{ "id": "epnp7m7mms", "slug": "suhaag-1979-film", "title": "Suhaag (1979 film)", "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-1976-1979", "label": "Released 1976 to 1979", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1976-1979" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t1946.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1976-1979", "label": "India · 1946 to 2000: Released 1976 to 1979", "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-1976-1979", "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-1976-1979", "label": "Released 1976 to 1979", "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-1976-1979" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Suhaag is a 1979 Hindi action drama directed by Manmohan Desai, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, and Parveen Babi; twins separated at birth become a policeman and a criminal, and the film was 1979's top Hindi grosser.", "snippet": "Suhaag is a 1979 Hindi action drama directed by Manmohan Desai, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, and Parveen Babi; twins separated at birth become a policeman and a criminal, and the film was 1979's top Hindi grosser.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-1970s.yr-1976-1979", "markdown": "# Suhaag (1979 film)\n\n**Suhaag** is a 1979 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by [Manmohan Desai](https://www.edgepedia.org/manmohan-desai), starring [Amitabh Bachchan](https://www.edgepedia.org/amitabh-bachchan), Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, and [Parveen Babi](https://www.edgepedia.org/parveen-babi), with Nirupa Roy, Amjad Khan, Kader Khan, Ranjeet, and Jeevan in supporting roles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963) It was released on 16 November 1979 and finished the year as the highest-grossing Hindi film in a trade ranking, with a verdict of Hit.[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/cast/) • [3](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1979&yr=1970-1979)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Director | Manmohan Desai[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963) |\n| Release | 16 November 1979; some databases list 29–30 October 1979[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/cast/) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/suhaag/cast-crew.html) |\n| Lead cast | Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, Parveen Babi[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963) |\n| Music | Laxmikant-Pyarelal; lyrics by Anand Bakshi[5](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/suhaag-1979) |\n| Writers | Kader Khan, Prayag Raj, and K.K. Shukla[6](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/suhaag-1979-movie-116635) |\n| Runtime | 2 hours 44 minutes (164 minutes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963) |\n| Box office | Net gross of 50,000,000 rupees, ranked first among 1979 Hindi releases, verdict Hit[3](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1979&yr=1970-1979) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe film follows a pair of twins separated at birth. Durga ([Nirupa Roy](https://www.edgepedia.org/nirupa-roy)) and Vikram Singh are married, and Vikram has taken to crime, antagonizing a rival gangster, Jaggi ([Kader Khan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kader-khan)). In revenge, Jaggi steals one of the newborn twins and sells him to a bootlegger, Pascal. Vikram abandons Durga, who raises the remaining son, Kishan ([Shashi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shashi-kapoor)), alone.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/suhaag)\n\nThe two brothers grow up on opposite sides of the law. Kishan becomes a dedicated police officer, while Amit (Amitabh Bachchan), raised by Pascal, is kept illiterate, turned to petty crime, and becomes an alcoholic.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/suhaag) The brothers meet without knowing their relationship, settle their differences, and become friends.[7](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/suhaag) The plot turns when Vikram, unaware that his wife and both sons are alive, hires Amit to kill Kishan during Navratri.[8](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/suhaag/umc.cmc.5bkeahmujakrnci3q4riutxt4)\n\nThe official press booklet summarized by Cinemaazi adds later turns: Amit fakes the killing, but Vikram shoots Kishan, who is blinded; Amit gives up drinking, joins the police force, and promises Kishan's girlfriend Annu to avenge the blindness; Vikram is shot by Amit, escapes by helicopter without knowing Jaggi has planted a time bomb aboard, and Durga pleads with her sons to save her suhaag, the word for a married woman's marital state that gives the film its title.[5](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/suhaag-1979)\n\n### Cast and characters\n\nThe credited roles include Amitabh Bachchan as Amit, Shashi Kapoor as Kishan Kapoor, Rekha as Basanti, Parveen Babi as Anu, Nirupa Roy as Durga Kapoor, Kader Khan as Jaggi, Amjad Khan as Vikram Kapoor, Ranjeet as Gopal, Jeevan as Bhaskar, Hercules as Raghu dada, and [Jagdish Raj](https://www.edgepedia.org/jagdish-raj) as a police officer.[9](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/161433-suhaag) The wider cast also includes Jagdish Raj, Jeevan, Kader Khan, Ranjeet, and Amjad Khan among the named performers listed by trade databases.[6](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/suhaag-1979-movie-116635)\n\n## Production and music\n\nManmohan Desai directed the film, with a story by Prayag Raj and J.M. Desai, screenplay by K.K. Shukla, and dialogue by Kader Khan; Mukhtar Ahmed edited it.[9](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/161433-suhaag) The music was composed by the duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, that is Laxmikant Shantaram Kudalkar and Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, with [Anand Bakshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/anand-bakshi) as lyricist.[5](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/suhaag-1979) Playback singers credited on the film include [Lata Mangeshkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/lata-mangeshkar), Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Shailendra Singh, and Shashi Kapoor.