'Sangam': A trendsetting love triangle in Bollywood
The movie also had unforgettable songs, eyecatching international locations, and standout performances from lead stars Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar
By Asjad NazirJun 17, 2023
When romantic drama Sangam was released on June 18, 1964, it became a huge blockbuster success. The love triangle, regularly listed as one of the greatest Bollywood movies ever made, had iconic moments, and influenced many filmmakers in subsequent decades.
The movie also had unforgettable songs, eyecatching international locations, and standout performances from lead stars Raj Kapoor, Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar.
Eastern Eye decided to celebrate the film’s 49th anniversary by presenting 20 interesting facts connected to it.
The story of Sangam was penned by Inder Raj Anand during the making of Raj Kapoor’s directorial debut Aag (1948). Kapoor initially had planned the film as Gharonda in the late 40s, with himself, Dilip Kumar and Nargis in the lead roles. He revived that passion project as Sangam in the 1960s.
Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor became huge stars after the release of record-breaking film Andaaz (1949), but never worked together again. Kapoor was keen on starring alongside Kumar in Sangam, which like Andaz was a love triangle, but he refused. Kapoor had even offered him the first choice of roles.
poster of the movie
Nargis rejected the female lead because she had retired from acting and broken her real-life relationship with Kapoor.
Kapoor had narrated the Sangam story to Vyjayanthimala, telling her she would portray a character named Radha. After a while Kapoor sent a telegram to her, asking ‘Bol Radha bol yeh sangam hoga ya nahin?’ and she replied ‘Hoga, hoga, hoga’. That question and answer would inspire the film’s famous song Bol Radha Rol. It would be the last movie Kapoor would star in opposite her.
The then relatively unknown Feroz Khan was promised the second lead if Rajendra Kumar had turned it down, but he didn’t. Khan was later cast in Arzoo (1965) with Rajendra Kumar, which was also a love triangle.
Interestingly, hit 1961 movie Aas Ka Panchhi had a similar storyline of a military man returning to find the woman he loves has moved on, with Sangam leads Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala playing the two key roles.
Kumar with Vyjayanthimala
Hari Shivdasani played a supporting role in the movie. Shivdasani’s actress daughter Babita would later marry Raj Kapoor’s son Randhir, and their daughters are of course Karisma and Kareena Kapoor.
Sangam was the first prominent Indian movie to feature the Indian air force. It was also the first Indian film to be shot around Europe at eye-catching locations and would inspire other Bollywood producers to do the same.
The English-German song Ich Liebe Dich-I Love You by Vivian Lobo appeared in the film. It would later inspire Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985) track Sun Sahiba Sun, a film Raj Kapoor also wrote and directed.
The film’s song Bol Radha Bol would inspire the title of a 1992 movie starring Raj’s son Rishi Kapoor. Other Sangam songs that would later inspire film titles include Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Dost Dost Na Raha, O Mehbooba, Mujhe Budhha Mil Gaya and O Mere Sanam.
Lata Mangeshkar didn’t like the lyrics of the song Mujhe Budhha Mil Gaya, which she sang and unsuccessfully tried to get them changed. She didn’t like how the song was picturised and refused to watch the movie. Speaking of Mujhe Budhha Mil Gaya, it was the first Bollywood film song where the heroine tried to seduce the hero with sensual outfits and dancing. The song blurred the lines between the heroine and vamp. Some analysts looked deeper and saw a metaphor of a young wife trying to arouse an older man.
The songs were composed by music duo Shankar Jaikishan. Legend has it that Jaikishan had a falling out with lyricist Hasrat Jaipuri, who wrote him a letter with the lines ‘yeh mera prem patra, padhkar tum naraz na hona’, which was then turned into a song for the film.
Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega was originally supposed to feature the vocals of Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh, and Mohammed Rafi. But Rafi and Mangeshkar were not on talking terms at the time, and Mahendra Kapoor was used instead.
Kapoor withVyjayanthimala
14. Sangam was the first colour film featuring Kapoor and his last big success as a leading man.
15. Sangam was the first film actor and filmmaker Kapoor edited himself. He received a Filmfare Best Editing award and would edit all his subsequent films himself.
At nearly four hours long, Sangam became the longest commercial movie released at the time. It was the first Hindi film to have two intervals. That didn’t stop it from becoming the highest grossing Bollywood film of that year.
At the film’s premiere a fight broke out between Kapoor and the writer Inder Raj Anand. In the heated exchange Anand slapped Kapoor and he subsequently got the writer a Bollywood ban that resulted in him losing 18 films. This later caused the writer to have a heart attack and the two patched up.
Sangam song Bol Radha Bol was declared as the best Bollywood song of 1964 by massively popular radio countdown show Binaca Geetmala.
Mumbai’s famous Sangam cinema is named after the movie, as Kapoor was a frequent visitor.
