Aab e hayaat (1955)

“Aab e Hayaat” (1955) was directed by Ramanlal Desai for Filmistan. The movie had Premnath, Shashikala, Helen, Smriti Biswas, Pran, Ameeta, Mubarak, S. L. Puri, P. Kailash etc in it.

This movie had Premnath playing a Robinhood like Arabian nights tale character while donning Roman era dress. 🙂

This movie had nine songs in it which were penned by Hasrat Jaipuri and composed by Sardar Malik. The duo were in fact saala-jeeja in the sense that Sardar Malik married Hasrat Jaipuri’s sister. Anu Malik, a later day music director is Sardar Malik’s son.

Alladin Ka Beta (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

ALLADIN KA BETA-1955 was one of those films which were the figs of imagination of the storywriters, who were in the habit of providing fictitious family members to characters from the Arabian nights stories. Thus we have a son and a daughter each to Alladin, Alibaba and also Sindbad the sailor. Although in the original stories there are no mentions of these relatives !

Produced by the United Pictures,Bombay the film was directed by Rafiq Rizvi, who had the experience of handling C grade stunt films during the 50s and the 60s too. As the demand for such fantasy films receded, the fortunes of these Directors too diminished and soon they disappeared from the scene.

The music was handled by one of the most talented composers who was wasted by the industry and got confined to B and C grade films only-S. Mohinder. No wonder after leaving the industry he left india too to settle and die in America.

The cast was Mahipal, Chitra, Mumtaz, Tiwari, Kammo, Shaikh, Maruti, Yashodhara Katju etc.

Alladin had everything under, above, and sideways of the Sun, thanks to his wonderful lamp. His son was Nooruddin, who never knew what was poverty. He spent the father’s money to avail of the worldly pleasures. The wicked magician never forgot his defeat in regaining the Lamp and always dreamt that one day he will get hold of the wonderful lamp.
His beautiful daughter Zeenat is now grown up and ready to help him. Zeenat goes incognito to the palace of Nooruddin, as a dancer. He is already under the charms of another dancer, Rukhsana. However Rukhsana is no match for Zeenat and soon Zeenat wins the deep love of Nooruddin. In one session of love, she asks him to get her the magic lamp, as she has never seen such a thing in her life.

Nooruddin goes to his father and after much cajoling, Alladin finally tells him where the Lamp is hidden. Rukhsana suspects Zeenat already and finds that she is the daughter of the magician, who too has secured a job in this palace,under a false identity.

When Zeenat gets the lamp, before she uses it, Rukhsana jumps on her and kills her. After death, her real face is visible. Nooruddin realises his folly and starts looking for the magician, who escapes from there.
Alladin honours Rukhsana and gets her married to Nooruddin.

Amar Kahaani (1949)/Kanchan (1955)

Amar Kahaani (1949) movie was released in 1949 and it failed. Six years later, the maker of the movie, secure in the knowledge that few people recalled his movie, decided to re release the movie again. No, he did not make a fresh movie with new actors. He re released the same movie again, by simply changing the title. So this was a case of an old wine beiing resold in the same old bottle. Only the label was changed. This time, the movie was titled “Kanchan”(1955).

The movie was produced by Rajendra Singh for Kamal Kunj Chitra production. It was directed by Brij Sharma. The movie had Suraiyya, Rajnan, P Jairaj, Jagdish Mehta, Raj Mehra, Sapru, Ajit etc.

Here is the story of the movie, given by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh:

Kanchan(Suraiyya) looks forward to marrying her lover Surendra(Jairaj)a lawyer,but his father(Raj Mehra) has promissed his marriage to Nirmala(Ranjana)-his friend Manoharlal’s son.

The marriage takes place. Kanchan’s brother is accused of murder, so Kanchan keeps going to Surendra for legel advise, which creates doubt and envy in Nirmala’s mind. Instigated by her manager Virendra(Ajit), Nirmala attempts Kanchan’s murder, but she survives injured.

Nirmala is arrested and suffers sorrow,pain and misery….etc.
note- In the end Surendra and Kanchan get married.

Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

ANDHER NAGARI CHAUPAT RAJA-1955 was a Chitra mahal limited film produced by Asha Bishwas and Directed by Shamim Bhagat. Avinash Vyas gave music and Bharat vyas wrote the story,screenplay,dialogues and the lyrics too.

