himself, with gems like the title track, Koi Lauta De Mere Beete Hue Din and Aa Chalke Tujhe. He directed the film on a shoestring budget, aided by the money he got from pawning his mother's jewelry (who was willing to see him as director), and delivered a blockbuster that ran for 23 weeks.

Above all, the movie is a testament to one man's desire to see his son well and his son's wish to see his dad happy and alive. A good movie with a happy ending that should be watched again and again. There is also some good action and the final stunt is praiseworthy. I am giving this a 10 on 10.

I consider this movie as one of the masterpieces of Indian cinema of 60's. A very colourful journey of a father and a son (of black and white times). Kishore Kumar has very successfully shown his serious side in this movie as well.

I don't know why we say that Indian cinema is, now, slowly matching the international standards while, in my opinion, films like these ones had all the flair to match those standards. Way back what we lacked was technical sources but not the talent.

A movie doesn't need a powerful storyline to be a masterpiece. A simple script can also do wonders. Perhaps that is the reason why 'No Man's Land' could beat 'Lagaan' for Oscar. Not to say that I have anything against Lagaan neither do I say that Oscar is a way to judge Indian Cinema. But my point is that Indian Cinema needs to follow the footsteps of old classics like this one, Madhumati, Do Bheega Zameen, Bandini, Pather Panchali etc.

Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein is a movie that stands all tests of time and international Cinema in this regard.

This is a Hindi language film starring Kishore Kumar, the young Amit Kumar and Supriya Choudhury in perhaps her only Hindi film appearance.

The film is still remembered for its songs, and the real life father son playing so in reel life. The film was close to Kishore's heart and was written, directed and produced by him. While the story is simple and formula based, the script around it could have been better. This is where remakes of the same film in South Indian languages improvised and did well. This Hindi version though falls short.

Even though running just over 2 hours, by the end of it I found the film dragging and was waiting for it to finish. Numerous depictions like the search for doctors and the altercations with Vikram seemed like attempts to lengthen the film as there was nothing else in the script.

Likewise Kishore playing one man army when he was already injured by a single blow at the beginning seemed incredulous. Getting a healthy support cast would have helped.

Both Kishore and Amit especially play their parts well. It's a nice change to not see Kishore playing a comic, but going against typecast is also why the film wasn't accepted by the Hindi film audiences. The show stealer still is the beautiful Supriya for her sensitive presence and performance. Watch the film for her along with the songs. Any further expectations and you may be let down.