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Alibaba Aur 40 Chor is a 1979 Soviet-Indian co-production film based on the story of Ali Baba, starring Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Rolan Bykov, Sofiko Chiaureli, Zeenat Aman, Mher Mkrtchyan and Prem Chopra. The story line is slightly altered to extend as a long movie. The movie was directed by Latif Faiziyev and Umesh Mehra. The writers were Shanti Prakash Bakshi and Boris Saakov. The music was scored by Vladimir Milov and R.D. Burman.

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Latif Faiziyev is a Russian film-maker born in 1929, who has directed over 25 titles in his life-time. Alibaba Aur 40 Chor is one of the couple of Hindi movies he worked with.

Latif Faiziyev

Umesh Mehra is an Indian film director and Producer of Bollywood. He is the son of Bollywood producer F.C. Mehra. He was prominent in the 1980s and 90s with many Mithun Chakraborty starrers. He has also directed Akshay Kumar in a couple of movies. Some of his films are Yaar Gaddar, Shikari: The Hunter, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi and International Khiladi.

Umesh Mehra

The story of Alibaba Aur 40 Chor is about a poor lad named Ali Baba (Dharmendra) who lives in the town of Gulabad, somewhere in central Asia, with his mother and elder brother Qasim who owns a small petty shop. Ali Baba’s father Yousuf is a merchant in a faraway land who has never returned since he last left when Ali Baba was born. So poor Ali Baba makes a living out of selling timber cut from the hills.

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Gulabad is terrorized by a band of 40 dacoits. They hide their looties in a magical cave in the deserted hills. When the bandit leader recites the magical spell it opens and when he says another spell it closes. When news reaches them that his father has gone missing, Ali Baba goes in his search and not only finds his father, but also rescues princess Marjeena from the guards of the king who murdered her father to become king. Both Marjeena and Ali Baba fall in love with each other.

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Then they are attacked, Marjeena is taken captive, and his father is killed. After burying his father, Ali Baba finds out that Marjeena is being sold in the slave market, he borrows money from Qasim, and uses that to pay for Marjeena, and brings her home. Qasim wants to recover his money, and as a result decides to evict Ali Baba from their family home. Ali Baba and his mother leave the home. It is then the Khazi of the region announces a reward for the capture of notorious bandit Abu Hassan.

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A young girl named Fatima (Zeenat Aman) whose father has been murdered by the dacoits has a score to settle with Abu Hassan. Fatima pledges her support to Ali Baba in killing Abu Hassan. Shortly, thereafter Ali Baba comes to know the secret hideout of Abu Hassan and its magic spells to open it. He also gets some gold and jewelry from there, which he distributes amongst villagers for diverting some water to their parched land.

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Ali Baba’s greedy brother Qasim lures Ali Baba into telling him where the cave is and those magic spells. Out of greed Qasim takes so much gold jewelry and coin as a result of which he forgets the spell to reopen the door and gets stuck inside. When the dacoits find him they kill him. Ali Baba then informs the Khazi about Abu Hassan’s hideout. What Ali Baba does not know is that the Khazi and Abu Hassan is the same person.

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Khazi has given instructions to his men to ensure that Ali Baba is killed, so that no one can get their hands on his treasure. . Abu Hassan hides the 40 thieves in large urns to kill Ali Baba. Ali Baba comes to know of this and kills them all with the help of Fatima. He brings to light the startling truth that their own ruler heads the dacoits.

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Alibaba Aur 40 Chor covers classic Bollywood elements (well-done song&dance numbers, elephants, family relations) as well as Soviet themes (the chief robber doubling as Vezir, the plight for water – not as a priced commodity, etc.) In fact, the topic of water runs throughout this film – from drops in a bottle to destruction and reconstruction of a vital dam. (Not to forget the waterfall in front of the cave…) In addition, you get heroic fathers and mothers, really eerie villains, and all in all a jolly good yarn.
You can watch it HERE.