Raj Khosla, whose birth centenary we celebrate on May 31, was a daring and unusual filmmaker.
Deepa Gahlot lists 10 must-watch Raj Khosla films.
CID (1956)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Dev Anand, a cop, investigates a journalist's murder.
The O P Nayyar song Aye Dil Hai Mushkil has become the anthem of Mumbai.
The film introduced Waheeda Rehman in a parallel lead to Shakila.
Her song, Kahin Pe Nigahen Kahin Pe Nishana, choreographed by Zohra Segal, established her as a dancing star.
Kala Pani (1958)
Where To Watch: YouTube
This Dev Anand-Madhubala-Nalini Jaywant-starrer had Dev play a man seeking justice for his father.
S D Burman's hit music (Achhaji Main Haari, Hum Bekhudi Mein, Nazar Laagi Raja), a Best Actor Filmfare Award for Dev, Best Supporting Actress Award for Jaywant were icing on the film's delicious cake.
Solva Saal (1958)
Where To Watch: Zee Movies
A romcom set over one night starred Waheeda Rehman, who runs away with her boyfriend to avoid an arranged marriage.
She is robbed and jilted by him, but a dashing rescuer, Dev Anand, promises to get her home before morning.
S D Burman's songs like Hai Apna Dil To Awara and Yehi To Hai Woh contributed to the film's hit status.
Bambai Ka Babu (1960)
Where To Watch: YouTube
Babu (Dev Anand) is forced to impersonate the missing son of a family and falls in love with the man's sister, Maya (Suchitra Sen).
S D Burman's music had such gems as Saathi Na Koi Manzil, Deewana Mastana Hua Dil, Chal Ri Sajni Ab Kya Soche.
Woh Kaun Thi (1964)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Anand (Manoj Kumar) is gaslighted by a greedy cousin (Prem Chopra) with the help of a woman (Sadhana), who appears and disappears like a ghost.
When he gets married to a woman chosen by his mother, she turns out to be the same woman!
Khosla used horror movie tropes and Madan Mohan's eerie songs (Naina Barse Rimjim, Lag Ja Gale) to brilliant effect.
Mera Saaya (1966)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Sunil Dutt plays a lawyer mourning his wife (Sadhana) when a lookalike claims she is the wife, and the dead woman, her twin.
The film's Madan Mohan score (including Jhumka Gira Re) was a hit.
Do Raaste (1969)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
A family soap opera about two dutiful sons and a selfish one was redeemed by its cast -- Balraj Sahni, Rajesh Khanna, Mumtaz, Bindu -- and Laxmikant-Pyarelal's music with hits like Bindiya Chamkegi, Yeh Reshmi Zulfein, Chhup Gaye Saare Nazare.
Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Dharmendra plays Ajit, a petty thief who reforms, works on a farm and falls in love with Anju (Asha Parekh).
The village is terrorised by dacoit Jabbar Singh (Vinod Khanna), and Ajit decides to fight him.
Laxmi Chhaya dancing to Maar Diya Jaaye Ya Chhod Diya Jaaye is memorable; the other L-P songs, Kuchh Kehta Hai Yeh Saawan, Sona Lai Ja Re and Apni Prem Kahaniyan, were also hits.
Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978)
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Sanjukta (Nutan) raises the son of her husband's (Vijay Anand) mistress Tulsi (Asha Parekh) as her own.
Her son Pratap (Deb Mukherjee) resents the outsider Ajay (Vinod Khanna).
The film won Nutan her 5th Best Actress Filmfare Award, a record later broken by Shabana Azmi.
Dostana (1980)
Where To Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
Yash Johar's production Dostana, written by Salim-Javed, was his last hit.
Best buddies Vijay (Amitabh Bachchan), a cop, and Ravi (Shatrughan Sinha), a lawyer, fall in love with the same woman (Zeenat Aman).
A criminal (Prem Chopra) uses this to destroy their friendship.