Robert Wise produced it. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II composed the music. Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer starred in it. Millions all over the world watched it.

The Sound of Music was advertised in our city as a must for children, with the foot-note that parents should treat their children to this movie and that parents themselves should be prepared for a treat on doing so.

This concept of children's movie arose from the fact that the film did feature children, had lots of "clean" music and no "bang-bang." The children in this movie were the focus, the music being the attraction. The children belonged to Captain Von Trapp, a retired navy veteran. His wife had passed away leaving him the task of bringing them up.

Watching the movie makes you long for the alps of Austria, to climb those mountains and get lost there and never come back.

Quite apart from all this, the very sight of children running all over the tops of mountains, and singing away to their hearts' content, free to do so, is enough to evoke revolutionary emotions in the hearts of many a city kid.

I was a mere city kid at that time and the children's programs over the airwaves always played some track from this movie. A treat for those who had already seen the movie, and a reminder for those who hadn't.

The kids who had watched this movie had a strange air of accomplishment surrounding them as compared to those who had not. I was really fortunate as it did not take me long to join the ranks. The rest too caught up pretty fast.

Bringing up seven kids is a task totally alien to an ex navy man. Most suited for this would be a governess. He needs one, and he does get one, Maria.

Straight from the abbey where she is qualifying to become a nun. Maria, eventually becomes the turning point in Captain Von Trapp's life.

The governess sets about her tasks in bringing up the seven children. She gradually introduces music into their lives and this delights the Captain. He too seems to have had a musical background.

However, after the death of his first wife, opportunities had no longer been available.

There is a scene in the movie in which he spontaneously joins in with Maria and the children and sings along, much to their delight.

At this time, the Captain is engaged to a wealthy baroness. Maria's involvement and attachment with his children, her immense talent for music and her total dedication towards her task makes Maria qualify more than the baroness to be a confirmed occupant of his mansion.

Conveniently, he also finds Maria more suited for the "post of wife!" So he duly calls off the engagement with the baroness.

The marriage takes place between Captain George Ritter von Trapp and Maria, and they commence living "happily ever after" ... for a short while.

The interference comes from the Third Reich. When the Third Reich takes over in Austria and there is a compulsion for Von Trapp to re-join the services. But, Captain von Trapp has other ideas.

Yes ... other ideas.

The Salzburg Music Festival is around the corner. The von Trapp family has some kind of an obligation to participate.

The musical talent of Maria, the children who have been coached by her for many months, and the musical background and capability of the Captain himself further underlined this obligation.

The family does participate, much to the delight of everyone. They are well applauded by an appreciative audience.

It the end of their performance, the family of nine, as previously planned, totally unnoticed get about the task of making a getaway.

Their escape plan had been worked out with near precision.

However, there were a few setbacks. But who cares about it right now? Their mission was a success!

In the darkness of the night, they trek their way to safety.

To Switzerland, over the Alps, and there in Switzerland start afresh.

The adventure part of the film is, the plot which enables them to escape and how this plan was carried out.

Of course there were a few hiccups which threatened to interfere with the escape plan.

However, the plan was superior, designed by none other the nuns of the convent.

The very convent in which Maria was studying to become a nun.

This film was liked very much by children as well as adults.

The film's haunting music was of course the main attraction, engaging the full versatility of the famous duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

The title track, the song "Edelweiss" and almost all the tracks from the movie, are as good as any of the best tracks in the music of the sixties.

... concluded