# Saraswatichandra (सरस्वतीचन्द्र) (1968 film)
**Saraswatichandra** (सरस्वतीचन्द्र) is a 1968 black-and-white Hindi drama-romance film directed by Govind Saraiya, based on the [Gujarati novel](https://www.edgepedia.org/gujarati-novel) *Saraswatichandra* by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, and starring Nutan and Manish as lovers separated by duty and circumstance.[1](https://www.wordandfilm.com/adaptation/saraswatichandra-1968/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/) Produced by Vivek for Sarvodaya Pictures, it won two [National Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-film-awards) and two [Filmfare Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/filmfare-awards) and is remembered for its Kalyanji-Anandji score, including the song "Chandan Sa Badan".[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/saraswatichandra/movieawards/61347754.cms) • [4](https://www.indiavideo.org/cinema/saraswatichandra-hindi-film-8503.php)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | 1 January 1968, India; Hindi language; black and white; 2 hours 36 minutes (156 min)[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/saraswati-chandra/cast/) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/) |
| Source | Gujarati novel *Saraswatichandra* by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, written in four parts between 1887 and 1901[1](https://www.wordandfilm.com/adaptation/saraswatichandra-1968/) • [6](https://vishwakosh.marathi.gov.in/18197/) |
| Lead cast | Nutan as Kumud Sundari, Manish as Saraswatichandra, Vijaya Choudhury as Kusum, Ramesh Deo as Pramad[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/) • [7](https://filmflow.tv/movie/48927-saraswatichandra) |
| Music | Kalyanji-Anandji (with assistant Babla); lyrics by Indivar; record company HMV[8](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=4048&lang=en) |
| National Film Awards | Best Music Direction (Kalyanji-Anandji) and Best Cinematography, Black and White (Nariman A. Irani)[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/saraswatichandra/movieawards/61347754.cms) |
| Filmfare Awards (1969) | Best Dialogue Writer (S. Ali Raza) and Best Cinematography, Black and White (Nariman A. Irani)[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/awards/) |
| Availability | Streaming in India on Amazon Prime Video and ShemarooMe[10](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/saraswatichandra) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and source novel
The film adapts Tripathi's four-part Gujarati novel, written between 1887 and 1901, which readers of Gujarati literature consider the most mature culmination of the literary and cultural history of its time.[6](https://vishwakosh.marathi.gov.in/18197/) • [11](https://amp.scroll.in/article/888266/scroll_in) The story is set against 19th-century feudal India.[1](https://www.wordandfilm.com/adaptation/saraswatichandra-1968/)
Saraswatichandra, the son of a rich family who lost his mother in childhood and was neglected by a resentful stepmother, resolves to dedicate his life to public welfare ("Lok-Kalyan"). His father betroths him to Kumud, the elder daughter of the dewan of a neighboring state. Though Saraswatichandra agrees to the betrothal out of deference to his father, he writes to the dewan explaining his mission; Kumud replies, and the two fall in love through their exchanged letters. He visits her home and his affection deepens.[12](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/saraswati-chandra)
The engagement, however, is broken off, and fate separates the pair; Kumud enters a painful marriage with Pramad. When their paths cross again, love lingers but duty and destiny stand in the way, until a final bittersweet turn.[13](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/saraswatichandra/umc.cmc.58r0ecdqsn9tb7tsoo8pswqhx) The film's title song introduces the story as one that took place a hundred years earlier, telling of a child "like a paragon of sacrifice" who was deprived of his mother, mistreated by his stepmother, and drawn to the poor and downtrodden.[11](https://amp.scroll.in/article/888266/scroll_in)
## Production
Govind Saraiya, a relatively new director at the time, directed the film from a screenplay by Vrajendra Gaur, with dialogue by S. Ali Raza and R. Bhatnagar credited for assistant dialogue.[14](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075) • [15](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/companycredits?rf=cons_tt_cocred_tt) [Cinematography](https://www.edgepedia.org/cinematography) was by Nariman A. Irani, with Anwar Siraj and Akbar also credited, and editing credited to V. N. Mayekar by Bollywood Hungama and G. G. Mayekar by IMDbPro.[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/saraswati-chandra/cast/) • [15](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/companycredits?rf=cons_tt_cocred_tt) The film was shot in India and released through Sarvodaya Pictures of Bombay.[5](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/saraswati-chandra/cast/) • [8](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=4048&lang=en)
According to an IMDb trivia note, [Sanjeev Kumar](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjeev-kumar) was originally to be launched in the film when it was planned in the early 1960s, but delays led him to sign lower-budget films, and when the project was finally announced Saraiya declined to cast him, saying a stunt-film actor would not suit the picture. Years later, when Saraiya planned a Gujarati remake, Kumar declined the offer, and his younger brother Kishore Jariwala was signed instead.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/)
