Known for his formula based lost and found drama based films since 70s , Manmohan Desai had also directed some music based memorable films like ‘Chhalia’, ‘Bluff Master’ & ‘Budtameez’ earlier in 60s. But, after directing ‘Sachha Jutha’ and ‘Rampur Ka Laxman’, Manji also directed a film like ‘Aa Gale Lag Ja’ in 1973 starring Shashi Kapoor, Sharmila Tagore, Shatrughan Sinha, based on a story by Smt. Jeevanprabha M. Desai. The film became a box office hit and some of the songs are still on our lips, like ‘Tera Mujhse Hai’( Kishore- Sushma Shresthta) , ‘Vaada Karo’- ( Kishore-Lata duet) and other emotion filled songs.
The film has completed 47 years since its release on 16th November 1973. The film was released in Mumbai with heritage Cinema hall – Opera House as its main theatre. Not many are aware that this film was remade in telugu as ‘Manchi Manushulu’ and in Tamil as ‘Uthaman’. It was also made in Persian as ‘Ranande –Ye – Ejbari’. It was also noticed that a Sinhalese film ‘Yali Hamuwennai’ released seven years later was a copy of this film. Also, a Pakistani film ‘Aina’ and a 1985 Hindi film ‘Pyar Jhukta Nahin’ were inspired by this film. Such was the universal appeal of this film.