Watch Tawaif

The movie Tawaif from 1985 is a Hindi-language drama film directed by B.R. Chopra. The film features an ensemble cast including veteran actors Ashok Kumar, Rishi Kapoor, and Rati Agnihotri in lead roles. The plot of the film revolves around a young and beautiful girl called Shabnam, who is compelled to become a tawaif (courtesan) due to certain circumstances in her life.

The story starts with the introduction of Shabnam (played by Rati Agnihotri) who is a young girl living with her father (played by Ashok Kumar) and brother in a small town. Her father is a former police officer who is now a farmer and is struggling to make ends meet. Shabnam is a young and cheerful girl who dreams of a better life for herself and her family. One day, while she is out with her friends, she meets Salim (played by Rishi Kapoor), a young man from a wealthy family. Salim is immediately attracted to Shabnam and tries to approach her, but she rebuffs him.

As fate would have it, Salim and Shabnam keep bumping into each other, and gradually, they become friends. However, things take a tragic turn when Shabnam's father is falsely accused of theft by the village headman, and he ends up losing his land and house. In this situation of desperation, Salim offers to help Shabnam and her family but with certain conditions. He offers to marry Shabnam and support her family, but on one condition – that she must become a tawaif and provide him with the companionship and entertainment he requires.

Shabnam is shocked and outraged at this proposal but is left with no other option. She agrees to this condition, and Salim marries her, takes her to the city, and gets her trained in the art of singing and dancing. Shabnam becomes a successful tawaif and earns a lot of money, but she is lonely and unhappy. She longs to escape this life and be with Salim, who is indifferent towards her.

The rest of the story unfolds with Shabnam's struggle to break free from the world of tawaifs and find love and acceptance in Salim's heart. She faces many obstacles, including her rival tawaif Champa (played by Poonam Dhillon), who is jealous of Shabnam's success and fame. Shabnam also has to deal with the disapproval of Salim's family, who are not ready to accept her as his wife.

The movie Tawaif is a powerful and poignant story that explores the themes of love, sacrifice, and societal norms. The film is beautifully shot, and the music by Ravi is melodious and soulful. The stellar performances by the cast, especially Rati Agnihotri, who portrays the character of Shabnam with grace and conviction, add to the overall impact of the film.

In conclusion, Tawaif is a classic Hindi film that takes the viewer on an emotional journey through the life of a courtesan and her struggles to find love and acceptance in a society that shuns her. It is a must-watch for all lovers of Indian cinema and a testament to the genius of B.R. Chopra as a filmmaker.

Tawaif is a 1985 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7.