Andher nagari chaupat raja or taka ser bhaji taka ser khaja are some of the phrases/muhavaras that are used in our languages.There are some stories behind them and this is also one such story. The whole film is actually,a dream sequence.In fact it is a social satire.

Many times when something goes wrong,we feel,if I were there…..
But everytime this doesnt work. ’Jeno kaam teno thay’ ie, let the right man do the job is always true.
Amarnath and Chitra were the lead pair in this film.

There is a villager who has an ugly daughter. He is unable to get her married. She had no looks and he does not have enough money as dowry, which he thinks would have got her married. One day he sees the king’s daughter getting married with pomp and show and he starts thinking…………..

He becomes the king of Andher Nagari and tries to bring radical changes in the law and order, social and political structures. ”Equality” and “Justice” for all is his Mantra. So,as per his order evrything in the market is equally priced. Gold or Gobar(cow dung), Elephant or Donkey all are priced equally. All crimes get the same punishment. For murder or spitting the punishment is Death equally. Everybody’s pay is same etc etc.

With this kind of Equality and justice, there is chaos in the kingdom. King arranges Swayamvar of his ugly daughter. Even his power or riches can not get her married. He is enraged and gives order that if his daughter can not get married, no one in the kingdom will get married.

There is a couple, Madho and Imrati whose marriage is kept on hold. They start a rebellion and together,the king is thrown out of his golden heaven to the muddy earth……………….

The villager realises that making laws alone can not make a good kingdom. Similarly for everything ” if I were there” does not work.You must let the right person do the job.

The story had plenty of scope for fun and laughs, but the direction was not upto the mark and the film did not click,though the idea was great.

Bahu (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

Diwan Dinanath( Bipin Gupta) was shocked at his Bhabhi’s behaviour. True, the fireworks had slipped from Paro’s ( Usha Kiran) hands as she danced and his niece Sheela’s ( Shashikala) sari had caught fire, but it was so evidently an accident. Indeed, Sheela was Paro’s nearest and dearest friend. Enraged at Dinanath’s sympathy, Sheela’s mother taunted him to accept Paro as the bride for his only son, Basant ( Karan Dewan). Though momentarily taken aback, Dinanath accepted the challenge and drove straight to Paro’s mother.
The poverty stricken widow could not but accept the millionaire’s pressing proposal. Dinanath faced unexpected opposition from Basant. Basant had recently come into contact with a shrewd cabaret singer, Rita ( Alka), and imagined himself madly in love with her. This was a part of Rita’s plan to fleece him dry in collaboration with her paramour, Ajit. Though Basant had no desire to marry at the time, he did not have the courage to refuse his father.
Thus Paro was installed as the family’s Bahu, though Basant spent his wedding night with Rita and Ajit leaving Paro to weep alone. He had carried out his father’s wish and married Paro, but that was all! Things moved fast in this unhappy household, when unable to bear his son’s cruel treatment of the Bahu, Dinanath ordered Basant to leave the house.
Now came a stern trial for Paro. Sheela came to her with the horrible news Sheela was expecting a baby! She had placed her trust in a likable young man, Suresh (Pran), who had now deserted her. There was no alternative for the hapless Sheela but to commit suicide. Paro quickly planned to save Sheela and the family honour. She informed Dinanath that she was to become a mother, and requested she wished to go to a hill station for her confinement and of course, her friend Sheela would accompany her.
Time passed rapidly till the day when the overjoyed Dinanath welcomed his grand son home. Midst rejoicing and celebration, Basant returned home on hearing the news and openly denounced Paro. The child was not his- could not be his son! Dinanath waited for a denial, but Paro’s fate was sealed. Determined to uphold the family honour and shield Sheela, she allowed herself to be thrown out into the streets. . Leaving the infant in her mother’s care, Paro began a grim struggle to prove her innocence and win back her husband in the bargain.
Paro contacts Suresh,but he would not accept Sheela and the child. Suresh was doing illegal jobs. Paro,with the help of her Rakhi brother Raja, gets proof about Raja’s illegal work and confronts him. To avoid jail, Suresh finally accepts Sheela with his child. Seeing the child he is very happy and admits all his guilt to Dinanath and Basant.
Thus all misunderstandings are cleared and all is well. Basant has also realised the crookedness of Rita and accepts Paro as his wife.

