''Ankhen'' (''The Eyes'') is a 1968

Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...

spy thriller Spy fiction is a genre of literature involving espionage as an important context or plot device. It emerged in the early twentieth century, inspired by rivalries and intrigues between the major powers, and the establishment of modern intelligen ...

produced and directed by

Ramanand Sagar Chandramauli Chopra ( ; 29 December 1917 – 12 December 2005) known professionally as Ramanand Sagar, was an Indian filmmaker, editor, playwright, poet and an author. He is best known for making the television show '' Ramayan'' (1987-1988). The ...

. After the surprise big hit of '' Farz'' as a spy thriller, Sagar came out with a bigger budget film in the same genre, shot in many international locations. This was the first Hindi film shot in Beirut. The film stars

Mala Sinha Alda Sinha (born 11 November 1936), better known by her stage name Mala Sinha is a former Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Bengali and Nepali films. Initially starting her career with regional cinema, she went on to become a top leading ...

Dharmendra Dharam Singh Deol (born 8 December 1935), also known mononymously as Dharmendra, is an Indian actor, producer and politician who is known for his work in Hindi films. Known as the first " He-Man" of Bollywood, Dharmendra has worked in over 301 ...

Mehmood Mahmud is a transliteration of the male Arabic given name (), common in most parts of the Islamic world. It comes from the Arabic triconsonantal root Ḥ-M-D, meaning ''praise'', along with ''Muhammad''. Siam Mahmud *Mahmood (singer) (born 1 ...

Lalita Pawar Lalita Pawar (18 April 1916 – 24 February 1998) was a prolific Indian actress, who later became famous as a character actress, appearing in over 700 films in Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati cinema. She holds a Guinness world record of longest ac ...

, Jeevan and

Madan Puri Madan Puri (30 September 1915 – 13 January 1985) was an Indian actor of Hindi and Punjabi films. His brothers were actors Chaman Puri and Amrish Puri. As a character actor mainly in negative roles (villain), he acted in about 430 films in a ca ...

. It was estimated to be the most profitable Indian film of 1968 in India. ''Ankhen'' is considered to be a pioneer in Hindi spy films. It was initially planned to be shot when Dharmendra had just one film. But the director

had apprehensions of casting him since he was considered raw and was not yet a star; therefore, he recruited a huge star of the period, Mala Sinha, opposite him for marketing considerations. With the success of '' Phool Aur Paththar'', Sagar decided to increase his budget and finalize Dharmendra as the leading man. This film won Ramanand Sagar his only Filmfare award for Best Director.

Plot

Shortly after independence, India faces terrorists attacks in Assam, resulting in many deaths and casualties. A group of concerned citizens, who are not connected with the government, decide to do something to stop this carnage. While Salim is already at work in Beirut, his cover is blown, and he is shot dead. Now Sunil Mehra(

) must travel to Beirut and take over. Once there, he meets a former flame, Meenakshi Mehta, and a female admirer by the name of Zenab. The terrorists are headed by a man named Syed, who deputes one of his assistants, Madame, to spy on Sunil's dad, Diwan Chand Mehra, by posing as Mehra's daughter's aunt, forcing her to obey by abducting her son, Babloo, and holding him captive. Soon Syed and his associates, including Doctor X and Captain, find out all secrets of Mehra, as a result of which Sunil is trapped and held by Syed. Then Diwan's world is shattered when Meenakshi telephonically informs him that Sunil has been killed. The question remains what will happen to Babloo, Diwan, and the rest of the concerned citizens, especially when they have become vulnerable due to Madame's presence in their very household.

Cast

as Sunil *

as Meenakshi Mehta *

Kumkum Kumkuma is a powder used for social and religious markings in India. It is made from turmeric or any other local materials. The turmeric is dried and powdered with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder into a red color. In Indi ...

as Sunanda *

Sujit Kumar Sujit Kumar (7 February 1934 – 5 February 2010) was an Indian actor and producer. He appeared in over 150 Hindi films in the 1960s through the 1990s, and in at least 20 Bhojpuri films. Sujit played the major lead actor in many films in ...

as Nadeem *

as Mehmood * Parduman Randhawa as Akram * Amarnath as Salim *

...Madam / fake aunt *

Daisy Irani Daisy Irani is an Indian television actress, director and producer from Singapore. Biography She was born to Gujarati film actress Padmarani and stage director Namdar Irani in Bombay, India. She is best known for appearing in the role of Daisy ...

