Maine Pyar Kiya
Maine Pyar Kiya (transl. I’ve Loved), also known by the initialism MPK, is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language romantic musical film directed by Sooraj Barjatya in his directorial debut, produced by Tarachand Barjatya, co-written by S. M. Ahale with Sooraj Barjatya and distributed by Rajshri Productions. The film had Salman Khan in the lead role with Bhagyashree making her acting debut, with Alok Nath, Mohnish Bahl, Reema Lagoo, Rajeev Verma, Ajit Vachani, and Laxmikant Berde in supporting roles. Maine Pyar Kiya tells the story of two individuals and relates their journey from friendship to how they fall in love but later have to fight family differences to be together.
Principal photography took place in Mumbai and various locations in Ooty. The film features a score and soundtrack composed by Raamlaxman, while Asad Bhopali wrote the lyrics. Maine Pyar Kiya considered to be one of the most iconic and loved films of the Khan and became a cult favorite from its songs, dialogues, and chemistry of the Khan and Bhagyashree. The film also established the careers of the supporting cast including Mohnish Bahl and Laxmikant Berde.
The film was released on 29 December 1989. Made on a budget of ₹20 million, the film emerged as a commercial success, with a worldwide gross of ₹308.1 million, becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood film of the year and the highest-grossing Indian film of the 1980s. The production house Rajshri Productions which was on the verge of closing down was saved. The film garnered positive reviews from critics upon its release, with the direction, the story, and the performances earning the most praise. Out of twelve nominations, Maine Pyar Kiya won six Filmfare Awards: Best Film, Best Music Director, Best Lyricist, Best Male Playback Singer, Best Male Debut, and Best Female Debut. The film was also dubbed into in Spanish and released as Te Amo.
Karan is a poor mechanic who lives in the countryside with his only daughter, Suman. He decides to try his luck in business and travel to Dubai so he can earn enough to get his daughter married. Thus, he decides to leave her with his old friend Kishan. Kishan, a wealthy businessman, allows Suman to stay at his house while her father is away as he cannot turn down his old friend’s request. Suman is befriended by Kishan’s young son Prem, who assures her that a boy and a girl can be platonic friends.
Prem takes Suman to a party organised by Seema, who is the only daughter of Kishan’s business partner, Ranjeet. Jeevan, nephew of Ranjeet, is proud and arrogant and humiliates Suman and Prem, accusing them of falsely claiming to be “just friends”. Suman leaves the party in tears and distances herself from Prem. At that point, Prem and Suman both realise that they have fallen in love with each other.
Prem’s mother Kaushalya probes deeper into Prem and Suman’s relationship and approves of Suman as her daughter-in-law. Kishan, however, is unhappy with the relationship and asks her to leave his house. He feels that she has taken advantage of his hospitality. Karan returns from abroad and is enraged at Kishan’s behaviour and Kishan accuses him of plotting to set up Prem and Suman. Karan and Kishan quarrel, and eventually Karan and Suman return to their village, deeply humiliated.
Prem refuses to accept the separation, so he goes to Suman’s village and begs to be allowed to marry her. Karan, angered by Kishan’s accusations, says he will allow the marriage on one condition: Prem must prove that he can support his wife through his own effort and live separately. Prem begins to work as a truck driver and labourer in the nearby quarry. At the end of the month, Prem has earned the required money. On the way to Karan’s house, he is ambushed by Jeevan and a group of ruffians who attempt to kill him. He survives, but his wages are ruined in the fight.
