Banarsi Thug

Banarsi Thug
Poster
Directed by	Lekhraj Bhakri
Starring	Manoj Kumar Vijaya Chaudhari I. S. Johar Lalita Pawar
Music by	Iqbal Qureshi
Release date	15 May 1962 (1962-05-15)
Country	India
Language	Hindi

Banarsi Thug (lit. 'The Thief of Banaras') is 1962 Hindi film directed by Lekhraj Bhakri. It stars Manoj Kumar and I. S. Johar as leads. The film has music by Iqbal Qureshi.

Summary

Set in the ancient and spiritually significant city of Banaras (modern-day Varanasi), the film presents a rich tapestry of human emotions, moral dilemmas, and social dynamics against one of the most evocative backdrops in Indian cinema.

The story revolves around Shyam (Manoj Kumar), a complex protagonist who embodies the archetypal anti-hero common in Hindi films of the era. Shyam is portrayed as a charming yet morally ambiguous character whose life as a small-time criminal in the narrow lanes and ghats of Banaras sets the stage for a transformative journey. His world is one of petty crimes, quick schemes, and survival tactics that reflect the socio-economic realities of post-independence India.

The romantic subplot introduces Koili (Vijaya Chaudhari), whose presence in Shyam's life becomes the catalyst for his moral awakening. Their relationship develops against the mystical atmosphere of Banaras, with its ancient temples, sacred Ganges, and spiritual undertones that permeate every aspect of the narrative.

Cast

• Manoj Kumar – Shyam
• Vijaya Chaudhari – Koili
• I. S. Johar as Veer Banarasi
• Lalita Pawar
• Malika – Mala
• Radha krishan
• Gopal Sehgal as Ramu
• Soda Water
• Shukla
• Renu Maker
• Madhu Mati
• Jeevan Kala
• Vijay Dutt as Guest Artist
• Brahm Bhardwaj

Soundtrack

The film had music composed by Iqbal Qureshi and its songs were written by five lyricists namely Prem Dhawan, Gulshan Bawra, Hasrat Romani, Akhtar Lucknow and Aziz Qaisi. Playback was done by Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and others.

External links

• Banarsi Thug at IMDb