Haathi Mere Saathi

Review By Kamal K

There are few movies in industry dedicated to human-animal bonding. Tears roll out by seeing care of Elephants towards the lead actor. The movie depicts the struggle for balance of love for animals and family. Surely this Rajesh Khanna classic is a must watch.

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi or Vinaayak Chaturthi, the day of Lord Ganesha, the god of wisdom. He is also known as the Vighneshwara, i.e., the remover of obstacles (appearing in the way of any good work). As per the Hindu mythology, he is the god who is worshipped before anybody else whenever something is to be done. Even the idiom in Hindi used for the expression - 'to begin a work' is - 'Shreeganesh Karna'. Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant and hence elephants are symbolic of him in the religious psyche of the Indians. Today is Wednesday also which is also known as his day only. I am fasting today and presenting a review of an old movie whose story was based on the relationship of some elephants with the protagonist. This movie is Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) starring Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja with four elephants (and many other animals also).

Haathi Mere Saathi (elephants are my buddies) tells the story of a motherless boy - Raju (Rajesh Khanna) who, being lost in his childhood, is saved by four elephants and taken back to his father who in his dying moment, instructs him never to leave the company of those elephants and to always consider them as his Saathis (buddies). Raju grows up in their company and they always help him in all kinds of situations. One elephant out of these four, named as Ramu is actually the first among equals in them and he is the special buddy of Raju. Due to him only, Raju comes across Tanu (Tanuja) who is the daughter of a rich man. When Raju loses his wealth due to losing a lawsuit, he loses his prospects of marrying Tanu also. However his genuine buddies, i.e., the elephants help him in not only earning money but also bringing Tanu back to his life. He develops his own private zoo and calls it - Pyar Ki Duniya (the world of love) with the relentless support of the elephants, Tanu and a young boy - Chhote who was earlier the assistant of an unscrupulous mountebank. He becomes rich and finally wins Tanu's hand also from her father. They get married and beget a son.

The trouble strikes with Tanu's becoming an apprehensive and sceptic mother who starts doubting the nature of the elephants, lest they should harm her child (whereas in reality, the elephants themselves are quite concerned for the welfare and safety of the child). This issue leads to her break-up with Raju and she moves to her parental house. A heart-broken Raju has nobody to solace him except his buddies, the elephants. There are some other baddies also, ever ready to harm Raju, viz. the unscrupulous erstwhile mountebank (and later a released jailbird) and the wicked owner of a circus who is the competitor of Raju in this entertainment business. In the end, Raju's best friend, Ramu elephant sacrifices its life to set everything right in Raju's life.

Written by Saleem-Jaaved and directed by M.A. Thirumugham, this movie is actually a brain-child of Chinnappa Devar who can be considered as the pioneer of making animal-based movies in Indian cinema. A genuine animal-lover Mr. Devar always loved to make movies with the significant roles of animals in them. And Haathi Mere Saathi is perhaps the most successful and popular such movie made by him. The animals and especially the elephants have done marvellously and they are in fact, the soul of the movie. All the sequences involving them are simply superb. Some of them are entertaining and some of them are so touching that any sensitive person may find tears coming out of his eyes while watching them. The last journey of Ramu which contains the memorable song - Nafrat Ki Duniya Ko Chhod Kar Pyar Ki Duniya Mein Khush Rehna Mere Yaar (Rafi) is one such scene only.

Though the main performers are elephants and other animals only, the human performers also have done justice to their roles. The movie had come in the heyday of Rajesh Khanna and it is one of his all time great blockbuster movies. He is at his emotional best in the movie, keeping his patent mannerisms under control. Tanuja has done well first as a loving sweetheart and then as a sceptic mother. The complete supporting cast including the baddies (K.N. Singh and Sujeet Kumar) has rendered ample support to the lead cast.

Laxmikant Pyarelal have composed memorable music for the movie with the admirable lyrics of Anand Bakshi. I have already mentioned the song - Nafrat Ki Duniya Ko which can be considered the best of the album. The other songs - Sun Ja O Thandi Hawa, Dilbar Jaani Chali Hawa Mastaani, Duniya Mein Rehna Hai To Kaam Kar Pyare, Mere Mann Mein Machi Halchal, Tak Tak Tak Chalti Hai Gaadi etc. are also very nice to listen.