Bandish (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

BANDISH-1955 was a film by Basu chitra mandir,directed by Satyen Bose. This was one of his early films as director.
Satyen Bose(22-1-1916 to 9-6-1993) was a Master story teller and a successful director.Starting with PORIBORTON-1949 in Bengali,he entered Hindi films with Parichay 1954,followed by Jagriti-a remake of his Poriborton(he had done the main role of the Teacher in the bengali film,which in hindi,Abhi Bhattacharya did). Bose directed hits like Dosti,Chalti naam Gaadi,sitaron se aagey,Girl friend etc,a total of 32 films.his last directorial film was Woh din aayega-87.

The music was by Hemant kumar and for the last time RAVI was his assistant because in the same year RAVI made his debut with VACHAN as an independent M.D. In Bandish Ravi had also written few songs,as Ravi shankar,along with Indeevar,RMAKhan and SHBihari.

BANDISH was a remake of a successful Bengali film and in the film,story happens with all the cast bearing Bengali names.Nasir hussain is Mahender Babu who is bringing up an orphan ‘ Tomato’ (Daisy Irani), since he was a small baby.Now that he is unable to rear him any further due to bad health,he leaves Tomato in a park,where Kamal Roy(Ashok kumar) is sitting on a bench alone and tells Tomato to call him his father hereafter. Kamal Roy brings Tomato home and keeps him as his son. Kamal Roy’s marriage is fixed with Usha Sen(Meena kumari).The entry of Tomato is resented by Kamal’s Mother(Protima Devi) and father(Bhanu Bannerjee) who advise him to get married immediately,as the neighbours and other people in their social circle are whispering about Tomato’s parentage-accusing silently Kamal himself.
In this situation Usha supports Kamal fully.

The story further details how Tomato brings cheers and sorrow in their lives with the end being very happy.

Daaku (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

DAKU-1955 was a Basant Pictures film.In 1929, Wadia Movietone was established by JBH Wadia and Homi Wadia. They specialised in stunt and fantasy films. Fearless Nadia,
John Cavas and Master Vithal were their stars. In the early 40s, JBH Wadia was of the opinion that they should now make social films. Homi Wadia was against this idea. On this they separated and Homi Wadia established Basant Pictures to continue with Stunt films.

Aspy Irani,a regular Director with Wadia Movietone joined Basant Pictures. Aspy Irani excelled in directing fantasy and stunt films. He directed Daku-55. The lyrics were by M.L.Khanna(Father of music director Usha Khanna), Kaif Bhopali and Kaif Irfani. Music director was Snehal Bhatkar. The cast was Shammi Kapoor, Shashikala, Kuldip Kaur, Azuri, Anwar Hussain, Habib, Babu Raje, Sheikh, W.M.Khan, Sulochana etc.

In the kingdom of Suryapur, after the king, Dewan Ajit Singh was the de-facto ruler-the queen mother and the young Prince being submissive. Ajit calls Samir, a Gypsy sardar, to kill the Prince on his 4th Birthday. But instead of killing him, Samir takes away the prince with his moving Carvan.

After 20 years, Samir comes back to Suryapur. He sends Badal(Shammi Kapoor), Ustad(Anwar Hussain), Paro(Azuri) and Nili(Kuldip Kaur) to the Palace to sing and dance to earn some money.

The young princess (Shashikala) falls in love with Badal, which Nili does not like. The princess is fake and it is her Birthday. The new ruler Captain Kishori- in place of Ajit Singh- recognises that Badal is the real Prince and wishes to kill him. However, he only arrests him. Badal’s friend Ustad, with the help from fake princess and Paro rescues Badal.

Captain Kishori, based on Astrologer’s prediction, makes Badal king for a day and plans to kill him next day. On becoming the king, Badal repeals all unjust laws, punishes corrupt officials and releases the queen mother(who is his real mother) from jail. Next day, in a fierce fighting Badal kills Captain Kishori and the rightful heir to the throne becomes the King.

Joru Ka Bhai (1955)

This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

The producer and director of “Joru Ka Bhai” (1955) was Chetan Anand. The composer was Jaidev, with assistance from Prabhakar and Coutinho. Lyrics were by Vishwamitra Aadil, Sahir and Narendra Sharma. There were 10 songs in the movie.