Sangam was remade in Telugu and Kannada languages as Swapna (1981). It was also remade in Turkish as Arkadasımın Askısın(1968)
ACTOR Raj Ghatak praised the enduring appeal of The Producers as he takes on a role in the hit Broadway show, now playing in the West End.
Ghatak is the first person of colour to portray Carmen Ghia, the flamboyant partner of eccentric director Roger DeBris (Trevor Ashley) and, consequently, his character is dressed in the south Asian attire of sherwani (tunic) and kurta pyjama.
In an interview with Eastern Eye, he said, “The world was arguably a happier place when it was first written.
“But what we’re finding now is that audiences are so grateful to laugh. They sit down, immerse themselves in the story, and forget everything else. That’s the power of theatre.”
Describing the show as a kind of “therapy” for modern times, Ghatak said, “Audiences tell us how welcome it is to laugh so hard again”.
It is the first major London revival of American filmmaker and actor Mel Brooks’ classic, which earned an unprecedented 12 Tony Awards, and has transferred from a sold-out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory to the Garrick Theatre.
Based on Brooks’ 1967 cult film, the story follows two desperate Broadway producers who scheme to get rich by producing a flop, only for their plan to go hilariously wrong.
Trevor Ashley as Roger DeBris and Ghatak as Carmen Ghia in The Producers
Teeming with Brooks’ signature wit, the show delights in its irreverence, sending up everything from show business to politics. Ghatak said, “It’s massively exciting to be part of it. And this time around, they’ve leaned in to my ethnicity. I wear a kurta pajama and a sherwani – things that have obviously never been done before. It gives us visibility.”
Two decades ago, Ghatak starred in Bombay Dreams, AR Rahman’s West End musical produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, that became a cultural turning point for British Asian performers.
Ghatak recalled how the show “broke the glass ceiling for south Asian actors”.
He said, “At the time, it was just a job – a very high-profile one. But, years later, people tell me they were taken to see that show as children, and because of it, they felt they had permission to be an actor. That’s something that was never the case in my day.”
That generational shift is something Ghatak takes pride in. “When I look back, it feels like we’ve come a long way. But we still have a long way to go.”
Being part of The Producers brought Ghatak face to face with one of his heroes. Brooks himself, now 99, had to approve his casting.
The actor said, “They filmed my meeting. I met the team on a Friday afternoon, and on Monday morning they said, ‘Pending Mel Brooks’ approval, we’d like to offer you the role.’ I remember thinking, if I don’t get his approval, does this mean I can’t do the job?”
The cast had four weeks of full-time rehearsals. “For that production, I watched both films,” Ghatak said, referring to the 1967 original and the 2005 version with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick.
“I wanted to understand the source material. I’m a firm believer that if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Otherwise, you’re changing something for the sake of it. But rehearsals are where you experiment and play.” He credited both Brooks’ writing and Patrick Marber’s direction for the show’s humour.
“Our director comes from a background of plays. My own background is in plays, TV and film. So, we both approached this with the idea that, however heightened the situation or character, it must be grounded in truth,” he said.
Ghatak trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and Queen Mary University in London and has worked with Emma Thompson, Nicole Kidman, Riz Ahmed, Sir Derek Jacobi, Ewan M c G r e - g o r, Hugh Jackman and Benedict Cumberbatch. His stage credits include The Kite Runner, Life of Pi, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and The Father and the Assassin. He has worked with some of the most respected directors in theatre, including Dominic Cooke, Indhu Rubasingham, Rufus Norris, Kerry Michael and now Marber.
Despite his achievements, the actor is conscious of the ongoing struggles for representation. He said, “As much as the situation has improved, we’ve still got a long way to go. Roles that challenge me, excite me. There are so many stories from the Asian subcontinent and diaspora that deserve to be told.
“When I started, there were very few people I could look to as role models. That’s why I’ve become such a champion for diversity and inclusion.”
Born and raised in north London to Bengali parents from Kolkata, he grew up surrounded by music and culture.
“My father was a doctor, and my mother was a chemistry teacher,” Ghatak said, adding, “But there was always music at home. My father sings Rabindra Sangeet, my mother plays guitar, and my sister is a classical singer.” Initially, he didn’t see acting as a viable career. “I went to a very academic school.
My interests were split between medical sciences and the performing arts.”
Eventually, he followed his childhood passion and trained as an actor.
He said, “A show like The Producers challenges me in a different way - it makes me laugh and it makes me think. That’s what keeps me passionate about the work.”
Asked what continues to excite him about musical theatre, Ghatak said, “Being in this show and telling this story. The comedy, the chaos, the craft… it’s such a joy. And to be the only person of colour among the six principal cast members, representing our community on such a stage, that’s something I’m proud of.”
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.