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{{Short description|1975 film by Gulzar}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Aandhi
| image = Aandhi.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Gulzar]]
| producer = [[J. Om Prakash]] Gulzar
| writer = [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar]]
| screenplay = Gulzar Bhushan Banmali
| starring = [[Sanjeev Kumar (actor)|Sanjeev Kumar]] [[Suchitra Sen]]
| narrator =
| music = [[R.D. Burman]] Gulzar(lyricist)
| cinematography = [[:en:K_Vaikunth|K Vaikunth]]
| editing = Waman Bhonsle Gurudutt Shirali
| studio = [[Mehboob Studio]] Natraj Studio
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1975|02|14|India}}
| runtime = 133 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget =
| native_name =
}}
'''''Aandhi''''' ({{translation|'Storm'}}) is a 1975 Indian [[political drama]] film starring [[Sanjeev Kumar]] and [[Suchitra Sen]], and directed by [[Gulzar]]. At the time it was alleged that the film was based on the life of the then-Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] and her relationship with her estranged husband, but in reality, only the look was inspired by the politician [[Tarkeshwari Sinha]] and [[Indira Gandhi]].<ref name=hin/> The story is based on a chance meeting of an estranged couple after several years, when wife Aarti Devi, now a leading politician happens to stay in the hotel run by her husband during an election campaign.{{sfn|Lalit Mohan Joshi|2002|p=123}} The movie is noted for its songs composed by [[Rahul Dev Burman]], written by Gulzar and sung by [[Kishore Kumar]] and [[Lata Mangeshkar]].

[[Suchitra Sen]], the noted actress from [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali cinema]], who also worked in a few Hindi films, played the lead role of Aarti Devi.

The movie was not allowed a full proper release when Mrs. Gandhi was in power. The film [[List of films banned in India|was banned]] during the [[The Emergency (India)|national emergency of 1975]] a few months after its release. This film was banned on the alleged grounds of violation of the Model Election Code of Conduct, claiming it can cause damage to the reputation of the Congress party. So Election Commission stopped the film from releasing. The ban got further added with the declaration of National Emergency. The ban immediately made the film a national topic.{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=247}} After her defeat in the [[1977 Indian general election|1977 national elections]], the ruling [[Janata Party]] cleared it and had it premiered on the state-run television channel.<ref name=yahoo-ref/> It proved to be an important film in the career of Sen, and also her last Hindi film, as she retired from films altogether in 1978.{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=247}} At the [[23rd Filmfare Awards]], she was nominated for [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress]], while Sanjeev Kumar won the [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor]]. The film itself won the [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film|Filmfare Award for Best Film (Critics)]].

==Summary==
J.K. (played by [[Sanjeev Kumar]]) is a Hotel manager. One day he gallantly comes to the rescue of a politician's drunk daughter, Aarti ([[Suchitra Sen]]). Aarti falls in love with J.K. and both get married in a small ceremony. After few years, the married couple face many differences due to which they decide to separate. Years later, J.K. and Aarti meet again when she is an established politician. Despite the separation, both of them feel the closeness but fearing that her name might be tarnished and her career might be jeopardised, Aarti does not want to step forward.
But at last when the opposite party holds a rally to defame Aarti Devi and insult her, She reaches there and explains to the public and voters that she left her husband and family to serve the people of this country.
People believe her and are really impressed by her speech and sacrifice.
J.K. also reaches there and supports her, she is very happy and leaves the spot, declaring that she would go back to home and leave politics. But J.K. then says that he wants her to be happy and succeed in whatever aspect she wants to. She fights the election and wins it. In the end, J.K. accepts the differences between him and Aarti and drops her to the helicopter that takes her away from the hotel.

==Cast==
*[[Sanjeev Kumar]] as J. K.
*[[Suchitra Sen]] as Aarti Bose aka Aarti Devi
*[[Om Shivpuri]] as Chandrasen
*[[Manmohan (actor)|Manmohan]] as S. K. Agarwal
*[[A. K. Hangal]] as Brinda Kaka
*Kamaldeep as Chowdhary
*[[C. S. Dubey]] as Gurusaran
*[[Om Prakash]] as Lallu Lal, Campaign Manager
*[[Rehman (actor)|Rehman]] as K. Bose
*[[Master Bittoo]] as Aarti's daughter Manu

