1/23/23, 1:48 PM Paheli - Wikipedia

Contents
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(Top)
1Plot

2Cast

3Production

4Reception

4.1Critical reception

4.2Box office

5Soundtrack

6Awards

7References
8External links

Paheli
Paheli (transl. Riddle) is a 2005 Indian Hindi-language fantasy
film. It is a remake of the 1973 Hindi movie Duvidha by Mani Kaul Paheli
based on the short story written by Vijayadan Detha in Rajasthani.
It was also reported to have been partially inspired by the 1997
Kannada movie Nagamandala based on the play of same name by
Girish Karnad.[2] Directed by Amol Palekar and produced by Juhi
Chawla, Aziz Mirza, Sanjiv Chawla and Shah Rukh Khan, who also
plays the male lead, the film tells the story of a wife (Rani Mukerji)
whose husband (Khan) goes on a business trip as it is a part of
business practices, and visited by a Jinn, disguised as her
husband, who is in love with her and takes her husband's place.
Detha's story which had earlier been adapted into the 1973 film by
Mani Kaul is folkloric in origin.[3] Though Paheli diverges from its
source material and the earlier adaptations in giving the plot and
its lead female character a more feminist agency.[4]

Paheli opened the 9th Zimbabwe International Film Festival at the

Libertie Cinema Complex in Harare. It was also screened at both
the Sundance Film Festival and the Palm Springs International

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Film Festival.[5]
The working title of the movie was Ghost Ka Dost Theatrical release poster
(translates to Friend of a Ghost ). Paheli was India's official entry Directed by Amol Palekar
to the 79th Academy Awards.[6]
Screenplay by Sandhya
Paheli released on 24 June 2005, and proved to be a moderate Gokhale
commercial success at the box office, grossing ₹32 crore Story by Vijayadan
worldwide. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics upon Detha
release, with praise for its production design, cinematography,
Sandhya
costumes and special effects; however its story and screenplay
Gokhale
received criticism.
Amol Palekar
At the 51st Filmfare Awards, Paheli received 2 nominations – Best Based on Duvidha
Lyricist (Gulzar for "Dheere Jalna") and Best Male Playback by Vijayadan
Singer (Sonu Nigam for "Dheere Jalna"). At the 53rd National Detha
Film Awards, the film won Best Female Playback Singer (Shreya
Ghoshal for "Dheere Jalna"). Produced by Gauri Khan
Starring Shah Rukh
Plot Khan
Rani Mukerji
The movie is narrated by two puppets, voiced by Naseeruddin Narrated by Naseeruddin
Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah. Shah
Ratna Pathak
A young enthusiastic Rajasthani village girl, Lachchi is married off
to Kishan, the son of the rich merchant Bhanwarlal, from a distant Cinematography Ravi K.
village. While travelling from her home to her in laws' home, Chandran
which is too far away, the party stops in the middle of the trip to Edited by Amitabh Shukla
rest at a dharamshala (spiritual dwelling), where a ghost sees Steven H.
Lachchi, and falls in love with her. Later that night, it is revealed Bernard
that Kishan, who is a dutiful son, will honor his father's wish to
start a new, far-away business on a predetermined auspicious Music by Songs:
date, which happens to be the very next day. Kishan turns away M.M. Kreem
from his wife at night, to finish his bookkeeping, and in the early Background
morning hours sets off on a business trip that is to last five years. Score:
Lachchi is devastated; Gajrobai, her husband's sister-in-law, Aadesh
consoles her, empathizing on the grounds that Gajrobai's husband Shrivastava
Sunderlal has also disappeared. The next day, the ghost appears in
Production Red Chillies
Bhanwarlal's house, having taken Kishan's shape and voice
company Entertainment
because of his own attachment to Lachchi.
Distributed by Eros
Despite of pretending to be Kishan in front of everyone else in the International
house, the ghost reveals his true identity to Lachchi at night.
Lachchi is thus presented with a dilemma between the Release date 24 June 2005
representation of all of her desires in the form of the ghost who Running time 141 minutes
has taken the form of her real husband. She takes this newfound,
sensual, magical, social, self-confident version of Kishan as hers. Country
India
As Kishan, the ghost befriends all of the real Kishan's family and Language Hindi
keeps Bhanwarlal happy by providing him with magical, possibly Budget ₹140 million[1]
illusory, gold coins. His only blunder is in his treatment of the
messenger Bhoja, who is perplexed by the idea that Kishan has Box office ₹320 million[1]
sent a letter from his business trip only to receive it himself in his
own house and offended when the ghost (who appears as Kishan) does not offer him a drink of water.
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Lachchi and the ghost lives blissfully together for four years, during which he also keeps her in-laws
happy and solves many problems of the family and the village. Lachchi then, becomes pregnant with
the ghost's child, and the real Kishan returns to see if the rumours about his wife's pregnancy are true.
He returns to find the ghost in his (Kishan's) own form at the same time that Lachchi goes into early
labor. Lachchi gives birth to a daughter, Lunima. Kishan's family is unable to determine which of the
doppelgangers is the real Kishan (the ghost refusing to confess). They decide to visit the king so that
he can arbitrate. In the meantime, Sundarlal also returns home and apologizes to Gajrobai for his
sudden disappearance for so long and reunites with his family.

