Amrapali (1966)

Amrapali: Directed by Lekh Tandon. With Vyjayanthimala, Sunil Dutt, Prem Nath, Bipin Gupta. A victory over neighboring state Vaishai has always eluded Magadh Samrat Ajaatshatru despite being winning and taking control over all neighboring states. He attacks Vaishali only get defeated again. Wounded, lost and on the run, Ajaatshatru dons the guise of a Vaishali soldier and takes shelter with a woman named Amrapali and they fall in love with each other. Ajaatshatru finds an ally in Senapati Balbadhra Singh and both start a plot to gain control of Vaishali. Vaishali Samrat comes to know about Ajaatshatru and Amrapali’s liaison with him, he sentences her with a death penalty. Ajaatshatru is enraged at this, he gathers together his armies and storms the unsuspecting Vaishali and virtually burns the city down, killing almost everyone in it. This accomplished, he rushes to free his beloved from the dungeons. He does set her free but it is not the same Amrapali; this Amrapali is quite different. She is not at all thrilled to be in the presence of her conqueror lover. She teaches him what he won in the battle ground but what he lost in reality.

“Amrapali review :u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne of the most sensual films made in Hindi cinema; Amrapali is a 500 BC history told earnestly with some noteworthy war sequences and awe-inspiring dances. But the real trump card of the film is Vyjanthimala who not only gets in to the skin of the titular character (pun intended) but also delivers the best performance of her illustrious career. Its a pity the film failed commercially which disheartened her. Probably it was too bold for that era.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSunil Dutt plays the ambitious to the point of being cruel emperor of Magadh – Ajathshatru – who attacks the neighbouring kingdom of Vaishali but surprisingly gets badly wounded in the battle. Mistaken for a Vaishali soldier, the royal courtesan Amrapali treats him to health and they fall in love. What happens when his real identity is revealed? Will Ajathshatru still satisfy his lust for Vaishali or will he choose his love for Amrapali? The films answers these questions.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf the cast, Sunil Dutt was perfectly cast as the aggressive Ajathshatru. His introductory roar reminded me of Ranveer Singhu0026#39;s Allauddin Khilji in Padmaavat (2018). But it is Vyjanthimala who takes the movie to an altogether different level. Forget Ajathshatru, any person watching the film would fall in love with her. Thats the greatness of her performance.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eRegards,nSumeet Nadkarni.”