Seeta Aur Geeta

Infobox_Film
name = Seeta Aur Geeta


caption = Film poster
imdb_id = 0078222
writer = Salim-Javed
starring = Hema Malini,
Sanjeev Kumar,
Dharmendra
director = Ramesh Sippy
producer = R. P. Sippy
released = 1972
runtime = 166 mins
budjet = Rs. 4 crores
language = Hindi
music = R. D. Burman

"Seeta aur Geeta" (सीता और गीता) is a 1972 Hindi film directed by Ramesh Sippy. The story is by Salim-Javed and the music by R.D. Burman.

The story is about identical twins (played by Hema Malini) who are separated at birth and grow up with different temperaments. The twins then swap places (like "The Prince and the Pauper"). Hema's two partners in the movie are played by Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar. Manorama excels in her role as the evil aunt who changes her tune after her arm is twisted (literally). Furthermore, Hema Malini was noted for the novelty of her role as Geeta where she is rambunctious and sometimes minorly violent

Although this theme has been repeated in other movies before and after, "Seeta aur Geeta" stands out and has a very light and catchy mood. A prior movie on this theme was "Ram Aur Shyam" starring Dilip Kumar in the leading dual role. Subsequent remakes of the story have been made, including "Chaalbaaz" starring Sridevi and "Kishen Kanhaiya" starring Anil Kapoor in the dual role(s).

Hema Malini won her only competitive Filmfare Best Actress Award of her career. P. Vaikunth won the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award. [http://deep750.googlepages.com/FilmfareAwards.pdf]

Plot

Seeta and Geeta (Malini dual role) are twin girls who were separated at birth. Geeta, a feisty girl is raised in a poor neighborhood and is a street performer, while Seeta is raised by her cruel aunt, "Chachi" (Manorama) and meek uncle. Her aunt treats Seeta like a servant, despite the fact that the family is living off her late parents' money. Seeta's only consolation is her old grandmother. One day, Seeta decided life is not worth living and runs away to commit suicide. She is saved, but is mistaken for her identical twin Geeta, and is taken to Geeta's home. Meanwhile, Seeta's aunt and uncle are frantically searching for her, and ironically, they find Geeta. They attempt to force Geeta to go with them, but, using some of her clever tricks, escapes both them and the police who have been searching for her. She then meets Ravi (Sanjeev Kumar) and though he also mistakes her for Seeta, she goes home with him. Ravi is surprised by this "Seeta" and the Seeta he had met previously. Geeta realizes the cruelty that Seeta has been living under and vows to teach her aunt a lesson. Meanwhile, the real Seeta is living in Geeta's house. Her surrogate mother has attributed her new docile attitude to shock. Here, Seeta meets Raka (Dharmendra), Geeta's friend and fellow performer. Raka is also surprised by "Geeta's" sudden gentle nature and desire to do housework. When he tried to coax her into performing, she of course is unable to do so. Ravi meanwhile falls in love with Geeta. At home, Geeta begins to set everything on a proper course. She resumes control of the money, and restore her grandmother to the head of the household, where she belongs. Meanwhile Raka begins to fall in love with Seeta. Trouble begins brewing when Chachi's brother comes to visit and sees the real Seeta in a marketplace. He follows her and he discovers the truth and it leads to a showdown in the villains den with happy endings and marriage.

External links

* [http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/may/28dinesh.htm Seeta Aur Geeta: A rollicking entertainer]
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