Phool Aur Patthar is a 1966Indian film, directed and produced by O. P. Ralhan and written by Ralhan with Akhtar ul Iman and Ahsan Rizvi. The film made Dharmendraa star in Bollywood. It starred Meena Kumari along with Dharmendra, who played a villainous character whose inner good being is drawn out by Meena Kumari. The movie also starred Shashikala, Lalita Pawar, Madan Puri and Iftekhar. This was the movie which went on to become a golden jubilee hit catapulting Dharmendra to stardom. The movie was the highest grossing for the year 1966. Due to his rugged physique, he was also acknowledged as the He-man of the Indian film Industry. In fact, a scene in the movie where he takes off his shirt to cover the ailing Meena Kumari was one of the highlights of the movie. His performance in the movie ensured him a nomination in the Best Actor category in the Filmfare awards for that year. However, it was won by Dev Anand for his performance in Guide. He made his presence strongly felt despite the fact that he did not lip sync for any songs in the film. In the 1960s, it was very unusual for the leading man not to sing any songs in a movie. The film was also instrumental in making Dharmendra-Meena Kumari a popular couple and they went on to act in more movies such as Chandan Ka Palna, Majhli Didi and Baharon Ki Manzil after this. Before shooting for the film, O. P. Ralhan had wanted Sunil Dutt to don the leading role, but it did not work out. During shooting, at one point of time, Dharmendra had a show-down with the film's director O. P. Ralhan, since he felt that the director had an arrogant attitude and he contemplated quitting the film mid-way. However, sense prevailed and he resumed shooting. The film was remade in Tamil as Oli Vilakku, with M. G. Ramachandran, in Telugu as Nindu Manasulu with N. T. Ramarao and in Malayalam as Puthiya Velicham, with Jayan.
Plot
Circumstances have made Shaka a career criminal. When plague empties a town of its inhabitants, he takes the opportunity to burgle a house. He finds nothing except Shanti, a widowed daughter-in-law who has been left to die by her cruel relatives. Shaka nurses her back to health. When her relatives return, they are not pleased to find her alive and even less pleased to discover that someone has tried to rob them. Shanti gets the blame and a beating. Shaka saves her from worse, at the hands of brother-in-law, and the pair flee. They set up home in Shaka's house, much to the displeasure of the respectable neighbours, who are all too ready to think the worst. Shanti's relatives are dismayed when a lawyer arrives to announce that Shanti has been left a legacy. They hatch a plot to get her back. Meanwhile, Shaka's rehabilitation is proceeding - much to the chagrin of his former criminal associates. Fire and redemption for some, death and handcuffs for others is what fate has in store.
