# Caravan (1971 film)

Caravan (Hindustani pronunciation:; Karwaan; transl. Travellers) is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language crime thriller film directed by Nasir Hussain and produced by his brother Tahir Hussain, under the Nasir Hussain Films and T.V. Films banners. The film stars Jeetendra and Asha Parekh. Three Hussain fixtures were involved in the music production: composer R.D. Burman, lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, and singer Mohammad Rafi. The film's plot was loosely inspired by Girl on the Run (1953).
Caravan was a superhit domestically in India. It found even greater success abroad in China when it released there in 1979, becoming the highest-grossing foreign film in China. The film is estimated to have sold over 300 million tickets in Asia, mostly in China. Adjusted for inflation, it is still one of the highest grossing Indian films of all time.

## Plot

The film is about a young woman, Sunita and her father Mohandas, who finds out that his trusted employee, Rajan, has been embezzling money from him. He confronts him but Rajan attacks him, flinging him out of the window of the multi-storye building, but the police think the death was accidental. This leaves the coast clear for Rajan to wed Mohandas' only daughter, Sunita. Sunita is distraught and ends up married to this "wrong" man, Rajan. Shortly after the wedding, Sunita finds out the truth. She thinks that Rajan has conspired with his girlfriend Monica to murder her. So she runs away to find her father's old friend in Bangalore, who may be able to help. On the way, she experiences an accident and ends up with a band of performing gypsies. She meets caravan van-driver Mohan and is attracted to him. Sunita does not know that she has put herself in danger again - this time at the hands of knife-thrower, Nisha, who loves Mohan, and will kill anyone who gets in her way. To make matters worse, Rajan has not given up his search for Sunita.

## Cast

* Jeetendra as Mohan
* Asha Parekh as Sunita / Soni
* Aruna Irani as Nisha
* Mehmood Jr. as Monto
* Helen as Monica
* Krishen Mehta as Rajan
* Ravindra Kapoor as Johny
* Madan Puri as Mithalal Tota
* Sanjana as Tara
* Manorama as Mrs. Tota
* Anwar Ali as Bhola
* Murad as Mohandas
* Dulari as Mohan's mom
* Shivraj as Karamchand

## Production

The film was largely a Khan–Hussain family production, directed by Nasir Hussain (father of future filmmaker Mansoor Khan) and produced by his brother Tahir Hussain (father of future superstar Aamir Khan), under the Nasir Hussain Films banner.
The film's plot was loosely inspired by the 1953 film Girl on the Run, a little-known crime drama set against the backdrop of a carnival burlesque show, which was changed to a gypsy show in Caravan.

## Soundtrack

The soundtrack of the film is one of the hit compositions by R. D. Burman. The lyrics of the songs are provided by the veteran poet Majrooh Sultanpuri.
| Title | Singer(s) | Notes |
| "Ab Jo Mile Hain To" | Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Aruna Irani, Jeetendra & Asha Parekh |
| "Chadti Jawani Meri Chaal Mastani" | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi | Picturized on Jeetendra & Aruna Irani |
| "Daiya Yeh Main Kahan" | Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Asha Parekh |
| "Dilbar Dil Se Pyare" | Lata Mangeshkar | Picturized on Aruna Irani |
| "Goria Kahan Tera Desh" | Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle | Picturized on Jeetendra and Aruna Irani |
| "Hum To Hain Rahi Dil Ke" | Kishore Kumar | Picturized on Jeetendra |
| "Kitna Pyara Wada Hai" | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi | Picturized on Jeetendra and Asha Parekh |
| "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja" | Asha Bhosle, R.D. Burman | Picturized on Helen Asha Bhosle won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award |

## Box office

Caravan was declared a "Super Hit" domestically according to Box Office India. The film grossed ₹36 million ($4.81 million) in India. It was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1971 at the domestic Indian box office. Adjusted for inflation, the film's domestic box office gross is equivalent to ₹5.09 billion in 2017. If we assume it was pure Hindi release then it sold around 19 million in india, as of 2023 Hindi movies ticket price (₹195.6) it grossed 370 core at domestic Box Office.
Overseas, Caravan released in China in 1979 and became a blockbuster there, surpassing Raj Kapoor's Awaara (1951). Caravan became the highest-grossing foreign film ever in China up until then, with 88 million box office admissions in its initial run. It reportedly sold a total of nearly 300 million tickets including re-runs, the highest for any foreign film ever released in China. At an average ticket price of CN¥0.20, the film grossed an estimated CN¥60 million, equivalent to $39 million Adjusted for inflation, As of 2023 average ticket price of ¥42.3($5.97) , it grossed $1.791 billion (₹14,800 crore)
In total, the film grossed an estimated ₹353 million ($44 million) in Asia. Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to ₹13.68 billion in 2017, or ₹19.19 billion (US$220 million) in 2023.
In terms of footfalls, the film sold an estimated 19 million tickets in India, and nearly 300 million tickets in China, for an estimated total of nearly 319 million tickets sold in Asia.

## Legacy

Along with Awaara and Noorie (1979), Caravan left a strong impression on Chinese audiences in the 1980s. It took decades before Tahir Hussain's son Aamir Khan later had a similar impact in China, with films such as Lagaan (2001), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), and Dangal (2016). During his visit to China, Aamir Khan said his father's film Caravan is still fondly remembered there.

## Awards and nominations
### 19th Filmfare Awards

Won
* Best Female Playback Singer – Asha Bhosle for "Piya Tu Ab To Aaja"
Nominated
* Best Supporting Actress – Aruna Irani
* Best Music Director – R. D. Burman