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India Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bees Saal Baad: Timeless mystery of an English babu, village belle, and desi ghost
As part of our Retro Review series, we revisit 'Bees Saal Baad' (1962), a horror-suspense classic that became the highest-grossing film of its year. This Gothic-inspired gem, blending eerie mystery with haunting melodies, remains a captivating Review: Bees Saal Baad (1962)Cast: Waheeda Rehman, Biswajeet, Manmohan Krishna, Madan Puri, SajjanDirector: Biren NagMusic/Lyrics: Hemant Kumar, Shakeel BadayuniBox-Office Status: Super HitWhere to Watch: YouTube (4K version available)Why to Watch: For its moody Gothic horror, quirky camera work, and Hemant Kumar's haunting soundtrackMoral of the Story: Past wrongs cast long shadows, but vengeance is a hollow pursuitadvertisementIn a dimly lit haveli of Chandangarh, Kumar (Biswajeet) extinguishes the last lamp. A mournful wail pierces the foggy night, followed by the faint jingle of ghungroos. As Kumar steps through a creaking door to investigate, a clock strikes 9:30, and a glass shatters with a jarring crash."The female spirit has returned to claim another jagirdar,' warns the mansion's lone servant, a bent-over man who speaks in riddles. In a stroke of cinematic brilliance, the camera lingers on Kumar's shadowed face before panning to a swinging chandelier. Just as you brace for its collapse, the scene shifts abruptly to a swamp for a surprising comic interlude. This moment is one of many clever red herrings that make 'Bees Saal Baad' a haunting murder mystery - spellbinding even after six decades. Despite its simple plot, the film's moody lighting, inventive camera angles, eerie sound design, and enigmatic characters create a Gothic masterpiece that's impossible to look away these elements converge at the film's halfway mark to craft an unforgettable scene. As the clock strikes 9:30 - a chilling motif—the chandelier sways, a shadow glides past the haveli, and Lata Mangeshkar's haunting voice reverberates through the swamp. 'O, o, o, ooKahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil' her notes soar, blending with the slow rhythm of a flute and a snake charmer's pungi. A woman clutches her child and flees indoors; villagers huddled around a fire tremble in fear. Dressed in a suit and hat, Kumar pursues the eerie melody through the marsh. The camera darts from the marsh to a pair of anklets, white leather boots, jootis, crutches and a man with a false eye patch. 'What's your destiny? Come and find out,' Lata's voice soars through the chaos. It's a masterful fusion of melody, mystery, and artistry, with frames lit like a timeless painting. Watch it on a monsoon midnight, and the scene will make you go on a rewind Plot:The film begins with the rape and suicide of a village girl, whose vengeful spirit, villagers believe, targets every male in the zamindar family to avenge her tragedy. Kumar, the only surviving scion of the zamindars, returns to Chandangarh from abroad after 20 years - hence the title - to investigate the murders of three by warnings, Kumar pursues every clue and eerie sound through a treacherous marsh where the murders occurred. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Radha (Waheeda Rehman), the village hakeem's mystery deepens with a cryptic doctor appearing at odd hours in a buggy, a man feigning disability, and another murder. Is a supernatural killer at large? Or is it one of the many characters with hidden motives? Will Kumar escape the curse, or is it his destiny? The resolution unfolds in the gripping climax. A Nod to Dracula, HolmesDirector Biren Nag, a former art director, frames the narrative as a piece of Gothic art, crafting a masterpiece with Hemant Kumar's haunting melodies. The influence of Western horror cinema is evident. Shots of a horse-drawn buggy cutting through foggy nights echo the shadowy lighting and dramatic visuals of Dracula (1931). The recurring marsh motif and animal sounds -horses whinnying, cats mowing, and bells on calves jangling—draw inspiration from the pastoral horror of The Hound of the Baskervilles, a Sherlock Holmes classic. 'Bees Saal Baad' pays homage to the horror zeitgeist of the black-and-white editing could have elevated the film further. A crisper romantic subplot and the removal of Asit Sen's bumbling detective, with his grating sing-song voice, would have sharpened the drama. The climax, though gripping, feels slightly implausible. Yet, these are minor film's music - Lata Mangeshkar's haunting 'Kahin Deep Jale Kahin Dil', and the playful 'Sapne Suhane Ladakpan Ke', and Hemant Kumar's timeless tracks like 'Zara Nazron Se Kah Do Ji' and 'Beqarar Karke Hamen Yun Na Jaiye' - more than compensates for any shortcomings. 'Kahin Deep' appears twice in the movie— a bonus that makes the film's track one of the greatest in Indian 'Bees Saal Baad' delivers a thrilling blend of mesmerising visuals, enigmatic characters, false alarms, red herrings, and jump scares, cementing its status as a Gothic classic that entertains even 60 saal baad.