==Production==
===Development===
Gulzar said the film had no semblance with the personal life of then Prime Minister, [[Indira Gandhi]]. He wanted to make film about modern Indian politician, and so he modelled the character on Indira Gandhi and to some extent on noted parliamentarian from Bihar, [[Tarkeshwari Sinha]].<ref name=hin>{{cite news | url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/20/stories/09200221.htm | title = Where is reality? | author = V.Gangadhar | work = [[The Hindu]] | date = 20 July 2001 | access-date = 27 January 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100902131655/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/20/stories/09200221.htm | archive-date = 2 September 2010 | url-status = usurped}}</ref>

===Script===
An early version of the film's story was written by veteran screenwriter [[Sachin Bhowmick]], however it did not go well with Gulzar. He had an idea of an estranged couple meeting in a hotel after years, and started developing it. Hindi writer [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar]] joined as the writing crew, as the film started shooting. He later went on to write a full-fledged novel, ''Kali Aandhi'' (Black Storm), which is quite different from the film.<ref name="hi"/> Subsequently, the film was written simultaneously along with another Gulzar film, ''[[Mausam (1975 film)|Mausam]]'' (1975), which was also written by Bhushan Banmali and Gulzar.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=toi121>{{cite web | title = 'Sir' wouldn't lose her sleep over awards | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sir-wouldnt-lose-her-sleep-over-awards/articleshow/28981326.cms | date = 18 January 2014 | access-date = 2014-03-24 | work = The Times of India | archive-date = 25 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140125214314/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news-interviews/Sir-wouldnt-lose-her-sleep-over-awards/articleshow/28981326.cms | url-status = live }}</ref> Along with ''[[Khushboo (1975 film)|Khushboo]]'', ''Aandhi'' also released in the same year; 1975 proving to be the most prolific for director-screenwriter Gulzar's career.<ref name="hindu13">{{Cite web | title = Blast From The Past: Khushboo (1975) | url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/khushboo-1975/article4810769.ece | work = The Hindu | date = 13 June 2013 | access-date = 14 June 2013 | archive-date = 22 September 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220922114727/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/khushboo-1975/article4810769.ece | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Casting===
The lead role of Aarti Devi was offered to actress [[Vyjayanthimala]], who refused as she was fazed by physical resemblance of her character with Indira Gandhi. Later in 2011, she recounted ''Aandhi'' as one of few films she regretted not doing besides ''[[Mr and Mrs 55]]'' (1955) by [[Guru Dutt]] and ''[[Bandini (film)|Bandini]]'' (1963) by [[Bimal Roy]], "I admired Indiraji (Gandhi) so much so that I got cold feet when the role was offered to me."<ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111127/spectrum/book5.htm | title =From Naagin to nritya | author =Nonika Singh | work =[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] | date =27 November 2011 | access-date =24 March 2012 | archive-date =16 July 2023 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20230716144302/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111127/spectrum/book5.htm | url-status =live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url =http://www.indianexpress.com/news/down-memory-lane/874591/0 | title =Down Memory Lane | work = [[The Indian Express]] | date =12 November 2011 | access-date = 24 March 2012}}</ref>

In the early 1960s, director Gulzar had approached Suchitra Sen, with screenplay for a film to be produced by Sohanlal Kanwar, however when she suggested some changes which Gulzar didn't agree upon, the film never got made. For film ''Aandhi'' producer [[J. Om Prakash]] insisted upon Gulzar to approach Sen again and actor Sanjeev Kumar was also keen on working with Sen. This time when the new script was done, Gulzar went to meet her in Kolkata, she agreed without any script issues, resulting in a ''casting coup''. In fact, Sen now promised Gulzar to not suggest any changes, and she stuck to her promise all through the filming.<ref name="hindu"/><ref name=toi121/> For the role Aarti Devi's estranged husband [[Sanjeev Kumar]] was already cast, who had previously worked in Gulzar's ''[[Koshish]]'' (1973), again as an older man. Kumar, one of the finest actors of his generation, went on to collaborate with Gulzar in numerous films, like ''Mausam'' (1975), ''[[Angoor (1982 film)|Angoor]]'' (1981) and ''[[Namkeen]]'' (1982).{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=97}}

