I just watched this film and I highly recommend it to anyone who feels like making a trip into the Hindi cinema of yesteryear. While by no means original, the story has the perfect combination of drama, fun, romance, hardship and lucky coincidence. The court scenes at the end are wonderful, with Sunil Dutt in full 'Perry Mason' mode, and the finally comes with all the tears and high emotion that I've come to know and love from 'Bollywood' films. The songs are nice (a personal fav is 'O Meri Zohra Jabeen'), the ladies stunning, the gentlemen charming, and the young Shashi Kapoor divine! It took quite some searching to find a copy of this film on DVD but it was well worth the hunt.
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Schmelie10 June 2007
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HeadleyLamarr30 October 2007Balraj Sahni is affluent and cocky, living the good life with his beautiful wife and three young boys. He thinks he can control destiny but TIME wills otherwise and an earthquake scatters his family to the winds. His eldest turns into a suave thief Raja, played by Raj Kumar. The middle son, played exceedingly well by Sunil Dutt, is brought up by a very wealthy couple and turns into Ravi the lawyer. The youngest is Vijay, played by Shashi Kapoor, who lives with his mother in penury. He finds a job as a driver with Chinnoy Seth (Rehman), a master criminal. The two older brothers both fall in love with the beauteous Meena, played by Sadhna, while the younger romances the peppy Renu, played by Sharmila Tagore. Of course the brothers have to cross paths and in fact they meet and part and even bump into their father on the streets. By a quirk of fate Raja discovers that Ravi is indeed his brother and now blood will tell. He wants to smoothen the path of love for Ravi and Meena but is framed for a heinous murder committed by Chinnoy Seth. Chinnoy convinces Vijay to lie for him. An exceedingly well enacted courtroom drama, with the rookie Ravi defending Raja, terminates in the obligatory happy ending for all but the journey is most pleasant.
Waqt is Yash Chopra's finest film, evergreen, well written, well acted. It boasts of some of the most classic dialogs pre-Sholay - 'Chaku Se mat Khelo, Chot Lag Jayegi'. 'Jin Ke Khud Ke Ghar Sheese Ke Hon Woh Doosron par Patthar Nahin Phekte Chinoy Seth' etc. The court scenes are very engaging and have high drama but not much melodrama. The acting is great all around but the top folks are Balraj Sahni, Sunil Dutt (Gule Gulzaar Bulbule Yaar!), Raj Kumar, Sadhna. Oh - the film scores high on the looks quotient too! Sunil and Shashi are absolutely yummy, Sadhana is beautiful and Sharmila the sweet naive one.
Music is melodious - O Meri Zohra Zabeen, Hothon Pe Khushi, Kaun Aaya , and my personal favorite Aage Bhi Jaane Naa Tu. This one is a keeper and worth revisiting. -
iftikharkhokher27 August 2007Waqt was a hugely successful film though the story was pretty normal for the sixties.It was the stylish acting of Raaj Kumar which caught the eye.Sunil Dutt and the rest were not far behind.Balraj Sahani was simply perfect.The music and lyrics are outstanding.Before this film Raaj Kumar was not in much demand but Waqt i think was the turning point in his career.With so many good actors/actresses the film creates a very professional and convincing atmosphere.The direction is first-class especially the romantic scenes and songs.The earthquake construction is weak.Also it is unbelievable that Raju fails to recognize his father when he is caught by him running from the law.The end makes up for the flimsy plot but still it seems contrived.This results in a very average film of its period though the style is refreshing and admirable.
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Chrysanthepop25 September 2007Watching 'Waqy' was like making a pleasant visit to yesteryear's cinema. One wonders how Yash Chopra put it all together as it includes a stellar cast, wonderful music and engaging plot. Not only did he direct, he was responsible for other crew-work like choreography. even though the screenplay isn't original today, it was path-breaking at its time and it finely balances, comedy, drama, romance, hardship, music and suspense through coincidences. It is 'Waqt' that becomes a reference source for all of Chopra's future films e.g. Rani Mukherjee's rookie lawyer in 'Veer Zaara' parallel's Sunil Dutt's, Rekha (Silsila), Sridevi (Chandni), Preity (Veer Zaara) and pretty much every heroine in Chopra's films parallel Sadhana's grace and Juhi's (Darr) and Sridevi's (Lamhe) chirpiness parallel Sharmila's Renu.
