Watch Bahu Beti

Bahu Beti is a 1965 Bollywood film directed by T. Prakash Rao and stars Ashok Kumar, Mala Sinha, and Joy Mukherjee in lead roles. The film tells the story of a family, consisting of a mother, two daughters, and a son, who face various trials and tribulations as they navigate through life. The film opens with Radha (Mala Sinha) returning home after completing her studies in the city. She is welcomed with open arms by her mother, Shanti Devi (played by Sulochana Latkar), and her younger sister Munni (played by Shashikala). Their brother, Shambhu (Joy Mukherjee), who runs a garage, is initially distant towards his sister but slowly warms up to her.

Radha soon becomes the apple of everyone's eye with her cheerful and vivacious nature. However, trouble starts brewing when Radha falls in love with Ramesh (Ashok Kumar), a wealthy businessman who is much older than her. Despite their age difference, Radha and Ramesh are deeply in love, and Ramesh is willing to overlook the societal norms that dictate that he should not marry such a young girl.

However, their happiness is short-lived as Shambhu, who is in love with Ramesh's daughter, opposes their union. He feels that Ramesh is stealing his sister's youth and turning her into an old woman before her time. He also does not approve of Ramesh's intention to take Radha away from the family, as he feels that his sister would be better off staying with her family.

As tensions rise, Shambhu and Ramesh get into a heated argument, and Shambhu ends up accidentally killing Ramesh. This event sets off a chain of events that leads to the family being torn apart. Radha chooses to stay with her family and reject Ramesh's offer to take her away with him. Shambhu, consumed with guilt, turns to drinking and becomes a liability for the family.

In the meantime, Munni, who has been a background character until now, gets her own storyline. She falls in love with a man who is forced to marry someone else due to family pressure. Munni is heartbroken but stays true to her love and remains unmarried.

The film explores themes such as love, family, societal norms, and the consequences of one's actions. The performances of the lead actors are excellent, especially Mala Sinha and Ashok Kumar, who bring their characters to life with depth and nuance.

The film's music is also noteworthy, with some memorable tracks such as "Koi Door Se Aawaz De Chale Aao," "Hum Bhi Agar Bachche Hote," and "Kab Hoyee Gava." These songs and the accompanying picturization help convey the emotion of the characters and add to the overall impact of the film.

In conclusion, Bahu Beti is a well-crafted family drama that still holds up today. The film's message of love and unity is universal, and the issues it raises about family dynamics and societal expectations are still relevant. The film is a must-watch for fans of classic Bollywood cinema and those who enjoy emotional family dramas.

Bahu Beti is a 1965 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 12 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.