===Filming===
{{multiple image|caption_align=center|header_align=center
| align = right
| total_width = 300
| image1 = Martand Sun Temple Central shrine (6133772365).jpg
| alt1 =
| caption1 = "Tere Bina Zindagi Se" was shot at [[Martand Sun Temple]] ruins

| image2 = Pari Mahal1.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 ="Tum Aa Gaye Ho" was shot around [[Pari Mahal]] gardens, Srinagar.
}}
Like most of Gulzar's films, including ''Mausam'' and ''[[Ijaazat]]'', the narrative of Aandhi also unfolds through various [[Flashback (narrative)|flashbacks]]. {{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=220}}<ref name="RahejaKothari1996">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HixlAAAAMAAJ|title=The Hundred Luminaries of Hindi Cinema|publisher=India Book House Publishers|year=1996|isbn=978-81-7508-007-2|page=103|author1=Dinesh Raheja|author-link=Dinesh Raheja|author2=Jitendra Kothari|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=2 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902055325/https://books.google.com/books?id=HixlAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The film was almost shot together with ''Mausam'', with Sanjeev Kumar playing the lead of an old man in both the films. Though Aandhi was released first, it ran into political controversy and portions of it has to be reshot, meanwhile Mausam was completed and released.<ref name="hindu">{{Cite web | title =Mausam (1975) | url =http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mausam-1975/article4766190.ece | work =The Hindu | date =30 May 2013 | access-date =13 June 2013 | archive-date =14 June 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130614051336/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/mausam-1975/article4766190.ece | url-status =live }}</ref> The songs of the film were shot at various locations in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] state, like "Tum Aa Gaye Ho" was shot around [[Pari Mahal]] gardens in [[Srinagar]], the classic "Tere Bina Zindagi Se" at the ruined 7th-8th century [[Martand Sun Temple]], near Anantnag, while "Is Mod Se Jaate Hai" was shot at [[Pahalgam]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Movie > Aandhi Locations | publisher = Filmapia | url = http://www.filmapia.com/published/movies/a/aandhi | access-date = 2014-03-24 | archive-date = 24 March 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140324155526/http://www.filmapia.com/published/movies/a/aandhi | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Chasing Aandhi: Kashmir sets the background|publisher=India Today|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/chasing-aandhi-kashmir-sets-the-background-73058-2010-04-28|date=29 April 2010|access-date=2014-03-24|archive-date=24 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324172332/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Chasing+Aandhi:+Kashmir+sets+the+background/1/95240.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Most of the songs have architectural ruins as a backdrop, depicting brokenness. Gulzar's family, wife actress [[Raakhee]] and daughter young [[Meghna Gulzar]] accompanied him on the shooting in Kashmir, however upon the return Rakhee and Gulzar separated.{{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=121}}

==Themes and influences==
In her memoir, daughter Meghna mentioned that Gulzar's wife Rakhee had once said to him, "Agar aap shayar na hote, to bade hi ordinary hote" (If you weren't a poet, you would have been very ordinary), this line was paraphrased and spoken by Aarti Devi to her husband in the film. {{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=168}} The film looks at the life of a career-minded woman in the political arena, which is largely dominated by men. Aarti inherits the legacy of her ambitious politician father, and comes in conflict with her role as dutiful wife. Soon she has to make choices to resolve the conflicts, and part ways with her husband, giving career rather duty as a daughter precedence over her personal life. When they meet again after nine years of separation, the dominating personality created under influence of her father has mellow and wisdom risen and she sees what she has missed. Yet she finds herself at a choice point once again, should she give up her political career or settle for matrimonial life.<ref name="Madangarli"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gulzar-aandhi-not-just-that-film-on-indira-gandhi-sanjeev-kumar-suchitra-sen-explore-relationships-8017379/|title=Gulzar's Aandhi is not just 'that film on Indira Gandhi', Sanjeev Kumar-Suchitra Sen explore how lack of ambition can ruin relationships|date=9 July 2022|access-date=10 July 2022|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710005431/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/gulzar-aandhi-not-just-that-film-on-indira-gandhi-sanjeev-kumar-suchitra-sen-explore-relationships-8017379/|url-status=live}}</ref> Aandhi takes on a feminist theme, also taken up in Ray's ''[[Mahanagar]]'' before, as it questions the price women often have to pay for political aspirations or career aspiration for that matter, when her unambitious hotel manager husband refuses to support.<ref>{{cite book|title=Sûrya India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Vo8AAAAMAAJ|year=1989|page=71|publisher=A. Anand.}}</ref>

