Amrapali (film)

Not to be confused with Amrapali (1945) or Amrapali (1959).

Amrapali
Directed byLekh Tandon
Written byStory & Screenplay: Omkar Sahib
Dialogue: Arjun Dev Rashk
Balbir Singh (Additional dialogue)
Produced byF.C. Mehra
StarringSunil Dutt
Vyjayanthimala
Prem Nath
CinematographyDwarka Divecha
Edited byPran Mehra
Music byShankar–Jaikishan
Production
company
Eagle Films [1]
Release date
  • 11 September 1966 (1966-09-11)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Amrapali is a 1966 historical Hindi film directed by Lekh Tandon, starring Sunil Dutt and Vyjayanthimala as leads. The film's music was by Shankar–Jaikishan.

It was based on the life of Amrapali (Ambapali), the nagarvadhu (courtesan) of Vaishali in present-day Bihar, the capital of the Licchavi republic in ancient India around 500 BC, and Ajatashatru, the Haryanka emperor of the Magadha empire, who falls in love with her. Although he destroys Vaishali to get her, she has been transformed by her encounter with Gautama Buddha in the meantime, of whom she becomes a disciple and an Arahant. Her story is mentioned in old Pali texts and Buddhist traditions.[2][3]

The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 39th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[4] Although the film was not a commercial success, its reputation has grown over time and it is now regarded as a classic of Hindi cinema. It is remembered for its dramatic war scenes,[5] distinctive costumes by Bhanu Athaiya and strong anti-war sentiment.[6][7][8]

Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment own the rights to the film.

  1. ^ "Office Office maker passes away". Screen. 31 July 2008. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012.
  2. ^ History of Vaishali
  3. ^ Ambapālī (Ambapālikā) in Buddhist Dictionary of Pali names
  4. ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  5. ^ "V.K.MURTHY: Lens and Sensibility". Screen. 3 February 2006.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Are they calling the shots?". Screen. 29 March 2002.[dead link]
  7. ^ "Clothes maketh the film". The Hindu. 25 February 2010.
  8. ^ What if Amrapali were remade today? Rediff.com Movies, 4 March 2004.