Angulimaal (film)

Angulimaal ("Finger Garland") is a 1960 Hindi mythology drama film directed by Vijay Bhatt. The film was a Thai Information Service Co. Ltd. Presentation.

Bhatt directed films for other producers besides his Prakash Pictures banner like, Banphool (1972), Hira Aur Pathar (1964) and the "Thai government's Buddhist period film" Angulimaal. The story was adapted from Angulimala Sutta, with dialogues written by Bhavani Prasad Mishra. Special effects were by Babubhai Mistry, a long-time Bhatt regular. The music director was Anil Biswas with lyrics written by Bharat Vyas. The cinematographer was V. Avdhoot and the film starred Nimmi, Bharat Bhushan, Anita Guha, Chandrashekhar, Achala Sachdev, Manmohan Krishna, Prem Adib and Ram Mohan. Vinod Mehra, who started his career as a child actor in Ragini (1958), played the role of the young Bharat Bhushan. He was credited as Vinod Kumar in the film.

The film is set in the time of Buddha and portrays the life of the dacoit Angulimaal. Named Ahinsak at birth, he is the son of the Raj Purohit (Royal Priest), who turns from a scholar to murderous ways, cutting off his victims fingers and making a garland of it, hence called Angulimaal (Finger Garland). He then renounces his killings following an encounter with Buddha and turns into a monk.