On the way to the king they meet an old shepherd, Gadariya who helps them out. He gives three tests
in front of the real Kishan. He says the one who can pick up hot coals will prove himself as Bhanwalal's
real son, the one who can gather the sheep in time will prove himself as the real husband of the bride,
and the one who can enter his water-bottle will prove himself as the real lover of the bride. Kishan
tries his best to perform the first two, which the ghost does not even bother to try. When the shepherd
says 'the real lover of the bride', the ghost performs the third, impossible feat and enters the water
bottle, simply to prove his love for Lachchi. Thus, the real Kishan is found out. The shepherd quickly
closes his bottle so the ghost cannot come out of it. Following this revelation, the real Kishan throws
away the bottle in the middle of the desert, and everyone returns home. Lachchi is devastated over the
loss of the ghost.

In the very end, it is revealed that the ghost has escaped the bottle and taken control of Kishan's body
to live with her. While Lachchi tries to confess to her husband that the ghost had not actually fooled
her, the ghost exposes his identity to Lachchi by reminding her of the name they were originally going
to give their daughter. Thus, Lachchi starts living happily with both her real husband and her ghost
lover in the same body. The puppets end the story, remarking that this is a very old folk tale.

Cast
Shah Rukh Khan as Kishanlal / Prem - The Ghost (dual role)
Rani Mukerji as Lachchi
Anupam Kher as Bhanwarlal, Kishan's father
Aditi Govitrikar as Kamli
Rajpal Yadav as Bhoja
Dilip Prabhavalkar as Kanwarlal, Bhanwarlal's brother
Sharvari Jamenis as Rakhma, Kishanlal's sister
Palak Jain as Anusuya, Kishan's cousin (Child artist)
A. K. Hangal as Jeevraj
Naseeruddin Shah as Male puppet (voice)
Ratna Pathak Shah as Female puppet (voice)
Amitabh Bachchan as Gadariya (special appearance)
Juhi Chawla as Gajrobai (special appearance)
Suniel Shetty as Sunder Laal, Kishan's brother (special appearance)
Aasif Sheikh as Ghost

Production

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In 2004, Palekar went to Shah Rukh Khan with a request for a hearing. After listening to the script,
Khan asked Palekar if he could produce it as well as star in it. According to Khan, Paheli is a woman's
liberation film that deals with the issues of marriage and asks whether a woman must stay with a man
only due to marriage and not out of love.[7] Paheli was shot entirely in Rajasthan (Jhunjhunu district)
over a period of 45 days. A scene involving Bachchan and Khan in the desert was shot in Mumbai on a
helipad. One of the scenes was filmed at the Hadi Rani Kund (often confused with Chand Baori) of
Todaraisingh.

Reception

Critical reception

Paheli was submitted as India's official entry to the 79th Academy Awards.[8]

Taran Adarsh from Bollywood Hungama gave it 4/5 stars and said: "On the whole, Paheli is one of the
finest films produced in recent times. A film like this proves yet again that we don't need to seek
inspiration from outsiders [read Hollywood], when Indian literature is rich enough to provide us with
captivating stories."[9] Raja Sen from Rediff.com called it "A breathtaking dream!", and said: "First
things first, this is the best-looking Indian film in a very long time, and ranks up there with the finest
ever. Palekar has crafted a delectable fairytale that is incredibly well-shot. Ravi K. Chandran's
cinematography is spellbinding as he casts us into the fabulous sandscapes of Rajasthan with fluid
harmony. Each frame of the film is picture-perfect, marinated in intoxicating colour. Watching Paheli
is quite an experience, and it's from the very opening shot of the film that its sheer, magical palette
overwhelms us."[10] It was featured in The Ten Best Indian Films of 2005 list by Rediff.com, ranked
third.[11]