Chopra does lightly tackle some issues such as coincidences, living in the present etc but 'Waqt' is an entertaining film, not one that will make you pick your brain. Though it is predictable, it remains enjoyable. Chopra had the three Kapoors (Raj, Shammi and Shashi) in mind to play the 3 brothers but (thankfully) he opted for Raaj Kumar and Sunil Dutt to play the elder brothers. The three brothers are different from one another. The eldest one is a charming and elegant thief, the younger one is an energetic hyperactive lawyer and the youngest one is a calm introvert. Raaj Kumar, Sunil Dutt and Shashi Kapoor fit their parts brilliantly. This is one of Raaj Kumar's best performances. Dutt and Kapoor are already known as fine actors. Sadhana brings grace and the actress has a delightful screen presence. A cute and chirpy Sharmila Tagore brings a smile and the voluptuous Shashikala makes a brief appearance too. Achala Sachdev is a complete natural and she shows the transition in her character with ease. Mr. Chinoy was made for Rehman and lastly, what would 'Waqt' be without Balraj Sahni? The actor just makes the cast complete.
'O Meri Zohra Jabeen' might be the most memorable track but the other songs are just as beautiful thanks to the magical voices of Asha Bhosle and Mahinder Kapoor. All have been wonderfully shot. I particularly liked the way Asha Bhosle's cabaret number 'Aage Bhi Jaane' was shot.
This is one evergreen classic that I've already watched numerous times. And, I haven't tired myself of it. -
vinodmohankunal25 August 2013Waqt is Yash Chopra's third film and the first colour film he directed after Dhool Ka Phool(1959) and Dharmputra(1961) which released in 1965.It was one of the first multi-star cast films of Hindi cinema.Yashji had initially thought of casting Prithviraj Kapoor and his three sons Raj,Shammi, and Shashi Kapoor.But with the exception of Shashiji,he replaced the others with Balraj Sahni,Raaj Kumar and Sunil Dutt, who I feel are a better choice for the roles though Prithviji,Rajji and Shammiji are also good actors.
Waqt according to me is Yash Chopra's best film out of the 22 films he has directed.Not just that,I also consider it to be the best Hindi film ever made till now.Waqt is the story of a wealthy trader Lala Kedarnath(Balraj Sahni),his wife Lakshmi(Achala Sachdev) and their three sons Raju(Raaj Kumar),Bablu(Sunil Dutt) and Mannu(Shashi Kapoor).Destiny plays a very cruel game with them.Their lives are shattered and their close knit family is now separated.They all grow up and now all of their lives are changed.All the players of the game are back on the field of life and will have to face each other now after about 2 decades.The paths of their lives get interconnected.But,this time the game is not cruel,though has difficult situations for its players.This is "Waqt" (time) playing a game with them.The same destiny that separated them earlier brings them together now.
Waqt is a scintillating dramatic experience of love,bonding, togetherness,separation and family values.This was also one of the first Hindi films to be made on the lost and found formula which was first seen in the Ashok Kumar-Mumtaz Shanti starrer Kismet(1948).There are no caricaturish villains,silly comedians or scheming vamps in this film.All the characters are believable and relatable.The direction by Yashji is top notch.The music by Ravi is excellent with some heart-rending melodies.The lyrics,writing,cinematography,editing,art direction are also worth mentioning.
The performance of the cast that includes Balraj Sahni,Achala Sachdev,Raaj Kumar,Rehman,Leela Chitnis,Sunil Dutt,Sadhana,Manmohan Krishna,Surendra Nath,Sumati Gupte,Hari Shivdasani,Shashi Kapoor,Sharmila Tagore,Madan Puri,Jeevan,Motilal,Shashikala and others is brilliant and all of them are worth mentioning.But,Raaj Kumar stands out with his excellent acting and dialogue delivery.Last but not the least the dialogues written by Akhtar-ul-Imaan are superb and very memorable.Easily one of the best dialogues written for any film. He definitely deserves a special mention.These dialogues have been re- used and re-interpreted in many films to come in the future.
