Achanak (1973)
Plot
Achanak (transl. Suddenly) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language film, directed by Gulzar, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and starring Vinod Khanna. Gulzar received a Filmfare nomination as Best Director for this film. Even though Gulzar is an accomplished lyricist, this film did not have any songs in it. K. A. Abbas earned a Filmfare nomination for best story. It is inspired by the real-life sensational 1958 murder case K. M. Nanavati v State of Maharashtra. The actual messages conveyed by the movie are more sublime than simple cuckoldry. First and foremost is the futility of a doctor's efforts to save life of an already condemned person. After months of untiring efforts of doctors, nurses and all paramedics, the condemned man finally meets his fate at the gallows. Ethics of human killing is another message. While on one hand the protagonist is awarded a Vir Chakra for killing several humans during war, on the other he is sentenced to death for killing two humans close to him. The 1963 movie Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke is also based on the same case. The Akshay Kumar-starrer 2016 movie Rustom is based on the same case as well. The film had no songs, and the background score is composed by V
Achanak details
| Industry | Bollywood (Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1973 |
| Genres | — |
| Runtime | — |
| Rating | Not rated |
| Director | Gulzar |
| Status | Released |
| Language | hi |
| Record verified | 2026-09-21 |
| Source | Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) · images: TMDB |
Where to watch Achanak
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Achanak cast & crew
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Achanak — questions
What is Achanak about?
Achanak (transl. Suddenly) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language film, directed by Gulzar, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and starring Vinod Khanna. Gulzar received a Filmfare nomination as Best Director for this film. Even though Gulzar is an accomplished lyricist, this film did not have any songs in it. K. A. Abbas earned a Filmfare nomination for best story. It is inspired by the real-life sensational 1958 murder case K. M. Nanavati v State of Maharashtra. The actual messages conveyed by the movie are more sublime than simple cuckoldry. First and foremost is the futility of a doctor's efforts to save life of an already condemned person. After months of untiring efforts of doctors, nurses and all paramedics, the condemned man finally meets his fate at the gallows. Ethics of human killing is another message. While on one hand the protagonist is awarded a Vir Chakra for killing several humans during war, on the other he is sentenced to death for killing two humans close to him. The 1963 movie Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke is also based on the same case. The Akshay Kumar-starrer 2016 movie Rustom is based on the same case as well. The film had no songs, and the background score is composed by V
Who is in the cast of Achanak?
Achanak stars Vinod Khanna, Lily Chakravarty, Asrani and is directed by Gulzar. The full credited cast is listed above.
Where can I watch Achanak online?
We currently have no streaming platform listed for Achanak. It may be between rights deals, or only available on a service we do not track yet. This page was last checked on 2026-09-21.
How long is Achanak?
The runtime of Achanak is not recorded in the catalogue yet.
Who directed Achanak?
Achanak was directed by Gulzar.
Can I download Achanak?
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