[9](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/161433-suhaag)\n\nProducer credits differ across databases. Gadgets 360 and FilmiBeat list Rajinder Kumar Sharma, Ramesh Sharma, Shakti Subhash Sharma, and Prakash Trehan,[6](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/suhaag-1979-movie-116635) • [4](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/suhaag/cast-crew.html) the film's poster credits Prakash Trehan and Subhash Sharma,[10](https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/143_IPCatalogue1978-79.pdf) and the Quebec film registry records [Prakash Mehra](https://www.edgepedia.org/prakash-mehra) as producer.[11](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/film/suhaag-275002/) The banner was Suresh Desai & Associates, Bombay, according to Cinemaazi,[5](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/suhaag-1979) while Apple TV lists the studio as Sharma Cine Associates.[8](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/suhaag/umc.cmc.5bkeahmujakrnci3q4riutxt4)\n\n## Release and box office\n\nMost trade databases give the release date as 16 November 1979,[2](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/cast/) • [6](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/suhaag-1979-movie-116635) while BollywoodMDB, FilmiBeat, and FMDb list 29 or 30 October 1979.[4](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/suhaag/cast-crew.html) • [9](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/161433-suhaag) The film ran 2 hours 44 minutes in most listings; the Quebec registry records 170 minutes for its classified version.[11](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/film/suhaag-275002/)\n\nA retrospective trade ranking places Suhaag first among 1979 Hindi releases, with a net gross of 50,000,000 rupees and a gross of 100,000,000 rupees, ahead of [Jaani Dushman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jaani-dushman) and Sargam, and carries the verdict Hit.[3](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1979&yr=1970-1979) Bollywood Hungama's box office page likewise records a lifetime India net collection of 50 million (5 crore) and classifies the film as a Hit.[12](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/box-office/)\n\n## Reception and context\n\nOn IMDb the film holds a rating of 6.5 out of 10 from about 1,400 votes.[1](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963) A 2019 retrospective marking forty years since the release described Suhaag as among the most successful films of 1979 because it was, in that account, a complete package of entertainment, and highlighted addiction and the conflict of good against evil as its central themes, noting that Amit, a worshipper of the goddess Durga, stops drinking on certain days for religious reasons.[13](https://www.bizasialive.com/bizasia-special-celebrating-40-years-of-suhaag/) The same retrospective observes that after Bachchan and Rekha worked together in the 1978 film Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, audiences and directors wanted to see more of the pair.[13](https://www.bizasialive.com/bizasia-special-celebrating-40-years-of-suhaag/) Suhaag was one of twelve films Shashi Kapoor made with Amitabh Bachchan, a list that also includes Deewar (1975), Trishul (1978), and [Kaala Patthar](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaala-patthar) (1979).[14](https://stageweb.iist.ac.in/sites/default/files/2025-05/SC13D002%20FT.pdf)\n\nThe film remains available on streaming services; as of recent checks it streams free with ads on [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel) and Tubi in the United States, and can be rented or bought on Apple TV and [Google Play](https://www.edgepedia.org/google-play).[15](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/suhaag) • [16](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Suhaag?hl=en_US&id=1fI01MFQ0VY)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Suhaag (1979), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079963)\n2. [Suhaag Cast List, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/cast/)\n3. [Box Office Bollywood, 1979 rankings](https://www.keepalivebollywood.com/boxofficebollywood.php?year=1979&yr=1970-1979)\n4. [Suhaag Cast & Crew, FilmiBeat](https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/movies/suhaag/cast-crew.html)\n5. [Suhaag (1979) Movie Details, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/film/suhaag-1979)\n6. [Suhaag (1979): Release Date, Trailer, Songs, Cast, Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/suhaag-1979-movie-116635)\n7. [Suhaag synopsis, JustWatch (UK)](https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/suhaag)\n8. [Suhaag, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/suhaag/umc.cmc.5bkeahmujakrnci3q4riutxt4)\n9. [Suhaag (1979), FMDb](https://fmdb.mov/en/movie/161433-suhaag)\n10. [Indian Film Catalogue 1978-79, Directorate of Film Festivals](https://dff.nic.in/images/Documents/143_IPCatalogue1978-79.pdf)\n11. [SUHAAG, Répertoire des films classés, Québec](https://repertoire.cinema.mcc.gouv.qc.ca/film/suhaag-275002/)\n12. [Suhaag Box Office Collection, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/suhaag-3/box-office/)\n13. [BizAsia Special: Celebrating 40 years of 'Suhaag'](https://www.bizasialive.com/bizasia-special-celebrating-40-years-of-suhaag/)\n14. [Constructing India: Cultural Identity, IIST](https://stageweb.iist.ac.in/sites/default/files/2025-05/SC13D002%20FT.pdf)\n15. [Suhaag streaming, JustWatch (US)](https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/suhaag)\n16. [Suhaag, Google Play Movies](https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Suhaag?hl=en_US&id=1fI01MFQ0VY)\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 1976 to 1979*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: 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/suhaag-1979-film", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film.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": "\"Suhaag (1979 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Suhaag (1979 film)](https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film](https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Suhaag (1979 film)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/suhaag-1979-film. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Suhaag is a 1979 Hindi action drama directed by Manmohan Desai, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, and Parveen Babi; twins separated at birth become a policeman and a criminal, and the film was 1979's top Hindi grosser." }