Prem Granth

Prem Granth
DVD cover
Directed by	Rajiv Kapoor
Written by	Jainendra Jain
Based on	Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
Produced by	Randhir Kapoor Rishi Kapoor Rajiv Kapoor
Starring	Shammi Kapoor Rishi Kapoor Madhuri Dixit Anupam Kher
Cinematography	Jal Mistry
Edited by	Rajiv Kapoor
Music by	Laxmikant–Pyarelal
Production company	R. K. Films
Distributed by	Filmkraft
Release date	24 May 1996 (1996-05-24)
Running time	156 min.
Language	Hindi

Prem Granth (transl. Scripture of love) is an Indian Hindi-language film which was released in India on 24 May 1996. Directed by Rajiv Kapoor, the movie stars Rishi Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit and deals with the subject of rape.^[1][2] It serves as an adaptation of Thomas Hardy's English novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles.^[3]

Somen, a lawyer and son of head priest Swami Dharam Bhushan Maharaj, has strong character and courage of conviction. He believes in equality and freedom and often confronts his father on issues of social justice and religion. He especially disapproves of Kedar Nath, who uses his father's clout to exploit the treasury in the temple. His uncle Nandlal owns a prosperous dairy farm and keeps himself away from the affairs of religion and social obligations, citing them as unjust and outdated.

Somen meets a beautiful young woman, Kajri, at the annual festival and is immediately drawn towards her despite her lower caste status and they fall in love. They part unexpectedly, leaving the fire of love burning in Somen. He strives to find Kajri, but in vain. Kajri and her father Baliram are on their way back to their village Bansipura, where en route Kajri is kidnapped and forcefully raped by a mysterious drunkard, leaving Kajri pregnant. Kajri's mother's sister wants to marry her to a shoemaker, but Kajri secretly leaves the village and gives birth. She begs for food so her breasts would become full of milk and her child can survive. But the baby dies and Kajri meets Swami Dharam Bhushan to cremate the child, but he refuses. Kajri buries the baby.

A year passes and they meet again. Somen finds Kajri working at his uncle Nandlal's farm and his love blossoms. He tries to express his love towards her, but she remains evasive despite loving him. She writes a letter to explain to Somen that she was an unwed mother, and unjustly ostracized from her society. But Somen does not read the letter. Meanwhile, Kedarnath burns a woman alive since she wanted to file a case against a powerful man named Roop Sahai.

Kajri and Somen are engaged in Nandlal's dairy farm, but Dharam Bhushan arrives and reveals that a tearful Kajri asked him to cremate her dead child despite not knowing the child's father's name. Somen then leaves, but Nandlal reveals that it was not her fault. Kajri's aunt reveals that the rapist is Roop Sahai, who also raped her aunt.

Kajri goes to Shreepur and informs Somen that Roop Sahai is the rapist. Kajri, Somen, and Baliram then burn Roop Sahai and Kedarnath on Dusshera and then Somen marries Kajri.

• Shammi Kapoor as Nandlal
• Rishi Kapoor as Somen
• Madhuri Dixit as Kajri
• Anupam Kher as Swami Dharam Bhooshan
• Om Puri as Baliram
• Prem Chopra as Kedar Nath
• Reema Lagoo as Parvati
• Himani Shivpuri as Natho
• Sulabha Arya as Laxmi
• Govind Namdeo as Roop Sahai

• Prem Granth at IMDb

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