On the overall, WAQT makes for a very interesting and engrossing watch.We move with "WAQT". -
Herag28 December 2004Waqt is a great from the Venerable Chopra institution when the Banner stood for quality and quality alone. This has an incredible Cast some including Raaj Kumar who had a very distinct style of his own. Sadhana was a cynosure of all eyes a glamor personified. The story is narrated well by Yash Chopra. This movie will remain as one of the best movies of the Sixties. What the current movies lack is the Star power of the movies and when the Producers choose Stars based on talent and not based on Film Fare awards which are not indicative of the real talent since they are fixed to the benefit of few ordained Actors. The intricate Film making technique is lost in the Commercial process.
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Peter_Young15 May 2010Yash Chopra's Waqt is a multi-starred lost-and-found Hindi melodrama. An earthquake destroys the home of a rich trader, and as a result his wife and three sons get separated, with only the youngest son remaining with his mother. But time causes all of them to meet again in some coincidental circumstances. Yes, it looks very typical today but it was one of the first of its sort, and it's thoroughly enjoyable. There are several genres within this one: a drama, a romance, a thriller, a musical, a courtroom drama. From emotions to suspense to music to coincidences to a happy ending, this one has it all, and like most of Yash Chopra's films, it is fun to watch. The film flows brilliantly with all the characters, the situations and the memorable songs, and its multi-starred cast performs well. Balraj Sahni and Achala Sachdev make for a very believable couple. Raaj Kumar gives a great performance and portrays the suave high-class professional thief with elegance and conviction. Sunil Dutt is very good as the humorous and lighthearted Ravi, Sadhana is grace personified as the lovely and beautiful Meena, Sharmila Tagore is likable as the peppy Renu, and Shashi Kapoor is fine as the simple Vijay. Among the songs, "O Meri Zohra Jabeen" and "Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu" are my favourite. It's been 45 years since this film's release, but time does not prevent Waqt from being a wonderful entertainer.
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Pratik11215 April 2009This is one movie, that whenever I have watched, has always brought tears in my eyes and that is probably because, not only does it remind me of my childhood days and going to the cinema, in this case the "Drive – In" in Kenya with my parents but also because of the music, the songs, the acting and the story.
"Waqt" means time and this is what the Director, has really shown in this movie – time. From the moment, a man is informed that one never knows what is going to happen next and he laughs it off, it sets the tone of the story. Moments later the family experience an earthquake and the whole family gets separated.
Starring Balraj Sahni, Achala Sachdev, Raj Kumar, Sadhana, Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Sunil Dutt, Motilal, Jeevan, Madan Puri, Leela Chitnis and Rehman, the movie is directed by Yash Chopra and is produced by BR Chopra. The superb music is by Ravi.
This movie set the tone for the future hits, such as "Yaadon Ki Baraat" and "Amar Akbar Anthony," where the brothers get separated and not only this but this also involved romance as well.
The late Balraj Sahini, I would say is at his very best here as are Sunil Dutt, Raj Kumar and Shashi Kapoor and all the other cast as well. Raj Kumar is just perfect in his role as a thief as is Sunil Dutt as a lawyer and Shashi Kapoor as a driver and the direction by Yash Chopra is just superb. The songs, and especially the one sung by Balraj Sahni, and the playback by Manna Dey, "Ai Meri Zohra Jabeen," are most memorable – all of them as is the one, "Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu," by Asha Bhonsle, as well.
Waqt was commercially a very successful film when released and the settings of this just shows how much the late BR Chopra, elder brother of Yash Chopra, was fond of the Hollywood style golden age by use of pink and blue walls, fountains, circular beds and mirrored ceilings and with his he also manages to capture the opulent lifestyle of many in what is now Mumbai.
This is one film that is worth watching whenever one can even if it is on a DVD or television. -
aniket_md5 March 2008What can I say!
- An extremely poor Shashi Kapoor struggling to raise money for his eternally sick mom flaunts fashionable designer clothes. Impeccable hair cut, clean-shaven look, amazing branded sweaters and trousers...one can hardly imagine the plight of the young "driver" when he has such fancy clothes to wear.
