I recommended Bandhe Haath is a rare Amitabh film worth seeing.
This Movie Bandhe Haath is actually Amitabh Bachchan's first Double Role.
Shyamu (Amitabh Bachchan) is a thief who decides to go straight after the death of his mentor (Madan Puri). He comes across an ailing Deepak (again Amitabh Bachchan), a poet whom everyone respects. After Deepak dies, Shyamu assumes his identity and tells the police that Shyamu has taken refuge in his house and has now passed away. But a police inspector (Ajit) has his suspicions. So does Rajni (Kumud Chuggani), a girl Deepak liked. Meanwhile, Mala (Mumtaz), who works in a dance troupe falls for Deepak. Shyamu now has to behave like Deepak in front of the police, Rajni and Mala if he doesn’t want to spend his life in jail.
Shyamu’s first act as "Deepak" is to pack bags and move to Bombay and the theatre where Mala works. He even takes the precaution of burning all specimens of Deepak’s hand-writing, replacing all manuscripts with his own hand-written copies. So now Shyamu is all set to take the world (and Mala) by storm. To his great good fortune, he runs into Mala the moment he steps out of the train. She’s come to receive her cousin Kavita (Tun Tun) with her Mom, and invites Shyamu to stay the night at their house. Shyamu happily agrees, and quickly declares his love to Mala’s portrait that helpfully adorns the walls of the guest bedroom (for the convenience of all love-sick guests?). Mala hears his declaration and makes it clear that she thoroughly approves of his sentiments.
So now Shyamu has a place in honest society and the love of a good woman. You’d think that he’s all set for a good life. You’d be wrong! Inspector Kumar sees him on a visit to the theatre, and is instantly suspicious. But the worse is yet to come! One of Deepak’s fans - Rajni (Kumud Chugani), turns up, out of the blue. She had never met Deepak, but the two had carried out a romantic correspondence and she has every expectation of claiming Deepak’s romantic attentions. She is furious to see "Deepak" getting up-close and personal with Mala, and throws a scene. Once she mentions Deepak’s letters, Shyamu immediately hurries out with her, leaving Mala convinced that she is being taken for a ride by a womaniser!
Shyamu spends some time with Rajni, trying to find out how much of a threat she poses to his new-found identity. Once he realises that she has letters written to her by the real Deepak, he knows he must get to them before they can reveal his imposture. So he plays along with Rajni’s romantic wishes, trying to keep Mala’s suspicions at bay and staying one step ahead of Inspector Kumar’s investigations. But that isn’t the sum of his troubles. Rajni was betrothed to her father’s friend’s son Ranjeet (Ranjeet) who swears that he will fix this or any Deepak who comes between him and Rajni’s wealth. Shyamu does seem to have more than his fair share of perils.
Whether he’s able to fool everybody forms the crux of the film.
The film has the potential to be a good thriller but it squanders it in favour of giving us a morality lesson about good vs bad!
Amitabh Bachchan in a Double Role is intense and competent as always.
This film has a unique moment
where Amitabhs voice has been dubbed by a person with a different voice. The scene in question is when Amitabh meets a dieing look alike in the film. For the dieing character his voice the director chose a dubbing artiste to lend authenticity.
The film was made by O.P.Ralhan and Directed by O.P Goyle and Mumtaz was the bigger star she does her part well. (It is rumoured that distributor G.P.Sippy wanted Amitabh to be replaced by Dharmendra or Naveen Nishcol, both being busy even Sanjay Khan was asked to be considered but till then Bombay to Goa worked and Amitabh Bachchan was cemented ) but O.P Ralhan also didn't risk directing it himself.
Other actors like Ajit , O.P.Ralhan, Ranjit, Kumud and Madan Puri do their part well.
R.D.Burman has composed 5 songs of which the title song is the classic..
Dekho Yeh Mere Bandhe Hath (Kya Jaano Main Hoon Kaun)
Lata Mangeshkar has three songs and Dil lai Gawa has Asha Bhonsle with R.D , Mannadey and Mahendra Kapoor. The music focus was obviously on Mumtaz.
When the film released after being censored on 15th January ( Second week of Feb 73), as predicted, it flopped badly, though after the release of Zanjeer, it picked up slowly in some places. It was re-released later and did better business.
Ironically Amitabh Bachchan and Ajit were on the opposite sides of the table in both . Ajit being the cop in Bandhe Haath and Amitabh as Inspector Vijay of Zanjeer.
Not a Classic Amitabh Film but can be seen for the early shades of the emerging Angry Young Star ( Zanjeer followed in May and changed the scenario).
Trivia : Remake of Shammi Kapoors Mujrim directed by O.P.Ralhan
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