indian cinema heritage foundation

Zorro (1975)

  • Release Date1975
  • GenreAction, Adventure, Comedy
  • FormatColour
  • LanguageHindi
  • Run Time129 min
  • Length3824.94 meters
  • Censor RatingU
  • Censor Certificate Number79815
  • Certificate Date31/10/1975
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Time passed—the days went by—an era passed by, but the name of Zorro was still on everybody’s lips—but who was this Zorro?—Zorro, the enemy of cruelty, and friend of the poor! Where did he come from? Why did he come?

Once upon a time, there was a Maharaja who had two queens! His first wife was a compassionate, kind woman, but once she had given birth to a son and handed him over to the Maharaja, she was compelled to leave the palace—the Maharaja’s second wife was a cunning woman, and she too gave birth to a son, whom she named Vikram Singh.

The Commander of the Maharaja’s army was Senapati Shamsher Singh, who, through his treachery, wanted to take over the kingdom! The elder Rajkumar, Gunawar, was sent to Gurukul to learn under the tutelage of Rajguru! Before he left, the second queen cautioned Rajguru—he was to make sure that Gunawar was not well-trained in the art of ruling, or else Rajguru would have to suffer the consequences.

Paying no heed to the queen’s words, Rajguru taught Rajkumar Gunawar so well that he became a skilled swordsman. In the meantime, the young Rajkumar Vikram Singh, unaware of the plots of Shamsher Singh and Nisha, had become a puppet in their hands. He began to spend his days and nights steeped in alcohol and women. At the request of the second queen, the Maharaja made the younger Rajkumar Vikram Singh his heir apparent—but while Vikram Singh was lost in the charms of Nisha, and drunk on wine, Shamsher Singh was oppressing the poor, and looting the helpless.

Distressed by this state of affairs, Rajguru came to the Maharaja to open his eyes to the truth. To allay the suffering of the people, the Maharaja gave Rajguru wealth to distribute amongst the poor, but at the bidding of Shamsher Singh, Zalim Singh murders and robs Rajguru. Meanwhile, Vikram Singh orders the imprisonment of the Maharaja. Injured and dying, with his last breath Rajguru gives Rajkumar Gunawar the duty to protect the people. Swearing to fulfill this duty, Gunawar takes on the identity of the masked hero Zorro.

The Maharaja of a neighbouring kingdom wished to have his daughter, Rajkumari Rekha, betrothed to Gunawar. To vet him before the engagement, he sends the Rajkumari with her retinue to meet Gunawar. On her way, her party is attacked by Shamsher Singh and his goons with the intention to loot them. They are saved by Zorro. Impressed by his bravery, the Rajkumari falls in love with Zorro.

In the disguise of a simple singer riding a donkey, Gunawar comes back to the palace as the Bada Rajkumar of the kingdom. Rajkumari Rekha and many others are shocked, but Shamsher Singh and Nisha rejoice to see that the Bada Rajkumar is a simple, stupid man. They are convinced that their plans will soon come to fruition, and they will become the Maharaja and Maharani of the kingdom. Shamsher Singh continues to torture and oppress the common people, but Zorro always comes to their rescue. The people begin to rally behind Zorro, and soon, Zorro is successful in releasing the Maharaja from captivity. Shamsher Singh realizes that Zorro is a huge obstacle in his path.

He begins to think of a way to get rid of Zorro. Nisha suggests to him that they release the dangerous Daku Sheru from prison to capture Zorro. For a sum of fifty thousand rupees, Sheru agrees to capture Zorro and bring him to Shamsher Singh.

Who was Sheru? What happened to the Maharaja?

Who finally gained the throne—watch this unique tale of royal intrigue on the screen!

 

(Translated from the official press booklet)

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