## Music
The score is by the composing duo Kalyanji-Anandji, with Babla as assistant music director and lyrics by Indivar; the record company was HMV.[8](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=4048&lang=en) Songs include "Chandan Sa Badan, Chanchal Chitvan" (sung in separate versions by Mukesh and [Lata Mangeshkar](https://www.edgepedia.org/lata-mangeshkar)), "Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Mein", "Chhod De Sari Duniya Kisi Ke Liye", "Hum Ne Apna Sab Kuch Khoya", and "Main To Bhool Chali Babul Ka Desh".[16](https://lyricsindia.net/movies/160) • [17](https://www.hemantonline.com/i/saraswatichandra-1968-dvd) A retrospective account notes that Mukesh was reportedly paid 1,000 rupees for singing "Chandan Sa Badan" for the film.[18](https://ndtv.in/bollywood/why-was-singer-mukesh-criticized-for-singing-chandan-sa-badan-for-the-movie-saraswatichandra-bollywood-gold-4895368)
## Awards
The film won two National Film Awards: Best Music Direction for Kalyanji-Anandji and Best Cinematography (Black and White) for Nariman A. Irani.[3](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/saraswatichandra/movieawards/61347754.cms) At the Filmfare Awards it took two prizes in 1969, Best Dialogue Writer for S. Ali Raza and Best Cinematography (Black and White) for Irani.[9](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/awards/)
## Reception and legacy
The film was well received by audiences and was a box-office success.[14](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075) • [19](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/saraswatichandra/SHEMAROOME_MOVIE_5d4c3e5ced8f7d6369000c69?showPlayback=true) It holds a 7.0 rating on IMDb from 163 votes.[2](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/) Later viewers have praised its songs, cinematography, and the chemistry between Nutan and Manish, while some reviews criticize the ending's gender politics and the story's refusal of a happy resolution.[20](https://letterboxd.com/film/saraswatichandra/reviews/)
Several sources describe it as among the last, or the last, major Hindi films made in black and white.[4](https://www.indiavideo.org/cinema/saraswatichandra-hindi-film-8503.php) • [14](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075) It was also Nutan's last role as a romantic heroine before she moved to motherly roles, and the last Hindi film for both the male lead Manish and director Saraiya.[14](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075) Saraiya's later filmography, recorded in the *Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema*, runs through Gujarati features and documentaries into the 1980s.[21](https://indiancine.ma/documents/DSP/Encyclopedia%20of%20Indian%20Cinema.pdf)
The story has been adapted for television more than once. A drama serial produced by [Sanjay Leela Bhansali](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-leela-bhansali), with changes to the plot, aired on Indian television from early 2013.[14](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075) • [22](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277006257_Show_or_Tell_Instruction_and_Representation_in_Govardhanram%27s_Saraswatichandra) A scholar of the novel, Meera Ashar of the [Australian National University](https://www.edgepedia.org/australian-national-university), notes that the 1968 film, like other adaptations, omitted almost the whole of the novel's fourth volume.[22](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277006257_Show_or_Tell_Instruction_and_Representation_in_Govardhanram%27s_Saraswatichandra)
## References
1. [Saraswatichandra (1968) — Which Book Is It Based On?, Word & Film](https://www.wordandfilm.com/adaptation/saraswatichandra-1968/)
2. [Saraswatichandra (1968), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/)
3. [Saraswatichandra Awards, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/saraswatichandra/movieawards/61347754.cms)
4. [Saraswatichandra 1968, India Video](https://www.indiavideo.org/cinema/saraswatichandra-hindi-film-8503.php)
5. [Saraswati Chandra Cast & Crew, Bollywood Hungama](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/saraswati-chandra/cast/)
6. [गोवर्धनराम माधवराम त्रिपाठी, मराठी विश्वकोश](https://vishwakosh.marathi.gov.in/18197/)
7. [Saraswatichandra, FilmFlow.tv](https://filmflow.tv/movie/48927-saraswatichandra)
8. [Saraswatichandra, Hindi Film Database 1931–1985](https://hamraaz.org/filmssite/public/film.php?id=4048&lang=en)
9. [Saraswatichandra (1968) — Awards, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/awards/)
10. [Saraswatichandra streaming, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/saraswatichandra)
11. [Sameer Acharya's abridged retelling of 'Saraswatichandra', Scroll.in](https://amp.scroll.in/article/888266/scroll_in)
12. [Saraswati Chandra (1968) — Movie Details, Cinemaazi](https://www.cinemaazi.com/public/film/saraswati-chandra)
13. [सरस्वतीचन्द्र, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/saraswatichandra/umc.cmc.58r0ecdqsn9tb7tsoo8pswqhx)
14. [Retro Review: Saraswatichandra, India Forums](https://www.indiaforums.com/article/retro-review-saraswatichandra_45075)
15. [Saraswatichandra — Cast, IMDbPro](https://pro.imdb.com/title/tt0148706/companycredits?rf=cons_tt_cocred_tt)
16. [सरस्वती चंद्र (1968) song lyrics, LyricsIndia](https://lyricsindia.net/movies/160)
17. [Saraswatichandra 1968 DVD, Hemantonline](https://www.hemantonline.com/i/saraswatichandra-1968-dvd)
18. [Why was Mukesh criticized for singing 'Chandan Sa Badan'?, NDTV India](https://ndtv.in/bollywood/why-was-singer-mukesh-criticized-for-singing-chandan-sa-badan-for-the-movie-saraswatichandra-bollywood-gold-4895368)
19. [Saraswatichandra 1968, Airtel Xstream Play](https://www.airtelxstream.in/movies/saraswatichandra/SHEMAROOME_MOVIE_5d4c3e5ced8f7d6369000c69?showPlayback=true)
20. [Reviews of Saraswatichandra (1968), Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/film/saraswatichandra/reviews/)
21. [Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema, Govind Saraiya filmography](https://indiancine.ma/documents/DSP/Encyclopedia%20of%20Indian%20Cinema.pdf)
22. [Meera Ashar, "Show or Tell? Instruction and Representation in Govardhanram's Saraswatichandra", Modern Asian Studies](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277006257_Show_or_Tell_Instruction_and_Representation_in_Govardhanram%27s_Saraswatichandra)
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*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 before 1970*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license