Box office

Paheli saw 90% occupancy during its opening.[12] The film had a total net gross of ₹187.5 million
(US$2.3 million) in India and an additional US$3.63 million in the overseas market. It was declared
an "average " in India, but a "hit" abroad.[13][14] It proved to be a safe and profitable venture for its
distributors.[15]

Soundtrack
The film's soundtrack is composed and produced by M. M. Kreem Paheli
with lyrics by Gulzar. The soundtrack for the film released on 9 Soundtrack album to Paheli by M.
May 2005. The song "Dheere Jalna" is based on "Nadira Dhinna"
M. Kreem
from Okariki Okaru (2003).[16]
Released 9 May 2005
Track listing Recorded 2005
No. Title Singer(s) Length Genre Feature film
1. "Dheere Jalna" Sonu Nigam, Shreya 06:08 soundtrack
Ghoshal Length 44:53
2. "Kangna Re" Shreya Ghoshal, 05:55
Madhushree, Bela Language Hindi
Shende, Kalapini
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Komakali, Sonu Label T-Series

Nigam
3. "Khaali Hai" Hariharan, Bela 05:58
Shende
4. "Laaga Re Jal Laaga" M. M. Keeravani, 05:51
Sonu Nigam, Shruti
Sadolikar
5. "Minnat Kare" Shreya Ghoshal, 07:25
Madhushree, Bela
Shende
6. "Phir Raat Kati" Sunidhi Chauhan, 03:45
Sukhwinder Singh
7. "Phir Raat Kati" (Remix) Sunidhi Chauhan, 03:45
Sukhwinder Singh
8. "Dheere Jalna"   06:06
(Instrumental)
Music Label – T-Series

Awards
Paheli received several awards and nominations at multiple award ceremonies.

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Award Category Recipients and Nominees Results

53rd National Film Awards Best Female Playback Singer Shreya Ghoshal for "Dheere Jalna" Won

Best Lyricist Gulzar for "Dheere Jalna"

51st Filmfare Awards Nominated
Best Male Playback Singer Sonu Nigam for "Dheere Jalna"

Best Art Direction Muneesh Sappal

Won
Best Film Processing R. Mittal
Best Actor Shahrukh Khan

Best Male Playback Singer Sonu Nigam for "Dheere Jalna"

2006 Zee Cine Awards Best Choreography Farah Khan for "Kangna Re"
Best Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran Nominated

Best Costume Design Shalini Sarna

Best Publicity Design R. D. Parinja

Best Audiography Anuj Mathur

Best Art Direction Muneesh Sappal

Won
Best Male Playback Singer Sonu Nigam for "Dheere Jalna"
Best Actor Shahrukh Khan

2006 Star Screen Awards Best Cinematography Ravi K. Chandran

Best Music Director M. M. Keeravani Nominated

Best Lyricist Gulzar for "Dheere Jalna"

Best Choreographer Farah Khan for "Kangna Re"

References
1. "Paheli" (https://web.archive.org/web/20150905210357/http://boxofficeindia.com/Movies/movie_de
tail/paheli#.VdmwnG-6bIZ). Box Office India. Archived from the original (http://boxofficeindia.com/
Movies/movie_detail/paheli#.VdmwnG-6bIZ) on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
2. "Top ten Kannada films to have been remade" (https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/kannada/
movies/photo-features/top-ten-kannada-films-to-have-been-remade/photostory/27975942.cms).
The Times of India.
3. Martins, Constantino; Damásio, Manuel (15 August 2016). Seduction in Popular Culture,
Psychology, and Philosophy (https://books.google.com/books?id=S_fZDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA140).
IGI Global. p. 140. ISBN 978-1-5225-0526-6. "Detha's ostensibly simple folktale published in of the
1970s, with its multi-layered texture, has become a favorite for film makers: two veteran film
directors - Mani Kaul (who made Duvidha in 1973) and T.S. Nagabharana (made Nagamandala in
Kannada, in 1997) before Palekar-Gokhale remade it as Paheli in 2005."
4. Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism (https://books.google.com/books?id=BN5oAWPacgIC).
University of Kansas. 2014. p. 66.
5. Mehta, Sunanda (19 November 2005). "Now showing: Bollywood to Hollywood, Paheli makes the
moves" (https://web.archive.org/web/20100514083504/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?
newsid=157915). The Indian Express. Archived from the original (http://cities.expressindia.com/full
story.php?newsid=157915) on 14 May 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2008.

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