Genre:Mystery/Suspense
Year:1967
Anita is the Bollywood version of the classic Hollywood movie Laura.This was Manoj Kumar and Sadhana's second mystery movie.The first one was Woh Kaun Thi?,which was remade in 1977 as Ab Kya Hoga with Shatrughan Sinha and Neetu Singh(now Neetu Kapoor) in lead roles.Both movies were directed by Raj Khosla who also made Mera Saaya(1966) which was another mystery movie also starring Sadhana.All three were hits.Manoj Kumar,during the 60's worked in a series of successful mystery movies.Apart from Woh Kaun Thi?and Anita,he also had success with Gumnaam(1965) and Sajan(1969).Since this is a mystery movie i will not delve into much detail.I will just focus on the basic outline of the plot.
The movie starts with the disappearance of Anita(Sadhana).No one knows where she has vanished.Her
father(Sajjan),her boyfriend Neeraj(Manoj Kumar) and all her friends are worried about her.We are told through flashbacks that Neeraj and Anita were in love and planned to marry.But her father opposed the marriage insisting instead to marry her to a business tycoon Anil Sharma(Kishen Mehta).Its at this point that Anita disppears.A while later it is found that Anita committed suicide.Neeraj doesn't believe this and starts 'seeing' her everywhere.The only problem is that no one else sees her.Neeraj's friends,worried that he might be losing his sanity persuade him to take a vacation.On vacation he again sees her in the guise of a jogan(holy lady).But the jogan tells him that her name is Maya.But thn she too disappears.When Neeraj tries to find her he is shocked to find out that Maya jogan died 20 years ago.By now,Neeraj also begins to question his sanity.But the sightings do not end.They continue.Desperate,Neeraj hires detectives to find out the truth.
Neeraj and the detectives find out the truth in the end but like i mentioned earlier in the review that i don't want to give away the main twists of the plots,this being a mystery movie.
The movie is a terrific,if somewhat dated entertainer.Like he did in Woh Kaun Thi?,Raj Khosla creates a mysterious and foggy atmosphere.At times some scenes become contrived and some what labored but on the whole the movie is solid enterainment.One more problem with the movie(which i guess is the case with all mystery suspense movies) is that there is no re-watch value.Once you know the main mystery it becomes a tad boring to watch the movie again.The songs ae good and so are the dialogues.The screenplay is also solid.As for the performances,Manoj Kumar in the central role gives a fantastic performance.Sadhana is uneven,she is good in some parts and not so good in others.Kishen Mehta as always is boring but the rest of the support actors are good in their bits.If you are a Bollywood mystery movie bluff then definitely watch out.Even if you are not a fan of mystery movies iwould highly recommed this movie.
Rating:7/10
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