Kali Ghata(1980)
Kali Ghata is a 1980 Hindi romantic thriller film directed by Ved Rahi. It stars Shashi Kapoor, Rekha in a double role, and Danny Denzongpa. The story follows a young woman who is pushed off a boat and fakes her death to unmask her attacker. Set in a timber estate in Himachal Pradesh, the film blends romance, mystery, and suspense. The cinematography captures the misty mountains and valleys. The music was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The film was released on January 25, 1980, and has a runtime of 131 minutes.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube, Hungama
- Theatrical Release
- 25 January 1980
- Director
- Ved Rahi
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 11m
- Rating
- 6.5/10
Storyline
A young woman is pushed off a boat into a lake. She survives but pretends to be dead. Now she must find out who tried to kill her. Everyone around her is a suspect. Her fiancé, her manager, and even her friends have secrets. The truth is hidden behind a black cloud of suspicion.
“Who pushed her into the dark?”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Kali Ghata
Cast reunions in this film: Aruna Irani & Jagdeep (16 films together), Rekha & Shashi Kapoor (10 films together), Rekha & Aruna Irani (6 films together), Danny Denzongpa & Jagdeep (6 films together), Rekha & A.K. Hangal (5 films together), and Rekha & Jagdeep (5 films together).
Trivia
- The film's title 'Kali Ghata' translates to 'Dark Clouds', symbolising the mystery and danger in the story.
- It was one of the few thrillers from its era to feature a female protagonist as the central investigator of the crime.
- The movie's music was composed by Usha Khanna, a rare female music director in the male-dominated Hindi film industry.
- A key suspense scene involving a boat was filmed at a popular lake in the hill station of Nainital.
- The film's release coincided with a wave of mystery thrillers in the early 1980s but did not become a major commercial success.
- Lead actress Poonam Dhillon was known for romantic roles, making this thriller a slight departure from her usual image at the time.