{ "id": "ep7gy5vjyz", "slug": "safar", "title": "Safar (सफर)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1970s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975", "label": "Released 1970 to 1975", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1970 to 1975", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s", "label": "Hindi films of the 1970s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975", "label": "Released 1970 to 1975", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Safar (सफर) is a 1970 Hindi romantic drama directed by Asit Sen, starring Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Feroz Khan, and Ashok Kumar; a remake of Sen's Bengali Chalachal (1956), it won the Filmfare Best Director award.", "snippet": "Safar (सफर) is a 1970 Hindi romantic drama directed by Asit Sen, starring Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Feroz Khan, and Ashok Kumar; a remake of Sen's Bengali Chalachal (1956), it won the Filmfare Best Director award.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1970-1975", "markdown": "# Safar (सफर)\n\n**Safar** (सफर) is a 1970 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film directed by Asit Sen and starring [Rajesh Khanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajesh-khanna), Sharmila Tagore, Ashok Kumar, and Feroz Khan[1](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/safar/0-0-345714). It tells the story of Avinash and Neela, two medical students in love, who are separated when Avinash, suffering from a terminal illness, persuades Neela to marry the businessman Shekhar[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/safar/IEMV006921). The film is a Hindi-language remake of Asit Sen's own Bengali film *Chalachal* (1956), which was based on a story by the Bengali writer [Ashutosh Mukherjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashutosh-mukherjee)[3](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/safar-1970). It won Asit Sen the [Filmfare Award for Best Director](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-award-for-best-director)[4](https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners.amp).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director / producers | Asit Sen; produced by Mushir Alam and Mohammad Riaz for M.R. Productions[5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/) |\n| Lead cast | Rajesh Khanna as Avinash, Sharmila Tagore as Neela, Feroz Khan as Shekhar Kapoor, Ashok Kumar as Dr. Chandra[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/) |\n| Source | Remake of Asit Sen's Bengali film *Chalachal* (1956), from a story by Ashutosh Mukherjee[3](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/safar-1970) |\n| Music | Kalyanji-Anandji, lyrics by Indivar; songs include \"Zindagi ka safar\", \"Jeevan se bhari teri aankhen\", and \"Nadiya chale chale re dhara\"[7](https://www.swardb.com/films/safar/) |\n| Release | 1 October 1970 (India) per IMDb and Zee5; other databases give dates from March to September 1970[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/) • [8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/safar/movieshow/61336624.cms) |\n| Box office | India net collection of 15 million (1.50 crore), classified a Hit, ranking ninth among 1970 Hindi films[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/safar-2/box-office/) • [10](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1970&yr=1970-1979) |\n| Recognition | Filmfare Award for Best Director (1971) for Asit Sen[4](https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners.amp) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe film is framed as a recollection. Dr. Neela, now a successful surgeon, is asked by her senior Dr. Chandra to perform a surgery on a patient with no chance of survival, so that she can come to terms with her past; when the patient dies and the patient's son accuses her, Neela recalls how it all began[5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/).\n\nIn the flashback, Neela comes from a poor family and is studying medicine, where she meets the fellow student Avinash, who is also financially weak, a gifted painter, and suffering from a terminal illness[5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/). To ease her financial difficulties, Dr. Chandra asks Neela to tutor Montu, the younger brother of the businessman Shekhar Kapoor; Shekhar falls in love with her and approaches Avinash, the only person who can convince Neela to marry[5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/). Avinash reveals to Neela that he has blood cancer and little time to live, and a heartbroken Neela marries Shekhar while keeping a friendly affection for Avinash, which leaves Shekhar suspicious[5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/). After the marriage, Shekhar encourages Neela to resume her medical studies, then discovers that she has been meeting Avinash, and the misunderstandings ruin the marital life[1](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/safar/0-0-345714).\n\n## Production and origins\n\n**From Chalachal to Safar.