indian cinema heritage foundation

Gopi (1970)

  • Release Date1970
  • GenreAction, Comedy, Dram
  • FormatColor
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time170 mins
  • Length4847.34 metres
  • Number of Reels19
  • Gauge35mm
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate Number82218
  • Certificate Date22/08/1980 (Re-certification)
  • Shooting LocationPrasad Studios, Madras
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Rural splendour and gaiety prevail in a happy, though poor family of Artisan Giridhari. His family consisted of his wife Parvati, step sister Nandini and step brother Gopi.

Giridhari vended his idols to a wealthy but greedy merchant Lala Laxmichand, who purchased them for a song. Even out of those poor earnings Giridhari had managed to put off a little money from each sale which he kept in deposit with Lala to be drawn later for the marriage of his step sister Nandini - In spite of privations and wants Giridhari never called upon Gopi to work and earn and relieve the financial strain of the family. Giridhari left Gopi alone to his "Hanuman Bhakti" and "Brahmcharya." Both the brothers loved each other devotedly.

To this happy household came Leelavati, a distant cousin of Parvathi and with her came her niece Seema. Seema fell head over heels in love with Gopi but he did not reciprocate her love but stuck to his "Brahmacharya." Later on circumstances conspired Gopi to ask Seema to marry him much to the chagrin of Lala who had already been directing coveteous eyes towards Seema. Seema treated the overtures of Lala with the scorn it deserved.

Blissfully oblivious of the shadows of the drama that were darkening around the household of Giridhari, one day Giridhari went to Lala to collect his savings for the marriage of Nandini. Instead of returning to Giridhari what was his due, the unscrupulous Lala and his henchmen beat him up. The enraged Gopi did not tolerate such infamy and threatened to kill Lala much to the horror of Giridhari-  This incident drove an unfortunate wedge between Giridhari and Gopi, which resulted in Gopi and Nandini leaving Girdhari's house- Neither of the brothers could really bear the separation- The bond affection was too strong to be broken by a mere physical separation. Though they stayed away from each yet they pined for each other.

After leaving Giridhari, Gopi went to town and found a decent job with a rich Zamindar. There much to his shock and sense of duty his sister Nandini fell in love with his benefactor.

In the village Lala tried to get married to Seema surreptitiously but Seema escaped and under dramatic circumstances reached the same Zamindari where Gopi was employed.

How Gopi and Seema unite? Ho the estranged brothers get together? What happened to the love affair of Nandini and Zamindar-How Gopi avenged Lala when Lala made daring attempt to kidnap Seema? It is too dramatic, too soul inspiring to be described in words - It is better seen in 'GOPI' - GOPI the Good Man, God's Man and Man's Man.

[From the official press booklet]