Laalchee(1996)
Laalchee is a 1996 Hindi drama film directed by Raj N. Sippy. It stars Pran as Diwan Dinanath Choudhry, with Rohit Roy, Eva Grover, and Ravi Kishan in supporting roles. The story follows a wealthy patriarch who pretends to be dying to expose the greed of his family members. Set in a large mansion, the film centers on the conflict between love for money and love for family. The film is known for its moral lesson and Pran's commanding performance. It was released on 23 August 1996 and has a runtime of 145 minutes. The movie was a box office disaster but remains a cult favorite for its simple yet powerful storytelling.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1996
- Director
- Raj N. Sippy
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 25m
- Rating
- 5.7/10
Storyline
Diwan Dinanath Choudhry is a rich old man whose family is waiting for him to die. They want his money. But Diwan has a secret plan. He pretends to be dying to see who truly loves him. His greedy relatives fail the test. Only his honest son Vijay passes. The truth changes everything.
“Greed will cost you everything.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Laalchee
Cast reunions in this film: Vikas Anand & Pran (4 films together), Avtar Gill & Pran (4 films together), and Vikas Anand & Avtar Gill (3 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Laalchee' means 'greedy' in Hindi, which directly reflects the plot about family members fighting over inheritance.
- It was one of the few films directed by Raj N. Sippy in the 1990s, as he was more active as a producer during that decade.
- Actor Shakti Kapoor, known for villainous roles, played a comedic character named Batuknath in this family drama.
- The movie features veteran actor Shammi Kapoor in a special appearance, adding star power to the ensemble cast.
- Music director Bappi Lahari composed the soundtrack, which included a popular song 'Pyar Ka Imtihaan' sung by Kumar Sanu and Alka Yagnik.
- The plot revolves around a wheelchair-bound patriarch, a less common central character setup in mainstream Hindi cinema of the era.
- Despite a cast of familiar faces, the film had a limited theatrical release and is not widely remembered today.