Towards the end of the 1960's colour had taken over the screens and movies such as "Aradhana" and "Do Raaste," were being released and were going onto become huge success as "Black and White" movies were finally being phased out into history. But one movie beat all the odds and that was "Saraswatichandra." Saraswati is indifferently raised by his step mother and yet he grows up and becomes a compassionate person who has lofty ideas and decides to do without his personal happiness without informing his father, who fixes his marriage to Kumud an educated girl from a rich family. Saraswati decides to cancel the engagement and writes to Kumud to inform her. But soon she replies and soon the two keep on exchanging letters.
Soon Saraswati decides to defy the customs and pays a visit to his fiancée. The two soon serenade and a short lived romance takes place and soon Saraswati returns home after promising Kumud and her family that he would return. However, on his return a family feud takes place and Saraswati writes to Kumud that he is not able to marry her.
Directed by Govind Saraiya, the movie starred Nutan and an relatively unknown actor, Manish and Dulari. The music maestros, Kalyanji Anandji, provided some of the most memorable music to songs, Nutan, who was not into much dancing, danced in a most memorable manner in one of these songs which sounded traditional.
This is based on a well written novel by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi and was very well adapted for the screen and the dialogue writer, S. Ali Raza, went on to receive Filmfare Award for Best Dialogues and the Best cinematography went to Naman Irani. The music maestros went onto receive a National Award for their melodious scores for this.
Nutan, who, by the time this movie was released, was well in her thirties and had acted as a heroine in films such as "Anari" and "Milan," for twenty years. This was to be her last movie as a romantic heroine. In the meantime, actor, Manish and director Saraiya, were not able to hold their careers in Hindi movies.
Saraswatichandra was the last movie to be made in black and white.