The cast of the film was Balraj Sahni, Sheila Ramani, Vijay Anand, Johnny Walker, Kumkum etc. The story is…

As the Assembly elections were fast approaching, there was a great commotion in Daana Paani Party to elect a leader and candidate of the party. After a long discussion, Chowdhary Ramchand (Balraj Sahni), a clerk was chosen the leader and as the candidate of the party. Surely, after this he could not continue to be a mere clerk. But when next day he went to the office with a resignation in his pocket, he found to his surprise that “the boss” had offered him the post of the Manager, as the Manager had died previous day without intimation. Now, but for the secret meetings of his sister(Sheila Ramani) with Kanhaiya (Vijay Anand), son of the Seth who was standing as a rival candidate, there was nothing to worry Ramchand.

Fate was very kind to him until the arrival of his wife’s brother. Now he felt that Fate was playing a cruel joke with him. For though Murlidhar ( Johnny Walker), who played trombone had come just for holiday, Ramchand found that his brother-in-law’s holiday would never end. Murlidhar did not have any reservation or formality of a guest; he made Chowdhary’s house his own and used his things as if they belonged to himself. So much so that once when he needed money he had no compuction to sell Chowdhary’s by-cycle for five rupees! And as if all this was not enough, he helped Chowdhary’s sister and her lover Kanhaiya, in their secret meetings.

But the climax came when Murlidhar went to Chowdhary’s office and robbed him of five thousand rupees. Just when two children had been born to Chowdhary’s wife and the event was being celebrated with great joy, this incident occurred- endangering Chowdhary’s job as well as leadership. Chowdhary knew the thief; but how could he catch him ? He wished that Murlidhar would return the money and the whole affair would be hushed. But Murlidhar had different plans. Now he was anxious to go away; and Chowdhary had to use all possible tricks to stop him from going and to make him confess his crime. When the tricks failed, he took him to see a magician’s hand. The magician hypnotised not only Murlidhar but Chowdhary Ramchand and Urmila, Seth and his son Kanhaiya and other people as well. There was commotion in the city as under the influence of magic, these crazy people wandered into the streets. At last normalcy was restored and Murlidhar admitted to the theft. He was sent to jail but Ramchand had to take care of Murlidhar’s family comprising his wife, six children and his wife’s brother “Joru Ka Bhai”.

Kanchan (1955)/ Amar Kahaani (1949)

Amar Kahaani (1949) movie was released in 1949 and it failed. Six years later, the maker of the movie, secure in the knowledge that few people recalled his movie, decided to re release the movie again. No, he did not make a fresh movie with new actors. He re released the same movie again, by simply changing the title. So this was a case of an old wine beiing resold in the same old bottle. Only the label was changed. This time, the movie was titled “Kanchan”(1955).

The movie was produced by Rajendra Singh for Kamal Kunj Chitra production. It was directed by Brij Sharma. The movie had Suraiyya, Rajnan, P Jairaj, Jagdish Mehta, Raj Mehra, Sapru, Ajit etc.

Here is the story of the movie, given by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh:

Kanchan(Suraiyya) looks forward to marrying her lover Surendra(Jairaj)a lawyer,but his father(Raj Mehra) has promissed his marriage to Nirmala(Ranjana)-his friend Manoharlal’s son.

The marriage takes place. Kanchan’s brother is accused of murder, so Kanchan keeps going to Surendra for legel advise, which creates doubt and envy in Nirmala’s mind. Instigated by her manager Virendra(Ajit), Nirmala attempts Kanchan’s murder, but she survives injured.

Nirmala is arrested and suffers sorrow,pain and misery….etc.
note- In the end Surendra and Kanchan get married.

Mast Qalandar (1955)

The review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh

MAST QALANDAR(1955) was a  N.C.Films’ movie directed by Kedar Kapoor. The MD was Hansraj Behl and lyrics were from Asad Bhopali and Naqsh Llayalpuri.
The cast was Mahipal chand Bhandari, Shakila, Helen, Govind, Johny Walker, Maruti rao, Ramesh Thakur, Naaz, Sarita, Kuldip Kaur, Tiwari etc.
Shyam is a carefree young man with plenty of riches, but does not do any work. The film tries to stress the importance of earning money oneself to sustain one’s self respect.