Prem Nagar (1974 film)

Prem Nagar is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film, produced by D. Ramanaidu, directed by K. S. Prakash Rao, and starring Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Aruna Irani, Ashok Kumar, Kamini Kaushal, Prem Chopra, Asrani and Jagdeep. Actor David was in negative role in the film plotting how to fool the prince Karan by robbing off his wealth and transfer to his brother. The music is by Sachin Dev Burman. Box Office India declared the film a super hit. The box office standing for the year was number 4. It is a remake of the Telugu film Prema Nagar released in 1971.

Plot
Karan Singh lives a wealthy lifestyle in a palace along with his widowed mother and his elder brother's family. His mother Rani Maa had left his upbringing to a nanny, to the extent that Karan believed she was his real mother. Karan has grown up to be a womanizer and an alcoholic. When Karan rescues former air hostess Lata, who is being molested by her boss, he hires her as his secretary and invites her family to move into one of his cottages. Lata attempts to change his bad habits. While she initially meets with opposition, she eventually succeeds and they fall in love. Karan builds a mansion to celebrate their love and names it Prem Nagar. However, their romance is shattered when Lata is accused of interfering in the palace affairs and then of stealing a valuable necklace. A much humiliated Lata and her family move away.

Karan later learns the truth about Lata's innocence but Lata would never return to him due to his initial distrust. Consequently, Karan's health worsens as he struggles with his addiction and eventually meets a tragic end.

Cast

 * Ashok Kumar - Upendra Singh
 * Rajesh Khanna- Karan Singh/Chhotey Kunwar
 * Hema Malini - Lata
 * Kamini Kaushal - Rani Ma
 * Prem Chopra - Shamsher Singh/Badey Kunwar
 * Bindu - Shamsher's wife
 * Sulochana Latkar - Lata's Mother
 * Nazir Hussain - Lata's Father
 * Ramesh Deo - Lata's Brother
 * Manmohan (actor)
 * Jagdeep
 * Asrani
 * Aruna Irani
 * Nana Palshikar
 * David

Soundtrack
RD Burman had worked on and completed some songs for the film for his father, as his father was still rehabilitating from his stroke during the preproduction of the film.

Awards and nominations

 * Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award &mdash; A. Vincent
 * Filmfare Nomination for Best Actor &mdash; Rajesh Khanna
 * Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress &mdash; Hema Malini
 * Filmfare Nomination for Best Music &mdash; Sachin Dev Burman

Reception
The Hindu newspaper in its review of the film in 2015 quoted "Khanna is a perfect choice for the role, the drunkard scion of a royal family, blessed with a heart of gold.Technically the film scores highly on all spheres.Editing by K.A. Marthand and J. Narasimha Rao is slick and keeps the story moving at a steady pace, with no room for slackness." The Hansindia site noted that Khanna had never shied away from portraying roles that were slightly off the regular path and ‘Prem Nagar’ featured him as a decadent prince, Karan, who happily idles away his life as playboy. During the premier of the film, after watching the film Raj Kapoor kissed Khanna's hands and complimented him for the way he used them like swords in the climax. ‘Prem Nagar’ was considered special by Khanna himself, as it featured his favourite song, “Yeh laal rang” sung by his ‘voice’ Kishore Kumar.