Henna (film)

The film raises the problem of difficult Indian-Pakistani relations . The action takes place in Kashmir , located in India and Pakistan , and begins in India, in the city of Srinagar . Two families are preparing for the wedding of Chander and Chandni. Chander is always late, whether it’s a business or a date with a loved one. On the day of his engagement, Chander, as always, was late, hurries home at an excessive speed, but, in a severe thunderstorm, loses control of the car and falls into the river. In desperation, Chandni refuses to believe in Chander’s death and tells his parents that he will wait for the return of his beloved or will never marry.

The film is transferred to Pakistan, in Jelum , on the banks of the Indus River . In a picturesque mountain village in a gypsy camp, a young Muslim girl, Henna, lives with the widowed father of Khan-Bab, a Sufi master, three brothers - Ashraf, Razzak, Zaman and Razzak’s wife, Najma. One morning, Henna finds a stranger wounded and unconscious, whose body was washed ashore by a strong current. Henna with her father and local woman, Bibi Gul, take care of the stranger, and when the young man comes to his senses, it turns out that he lost his memory . In a dream, a stranger screams the word “Chand,” and others begin to call him by that name.

Soon Chand got well enough that he can walk and begins to work with Bibi Gul, helping her make clay pots. Henna falls in love with Chanda and wants to marry him. Much to the chagrin of the girl, the tyrannical Shahbaz-Khan, much older than her, who has already been married twice, but, in accordance with Sharia law , can get married twice as much, marries her. Khan Baba plans Henna’s marriage to Chand and sets a wedding day. A young man who is grateful to these people for their salvation and care does not decide to refuse, although he treats Henna only as a sister. During the wedding, a thunderstorm begins, memory returns to Chand, it turns out that he is a Hindu . The locals are shocked, but the wise and fair Khan Baba convinces people to be friendly with Chander.

Shahbaz-Khan suspects Chander of espionage , as a result of which the young man is arrested and interrogated by the police. Henna and her brothers help Chander escape from prison. In parting, Henna gives Chander a bag of henna (see mehndi - one of the traditional Indian wedding rituals) and asks to give this gift to his Indian “sister” Chandni, wishing them happiness. Shahbaz-Khan, who appeared with the police, accuses Henna and her family of complicity in the spy, betrayal of their people and country. Henna and her brothers suggest taking Chander along the inaccessible mountain trails to the border. Shahbaz-Khan with the police set off in pursuit of fugitives.

Only Henna and Chander get to the Indian-Pakistani border - the rest of their companions are injured or killed on the way. At the moment of crossing the border, young people are caught in crossfire, and Henna, blocking Chander, dies in his arms. Severely wounded, Chander, in desperation, is trying to convince Indians and Pakistanis to stop shooting and asks how many more human lives will be needed so that India and Pakistan can coexist peacefully? ..

Chander and Chandni got married, and their families hold sacred the memory of the love, generosity and self-sacrifice of Pakistani “sister” Henna.

• Directors: Raj Kapoor , Randhir Kapoor
• Producers: Randhir Kapoor, Rajiv Kapoor
• Screenwriters: Jainendra Jain, Khoja Ahmad Abbas , V.P. Sath
• Dialogs: Haseena Moin
• Composer: Ravindra Jain
• Operator: Radhu Carmakar
• Artists: Suresh Savant, Bhanu Ataya
• Editor: Jithu Mandal
• Songs behind the scenes performed by: Lata Mangeshkar , Mohammed Aziz, Surej Vadkar, choir.

37th Filmfare Awards ( 1992 )

• Nomination in the category " Best Film " ( )
• Nomination in the category " Best Actress " ( )
• Award in the category " Best Actress in a Supporting Role " ( Farida Jalal )

• The film is the last and unfinished directorial work of Raj Kapoor , during the filming he died, and the film was completed by his son Randhir ^{[1] [2]} .
• Dialogues for the film at the request of Raj Kapoor were written by the famous Pakistani writer Haseena Moin . Initially, she did not dare to work in a Bollywood film. And after the death of Raj Kapoor, she asked Randhir not to mention her name in the credits, as this could harm her supporters in Pakistan ^[2] . Despite the fact that this brought the writer financial losses, she said in an interview that for the film this is a small sacrifice, and for her country she can do everything, even give her life .
• The debut role in the movie of the Pakistani theater actress , thanks to which she became widely known ^{[3] [4]} .
• The film was shot in Kashmir ^[2] and (partially) in Switzerland , as in most films of Raj Kapoor.
• The film became commercially successful and was chosen as an official application from the Indian for the Oscar , but was not included in the shortlist of the nomination ^[5] .

• The film "Henna" on IMDB