** Asit Sen had earlier directed the same tale in Bengali as *Chalachal* (1956), in which Arundhati Devi played Neela, a surgeon whose friendship with the dying painter Avinash (Nirmal Kumar) leads her, at his urging, to wed the businessman Bipin (Asit Baran), bringing about tragic results[11](https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/rajesh-khanna-via-bengal). In the remake, with Rajesh Khanna playing Avinash, the focus shifts from Neela to Avinash, who is given philosophical musings and two of the film's celebrated songs[11](https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/rajesh-khanna-via-bengal). The film was shot in color, and the critic Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri argues that in shifting the focus and moving from black and white to color, *Safar* loses some of the psychological underpinnings of *Chalachal*, while still giving [Sharmila Tagore](https://www.edgepedia.org/sharmila-tagore) one of the finest roles of her career[11](https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/rajesh-khanna-via-bengal).\n\nThe credits name Inder Raj Anand for dialogue, Kamal Bose as cinematographer, Tarun Dutta as editor, and Sudhendu Roy as art director[12](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/generic/asit-sen-ii/research-centre/all/safar-1970-cinema-poster-3863). Filming took place at studios in Mumbai, including Filmistan Studios[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/).\n\n## Music\n\nThe soundtrack was composed by the duo Kalyanji-Anandji with lyrics by Indivar[7](https://www.swardb.com/films/safar/). [Kishore Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kishore-kumar) sang \"Zindagi ka safar\" and the melancholic \"Jeevan se bhari teri aankhen\", Mukesh sang \"Jo tumko ho pasand\", [Manna Dey](https://www.edgepedia.org/manna-dey) sang \"Nadiya chale chale re dhara\", and [Lata Mangeshkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/lata-mangeshkar) sang \"Hum the jinke sahare\"[7](https://www.swardb.com/films/safar/) • [13](https://www.dawn.com/news/1150433/safar-review-a-gem-of-bygone-bollywood). A reviewer for *Dawn* describes the soundtrack as mesmerising, singling out Kishore Kumar's \"Zindagi ka safar\" and calling Lata Mangeshkar's \"Hum the jinke sahare\" one of the film's most underrated songs[13](https://www.dawn.com/news/1150433/safar-review-a-gem-of-bygone-bollywood).\n\nAn instrumental theme associated with Feroz Khan's meetings with Sharmila Tagore in the film was later reused by Kalyanji-Anandji as the song \"Kya Dekhte Ho\" in *Qurbani*[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/).\n\n## Reception and legacy\n\n**Box office and awards.** Bollywood Hungama records an India net collection of 15 million (1.50 crore) and classifies the film a Hit[9](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/safar-2/box-office/); a compiled ranking of 1970 Hindi films places *Safar* ninth by net gross, behind *Johny Mera Naam*, *Sachaa Jhutha*, and *Aan Milo Sajna* among others[10](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1970&yr=1970-1979). At the [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards) for 1970, presented in 1971, Asit Sen won Best Director for *Safar*; the Best Film award that year went to *Khilona*[4](https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners.amp).\n\n**Critical standing.** A *Dawn* retrospective calls *Safar* one of Rajesh Khanna's and Sharmila Tagore's most memorable films, praising the understated performances of the leading pair, particularly the scene in which Avinash tells Neela he has cancer and asks her to marry Shekhar[13](https://www.dawn.com/news/1150433/safar-review-a-gem-of-bygone-bollywood). Khanna's role is often compared with his part in *Anand* (1971), in which he also played a man with a terminal illness; the *Dawn* reviewer distinguishes the two, noting that in *Anand* he played the role with joie de vivre while in *Safar* he plays it with understated melancholy[13](https://www.dawn.com/news/1150433/safar-review-a-gem-of-bygone-bollywood). A feature in *ThePrint* describes the film as a melancholy meditation on life, death, love, and duty, darker and less feel-good than *Anand*, and highlights the scene in which Dr. Chandra answers Avinash's question about how long he has to live by silently picking up an hourglass with little sand left in the top half[14](https://theprint.in/feature/rajesh-khannas-safar-is-a-melancholy-meditation-on-life-death-love-and-duty/462736/).\n\nThe film is also cited in scholarship on [Hindi cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-cinema) as an example of the recurring \"dost\" (friend) trope, in which a third character removes obstacles between lovers, a pattern that in *Safar* ends tragically[15](https://apnaorg.com/books/english/cinema-of-enchantment/cinema-of-enchantment.pdf). It was later referenced in the television series *Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah* in the 2012 episode \"Anand Ka Safar\"[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/).