A Relook at the Film, 'Aurat'

Parvati (played by Padmini) is the eldest of the eight siblings and sole breadwinner for the family. 

By doing menial household jobs she not only struggles to feed her family, but she is also striving to manage resources for her brother to study medicine.

She sees her brother’s possibility to be a doctor as a gateway out of their poverty. Poverty which entails responsibility of six younger sisters including a mute sister.

Parvati is in love with Anand (played by Feroz Khan). Anand is hoping to earn a large sum of money by winning an ongoing trial of a certain monetary dispute. Anand assures Parvati about supporting and sustaining Parvati’s family on winning the disputed money.

In parallel, Manoharlal (played by Pran), an old man, with six children from his late wife, is seeking to marry again.

On a given day, Parvati faces the challenge of not being able to arrange money for her brother’s college fees. She feels dismayed and dejected because of this situation.

Struck with Parvati’s beauty, Manoharlal sends a marriage proposal to Parvati’s home.

Faced with the difficult situation of paying her brother’ fees, Parvati accepts the marriage proposal on the condition that Manoharlal would bear the expenses of her brother's study and also provide for Parvati’ family sustenance.

Manoharlal’s mother, sister and his brother (who is a taxi driver) are shocked and unhappy about Manoharlal’s second marriage. They suspect that the bride would be a mean, selfish woman who would be unfair and rude to everyone, particularly to the children.

But to their delight, they find Parvati to be a diligent, humble and a caring woman.

Despite Parvati's sincere service to Manoharlal’ family, Manoharlal is upset with Parvati for not making intimate association with him.

He wants Parvati to not remain a mere house-holder, instead he wants her to join him in fancy, slick, upscale parties.

One day, Manoharlal catches Parvati’s brother Suresh (played by Rajesh Khanna) with his sister Asha having a warm loving interaction. Scandalized to see them together, Manoharlal decides to stop supporting Suresh education and Parvati’s family.

With the help of Manoharlal’s sensitive brother, Suresh manages to complete his education to become a doctor and thereby becomes eligible to marry Manoharlal’s sister Asha.

At the end, Manoharlal feels repentant and ashamed for his doing and happily allows Suresh to be with his sister, Asha.