To top it off, he appears in a suit in the party leading to the climax when all other drivers appear in their uniforms. Wow!- Why do all family members have to get separated like that just defines my sense of logic. Let's say that you have a big family living in a big house, and earthquake strikes. Either you all get killed God-forbid, or some of you survive. Now would the survivors be separated light-years away from each other? You were in the same place, why would you wander off to a God forsaken place rather than sticking by for the authorities and make sure that your family is safe? I have to clap for the incredible stupidity of Bollywood film-makers.
- The way Raj Kumar is all over Sadhana making no secret of his love would make any sane girl know his true intentions. Sadhana is not shown as a flirtatious type; yet she is the last person to know of his motives?!?! Can you say Bollywood knows its subtlety. Let us imagine for the moment that Sadhana is indeed the statue of infinite innocence and has no idea that Raj Kumar pines for her. But then in a complete contradiction, she is scared when Raj Kumar asks her "his gift" for winning the race...clearly showing that she expects him to ask her hand. Can you say Bollywood has got it straight.
- The lesser said about the Court case, the better. For a Perry Mason enthusiast like me, Bollywood courts could not be farther from reality.
Why did this movie become a hit? 1. They added color stupid. 2. They put 3 heroes in the same picture. 3. The always successful "lost and found" formula in those days.
Sunit Datt is unarguably the saving grace of this movie. Now here is an actor, who is good looking, natural and quite talented. Now we got Shashi kapoor, who got the looks, but could indeed struggle to be a driver in the real life was he not one of the Kapoor Klan. I haven't seen an actor who is as close to being a stone as possible. Raj Kumar does try to get funny, but fails. Now he got no looks either...it's a mystery how he ever became a star and whatever people found in his many now-famous dialogues.
I like to watch most Bollywood movies for fun...this was fun indeed. -
aamirazeem2926 September 2007Films with two heroes and one heroine, or one hero and two heroines were not uncommon in the 60s. But B R Chopra was always a trend-setter (he dared to make two songs-less films Kanoon and Ittefaq in the 60s) and he decided to embellish his Waqt with as many as five top stars: Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Sadhana, Sharmila Tagore, Balraj Sahni.
A huge blockbuster in its day, Waqt had an abundance of all the Chopra staples: a unique theme, dulcet Ravi-composed numbers, top level performances, a courtroom climax: but this time there was more! Yash Chopra, who directed the film for his elder brother B R Chopra, limned each frame with the color of money. He dazzled the viewers by presenting a lifestyle that most of them had either read or dreamed about: wall-to-wall carpeted bungalows overlooking lakes and dales, dashingly-attired heroes racing red and yellow sports cars, pastels-clad, sartorially-splendid heroines listening to long playing records, swimming in 5-star hotels, or enjoying a game of badminton on their neatly manicured lawns.
This was the film that established the quintessential Yash Chopra style.
Yet the story never lost its bearings. F.A Mirza's story spanned a wide canvas and was peopled with an interesting array of characters. The frame opened with a prosperous dry fruit seller, Lala Kedarnath (Balraj Sahni), celebrating the opening of his new shop. The gritty Kedarnath is convinced that a man can make his own destiny, a sentiment not shared by the film's writer whose credo is exactly the opposite. After presenting a rare paean to middle-age love (refreshing because love in this emotionally-fertile age is so neglected in our films) in a song, where Kedarnath praises the blushing mother of his three sons (Achala Sachdev), the film shows an earthquake striking. The self-assured Kedarnath's happy family is suddenly scattered.
Kedarnath's youngest son Vijay remains with his penniless mother who has to do odd jobs to make him an educated youth (Shashi Kapoor). Middle son Kuku is adopted by a benevolent rich couple and is rechristened Ravi (Sunil Dutt). The eldest, Raja, unable to bear the beatings of a malicious orphanage manager (Jeevan) flees to become a thief (Raaj Kumar). Kedarnath too goes to prison for murdering the orphanage manager.