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rekha Felt 'Betrayed' After Co-Star Kissed Her Without Consent During Early Film Shoot
Last Updated: In a disturbing revelation from her early Bollywood days, veteran actor Rekha was reportedly kissed without consent by co-star Biswajeet during the filming of Anjana Safar. Before she became an icon of grace and resilience, Rekha's initial years in the Hindi film industry were marked by hardship and unsettling experiences. Starting her career as a teenager in the late 1960s, the young actress—born to South Indian cinema legend Gemini Ganesan—moved to Bombay to support her family during difficult times. Despite her lineage, she struggled to find a foothold in Hindi cinema and faced numerous challenges, including harassment on set. One such incident is recounted in Rekha: The Untold Story by Yasser Usman. The book reveals a disturbing episode from the filming of Anjana Safar (later retitled Do Shikari), which began production in 1969. According to the account, a scene was orchestrated by actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal, and cinematographer Raja Nawathe, where Biswajeet kissed Rekha on the lips without informing her beforehand. The camera rolled, and the act—meant to be spontaneous—left Rekha visibly stunned and violated. Biswajeet later admitted that Rekha was 'betrayed and furious," though he claimed the moment was essential to the film and not done for personal pleasure. 'It was not for my enjoyment, but important for the film," he said, as quoted in the book. Director Kuljeet Pal, however, offered a contradictory version, insisting Rekha had given her consent for the kiss. 'She said she had no reservations… I only told her it would be better if she later said she didn't like it, since such scenes weren't common for Hindi heroines," he claimed. The controversy aside, Do Shikari didn't release until 1979, a full decade after filming began. Meanwhile, Rekha made her official Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970 and soon climbed the ladder of stardom with hits like Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Dharmatma, and Mr. Natwarlal, gradually rewriting her narrative on her own terms. Today, Rekha stands not just as a Bollywood legend, but also as a symbol of endurance and evolution—her early struggles forming the steel that defines her poise. First Published:
India.com
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Rekha was once forcibly kissed by this actor, was shocked, left crying but he laughed and said…, his name is…
Rekha was once forcibly kissed by this actor, was shocked, left crying but he laughed and said..., his name is... There is frequently more to the glitzy world of Bollywood than meets the eye, where show business and stardom are frequently viewed as the most important qualities. Every glitzy look and every moment of fame has a backstory that is rarely such tale is of a legendary actress. Daughter of legendary Tamil actor Gemini Ganesan, the actress we are talking about is none other than Rekha. Destined for the limelight, Rekha's successful journey into Hindi cinema came with a lot of struggles. From not having command over language, to being typecasted and facing public criticism, Rekha went through a lot. She did her first film Sawan Bhadon, in 1970. The movie brought her into the limelight, and later she delivered a series of hits like Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Mr. Natwarlal, and Dharmatma. But behind the screen, was a young actress traversing a minefield of discomforts, one of which is a particularly black page from her early years. As Yasser Usman revealed in his book Rekha: The Untold Story, He shared a controversial event that happened with Rekha during the shoot of Do Shikari, when she was naive, new, and vulnerable. Director Kuljeet Pal, actor Biswajeet, and cinematographer Raja Nawathe, as per the book, had a conspiracy to shoot a kiss without talking about it to Rekha earlier. As shooting was going on, Biswajeet kissed her on the lips without warning. The act was shot by surprise, leaving the actress unaware of any such scene being shot. Years on, Biswajeet justified the act, saying it was not done for fun but was required for the movie. Rekha was said to be left shocked and embarrassed. The incident raised controversy regarding consent, professionalism, and ethics on the set—issues that were hardly recognized in the industry back then. But director Kuljeet Pal later asserted that Rekha had been apprised and had agreed to the scene. He maintained that scenes like these were few for actresses in Hindi films at that time and posited that if Rekha was ever uncomfortable, she could have brought it out in public. This inconsistent account has ever since buried the truth under mystery, but it cannot remove the emotional damage on Rekha. However later Rekha got married in 1990 to Industrialist Mukesh Agarwal, which only went for seven months as later he died by suicide. The movie, which started filming in 1969, wasn't put out on the screens until 1979—a decade that witnessed Rekha's remarkable transformation from a self-conscious teenager to a self-assured and award-winning actress. Speaking of Rekha's personal life, her relationship with Amitabh Bachchan has always been in the news, even though they never accepted it. While Rekha and Amitabh's relationship never materalised into anything, they both their respective partners.