Raju Guide (Dev Anand) is a guide in Udaipur and he earns a modest living, living in a small house with his mother. And a day comes when an ambitious archaeologist, Marco (Kishore Sahu) arrives in the town with his wife, the lovely Rosie (Waheeda Rehman). She is the daughter of a "devdasi" and the mother wanting to save her daughter from the terrible fate of becoming a "devdasi" marries her off to a rich and honorable but neglecting Marco. Rosie is interested in dancing and Marco has no respect for her art. When the unhappy couple reaches Udaipur (Marco is here to excavate in some caves and has brought Rosie along), Raju senses the disturbances between the couple. For he saves Rosie not once, twice but thrice from suicide. He realizes that Marco has ignored her, treated her badly and she needed solace in a friend. Raju is just the man. While Marco is at work, Raju accompanies Rosie to a shop and she buys a pair of "Ghughroo". Raju sees her dance and appreciates it and Rosie is overjoyed. Then one day she goes to visit her husband unexpectedly and she realizes that Marco was having a merry time with another woman. She is distressed and Raju persuades her to leave her husband and chase her dreams. She does so but the society does not allow her to live happily. A married woman with another man was not acceptable in the 1960's but the audiences did appreciate this film as it was a blockbuster and remains a classic.
Back to the story, Raju and Rosie defy the world even Raju's uncle who comes to take his sister (Raju's mother) away from him. Raju is tormented but by now he is in love with Rosie. He transforms her into a celebrity and their love life flourishes. But as humans have their weaknesses, Raju takes to drinking, smoking and gambling (his relationship with Rosie also deteriorates) and in a moment of weakness, (when Marco tries to get back Rosie and Raju wanting to keep Rosie away from Marco) he forges Rosie's signature on some documents and lands himself in a cell in prison. Rosie does not understand the reason why he committed this mistake. She thinks it was for her money and allows him to serve his sentence of two years refusing to grant bail. She however promises to wait for him.
But Raju was freed after only one and half year in prison because of his good behavior. He decides to just leave his past and goes in search of unknown. Through a series of hilarious circumstances he becomes famous as one of the holy men of India. Then drought strikes in a nearby village and he is forced to fast for twelve days to appease the rain God. The story takes a dramatic turn. The attention loving and materialistic Raju turns to spiritualism so well shown in the film that it is the best part of it (Not even R K Narayan's novel on which the film is based had this part). Rosie and Raju's mother learn about his fast and the three are united here. But Raju is weak from his fast. Reporters from all over the world come to interview him and at last after some twelve days it rains and rains. Raju's fast comes in fruitful but at the cost of his life. Raju dies in the end and Rosie is left lamenting over him.
It is a beautiful story well directed by Vijay Anand and powerful lead performances by Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman adds to the magic. Music by S.D. Burman is simply mesmerizing and the songs are all well sung and meaningful in each context.
There are everlasting melodious numbers in Gaata Rehein Mera Dil(Kishore,Lata) Kato Se Kheechke Ye Aanchal (Lata) Din Dhal Jaye (Rafi) Piya Tose Naina Lage Re (Lata) Kya Se Kya (Rafi) Mose Chal Ke Ye Jaay (Lata) TereMere Sapnein (Rafi) Wahan Kaun Hai Tera (S.D. Burman)
What is the definition of being a perfect entertainer? One word - GUIDE
Back to the story, Raju and Rosie defy the world even Raju's uncle who comes to take his sister (Raju's mother) away from him. Raju is tormented but by now he is in love with Rosie. He transforms her into a celebrity and their love life flourishes. But as humans have their weaknesses, Raju takes to drinking, smoking and gambling (his relationship with Rosie also deteriorates) and in a moment of weakness, (when Marco tries to get back Rosie and Raju wanting to keep Rosie away from Marco) he forges Rosie's signature on some documents and lands himself in a cell in prison. Rosie does not understand the reason why he committed this mistake. She thinks it was for her money and allows him to serve his sentence of two years refusing to grant bail. She however promises to wait for him.
But Raju was freed after only one and half year in prison because of his good behavior. He decides to just leave his past and goes in search of unknown. Through a series of hilarious circumstances he becomes famous as one of the holy men of India. Then drought strikes in a nearby village and he is forced to fast for twelve days to appease the rain God. The story takes a dramatic turn. The attention loving and materialistic Raju turns to spiritualism so well shown in the film that it is the best part of it (Not even R K Narayan's novel on which the film is based had this part). Rosie and Raju's mother learn about his fast and the three are united here. But Raju is weak from his fast. Reporters from all over the world come to interview him and at last after some twelve days it rains and rains. Raju's fast comes in fruitful but at the cost of his life. Raju dies in the end and Rosie is left lamenting over him.
It is a beautiful story well directed by Vijay Anand and powerful lead performances by Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman adds to the magic. Music by S.D. Burman is simply mesmerizing and the songs are all well sung and meaningful in each context.
There are everlasting melodious numbers in Gaata Rehein Mera Dil(Kishore,Lata) Kato Se Kheechke Ye Aanchal (Lata) Din Dhal Jaye (Rafi) Piya Tose Naina Lage Re (Lata) Kya Se Kya (Rafi) Mose Chal Ke Ye Jaay (Lata) TereMere Sapnein (Rafi) Wahan Kaun Hai Tera (S.D. Burman)
What is the definition of being a perfect entertainer? One word - GUIDE