‘Love and God’: A Film 23 Years in the Making; Its Stars Passed Away Before Its Release

In the history of Indian cinema, there have been many films whose stories were not confined to the screen; rather, the journey of their creation proved just as fascinating. One such film is Love and God (also known as “Kais Aur Laila”), in the year 1986 widely regarded as having one of the longest and most arduous production journeys in the history of Hindi cinema.

This film marked the final directorial work of the renowned filmmaker K. Asif who had previously crafted the epic historical drama ‘Mughal-e-Azam’. Through Love and God, he wanted to bring the legendary love Saga of Laila Majnu to the big screen in a very grand and spectacular way. In this film, Sanjeev Kumar portrayed the character of Majnu while Nimmi appeared in the role of Laila.

The film’s narrative is based on the classic Arabic folklore of Laila and Majnu. Qais and Laila have loved each other deeply since childhood. Qais’s love is so deep that he finds himself constantly inscribing Laila’s name everywhere he goes. However, an age-old rivalry between their respective families makes it nearly impossible for the two lovers to unite. Social norms and familial pressures conspire to reject their love. Circumstances eventually unfold in such a way that Qais gradually descends into a state of utter madness, leading people to begin calling him “Majnu” (the madman). Ultimately, the story of these two lovers reaches a tragic conclusion.

The most remarkable aspect of this film is its protracted and arduous production journey. Filming originally commenced in 1963. At that time, the role of Qais was slated to be played by Guru Dutt but after Guru Dutt’s sudden demise in 1964, the film was left unfinished. Later, director K. Asif revived the project, casting Sanjeev Kumar in the lead role.

Tragically, director K. Asif himself passed away in 1971,  leaving the film incomplete once again. The project remained shelved for many years. Finally, nearly 15 years later, the film was completed by piecing together the available footage and was released on May 27, 1986. Interestingly, the film’s lead actor, Sanjeev Kumar, had passed away just a few months before its release.

A renowned musician, Naushad composed the film’s music and several of its songs, which were widely appreciated during that era, although the film was released in an unfinished state, its storyline was the journey of its production. It all secures a special place in the history of Indian cinema.