Prem Rog

This movie was way ahead of the times. It requires an immense amount of intellect to appreciate the undertones. Socialism, culture, love, abuse, feminism and self respect embroiled into one stunning movie. It swept the floor at the National Awards, with a powerhouse performance from Padmini, but equally great performance from Rishi. Problem is that Rishi acts so effortlessly that he makes it look easy and always gets overlooked by Awards.

The movie is directed to utter perfection, the songs, cinematography and script is second to none. They can't make anything like this again. My favourite scene is near the finale during the village power blackout and confrontation between Rishi & Shammi, the dialogue which turns all the lights back on still gives me goosebumps.

Review By Kamal K

Very Powerful movie, i say..MUST watch.. No wonder why Rishi kapoor ji was a Heartthrob..Watching him is always a delight.. Beautiful story line.. And superb acting, Innocence of Rishi ji and Padmini ji stole the show.. I hv seen this movie multiple times.

Director, actor and producer Raj kapoor was started acting and self direction movie from age of 23 he was outstanding superstar in indian movies he was done many blockbuster Awara , shri420 , Barsat , sangam , chalia , chori chori , Ram teri ganga maili , bobby , Satyam shivam sundaram , andaz etc in the kapoor family and indian box office nobody born till now that beat Raj kapoor record of blockbusters and stardom in india , Russia and Europe. Awara movie world record that made 20lakh budget and earn worldwide 17.60cr , shri 420 budget 25lakh worldwide collection 20cr , barsat budget 20 lakh earn 15cr worldwide , sangam , mera naam joker iconic movie flop in india but outstanding earn from worldwide that movie becomes blockbuster in world's top movies.

Manorama (Padmini Kolhapuri) is one of the best written characters of Hindi cinema. Raj Kapoor builds her character so beautifully that the viewer's heart breaks when disaster and grief befalls her. Not only her, all the other characters are written with intent and conviction. That is probably the reason why some big names of the Hindi film industry play those roles which hardly afford any screen time - the likes of Tanuja, Bindu and Nanda. Each character is well defined and have a role to play in the story.

The last half an hour of the films goes a bit too much into delivering social messages. In fact, the film editorializes throughout but that passes through because the character of Devdhar (Rishi Kapoor) is intended to be that of a forward thinking reformer. Staying on Rishi Kapoor, he is a calm and composed actor. He knows that he is second fiddle to Padmini Kolhapuri in this film but that does not stop him from being the natural actor that he is. As for Padmini Kolhapuri, this is easily the role of her lifetime.

Devdhar's love for Manorama is almost Sufi. The title track (Main Hoon Prem Rogi) is drenched in Sufi ethos. It stays throughout the film. My favorite song, however, is 'Ye Galiyaan Ye Chaubara' rendered flawlessly by Lata Mangeshkar.

Prem Rog is basically a social film, in keeping with the traditions of R.K Films. But it is the characterization of Manorama that makes it an important film to have come out of that production house.

A very interesting film about some of the not so nice traditional customs relating to caste and culture practised in parts of India. This film features some of the most beautiful song picturisation I have ever seen. The song in the tulip farms is a must to see. It brings alive the the passion and the love. The ending may have been a bit over the top, but this movie has an important social message. All in all a very good film...