Daag (1973 film)

Daag: A Poem of Love (transl. Smear) is a 1973 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film produced and directed by Yash Chopra in his debut as a producer, under the newly formed banner Yash Raj Films. The film stars Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, and Raakhee in lead roles, with supporting performances from Madan Puri, Kader Khan, Prem Chopra, and A. K. Hangal. Loosely inspired by Thomas Hardy’s 1886 novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, the narrative follows a man who is separated from his wife after being accused of murder and later finds himself entangled in a complicated relationship with another woman.

The film marked the first production under the Yash Raj Films banner, which later grew to become one of India's most prominent studios. It also marked the acting debut of Kader Khan. Principal photography took place in various locations across India, and the music was composed by Laxmikant–Pyarelal, with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. Several songs from the film, including "Mere Dil Mein Aaj Kya Hai" and "Ni Main Yaar Manana Ni," were chart-toppers at the time of release.

Released theatrically in 1973, Daag: A Poem of Love received widespread acclaim for its performances, direction, and music and emerged as a major commercial success during the peak of Khanna’s career. At the 21st Filmfare Awards, the film received seven nominations, including Best Film, Best Actor (Khanna), and Best Actress (Tagore), and won two: Best Director (Chopra) and Best Supporting Actress (Raakhee).

The name of Raakhee’s character, Chandni, was later reused by Chopra in his films Silsila (1981) and Chandni (1989). The film was remade in Telugu film Vichitra Jeevitham (1978).