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rekha was once forcibly kissed by co-star on set without her consent; He claimed, 'it was not for my enjoyment... but important for the film'
Veteran actress Rekha is one of the most talented and loved atcresses we have in Bollywood. Despite being the daughter of the legendary Gemini Ganesan , Rekha and her family faced financial struggles, and her lineage didn't guarantee her a smooth entry into Hindi cinema. Even after landing lead roles, she faced harassment on set, revealing the harsh realities behind her rise to stardom. The Controversial Scene in Do Shikari Yasser Usman's book Rekha: The Untold Story sheds light on a troubling incident from Rekha's early career. According to the book, actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal , and cinematographer Raja Nawathe conspired to have Biswajeet plant a kiss on Rekha's lips the moment the camera started rolling—without her consent. When the scene was shot, Biswajeet went through with the plan, leaving Rekha shocked and feeling betrayed. While Biswajeet acknowledged Rekha's anger, he insisted that his actions were not for personal enjoyment but were deemed necessary for the film. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thousands Are Saving Money Using This Wall Plug elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Click Here Undo Director's Conflicting Claim However, director Kuljeet Pal offered a different version, insisting that Rekha was fully aware of the kissing scene and had given her consent. He claimed that Rekha had no objections to the scene and was informed that since such scenes were rare for Hindi film heroines at the time, it would be better for her to publicly express her discomfort. Still, according to him, she knew about the scene from the start. A Career That Rose Against All Odds Although filming for Do Shikari began in 1969, the movie wasn't released until 1979. Meanwhile, Rekha made her official Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, she appeared in popular films like Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, and Mr. Natwarlal, steadily establishing herself as a leading actress of the decade. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rekha was ‘furious' when a co-star kissed her on set without her consent, he claimed it was ‘important for the film': ‘She felt betrayed'
Veteran actor Rekha has been a part of the film industry since the 1960s, when she was still a teenager. One of the first Hindi films she signed was titled Anjana Safar; it was later renamed Do Shikari, in 1969. Rekha and her family was experiencing some financial difficulty when she was made to work in Bombay (then Mumbai), and even though she was the legendary Gemini Ganesan's daughter, this didn't help her secure work in Hindi films. But even when she managed to find work as a leading star, she was harassed on set. Yasser Usman's book Rekha: The Untold Story revisits Rekha's early days in the Hindi film industry. As per the book, actor Biswajeet, director Kuljeet Pal and cinematographer Raja Nawathe hatched a plan where Biswajeet would plant a kiss on Rekha's lips as soon as the camera started rolling, without her consent. When the camera rolled, Biswajeet did what was planned and left Rekha shocked. Biswajeet later acknowledged that Rekha felt 'betrayed and furious' when this happened, but he maintained that he wasn't at fault. He was quoted in the book saying, 'It was not for my enjoyment, but important for the film. Rekha felt betrayed and was furious.' However, Kuljeet Pal had another story to tell as he insisted that Rekha was aware of the kissing scene and had consented to it. 'Rekha was there. She said that she has no reservations against a kissing scene. I only told her that since she is doing something which Hindi film heroines don't, it will be better if she said she absolutely did not like it. But she knew about this scene in all cases.' ALSO READ | When Rekha recalled her complicated relationship with father Gemini Ganesan: 'Didn't know what the word father meant, he didn't notice me' Although the filming of Do Shikari started in 1969, the film did not release until 1979. Rekha made her Hindi film debut with Sawan Bhadon in 1970. She was then seen in popular films like Dharmatma, Ghar, Muqaddar Ka Sikander, Mr Natwarlal across the decade.