...Lily *

Nazir Hussain Nazir Hussain (15 May 1922 – 16 October 1987) was an Indian actor, director and screenwriter. He was famous as a character actor in Hindi cinema and acted in almost 500 films. Dev Anand starred in a large proportion of the films he acted in ...

as Major Diwanchand * Jeevan...Doctor *

...Captain * Dhumal...Studio Owner * Zeb Rehman...Princess Zehnab * Madhumati...Madhu (Dancer) *

Sajjan (actor) Sajjan (15 January 1921 – 17 May 2000) was a Bollywood and stage actor. He acted in several plays and movies from the 1950s to the 1980s. His best known films are ''Bees Saal Baad'', ''Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi'', ''April Fool'', ''Rail Ka Dibba'' ...

... Syed, Boss in Beirut * Master Ratan...Babloo *

M. B. Shetty Muddu Babu Shetty (1 January 1931 – 23 January 1982) simply known as, M. B. Shetty, or Shetty was an Indian film stuntman and action choreographer and actor in Hindi cinema in 1970. He had a towering personality with a bald head, often ca ...

...Bald Guard *

Hiralal (actor) Hiralal Thakur (14 March 1909/1910 – 27 June 1981), known mononymously as Hiralal, was an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi films. Known for his performances as a character actor, he was called the 'bad man of the Indian screen' for hi ...

... Sheikh (Jewellery dealer)

Songs

The music is by

Ravi Ravi may refer to: People * Ravi (name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Ravi (composer) (1926–2012), Indian music director * Ravi (Ivar Johansen) (born 1976), Norwegian musical artist * Ravi (music director) (1926–201 ...

and the lyrics by

Sahir Ludhianvi Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described ...

. * "Milti Hai Zindagi Mein Mohabbat" -

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar () (born as Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 06 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely considered to have been the greatest and most influential singers in India. Her cont ...

* "Gairon Pe Karam" - Lata Mangeshkar * "De Data Ke Naam Tujhko Allah Rakhe"-

Manna Dey Prabodh Chandra Dey (May 1, 1919 − October 24, 2013), known by his stage name Manna Dey, was an internationally acclaimed and celebrated Indian playback singer, music director, and a musician. As a classical vocalist, he belonged to the Bhen ...

and

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; Mangeshkar; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur and occasional actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian Cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the ...

* "Loot Ja" - Asha Bhosle,

Kamal Barot Kamal Barot is an Indian female playback singer mainly worked in Bollywood. Career Born on 18 November 1938 (Dar es-Salaam at Tanzania) and She debuted in Bollywood in 1957 with the film Sharada. She later went on to sing 140 songs in 117 films ...

and

Usha Mangeshkar Usha Mangeshkar (born 15 December 1935) is an Indian singer who has recorded many Marathi, Manipuri, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Assamese songs. Personal life Usha Mangeshkar is an Indian singer. She is the fou ...

* "Meri Sunle Aaj" - Lata Mangeshkar * "Us Mulk Ki Sarhad Ko" -

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

Awards

Trivia

* The hotel in which Dharmendra stays in Beirut is Carlton Hotel, built in 1960 and was demolished in 2008 for some new project. * (Blooper) In the climax scene, the Indian army is shown attacking the headquarter of Captain & Tiger. One of the Jeeps they are driving has 'Sandhu Transport Co' written on it.

References

External links

*
Aankhen (1968) at Teleport City
{{Sagar Arts 1968 films Indian action thriller films 1960s Hindi-language films 1960s action thriller films Indian spy thriller films Films directed by Ramanand Sagar Films scored by Ravi Films shot in Lebanon 1960s spy thriller films