The Hindi Film ‘Saudagar’ starring Dilip Kumar, Raaj Kumar, Amrish Puri, Vivek Mushran and introducing Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff, Gulshan Grover, Deepti Naval, Anupam Kher and Dalip Tahil was released in 1991. The film has been directed by Subhash Ghai, produced by Subhash Ghai and Ashok Ghai. The film writers include Subhash Ghai, Kamlesh Pandey and Sachin Bhowmick. The film’s music directors were Laxmikant Pyarelal. It was a Silver Jubilee success mainly for the storyline (influenced by Romeo and Juliet) and mega star cast of Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar. It won the Filmfare Best Director award that year.
The film plot revolves around the popular friendship of Veer ‘Veeru’ Singh (Dilip Kumar) and Rajeshwar ‘Raju’ Singh (Raaj Kumar). Once upon a time as the film starts, says Mandhaari Kaka who narrates the strong bond between the two men of love and friendship. In present day, they are bitter enemies who have separate their territories of existence and kill any enemy who enters their boundary. It was an offer of marriage which Veeru refused when Raju’s asked his hand for his sister. Veeru and Raju have become grandfathers now.
Veeru’s grandson is Vasu (Vivek Mushran) and Radha is Raju’s grand daughter who comes from the city to live with her family as her education is over. Radha meets Vasu by chance and they fall in love. Mendhaari kaka is surprised to know this fact and tells them the past. They decide to re-kindle their grandfather’s friendship and get their love accepted. It is a life threatening task but they go ahead with it. They swap places in the houses of the two stalwarts as maids. A lot of melodrama, fights, love, hatred, daggers follow drawn but one Holi day, the two Singh’s meet and their lost friendship is renewed.
They decide to convince their sons to get the two lovebirds united by the malicious games played by Chuniya Mama (Amrish Puri) keep on increasing. He joins hands with Gulshan Grover to end the two big families but instead they are put to end, when their ill intentions becomes open to Veeru and Raju. Their sons apologise to each other and Vasu and Radha are married. Love ends enemity and flys high in the air of the mountains.
The song ‘Ilu Ilu’ became very famous. Others songs were also appreciated and enjoyed. It is a good family drama worth watching many times.
