Purab Aur Paschim

Purab Aur Paschim () is a 1970 Indian film; the dialogue is in Hindi. Produced and directed by Manoj Kumar, it stars Manoj, Saira Banu, Ashok Kumar, Pran and Prem Chopra. The music is by Kalyanji Anandji. The 2007 film Namastey London is based on this film.

This was the second film by Manoj Kumar where he stars as Bharat (first being Upkar) and his third film on patriotism. (Shaheed was his first, to be followed by Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Kranti.)

Plot

The film starts out in black and white, before independence, just as young Bharat (Manoj Kumar) is about to be born. Bharat's father is wanted by the English and Harnam (Pran), his brother sells him out for cash. Bharat's mother (Kamini Kaushal) is left a widow, Harnam leaves with his blood money and his son (Prem Chopra). Harnam's wife (Nirupa Roy) is left a virtual widow. Guru-ji (Ashok Kumar), the head of the family, swears that he will not make a pilgrimage until Harnam returns with the grandson.

The film switches to the present day, when Bharat is about to leave for college. He's attending university in Oxford but he makes it very clear to us that he is only going to get a scientific education and will then bring that knowledge back to the country; it's an education, not a brain drain. Bharat's meek cousin Gopi (Bharathi Vishnuvardhan) — who is in love with him — is introduced. She will wait for his return.

In the UK, Bharat stays with an old friend (Madan Puri) of his father's who went to the UK to...
Read More