It also satirizes the political opportunism in Indian democracy, where politicians visit the common man only every five years, at the time of elections. Through the lines of the song "Salaam kijiye aali janaab aaye hain, ye paanch saalon ka dene hisaab aaye hain. (Bow to the masters.. They have come after five years...).<ref name="Madangarli">{{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|author-link=Bhawana Somaaya|author2=Jigna Kothari |author3=Supriya Madangarli |title=Mother Maiden Mistress|date=17 April 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dtec0Ykfo1sC&pg=PA1973-IA1|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-93-5029-485-7|pages=1973}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations ==
At the [[23rd Filmfare Awards]] held in 1976, the film was nominated in 7 categories, winning 2 awards.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Award !! Category !! Recipient !! Result
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[23rd Filmfare Awards]]|| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]|| [[Sanjeev Kumar]] || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie|Best Film (Critics)]] || [[Gulzar]] || {{Won}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Movie|Best Film]] || J. Om Prakash|| {{Nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Director|Best Director]] || Gulzar || {{Nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] || [[Suchitra Sen]] || {{Nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist|Best Lyricist]]||Gulzar for "Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi"|| {{Nom}}
|-
| [[Filmfare Award for Best Story|Best Story]]|| [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar]]|| {{Nom}}
|-
|}

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Aandhi: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Rahul Dev Burman]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|1975}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length =
| label = [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The music of this film was composed by [[Rahul Dev Burman]] with lyrics by [[Gulzar]]. Director-lyricist Gulzar first worked with Burman or Pancham as he commonly known as in ''[[Parichay (film)|Parichay]]'' (1972), giving popular songs like "Beeti Na Bitai Raina" and "Musafir Hoon Yaaro". In the following years their team gradually developed in the preceding years, eventually reaching a flourish in 1975 with two important film scores in the same year, ''Aandhi'' and ''[[Khushboo (1975 film)|Khushboo]]''.<ref name="Bharatan2010">{{cite book|author=Raju Bharatan|title=A Journey Down Melody Lane|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WnxABAAAQBAJ&pg=PT159|date=2010|publisher=Hay House, Inc|isbn=978-93-81398-05-0|page=159}}</ref> Previously Gulzar had like the use of [[natural sign|pure notes]] (shuddha [[swara]]) in "Raina Beete Jai" from ''[[Amar Prem]]'' (1972) by Burman, a treatment which was used in the film's title music. The Lata Mangeshkar-Kishore Kumar duet "Is Mod Se Jaate Hain" extended the [[major scale]] usage with an added [[Sharp (music)|sharp]] (Teevra Madhyam) and reminiscence of Raga Yaman. Even the interludes included Indian classical instruments, like [[Bansuri|flute]] played by [[Hariprasad Chaurasia]], [[sarod]] by Zarin Daruwala (Sharma) and [[sitar]] by Jairam Acharya, aided by a violin ensemble.<ref name="Vittal2012"/> The tune of "Tere Bina.." another Lata Mangeshkar-Kishore Kumar duet, was originally created as [[Durga Puja]] song, "Jete Jete Potho Holo Deri" in Bengali, which Gulzar liked and wrote lyrics around the tune<ref name="Vittal2012">{{cite book|author=Anirudha Bhattacharjee Balaji Vittal|title=R. D. Burman: The Man, The Music|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tg49WV0j0IAC&pg=PT87|date=2012|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-93-5029-236-5|pages=85–87}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Song !!Singer(s)!!Time !!Notes
|-
|"Tere Bina Zindagi Se"
|[[Kishore Kumar]] & [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|5:55
|Picturised on [[Sanjeev Kumar]] and [[Suchitra Sen]]
|-
|"Tum Aa Gaye Ho Noor Aa Gaya"
|Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar
|4:15
|Picturised on Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen
|-
|"Is Mod Se Jate Hain"
|Kishore Kumar & Lata Mangeshkar
|5:00
|Picturised on Sanjeev Kumar and Suchitra Sen
|-
|"Salam Kijiye"
|[[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Amit Kumar (singer)|Amit Kumar]] and [[Bhupinder Singh (musician)|Bhupinder Singh]]
|6:55
|Ensemble cast
|-
|''Title Music'' Instrumental
|[[R.D. Burman]]
|2:35
|
|}
{{Listen
| filename = Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi.ogg
| title = Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi sample music
| description = A 1 minute 28 seconds sample of one of the most popular songs of the film "Tere Bina Zindagi Se Koi".
| format = [[Ogg]]
| pos = right
}}

