Katha (1982): Cast & Plot
Katha is a 1982 comedy drama directed by Sai Paranjape, starring Naseeruddin Shah as Rajaram Purshotam Joshi, Deepti Naval and Farooq Shaikh. It runs 2 hours 21 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 21m (141 min)
- Director
- Sai Paranjape
- Original language
-
Hindi - Studio
- Devki Chitra
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Katha About?
The premise of Katha without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A modern retelling of the classic hare‑and‑tortoise fable, set in contemporary life. Diligent but shy Rajaram harbors a secret crush on his neighbour, yet his timid nature holds him back. Just as he musters the courage to confess, the charismatic, fast‑talking Bashu bursts onto the scene, turning the romance into a lively rivalry.
Katha Themes & Keywords
· 16 tags- love
- neighbor
- middle class
- friend
- tea
- shoe manufacturer
- second wife
- premarital sex
- party
- newlywed couple
- golf
- girl next door
+4 more Show fewer
- fraud
- cheating wife
- boss
- blood donation
Katha Cast & Characters
Naseeruddin Shah leads the cast as Rajaram Purshotam Joshi, with Deepti Naval as Sandhya Sabnis and Farooq Shaikh as Bashudev. Directed by Sai Paranjape; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Sai Paranjape
-
Naseeruddin Shah as Rajaram Purshotam Joshi - Deepti Naval as Sandhya Sabnis
- Farooq Shaikh as Bashudev
- Mallika Sarabhai as Anuradha Dhindhoria
Also Starring in Katha
· 5 more- Sarika Themselves
- Tinnu Anand Themselves
- Jalal Agha Themselves
- Leela Mishra Dadi Amma
- Yatin Karyekar Dancer
More from Sai Paranjape
More films directed by Sai Paranjape: Saaz, Disha, Chashme Buddoor and Sparsh.
Katha Plot Summary
What happens in Katha from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A modern retelling of a classic fable, reimagined through a Mumbai chawl
Based on S.G. Sathye’s Marathi play Sasa Aani Kasav (Hare and Tortoise), this film offers a nuanced, character-driven twist on the traditional hare-and-tortoise story, turning a timeless moral into a contemporary drama about ambition, vulnerability, and loyalty in everyday life.
The tortoise — Rajaram P. Joshi, Naseeruddin Shah — is a gentle, hardworking middle-class clerk who makes his home in a crowded chawl. He harbors a quiet, unspoken love for his neighbor Sandhya Sabnis, Deepti Naval, and his timidity often keeps him from speaking his heart. In this close-knit, shared-space world, Rajaram’s sincerity and decency make him a steady, if overlooked, presence as colleagues and neighbors alike lean on his good nature.
Full summary
The whole story of Katha, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Katha?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrays the gentle clerk Rajaram P. Joshi?
Seen Katha?
Movies Like Katha
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Kathbirali, Katha Nayagan and Katha Parayumbol.
Katha FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Katha, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Katha?
Katha runs 2 hours 21 minutes (141 minutes).
When was Katha released?
Katha was released on December 22, 1982.
Who directed Katha?
Katha was directed by Sai Paranjape.
More films by Sai Paranjape Who is in the cast of Katha?
Katha stars Naseeruddin Shah as Rajaram Purshotam Joshi, Deepti Naval as Sandhya Sabnis and Farooq Shaikh as Bashudev, among 9 credited actors.
Does Katha have a post-credit scene?
No. Katha has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Katha in?
The original language of Katha is Hindi.
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