Purani Pehchan

Sandhya (Tanuja) suffers from recurring nightmares in which she is stalked by a hideous, deformed witch. Eventually she begins to see the witch even when awake, tormenting her even further. At a party, Sandhya mistakes a beggar for the deformed creature of her dreams. She stabs the woman and is forced into an asylum for the criminally insane where she meets with a tragic death. Mourning their loss, Sandhya’s uncle (Tarun Bose), fiancé (Sanjeev Kumar) and best friend (Bela Bose) begin to see her ghost roaming about. Is it their imagination? Or has Sandhya returned to haunt them?

Directed by Kewal Mishra, Purani Pehchan leans on a strong ensemble — Sanjeev Kumar, Tanuja, Madan Puri — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about horror titles of 1971.