===Reception===
The RD-Gulzar team created for the film, songs which were both acclaimed and also popular songs of the decade.<ref name="Anantharaman2008">{{cite book|author=Ganesh Anantharaman|title=Bollywood Melodies: A History of the Hindi Film Song|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lmrSLuBwbKkC&pg=PA69|date=January 2008|publisher=Penguin Books India|isbn=978-0-14-306340-7|page=12}}</ref> Songs like "Tere Bina Zindagi", "Tum Aa Gaye Ho" and "Is Mod Se Jate Hain" are considered eternal classics in Indian cinema. Songs "Tere Bina Zindagi Se" and "Is Mod Se Jate Hain" were listed 5th and 14th respectively on [[Binaca Geetmala annual list 1975]]. As per Planet Bollywood listings, "Tere Bina Zindagi Se" stands number 2 amongst top 10 Bollywood songs of the 1970s.<ref name="Morcom2007">{{cite book|author=Anna Morcom|title=Hindi Film Songs and the Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kfVdxiSm-aYC&pg=PA253|date=2007|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=978-0-7546-5198-7|page=253}}</ref>

==Release, ban and re-release==
{{see|Emergency in India}}

The film released in February 1975 amidst controversy, as rumours abound that it was based on the life of Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]]. Some of film's posters also hyped the similarity, with lines like, "See your Prime Minister on screen" and "the story of a great woman political leader in post-Independence India", were featured in a film magazine. Eventually, the film was given a go-ahead after it was seen by two staff members and then [[Minister of Information and Broadcasting (India)|
Information and Broadcasting minister]], [[I.K. Gujral]]. After the release, similarity was seen in the dressing and mannerism of lead Aarti Devi, played by Suchitra Sen and Mrs Gandhi, including the [[saree]]s and streak of white hair. During the June [[Elections in Gujarat|Legislative assembly election]] campaign in Gujarat, some opposition politicians showed scenes of the film, depicting Aarti Devi smoking and drinking. As the film gained momentum, some ambitious exhibitors even started promoting the film with the line, "See Indira Gandhi in Aandhi", by now film was openly courting controversy, despite being only a mild satire on politicians. The film was eventually banned after 26 weeks after its release.<ref name="hi"/><ref name="Vittal">{{cite book|author=Anirudha Bhattacharjee Balaji Vittal|title=R. D. Burman: The Man, The Music|date=21 July 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tg49WV0j0IAC&pg=PT25|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers|isbn=978-93-5029-236-5|page=25}}</ref><ref name="Vasudev1983">{{cite book|author1=Aruna A. Vasudev|author2=Philippe Lenglet|title=Indian Cinema Superbazaar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8CzQAAAAMAAJ|year=1983|page=194|publisher=Vikas|isbn=978-0-7069-2226-4|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=1 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230901092943/https://books.google.com/books?id=8CzQAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> In June [[The Emergency (India)|State of Emergency]] was declared in India by Mrs. Gandhi and on 12 July despite heavy press censorship, ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' managed to carry the headline on its front page, "Screening on Aandhi banned".<ref name="Kanungo2001">{{cite book|author=Chitra Kanungo|title=Freedom Under Assault|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A4KoSCutpAcC&pg=PA133|year=2001|publisher=APH Publishing|isbn=978-81-7648-226-4|page=133}}</ref> Gulzar who had then taken the film to [[Moscow International Film Festival]] got the news of the ban prior to the screening. He was also informed that the film publicity posters be taken down and the prints sent back.{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=425}}{{sfn|Lalit Mohan Joshi|2002|p=44}}

