Ankithreddy at 23:40, 3 March 2026

2026-03-03T23:40:21Z

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{{About|the 1971 film|the 1994 film|Chhoti Bahoo (1994 film)|the Hindi television serial|Chotti Bahu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Chotti Bahu
| image = Choti_Bahu.jpg

| caption = DVD cover
| director = [[K. B. Tilak]]
| producer =
| writer = [[Raj Baldev Raj]]
| story = Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
| narrator =
| based_on = [[Muddu Bidda]] (1956) <br/> Bindur Chhele by <br/> [[Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]]
| starring = [[Sharmila Tagore]]<br />[[Rajesh Khanna]]<br />[[Nirupa Roy]]
| music = [[Kalyanji Anandji]]
| cinematography =
| editing =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1971}}
| runtime =
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]
| budget =
}}

'''''Chhoti Bahu''''' is a 1971 [[Hindi]] [[drama film]] produced by Seeru Daryani and Darius Gotla, the film is directed by [[K. B. Tilak]] and written by [[Raj Baldev Raj]].

The film stars [[Sharmila Tagore]], [[Rajesh Khanna]], [[Nirupa Roy]] and [[I. S. Johar]]. The music is by [[Kalyanji Anandji]]. The film was successful at the box office and particularly noted for [[Sharmila Tagore]]'s performance as a layered female protagonist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/features/sharmila-tagores-chhoti-bahu-gave-us-a-bollywood-rarity-a-layered-female-protagonist/290558|title = Sharmila Tagore's Chhoti Bahu gave us a Bollywood rarity — a layered female protagonist|date = 15 September 2019}}</ref>

The Movie <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/prabhusinterviews/kbtilak9.htm |title=Interview with KB Tilak |work=Cinegoer |access-date=28 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921134052/http://www.cinegoer.com/prabhusinterviews/kbtilak9.htm |archive-date=21 September 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> was based on the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] novel ''Bindur Chhele'' written by the famous Bengali author [[Saratchandra Chatterjee]]. This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films of Rajesh Khanna between 1969 and 1971, by adding the two-hero films ''Marayada'' and ''Andaz'' to the 15 consecutive solo hits he from 1969 to 1971.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/eight-lesser-known-facts-about-rajesh-khanna-on-his-death-anniversary/story-eMKmVMlFkKlbSLqAFAf7qI.html|title=Eight lesser known facts about Rajesh Khanna on his death anniversary|date=18 July 2015|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/hindi/news/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BC%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%B2/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A6-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%82%E0%A5%A4-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A6-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%82%E0%A5%A4/142072|title=आनंद मरा नहीं...। आनंद मरते नहीं...।|date=19 July 2012|publisher=}}</ref>

Initially, [[Saira Banu]] was to star as the female lead, but she withdrew a few days into filming due to illness.

== Plot ==
Radha ([[Sharmila Tagore]]) was the only daughter of a rich merchant. She has [[epilepsy]], triggered especially by the removal of a little doll she always carries with her. Madhu ([[Rajesh Khanna]]) was a young doctor, practicing in a village. He lives along with his older brother Shriram ([[Tarun Bose]]) and sister-in-law Sita ([[Nirupa Roy]]). A local unqualified medical practitioner, whose business got a big hit by the practice of Madhu, begrudgingly arranges a match between Madhu and Radha, hiding her illness. Madhu marries her without knowing the problem she has.

Immediately after the wedding, Madhu and his family members come to know of Radha's illness and they accept her as wedding has already taken place. After seeing that Radha's attack subsided with the touch of Gopi (son of Shriram and Sita), Sita lets her have him herself. Radha feels so happy and starts taking care of Gopi as her own son.

Years pass and Gopi, now seven years old, grows up thinking of Radha as his mother. Things go well till Madhu and Shriram's sister Paro comes along with her husband and son to stay with them. Her son Niku (Mehmood Jr.), with his playful attitude, spoils Gopi too, much to the worry of Radha. Later, Paro starts misunderstandings between Radha and Sita, that go to a bigger level because of Radha's innocence and Sita's indolence. Moreover, Paro frightens little Gopi that if he sees his mother, she would die. Frightened Gopi stays away from Radha, much to the agony of Radha. Gradually, she falls ill and her condition becomes critical. While everyone is puzzled by Gopi's behavior, Niku carefully extracts the reason for his behavior. He tells that to everyone. Everyone scolds Paro and convinces Gopi that his mother wouldn't die if he talks to her. Gopi comes to Radha and her illness goes away. Even bitterness between Radha and Sita goes away and they start living together happily as before.

==Cast==
*[[Sharmila Tagore]] as Radha
*[[Rajesh Khanna]] as Madhu
*[[Shashikala]] as Paro
*[[Nirupa Roy]] as Sita
*[[I. S. Johar]] as Premnath (Niku's dad)
*[[Sarika]] as Gopi
*[[Mehmood Junior]] as Niku
*Master Suraj
*[[Tarun Bose]] as Shriram
*Shivraj as Radha's Father
*[[P. Jairaj]] as Rajaram Ramprasad Bahadur
*[[Satyendra Kapoor]] as Vedji Avtar
*Radhika Rani
*[[Irshad Panjatan]] as Servant
*Chandrima Bhaduri as Ganga
*Master Ratan

==Soundtrack==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! # !! Title !! Singer(s)
|-
| 1
| "He Re Kanhaiya"
| [[Kishore Kumar]]
|-
| 2
| "Are Ghar Ko Mat Godam Bana"
| [[Hemlata (singer)|Hemlata]]
|-
| 3
| "Dulhaniya Bata De Ri"
| [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Usha Khanna]]
|-
| 4
| "Munne Raja"
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| 5
| "O Maa Meri Maa"
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]]
|-
| 6
| "Ye Raat Hai Pyasi Pyasi"
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0377636|Chotti Bahu}}

[[Category:1971 films]]
[[Category:1971 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1971 Indian films]]
[[Category:Films based on works by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay]]
[[Category:Films based on Indian novels]]
[[Category:Films scored by Kalyanji Anandji]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of Telugu films]]
[[Category:Films directed by K. B. Tilak]]

Chhoti Bahu - Revision history

Ankithreddy at 23:40, 3 March 2026