The movie is not a preaching type. In fact, this movie and all other movies made by Mr. Devar are such that they deliver the message of treating the animals with sensitivity through pure entertainment only. They are nowhere loud in saying anything, the message reaches the viewer automatically in a subtle way.That's why the message though hackneyed does not bores, it touches and moves the viewer deep within. I pity that now-a-days our so-called animal-right activists cannot arrange the closure of the slaughter-houses but they can restrict the artistic creativity of the filmmakers by prohibiting them to use animals in their movies. That's why filmmakers like Mr. Devar cannot get an opportunity now to show their cinematic excellence with the use of live animals.

Now, kill me if I can remember anything in particular about this movie. Beside the fact that it was 3 hours long and I spilled tones of tears during that time. No other film had made me cry so much for no reason at all. There is some hidden sentimentality in human species that makes him cry - most often some sad event of Bereavement - but in cinema there are instances unexplained. So it was the soundtrack of this Bollywood movie that has remained unchallenged hit for all times in Hindu cinema.

My personal memories from 40 years ago reveal the phenomenon of full cinema saloons with standing people interspersed between rows. Most were Gypsies of various age. That doesn't mean that Bulgaria (that's me) as a full member of European Union is Gypsy state. Most of them are of mixed origins, some of them cohabit with the Turks minority and at least half of that vagrant population is Christian. It's a matter of cultural adaptation and educational policy.

I see from the release info that "Haathi Mere Saathi" (1971) was projected only in Portugal and Bulgaria. Gosh, why don't you see it in America as well. Hundred percent guarantee that the end scene where elephant is being shot in the eye would heal your heart. Actors / actresses are beautiful by any standard and cars are fashionable. Thank you!

Haathi Mere Saathi (1971) : Brief Review -

Rajesh Khanna's biggest blockbuster of the 70s decade is an evergreen emotional rollercoaster. Can animal-based films be such tearjerkers? Pet films have a long history, mostly because they were emotionally appealing. Be it the modern films like Charlie 777 (2022) or Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) or Hollywood's golden era classics like "Lassie Came Home" (1943), animated flick "The Lady and the Tramp" (1955), or coming-of-age drama "Old Yeller" (1957), we all cried while watching these films. But Haathi Mere Saathi has epic "Nafarat Duniya Ko," sung by Mohammed Rafi, man. How can any other film challenge that? The lyrics actually put humans at shame for their inhumanity towards animals. They are more loyal than humans, and that's why the lyricist says, "Pyaar ki duniya me khush rehna mere yaar." This is beyond any emotional experience. Beyond a tearjerker segment. The director has so many things to tell and so beautifully. Tanuja tells Ramu, "Jab tak tu Zinda hai me uss Ghar me wapas nahi aaungi," and she actually returns after he is dead. The doctor says, "Bhagwan pe bharosa rakho," and the next moment you have four elephants bathing Lord Ganesha's idol, and they start praying. Which pet/animal-driven film has such brilliant scenes, tell me? Convincing audiences with such films is the most difficult job, and that's why we don't have many blockbusters made on such topics. HMS tops the list. One of the major reasons was superstar Rajesh Khanna's presence and super hit songs, I agree, but convincing Rajesh Khanna to sign a sort of remake of a flop film in his peak period was a task itself. Writers Salim-Javed, director, and producer not only convinced Kaka but also the audience to make it a blockbuster film. It tells a lot about the impact the film must have left on the public. It just leaves you in so much pain and so many emotions that it just stays in your memory.

RATING - 7.5/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Haathi Mere Saathi is drama film directed by Late M. A. Thirumugam. The film stars Late Rajesh Khanna, Tanuja, late Madan Puri, Late Sujit Kumar and Late K. N. Singh.

Raju becomes very attached to his four elephants after they save his life. His wife, however, fears for her child and tells him that he must choose between the animals and his family.

The film which is one of the most entertaining film and was liked by adults and kids at the time of it's release was also considered as one of the biggest hit of not only Hindi cinema but also of the career of Rajesh Khanna and also paved the way for a new genre in Indian cinema.

The plot of the film is unique at the time the film was made and execution is good. The pace of the film is also good and is supported by some good songs which doesn't effects the pace of the film.

Screenplay of the film is decent but the viewers of current era might feel the film long, exhausting and cliched but the era the film was released it was normal and people loved such films.

Acting is decent and none of them were very impressive nor very disappointed as we have seen them doing similar acting in many films.

All the songs of the film are good specially the title track. Climax and the end of the film is emotional and perfect.

Can be watched once and the children will surely like this film.