Chandni Chowk (film)

Chandni Chowk
Directed by B. R. Chopra
Produced by Prince Hira Sinh of Baria
Goverdhandas Aggarwal
Written by D. P. Berry
Starring Meena Kumari
Shekhar
Jeevan
Achala Sachdev
Smriti Biswas
Music by Roshan
Cinematography Keki Mistry
Edited by Pran Mehra
Production
company
Hira Films
Release dates
 1954
Running time
 129 minutes
Country India
Language Hindi

Chandni Chowk is a 1954 classic Muslim social drama film directed by B. R. Chopra.[1] The music was composed by Roshan with lyrics written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kamil Rashid, Shailendra and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.[2] It had story by D. P. Berry with screenplay by I. S. Johar and dialogue written by Kamil Rashid. Produced by Prince Hira Sinh of Baria and Goverdhandas Aggarwal under the banner of Hira Films, the director of photography was Keki Mistry.[3] The film starred Meena Kumari, Shekhar, Kumar, Jeevan, Smriti Biswas and Achala Sachdev.[4] The main hero Shekhar was one of the less appreciated lead actors of 1940s and 1950s but has been cited as a "master of realistic portrayals" usually cast in "mid-budget films".[5]

The story involves a Nawab belonging to the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi in the early 1920s, who gets "tricked into marrying his daughter to the gardner's son".[6]

Plot

The film is set in the early 1920s in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi. Nawab Safdarjung (Kumar) has a young daughter Zarina (Meena Kumari), who he’s keen to get married off. One of the applicants for her hand in marriage is the young Nawab Akbar (Shekhar) of Lucknow. After the wedding takes place, Nawab Safdarjung is informed by Ibrahim Beg (Jeevan) that Akbar is in fact the gardner’s son. The plot to introduce Akbar as a Nawab was conceived by Ibrahim to teach the arrogant Nawab a lesson when he refused his newly rich neighbour, Yusuf 's (Agha) proposal to marry Zarina, by haughtily declining it for him being a mere vegetable vendor. Angry on learning about the subterfuge, the Nawab calls off the marriage. Zarina however, decides to go to her in-laws house as she now considers Akbar her husband. Akbar leaves for Egypt in the hope of earning money. He finds a job there and soon gets entangled with a dancer Noorie (Smriti Biswas), who falls in love with him. Noorie creates grave misunderstandings in Zarina's life when she reads Zarina's letter to Akbar. She sends off a wire informing the in-laws that Akbar is dead. Finally Noorie dies telling Akbar about the misunderstanding created, and Akbar returns home to his bride.

Cast

Box-office

B. R. Chopra had shifted to Bombay from Lahore where he edited the Cine-Herald. In Bombay, Chopra joined Shri Gopal Pics as a producer. Chopra's first film as a director, Afsana (1951) was a big hit running for over twenty-five weeks (silver-jubilee).[7] Chandni Chowk, Chopra's second directorial venture was also a big success at the box-office, which gave him the impetus to start his own film company B. R. Films in 1956.[8]

Soundtrack

The film's music director was Roshan, who went on to compose music for films like Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) and Taj Mahal (1963), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the latter film.[9] With lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kamil Rashid, Shailendra, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Saifuddin Saif, the playback singing was provided by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Mukesh, Shamshad Begum, Sunder and Usha Mangeshkar.[10]

Songlist

# Title Singer Lyricist
1 Zamin Bhi Wohi Hai Wohi Aasmaan Mohammed Rafi Saifuddin Saif, Majrooh Sultanpuri
2 Hamen Aye Dil Kahin Le Chal Mukesh Majrooh Sultanpuri
3 Aa Jayein Jane Wale Laut Aaye Bahar Lata Mangeshkar Majrooh Sultanpuri
4 Bahak Chale Mere Nainawaa Haaye Na Jaane Chali Kaisi Hawa Lata Mangeshkar Shailendra
5 Badal Chali Hai Jo Unaki Nazar Toh Kya Kijiye Lata Mangeshkar Shailendra
6 Tera Dil Kahan Hai Sab Kuchh Yahan Hai Asha Bhosle
7 Aijam Aijam Aijam Ji Jitane Bhi Hain Gham Galat Kar Daal Asha Bhosle Shailendra
8 Dil Kee Shikayat Najar Key Shikave Lata Mangeshkar Shailendra
9 Ae Khuda Majboor Ki Fariyaad Hai Mubarak Begum Kamil Rashid
10 Banno Ke Hath Bhari Mehandi Lata Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar,Usha Mangeshkar, Majrooh Sultanpuri
11 Har Baat Puchhiye Yeh Haqeeqat Na Puchhiye Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Shamshad Begum Majrooh Sultanpuri
12 Qutub Minar Pe Chadh Kar Sunder, Shamshad Begum Raja Mehdi Ali Khan

References

  1. ↑ Meghnad Desai (13 December 2013). PAKEEZAH. HarperCollins Publishers India. pp. 28–. ISBN 978-93-5116-023-6. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Chandni Chowk 1954". Hindi Geetmala. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Chandni Chowk 1954". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Chandni Chowk". Alan Goble. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  6. ↑ PAKEEZAH.
  7. ↑ Dubey, Bharati (6 November 2008). "Films transformed Chopra's Destiny and vice-versa". Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. TNN. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1994–. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Gulazāra; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 639–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "Chandni Chowk". Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 6 December 2014.

External links