Subsequently, while ''Mausam'' was being premiered in December 1975, portions of Aandhi were being reshot.{{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=78}} It included the controversial drinking scene and to establish the fact it was not a biopic, a scene with Aarti Devi looking at the framed image of Indira Gandhi tells her father that she wants to serve India like Mrs Gandhi, "Woh meri ideal thi" (She is my ideal) was inserted.<ref name="hi">{{Cite web | title = Blast From The Past:Aandhi (1975) | url = http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/aandhi-1975/article4742988.ece | work = The Hindu | date = 23 May 2013 | access-date = 13 June 2013 | archive-date = 1 January 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140101015550/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-columns/aandhi-1975/article4742988.ece | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="times"/>{{sfn|Meghna Gulzar|2004|p=79}} After Indira Gandhi lost the [[1977 Indian general election|general election of 1977]] and [[Janata Party]] came to power it was re-released and also shown on the state-run national television.<ref name=yahoo-ref>{{cite web|last=Sinha|first=Sayoni|title=Ten most controversial films|url=http://in.movies.yahoo.com/blogs/24fps/controversial-films-061836779.html?page=all|publisher=[[Yahoo!]]|access-date=13 June 2013|archive-date=9 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209223544/http://in.movies.yahoo.com/blogs/24fps/controversial-films-061836779.html?page=all|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="times">{{Cite web | title = The first ladies of cinema| url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/The-first-ladies-of-cinema/articleshow/7093007.cms | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140215110430/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-12-14/news-interviews/28246429_1_indira-gandhi-manisha-koirala-sonia-gandhi | url-status = live | archive-date = 15 February 2014 | date =14 December 2010 | work = [[The Times of India]]| access-date = 14 June 2013 }}</ref> The film went on to become biggest hit of the Sen's Bollywood career, of which Aandhi was the last film, though she did two more Bengali films before retiring from acting in 1978. {{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|p=623}}

==Critical reception==
Some critics, including Subhash K. Jha have drawn thematic parallels between Indira Gandhi and her father [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] as depicted in the film also references to their personal lives. Also the role of Sanjeev Kumar, having shades of Mrs. Gandhi's husband.<ref name="Prasad1998">{{cite book|author=M. Madhava Prasad|title=Ideology of the Hindi Film: A Historical Construction|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ|page=140|year=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-19-564218-6|access-date=10 October 2016|archive-date=6 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806001954/https://books.google.com/books?id=6OBkAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="JhaBachchan2005">{{cite book|author1=Subhash K. Jha|author2=Amitabh Bachchan|title=The Essential Guide to Bollywood|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8u9kAAAAMAAJ|page=1974|year=2005|publisher=Lustre Press|isbn=978-81-7436-378-7}}</ref> All through the controversy, Gulzar denied any connection with Indira Gandhi, it was only after she lost the national elections in 1977 and Janata Party came to power, did he admit, "Yes, the film was made with Indira Gandhi in mind". Sanjeev Kumar on his part said, only the [[characterisation]] of his role was based on [[Feroze Gandhi]].<ref>{{citation |title= Aandhi |page=75 |year=1977 |volume=98, Part 2 |work=The Illustrated Weekly of India }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* ''Kali Aandhi'' (Hindi), by [[Kamleshwar (writer)|Kamleshwar]]. Rajpal and Sons, 2003. {{ISBN|9788170285625}}.
* {{cite book|author=Gulzar|title=Aandhi (Screenplay)|language=hi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZePjqooEOQgC|date=2005|publisher=Radhakrishna Prakashan|isbn=978-81-8361-004-9}}
* {{cite book|author=Gulzar|title=Aandhi: A Scenario|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_YKGgAACAAJ|year=2007|publisher=Srishti Publishers|isbn=978-81-88575-90-9}}
* {{cite book|author=Lalit Mohan Joshi|title=Bollywood: Popular Indian cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=egxlAAAAMAAJ|year= 2002|publisher=Dakini Books|isbn=9780953703227}}
* {{cite book|first=Saibal |last=Chatterjee|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC|year=2003|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7991-066-5}}
* {{cite book|author=Meghna Gulzar|title=Because He Is--|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y-8V_h4h5YkC&pg=PT121|year=2004|publisher=Rupa & Company|isbn=978-81-291-0364-2}}

==External links==
{{External media
|video1= {{YouTube|VTz9CzqNg28|Full movie}}
}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0178186|title=Aandhi}}

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[[Category:1975 films]]
[[Category:1975 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1975 Indian films]]
[[Category:1970s feminist films]]
[[Category:Films scored by R. D. Burman]]
[[Category:1970s political drama films]]
[[Category:Works about the Emergency (India)]]
[[Category:Film censorship in India]]
[[Category:Films about politicians]]
[[Category:Films shot in Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Films about women in India]]
[[Category:Indian political drama films]]
[[Category:Indian feminist films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Gulzar]]
[[Category:Films directed by Gulzar]]
[[Category:Political controversies in India]]
[[Category:Censored films]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Indira Gandhi]]
[[Category:Political controversies in film]]
[[Category:Works subject to expurgation]]

Aandhi - Revision history

Medfly at 23:31, 3 March 2026