Yash Chopra stylishly pushes the time frame to several years ahead by focusing on Raja's metamorphosis from petty pickpocket to a suave thief. Raja steals Meena's (Sadhana's) necklace. However, when he sees her, he is smitten and returns the precious piece of jewels to her. Meena is charmed by the smooth-talking Raja but her heart is committed to the boisterous, fun-loving lawyer, Ravi.
A song-studded love triangle involving Raja, Ravi and Meena ensues. Interestingly, Raja and Ravi are unaware that they are brothers. Meena loves Ravi but there is a distinct suggestion that she enjoys Raja's attention too.
Meanwhile, Ravi's sister Renu (Sharmila) is ardently interested in Vijay. At this junction, Yash Chopra realizes that he has been a shade too indulgent with the footage dedicated to the languid love affairs and decides to get ahead with his story.
The script's neatly worked out domino effect is well worth examining. Renu is convinced that her broad-minded brother Ravi will accept her boyfriend, Vijay, even if he is Chenoy Seth's (Rehman's) driver. But to her dismay, Ravi humiliates Vijay. Enraged, Renu retaliates by reminding Ravi that he is only an adopted son whose background is unknown. Hurt, Ravi leaves their home.
Meena's snooty mother calls off her engagement to Ravi. Meanwhile, an emotional Raja, who has learned that Ravi is his brother, decides to announce Ravi's family background to Meena's parents to bring the lovers together again. But Raja's boss Chenoy Seth agrees to conceal the fact that Raja himself is a dishonorable thief, only if he pull off a heist for him: one last time.
A grand party scene follows. However, before Raja can steal a princess' diamond necklace, Chenoy Seth's hireling, Balbir (Madan Puri) gets embroiled in a brawl with Raja. Hours later, Balbir is murdered.
The suspect: eldest brother, Raja. The witness: youngest brother, Vijay. The defending lawyer: middle brother, Ravi.
The film culminates with an absorbing courtroom drama (enlivened by Motilal's presence as the prosecution lawyer) and a grand reunion of Lala Kedarnath with his wife and three sons: an emotional high point.
Waqt tantalizes the audience by showing the brothers repeatedly criss-crossing each other or their parent's paths, and thrives on there's many a slip between the cup and the lip feel, reel after reel.
The screenplay credited to BR Films story department marvelously integrates strands of the individual stories of three brothers into a cohesive unit.
Sadhana, dressed in gorgeous chiffon and embroidered churidar kurtas, justifies her fashion icon reputation and embellishes the film's lush look especially in her swimsuit change scene. A young Sharmila draws notice in her confrontation scene with Sunil Dutt. Sunil Dutt gives a relaxed performance while Shashi Kapoor is earnest.
In this battle of acting honors, the choice narrows down to Balraj Sahni and Raaj Kumar. But aided by some clap-evoking lines, the theatrical Raaj steals the show.
The raspy-voiced Raaj's unique rendition of Akhtar Iman's lines: "This knife is not for children. If you cut your hand, you will bleed" is repeated with great enthusiasm by dialog buffs even today. -
Waqt is a classic Bollywood film directed by Yash Chopra and released in 1965. Starring an ensemble cast that includes Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Sadhana, and Balraj Sahni, the movie is often regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema.
The film revolves around the theme of time and its impact on the lives of various characters. It tells the story of a prosperous family that gets separated due to an earthquake. The calamity tests the bonds of relationships and highlights the importance of valuing time and cherishing the moments with loved ones.
One of the standout aspects of "Waqt" is its screenplay, which skillfully weaves together multiple narratives and creates a sense of anticipation throughout the film. The screenplay beautifully explores the consequences of the characters' choices and their subsequent redemption. The dialogues are well-written, poignant, and thought-provoking, adding depth to the storytelling.
The performances in "Waqt" are commendable, with each actor delivering a memorable portrayal. Balraj Sahni stands out as the patriarch of the family, showcasing his versatility and emotional range. Raaj Kumar's performance as a morally conflicted character leaves a lasting impact. Shashi Kapoor and Sunil Dutt provide strong support, displaying their acting prowess in their respective roles. Sadhana brings grace and charm to her character, adding a touch of romance to the narrative.
