A remake of Balachander's Telugu film Maro Charitra, it stars Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri as a pair of lovers from different families who oppose their relationship, and go to dire lengths to break them apart.

Ek Duuje Ke Liye was released on 5 June 1981, and grossed over ₹10 crore (US$1.2 million) at the box office, making it one of the highest-grossing Indian films of its year.

[1][2] It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the film's score—particularly the single "Tere Mere Beech Mein" sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and penned by Anand Bakshi—and the performances of the cast.

[4][5] It has inspired several Indian and Western actors and singers, such as Britney Spears, who notably sampled instruments from "Tere Mere Beech Main" for her 2004 single "Toxic".

[6] The movie is about the love between a Tamil man, Vasu (Kamal Haasan), and a North Indian woman, Sapna (Rati Agnihotri), who are neighbors in Goa.

While being followed on her way home by a creepy bookstore clerk (who'd earlier shown her a book of nude photos), Sapna sees Vasu jogging and starts a one-way conversation with him.

The lovers unite and visit the beaches, forts, waterfalls and scenic places of Goa.

One day when Sapna returns from college after meeting Vasu, she finds the lewd bookstore clerk at her home.

Heartbroken, Vasu makes a plan and stealthily meets Sapna during her college lunch break.

Despite the opposition, Vasu boldly goes and meets Sapna in her home in the presence of her parents and expresses his love for her.

During their year of separation, Vasu writes a letter every day to Sapna, in which he expresses his pain and love, but doesn't send it to her because of the contract.

In response, Sapna writes Vasu's name on every inch of her bedroom wall, making her family even more angry.

She tells the truth to Vasu and cancels their wedding, urging him to go to his beloved Sapna as their one-year contract was completed.

Sandhya's older brother hears that the wedding is cancelled and thinks that Vasu abandoned his sister.

In a drunken, angry state, he phones his criminal friend in Goa and asks him to 'completely get rid' of Vasu.

Distraught, feeling they can't live without each other, they join hands and leap off the cliff together, a symbol of doomed love.

The leading actress Rati Agnihotri was relatively unknown at the time, and did not appear in Maro Charitra.

"[8] Two portions of "Tere Mere Beech Mein" were later sampled in the 2004 Britney Spears song "Toxic" as part of its hook.