Masterji

1985 film by K. Raghavendra Rao

31 May 1985 (1985-05-31)

CountryIndiaLanguageHindi

Masterji is a 1985 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by K. Raghavendra Rao and written by K. Bhagyaraj. The film stars Rajesh Khanna and Sridevi. It is a remake of Bhagyaraj's own Tamil film Mundhanai Mudichu (1983).^[2]

In the film, Radha falls in love with the new teacher employed in the village school. Being a widower with a son, he snubs her. In response, she publicly accuses him of having an affair with her. The film was released theatrically on 31 May 1985. It was one of the highest grossing Bollywood movie of 1985.

Plot

Radha (Sridevi) is a notorious prankster creating a variety of mischiefs along with her gang, which often end up in the village court. Masterji (Rajesh Khanna) enters the village with his infant child to take up the vacant teacher post in the local school, but isn't spared from Radha's pranks upon his arrival. He takes up the job with one hand holding the book, and the other rocking the cradle in the classroom much to the amusement of local folk in the village. Radha's playful nature transforms into love when she learns that he's a widower. She tries many ways to win the teacher's heart, but fails every time. The teacher believes that a stepmother would not take care of his child, and thus even rejects the offer to marry his dead wife's sister. As a last hope to attain him, Radha blames the teacher for molesting her and even swears on it by crossing over his child in front of the village court. Petrified, and with the whole village surrounded, he is left with very little option than to marry her. But vows never to touch her and remain in celibacy. But Radha doesn't give. She relentlessly tries to seduce him by unconventional methods that prove to be testing times for the teacher. With the chances of winning him slowly decreasing, Radha comes to a conclusion once and for all.

Cast

Rajesh Khanna as Raju
Sridevi as Radha
Anita Raj as Shobha
Kader Khan as Jamnadas
Shakti Kapoor as Bholashankar
Aruna Irani as Roopa
Asrani as Pandit
Shyama as Shanti
Om Shivpuri as Vaid
Jayshree Gadkar as Masterji's Mother-in-law

Production

The Hindi remake rights were acquired for ₹500,000 (equivalent to ₹8.5 million or US$100,000 in 2023), the highest ever paid for a remake rights of a Tamil film at that time.^[3]

Soundtrack

Song	Singer
"Gaalon Par Yeh Kaise Nishaan, Honth Kisike Meharbaan"	Kishore Kumar, S. Janaki
"Bulbul Mere Bata Kya Hai Meri Khata"	Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar
"Jab Tanhai Me Do Badan Paas Aate Hai"	Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
"Aankhen To Kholo Swami, Jawani Dekho Swami"	Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle
"Dumkhamwala, Balam Matwala"	Asha Bhosle

Box office

Masterji was a hit at box-office, according to Trade Guide.

References

^ "MASTERJI - Film / Movie". Citwf.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
^ Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul, eds. (1998) [1994]. Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema (PDF). Oxford University Press. p. 59. ISBN 0-19-563579-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2019.
^ Pillai, Sreedhar (15 February 1984). "K. Bhagyaraj; The reigning king in the world of Madras film Hollywood". India Today. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2020.