The film's music, composed by Ravi and with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi, is another highlight. The songs like "Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu" and "Kaun Aaya Ke Nigahon Mein" have become timeless classics, enhancing the emotional impact of the scenes. The background score effectively sets the mood and elevates the tension in crucial moments.
Yash Chopra's direction in "Waqt" showcases his ability to handle complex narratives with finesse. He effectively blends drama, emotion, and social commentary, making the film relatable and engaging for the audience. The cinematography captures the grandeur of the sets and the natural beauty, providing a visually appealing experience.
"Waqt" is not just a family drama but also serves as a social commentary on the values and priorities of the time. It emphasizes the significance of relationships, unity, and the need to seize the present moment. The movie's message is relevant even today, making it a timeless classic in the history of Indian cinema.
In conclusion, "Waqt" is a must-watch film that deserves recognition for its engaging narrative, powerful performances, memorable music, and its ability to deliver a thought-provoking message. It continues to be a benchmark for Bollywood films and holds a special place in the hearts of Indian movie enthusiasts. -
kakusei13 July 2011this film has a very interesting premise, but falls into too many Indian film traps to follow through on the interesting start.
the film has several excellent lines, and the central message - that time can change anything, is a point well-made. much of the dialogue refers to this point, something which is almost never done in Indian film. the songs also discuss the meaning and impact of time, which is something quite refreshing...
but the rest of the story is all just filler, as it shows quite early on that the entire plot was constructed simply to have situations in which time can be discussed and the family could eventually be reunited...
the last chunk of the film is a lengthy court scene (the courtroom is the lazy writer's best friend), in which everything is put right and everyone gets what they deserve. the tearjerking, emotionally manipulative ending, in which every family member just happens to be in the same city, watching the same trial that they all just happened to be involved in is PURE bollywood cheese, but gave most of the audience what they wanted. basically, this film could have been ten minutes long and it most likely would have had the same audience reaction... -
sd26825 November 2000The story of Waqt is pretty standard: an earthquake separates the members of a wealthy family with three sons, who are brought up as a result in separate and quite different circumstances. Eventually, of course, the family is reunited, but not before variuous twists and turns culminating in the three brothers appearing in court in connection with the trial for murder of one brother, with the other brothers being the defence counsel and a witness for the prosecution, respectively. Pretty standard stuff - but stylishly presented and with strong performances,particularly by Sadhan as the love interest of one of the brothers, and Sunil Dutt as the lawyer brother. Nice stuff, great music, lavish sets, and a pretty cool courtroom denouement!
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rahul-rdthecool-das24 February 2020This is an old wine. This movie's story is like a fairy tale.
This movie got everything,eg- drama, tragedy, action, romance etc.
Full on entertaining, nice courtroom drama at the end of the movie. -
singh-mahender197123 July 2022This is one film, that not only everyone should see, but should refresh at least once a year. Man proposes and God disposes - the underlying theme, story of a self made merchant. The merchant has plans for his sons, to be devastated by an earthquake. Three brothers, crime, court, poverty. All said, Sunil Dutt, Rajkumar deliver excellent performances. Balraj Sahni, only 30 minutes role in 3 hours, steals the show. Some extremely serious, meaningful dialogues - give message of life. The orphanage scenes, court room drama, solo Mohammed Rafi song, and the climax - make out a never ending treat for the quality film watchers. Highly recommended for all generations.
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The lost and found formula has been a very popular formula for the masala flicks made in India which contains separation of beloveds (friends or siblings or parents and children or lovers) in childhood and their reunion in adulthood. Certain movies made on this formula were immensely successful on the box office, viz. Yaadon Ki Baarat (1973), Dharm-Veer (1977) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Muqaddar Ka Sikander (1978) etc. Crime has always been part of the scripts based on this formula. I consider Waqt (1965) as the best Bollywood movie ever made on this formula. It is a classic movie made by none other than B.R. Films and directed by none other than Yash Chopra.
