| Laiye Tod Nibhaiye | |
| Director: | Satish Chabbra |
| Producer: | Krishan Lal Varma |
| Screenplay: | Balkrishna Mauj |
| Story: | Balkrishna Mauj |
| Starring: | Nishi Ravindra Kapoor |
| Music: | S Madan |
| Cinematography: | Mohan Keshwani |
| Editing: | Hari Pathare |
| Studio: | Varma International Pictures |
| Distributor: | Varma International Pictures |
| Runtime: | 136 minutes |
| Country: | India |
Laiye Tod Nibhiye (English translation: "Let's forever be together") is a 1966 Punjabi-language film directed by Satish Chabbra and starring Nishi and Ravindra Kapoor in the lead roles with Gopal Sehgal, Sheela R and Ravi Khanna in supporting roles.[1] The film was distributed and produced by Varma International Pictures. It was produced by Krishan Lal Varma, son of Biharilal Varma, one of the founders of Varma Films. Previously Nishi, who played the lead female role in Laiye Tod Nibhiye had worked in supporting roles in three films produced by Varma Films and its affiliates: Baghi Sipahi (1958),[2] Night Club (1958)[3] and Main Nashe Mein Hoon (1959).[4] Laiye Tod Nibhiye marked the first time Nishi had been cast in a lead role in a film associated with the Varma family.
The prominence of Laiye Tod Nibhiye arises from the ensemble compiled by the filmmakers for the film. First, Nishi, the lead actress, as well as Ravindra Kapoor, the lead actor of Laiye Tod Nibhiye, were at the prime of their careers in the Punjabi cinema, as evidenced by how prolific each of them was during the 1960s, the decade in which Laiye Tod Nibhiye was released. The List of Punjabi films of the 1960s shows that each of these stars were featured in lead roles in at least 10 Punjabi films during the 1960s. Not surprisingly, Nishi was branded as a "big name in Punjabi cinema"[5] and called the "mother of Punjabi cinema."[6]
Second, considering the widely held belief regarding the impact of Indian film songs on a movie's commercial success,[7] the significance of Laiye Tod Nibhiye emerges from the collaboration between its music composer, the lyricists and the playback singers used for its songs. Following the triumph of the Punjabi-language movies Lado Rani (1963) and Mama Ji (1964), S. Madan, the music composer of Laiye Tod Nibhiye gained widespread fame all across the Punjab region and was recognized as a major composer in the Punjabi film industry.[8] Both of the lyricists, Verma Malik and Naqsh Lyallpuri were renowned in the Punjabi cinema. Finally, the playback singers for the film included: Mohammed Rafi, voted the Greatest Voice in Hindi Cinema in a CNN-IBN's poll,[9] the legendary Shamshad Begum[10] and Asha Bhonsle, believed to be on the list of singers to have sung the highest number of film songs.[11]
Overall, Laiye Tod Nibhiye, released during the Golden Age of Hindi Cinema which unfolded from the late 1940s to the 1960s, exemplifies how filmmakers in that era strategically collaborated with renowned stars, music composers, lyricists and playback singers to achieve the commercial success of a film.[12] [13]
After being ousted from their city college and failing to gain admission in another college, Kishan and Bhola return to their village. Both deceive their ignorant fathers about their being expelled from college by claiming to have passed their exams. While living in the village, Kishan falls in love with Jeeto, the village beauty, and in time manages to win her over. Nevertheless, Dharmu, the village bully, is also in love with Jeeto and becomes increasingly furious as Kishan and Jeeto's relationship deepens.
While the relationship between Kishan and proceeds, Bhola gets engaged to his beloved Taro after many pranks with her father. Meanwhile, Dharmu challenges Kishan to a fist fight at the Baisakhi Mela after failing to vilify him with his malevolent tactics. Kishan emerges victorious at the fist fight, and Dharmu is consequently compelled to shave off his mustache. Boiling with fury, Dharmu schemes to do away with Kishan with the assistance of his friend Govinda. A physical confrontation breaks out between the three, and Govinda loses his life. Dharmu takes advantage of this situation and convinces Jeeto's father, Hari Ram, to promise her hand in marriage to him. The rest of the film unpacks the consequences that emerge from the conflicts which arise from this situation.
All the songs of Laiye Tod Nibhiye were composed by S. Madan and the lyrics were penned by Verma Malik and Naqsh Lyallpuri. The playback singers were Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum, Krishna Kalle, Minoo Purshottam, S. Balbir and Surinder Kohli.
| Track # | Song | Singer(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Duniya Ek Passe" | Mohammed Rafi, S. Balbir |
| 2 | "Ni Chadya Sal Sova" | Asha Bhosle |
| 3 | "Jee Karta Hai" | Mohammed Rafi, S. Balbir, Asha Bhosle, Minoo Purshottam |
| 4 | " Meri Lad Gai Akh" | Shamshad Begum, Minoo Purshottam |
| 5 | "Bari Barsi" | Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle |
| 6 | "Balle Balle" | Mohammed Rafi |
| 7 | "Piveh Piveh Piveh Kaleyan Da Dudh" | Surinder Kohli, Minoo Purshottam |
| 8 | "Aa Mere Kol" | Krishna Kalle |