This review is written by Mr Arunkumar Deshmukh
DAASI(1944) was a Pradhan Picture film directed by Dhiren Bose.
The cast was Najam ul Hasan, Raagini, Kalawati, Gyani, Omprakash, Khairati etc.
The younger generation may not know anything about Najamul Hasan or Raagini.
Raagini was the most charming and beautiful heroine of the 40s. Originally Irshad Begum (pet name Shaada) was born in 1925 at Gujranwala.in Lahore,her neighbour mr Shori,a producer introduced her in films.Her first film was Dullah Bhatti.before moving to Bombay in 1945,she did few more films in Lahore like Himmat, Nishani, Poonji etc.
Kardar’s Nek Parveen was her first famous film. Then came Naila,Mundri,Patan,Sarhad,Shahjehan etc.She was the first Heroine to charge 1 Lakh rupees per film.
She was married in 1943 and had 2 sons. In1947 she migrated to Pakistan and married a producer.She acted in many hit films.unfortunately,her last days were very sad.She was left alone and bed ridden due to Arthritis in just one room.Despite many appeals on Radio and TV in Pakistan,nobody helped her,except one fan from India who went all the way to Pakistan and helped her to some extent.She died in misery and lonelyness on 27-2-2007 at Lahore.
Najmul Hasan was the most handsome Hero of the 30s-40s.he was studying Law,but left it to go to Bombay.He met Himanshu Roy of Bombay Talkies at C.C.I.,who offered him Hero’s role in Jawani ki Hawa(35).Devika Rani,H.Roy’s wife fell in his love and both eloped.H.Roy tracked them and broght Devika Rani back.
Najmul went to New Theatres in Calcutta and did many films there.His last film in India was Parwana with KLSaigal.He migrated to Pakistan in 1947.He died in 1980,a pauper and in pitiable condition,where his body was identified in the municipal Morgue at Lahore.
Bollywood movies 