Waqt (time) starts with the inauguration of the new shop of a businessman - Lala Kedarnath (Balraaj Saahni) who believes that human-being can do anything with his efforts and ability and accordingly pre-plans the future of his three sons. However on the night of the inauguration itself, an earthquake shatters his house, his shop and his dreams as well. The father - Kedarnath, the mother - Laxmi (Achala Sachdev) and the two elder sons get separated in the wake of the natural calamity. Only the youngest son fortunately remains with the mother. The eldest son, Raju reaches an orphanage but due to the oppression of its warden (Jeevan) runs away from there. The warden later on gets killed in the hands of Kedarnath when he enquires about his son and comes to know that he had ill-treated his son. Kedarnath gets long sentence. The second son, Babloo is found by a rich but childless couple which fosters him like its own child.
Years pass and the children are grown-up now. The eldest son, Raju has now become Raja (Raaj Kumar), a criminal working for a bigger white-collared criminal Chinoy (Rehman). The second one, Babloo has now become Ravi (Sunil Dutt) who is a lawyer now. Fate make these two brothers rivals for the love of a common girl - Meena (Saadhna) who is the daughter of the police commissioner (Manmohan Krishna). The youngest brother, Munna has now become Vijay (Shashi Kapoor) who is in love with Renu (Sharmila Tagore) the sister of Ravi (born to his fostering parents later). Vijay has been fostered by his poor and ailing mother with a lot of difficulty. He gets the job of a chauffeur at Chinoy's house. Now the old father - Kedarnath has also completed his jail sentence and is searching for his lost family.
Though Raja initially hates Ravi due to his being his rival for Meena's love but once he accidentally comes to know that Ravi is, in fact, his lost younger brother; his hatred is evaporated like anything. All of a sudden, Ravi comes to know that he is not the son of the parents who have fostered him. He leaves the house to search his true identity and his real parents. Raja supports him and throws a party to announce the engagement of Ravi and Meena. However in that party, a spat takes place between Raja and Balbir (Madan Puri) who is Chinoy's man. Later on Balbir himself gets killed in the hands of Chinoy whose eye-witness is none other than Vijay, Raja's younger brother and Chinoy's chauffeur. Raja is arrested under the charge of Balbir's murder and he appoints his younger brother - Ravi as his defense counsel. In the climax, not only Raja is acquitted but also the whole family is reunited. Kedarnath restarts his business but now he has learnt a lesson that human-being is not the biggest power on Earth. The biggest power is TIME (or DESTINY).
The movie is studded with coincidences, romance, songs, thrill and witty dialogues. The hypnotizing court-room drama in the climax is the icing on the cake. There are too many characters but justice has been done to all of them (though some of them are high-profile whereas the others are low-profile in the story).
The hero of this movie is actually its mesmerizing script and the script-writers deserve a big hand. The dialogue-writers are at par with them as far as the quality of the work is concerned. Raaj Kumar's famous dialogues in the movie - 'Jinke Apne Ghar Sheeshe Ke Hon, Woh Doosron Par Patthar Nahin Phenka Karte' and (regarding the knife) 'Yeh Bachchon Ke Khelne Ki Cheez Nahin, Haath Kat Jaaye To Khoon Nikal Aata Hai' are still remembered by the people and they played a major role taking his career to unprecedented heights.
Ravi has composed great music with the help of Saahir's beautiful lyrics. All the songs are real gems. Hum Jab Simat Ke Aapki Baahon Mein Aa Gaye, Din Hain Bahaar Ke Tere Mere Iqraar Ke, Chehre Pe Khushi Chha Jaati Hai, Kaun Aaya Ki Nigaahon Mein Chamak Jaag Uthi, Aye Meri Johra Jabeen, Maine Ek Khwaab Sa Dekha Hai, Waqt Se Din Aur Raat and Aage Bhi Jaane Na Tu, which can be considered any less than the others ? The song - Maine Ek Khwaab Sa Dekha Hai which Sunil Dutt and Saadhna sing over phone to each other just like a romantic conversation evidences the height of romance in the movie.
All the actors have delivered great performances and every principal character has been able to preserve his / her uniqueness among others. However the memorable performances have come from Sunil Dutt and Raaj Kumar. Besides, the performance of Balraaj Saahni and Achala Sachdev (blushing like a teenager girl while listening to the romantic song of her husband) in the song - Aye Meri Johra Jabeen is also something unforgettable.
Waqt was a blockbuster and I bet, it will again prove to be a blockbuster, if re-released.