Mera gaon mera desh was released in 1971, and is must see if you like acting, rather then today’s films. The film is made to make people realize about their country. The movie is no bs whatever is a simple story. Mera gaon mera desh came out before sholay and both have similar stories. Ramesh sippy director of sholay was probably fascinated by this film, and watched some japense samurai films to make sholay. Sholay is a bigger hit then this film, but this film brought stardom too one actor in particular that was vinod khanna, dharmendra was already a star after phool aur patthar.
The films stars, Dharmendra, vinod khanna, asha parekh, laxmi chayya, jayant.
Ajit’s (dharmendra) is petty thief, who has noone in life, ever since childhood he has been stealing from people. Hawaldaar major jaswant singh (jayant) makes a citizens arrest of ajit, and hands him over to the police and after due process of law he is sentenced to jail.
After ajit completes his sentence, he is asked by the jailor to approach jaswant singh for employment. JAswant singh to used to be in the army but had lost his leg in a war. Ajit agrees and heads to jaswant singhs house in a village. Jaswant asks ajit to help him with his farming work. Ajit meets anju (asha parekh) and falls in love with her, but asha’s father doesn’t want to go near a criminal like ajit.
Ajit comes to know of Jabbar singh (vinod khanna) a dacait who is terrorizing the sorrounding community and ajit decides to take on jabbar singh. In retaliation jabbar kidnaps anju and kills jaswant singh and instructs ajit to come to his place unarmed. Ajit decides to follow these instructions, but however as soon as he reaches jabbar’s hideout he is also kidnapped. Ajit somehow escapes along with anju, and wants to settle down the score with jabbar for once and all.
The film is directed by raj khosla, who had earlier gave a superhit film called c.i.d along with dev anand, bambai ka babu, prem kahani. He is able to get good performances from his cast.
The music is another highlight of the film by laxmikant pyarelal, with tunes like mar diya jaaye jaan chood diya jaaye bol tere saath kya saluk kiya jaaye, sona leja re, kuch kehta hai yeh savan, which are still remixed today. Dharmendra’s films all had good music.
Performancewise, Dharmendra as always does a great job, comedy, action and emotional scenes. His scenes with the village people, with vinod khanna are worth a watch. He was also nominated for best actors in the award of 1971. ASha parekh does a good job also, as the innocent village girl.
The atcress laxmi chayya who is known to the west as a bollywood dancer has one of the largest screen roles in mera gaon mera desh and has three dance numbers including the amazing knife dance, while dharmendra is tied to a pillar. She gives a great performance.
The star of show was really vinod khanna, as a daku this role gave him visibility and made a star out of him, its a early role before he became one of the greatest action heroes of bollywood history, he appeared in a number of villain roles, but his appearence as jabbar singh is one can remember of him when you say vinod khanna you can also think of jabbar singh, he was also thought of playing gabbar singh for sholay. The long sideburns and the amazing outfit and the dacait music when khanna was walking with a gun was the starting of bandit roles.
Also the fight scene between dharmendra and khanna in the end is one of the best fightings ever.