\n\n## Asit Sen\n\nAsit Sen (24 September 1922 – 25 August 2001) was a film director, cinematographer, documentary producer, and screenwriter who worked in both Bengali and Hindi cinema[16](https://newsonair.gov.in/bulletins-detail/aaj-savere-507/). He directed 17 feature films across the two industries and is known for the Bengali *Deep Jwele Jai* (1959) and *Uttar Falguni* (1963) and the Hindi *Mamta* (1966), *Khamoshi* (1969), *Anokhi Raat* (1968), and *Safar* (1970)[16](https://newsonair.gov.in/bulletins-detail/aaj-savere-507/). He was nominated twice for the Filmfare Award for Best Director, for *Mamta* in 1967 and for *Safar*, winning the award for the latter[16](https://newsonair.gov.in/bulletins-detail/aaj-savere-507/).\n\n## Conflicting records\n\nThe databases disagree on several basic facts, which any reader consulting them should know. Release dates given include 6 March 1970 (Times of India)[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/safar/movieshow/61336624.cms), 24 July 1970 ([BookMyShow](https://www.edgepedia.org/bookmyshow), matching the censor certificate date of 24/07/1970)[2](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/safar/IEMV006921) • [3](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/safar-1970), 30 September 1970 (Digit Binge)[17](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/safar-809673.html), and 1 October 1970 (IMDb, Zee5)[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/) • [1](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/safar/0-0-345714). Runtimes range from 2h 9m (BookMyShow) to 2h 17m or 137 minutes (IMDb, Ultra)[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/) • [5](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/), 2h 19m (Zee5)[1](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/safar/0-0-345714), and 2h 30m (Rotten Tomatoes)[18](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/safar1970). The Times of India also lists a certificate of \"A\" while the censor record and BookMyShow give \"U\"[8](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/safar/movieshow/61336624.cms) • [3](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/safar-1970).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Safar, Zee5](https://www.zee5.com/global/movies/details/safar/0-0-345714)\n2. [Safar, BookMyShow](https://in.bookmyshow.com/movies/safar/IEMV006921)\n3. [Safar (1970), Movie Details, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/safar-1970)\n4. [Filmfare Awards Winners List (1954–Present)](https://www.filmfare.com/awards/filmfare-awards/winners.amp)\n5. [Safar 1970, Rights Inquiry, Cast & Crew, Ultra Media & Entertainment](https://www.ultraindia.com/details/safar/)\n6. [Safar (1970), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148692/)\n7. [Safar (1970), SwarDB Indian Film Music Database](https://www.swardb.com/films/safar/)\n8. [Safar Movie, eTimes, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/safar/movieshow/61336624.cms)\n9. [Safar Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/safar-2/box-office/)\n10. [Bollywood Box Office 1970–1979, Keep Alive Bollywood](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1970&yr=1970-1979)\n11. [Rajesh Khanna Via Bengal, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/feature/rajesh-khanna-via-bengal)\n12. [Mushir (Producer), Safar, 1970, Full Sheet Poster, Tuli Research Centre for India Studies](https://www.tuliresearchcentre.org/generic/asit-sen-ii/research-centre/all/safar-1970-cinema-poster-3863)\n13. ['Safar' review: A gem of bygone Bollywood, Dawn (15 December 2014)](https://www.dawn.com/news/1150433/safar-review-a-gem-of-bygone-bollywood)\n14. [Rajesh Khanna's Safar is a melancholy meditation on life, death, love and duty, ThePrint (18 July 2020)](https://theprint.in/feature/rajesh-khannas-safar-is-a-melancholy-meditation-on-life-death-love-and-duty/462736/)\n15. [Cinema of Enchantment (PDF)](https://apnaorg.com/books/english/cinema-of-enchantment/cinema-of-enchantment.pdf)\n16. [Aaj Savere: Asit Sen, Akashvani News](https://newsonair.gov.in/bulletins-detail/aaj-savere-507/)\n17. [Safar Movie (1970), Digit Binge](https://www.digit.in/digit-binge/movies/safar-809673.html)\n18. [Safar (1970), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/safar1970)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 1970s › Released 1970 to 1975*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/safar", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/safar.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Safar (सफर)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/safar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Safar (सफर)](https://www.edgepedia.org/safar)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/safar](https://www.edgepedia.org/safar). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Safar (सफर)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/safar. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Safar is a 1970 Hindi romantic drama directed by Asit Sen, starring Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Feroz Khan, and Ashok Kumar; a remake of Sen's Bengali Chalachal, it won the Filmfare Best Director award." }