Watch Kitaab

Kitaab is a classic Indian movie that was released in 1977, directed by B.R. Chopra and starring Uttam Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Shreeram Lagoo. The word "Kitaab" itself means "book" in Hindi, and it tells the story of how a book (or rather, a series of books) changes the lives of two people who live in different worlds. The story is set in Mumbai, India, and revolves around Sudha (played by Vidya Sinha), a homesick village girl who moves to the city to teach children in a public school. She is given a pile of books to distribute to her students. Among them, she discovers a diary written by the school's previous teacher, a man named Charni (played by Uttam Kumar).

As Sudha reads the diary, she becomes deeply engrossed in Charni's life story. As it turns out, Charni had been a writer of pulp fiction novels before taking up the job of a school teacher. However, he lost his way after becoming an alcoholic, his career went downhill, and he ended up at the teaching job.

Slowly, Sudha and Charni's paths begin to cross, and the two of them develop a bond. Sudha becomes his confidant, listening to Charni's stories of the characters he created, and how life stopped making sense once he stopped writing.

The movie is a commentary on the power of books and their capacity to reach across divides and bring people together. It is also a story of the triumph of the human spirit over addiction and depression. Notably, this was the first time that a film explored the complex and nuanced life of an alcoholic in India.

In addition to being a gripping story, Kitaab is also noted for its music. The soundtrack was composed by R.D. Burman and contains some of the most memorable songs in Indian cinema, such as "Mere Pyar Ki Umar Ho Itni Sanam" and "Chukar Mere Man Ko."

Kitaab was a critical and commercial success and cemented Uttam Kumar's legacy as an actor. The film also helped introduce Vidya Sinha, who went on to achieve fame in movies like Chhoti Si Baat.

Overall, Kitaab is a must-watch for anyone interested in classic Indian cinema. Its exploration of the themes of addiction, human connection, and the transformative power of stories make it as relevant today as it was when it was released over four decades ago.

Kitaab is a 1977 drama. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.