Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol by Ananth Mahadevan

In late 1999 or early 2000 I watched a movie or better if we call it a telefilm directed by Ananth Mahadevan, Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. It premiered on Doordarshan Gold under Channel 9 Gold’s Director’s Cut series. This lighthearted comedy, released on January 1, 1999, blends humor with social commentary, making it a notable entry in Indian television cinema.

This telefilm stars Neha Pendse, Joy Sengupta, Sucheta Khanna, and Hemant Pandey, whose performances brought charm to this tale of mistaken identities.

Story of Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol

The story of Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol revolves around two newlywed brides, both veiled in traditional ghoonghats, who get mixed up at a railway station due to their identical attire. Their husbands, unaware of the error, take the wrong brides to their homes in Bombay, sparking a series of comedic yet poignant and emotional events.

As the confusion unravels, the couples confront societal norms, particularly around patriarchy and female agency. In the end the narrative culminates in a twist that challenges traditional marriage conventions, with the women choosing to switch partners and remarry, redefining relationships with mutual respect. This bold resolution, praised for its progressive stance, resonated with audiences and reportedly earned admiration from filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee, who watched it twice.

I remember the role of legendary actress Shashikala ji in this telefilm which acts as one of the mother-in-law and who finally turns the plot around by suggesting the couple to introspect and take a call if they will be able to stay happy with the ones they were initially married. After this sequence both the couples with Mutual consent and consideration decide to remarry with the switched partners.

News Around Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol in 2024

The film gained renewed attention in 2024 when Mahadevan accused Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies of borrowing its premise, citing similarities in the railway station mix-up and ghoonghat-related scenes.

While Mahadevan noted the parallels, he acknowledged that Laapataa Ladies diverges into a modern women’s liberation narrative, unlike his film’s focus on mutual respect within traditional boundaries. The controversy stirred debate, with Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol briefly disappearing from YouTube, though it was set to re-premiere on DD National on August 15, 2024. Biplab Goswami, writer of Laapataa Ladies, defended his work’s originality, denying any inspiration from Mahadevan’s film.

How Did I recall Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol suddenly?

That's when I suddenly recalled this movie which I saw it in the news that a movie named Lapataa Ladies has been released which resembles to the story of Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol. That's when I suddenly realised that I had watched this telefilm on Doordarshan around 25 years ago in 1999.

I was even shocked to note that the person who has directed this movie i.e., Ananth Mahadevan is the same person whom I have seen in some movies with Shahrukh Khan like Baazigar and Badshah. I was so happy to know this fact. Till that day I used to think that Ananth Mahadevan is just a side roll actor but when I got to know that he was the director of a telefilm which I loved during my childhood I was so happy and I just can't explain it.

Title Song of Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol

The title song of this telefilm is also named as Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol and is sung by Vinod Rathod ,one of the most popular playback singers of the 90s era. If you listen to the song once you will keep humming it for days or maybe weeks.

Where To Watch Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol?

Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol telefilm has been published on YouTube again on the Channel of Ananth Mahadevan and can be watched for free. Go and watch this masterpiece Ghoonghat Ke Pat Khol !

Article Written by Maurya Ji !