KOSHISH: A Rewritten Summary and Theme

KOSHISH is a powerful 1972 Indian social drama, directed by Gulzar and produced by Romu N. Sippy. It sensitively explores the lives, struggles, and quiet dignity of a hearing- and speech-impaired couple, Hari Charan (Sanjeev Kumar) and Aarti (Jaya Bhaduri/Bachchan). The central theme of the film is the importance of patience, mutual trust, and communication in overcoming physical disabilities and societal prejudice. It celebrates the couple’s resilience, self-respect, and their ultimate triumph in building a fulfilling life, raising a son with strong values, and finding acceptance, proving that disability is not a barrier to leading a normal, happy, and dignified existence.

Story Line

Hari Charan, a hardworking, honest young man who is deaf and mute, works at a printing press. He meets Aarti, a woman with the same disabilities, and they instantly connect, communicating their feelings through gestures. Their initial friendship blossoms into love, and they get married. Life after marriage presents numerous challenges, primarily due to their inability to speak or hear, which often leads to people taking advantage of them and making communication with the outside world difficult. Adding to their plight is Aarti’s cruel and greedy brother-in-law, Nandkishore (Om Shivpuri), who cheats them out of their money and constantly insults them for their disability.

Gut Journey of the Couple

Despite the hardships, Hari and Aarti remain a strong, supportive couple. Their biggest fear is realized when Aarti becomes pregnant: whether their child will also be born deaf and mute. To their great relief, their son, Amit, is born with normal hearing and speech. Hari and Aarti work tirelessly, prioritizing his education and instilling in him strong values and honesty, while shielding him from society’s harshness. Amit (Master Raju as grown-up) grows into a fine young man. When he falls in love with a girl whose father is also deaf and mute, Hari and Aarti initially fear that their son will face similar struggles to their own. However, they soon realize that with love and support, disability is not a weakness, and people with disabilities can lead happy, normal lives. They happily accept the marriage. The film concludes on an uplifting note, with Hari and Aarti realizing the profound meaning of their life’s struggles and feeling immense pride in the compassionate young man they raised.

Guljar’s Direction is Nice

The Director Gulzar shaped the film as good with his direction skills with the support of Producer Romu N. Sippy. The social drama film drew the attention of the cine lovers. All the actors Sanjeev Kumar (Hari Charan), Jaya Bhaduri (Bachchan) (Aarti), Om Shivpuri (Nandkishore), Asrani (Teacher/Friend) and Master Raju (Grown-up son Amit) acted well. The film features no songs but has well-received background music composed by Madan Mohan.  The film was highly successful and is noted for the excellent performances of the lead actors and Gulzar’s direction.

Vidyasagar Chaturvedula

Principle Correspondent, Prime Post

Vidya Sagar Chaturvedula is a passionate film enthusiast whose four-decade career spans multiple sectors, including media and industry. Fluent in Telugu, Hindi, and English, he has a deep appreciation for cinema, particularly films in those three languages. His passion goes beyond simple viewing; he enjoys analyzing directional skill, the emotional depth of actors’ performances, and the profound meaning embedded in dialogue. Mr. Sagar is known for his ability to clearly articulate and narrate his insightful film analyses after watching a movie.