Kundan (film)

Last updated

Kundan
Kundan 1955.jpg
Directed by Sohrab Modi
Written byPandit Sudarshan (screenplay)
Produced by Sohrab Modi
Starring Sohrab Modi
Sunil Dutt
Nimmi
CinematographyM. N. Malhotra
Lateef
Bhandare
Edited byP. Balchandra
Music by Ghulam Mohammed
Production
company
Minerva Movietone
Release date
  • 1955 (1955)
Running time
121 minutes
Country India
Language Hindi

Kundan is a 1955 Indian Hindi-language social drama film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi for Minerva Movietone. The film stars Sohrab Modi, Sunil Dutt, Nimmi, Pran, Om Prakash, Kumkum, Naaz, Murad, Ulhas,Manorama. [1] The Screenplay was by Pandit Sudarshan, with dialogues by Munshi Abdul Baqui and Pandit Sudarshan. The music was composed by Ghulam Mohammed, with lyrics by Shakeel Badayuni. Nimmi's double role in the film as mother and daughter was acclaimed critically, [2] while Ulhas won a nomination in the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor category. [3]

Contents

Based on Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables , [4] the film had Modi playing a poverty-stricken young man who gets into trouble with the police for stealing a loaf of bread. Over the years, he avoids a policeman who is on his trail even as he tries to live an honest life.

Plot

The film starts with Kundan (Sohrab Modi) stealing a loaf of bread from a kitchen and running home with it to feed his young niece Radha, and ailing mother. He is arrested, and in court he says that he had tried to find work, begged, and in the end was forced to steal. The judge sentences him to two years in prison. His niece visits him in jail telling him of his mother's death. Kundan bends the iron rods and escapes, but is caught. He is imprisoned for a further five years for trying to escape. The second time he tries to do so, he gets an additional seven years. Kundan spends a total of fourteen years in prison doing hard labour. Radha (Nimmi) is married to Gopal (Pran) and they have a baby girl Uma. Gopal, who is in bad company, and a crook get her to part with all her jewellery and he disappears with it. Radha and her baby find refuge with a tea-stall owner (Om Prakash) and his wife (Manorama)), who employ her to work for them for minimal wages. Kundan, on release from jail, sets out to find Radha. He has been told by the jail authorities, including Inspector Sher Singh (Ulhas), a devout policeman, to keep them informed about his whereabouts and to present himself regularly at the police station. When he returns to his locality, he is unable to find Radha, and the neighbours drive him away, calling him a dacoit.

Kundan, on being turned away by everyone, finally finds a saviour in Gurudev (Murad), a priest, who helps him find himself and introduces him to making pottery and earning money. Kundan does well for himself and meets up with Radha and Uma. Radha dies from an illness and Kundan brings up Uma. Inspector Sher Singh meanwhile, is after him all the time. A grown Uma (Nimmi) meets Amrit (Sunil Dutt), a freedom fighter involved in the Quit India Movement against the British. Amrit and Uma fall in love, but Amrit has the police after him. In a fight between the revolutionaries and the police, Sher Singh is imprisoned by them, but subsequently let free by Kundan. Amrit gets injured and Singh tries to arrest him. Kundan knocks the policeman down and escapes through a drainage with Amrit. When the Inspector comes looking for them again, there is a confrontation between Kundan and the Inspector while Amrit lies wounded. Kundan tells Sher Singh that he will give himself up to the police if he allows Amrit to get treatment. Sher Singh agrees to let Amrit's wounds be treated and waits as the doctor attends him. When Amrit recovers, Kundan goes down to find a note written by the Inspector, in which he states that he's letting two people wanted by the police to go free, hence his only salvation for not doing his duty is to kill himself. Kundan manages to see the Inspector jumping into the river. Amrit and Uma are reunited with a repentant Gopal asking Kundan's forgiveness.

Cast

Production Crew

Modi had Art Director Rusi K. Banker design similar underground drainage sets, as in the sets of the film Les Misérables (1952). [5] The crew included:

Awards

Ulhas was nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Soundtrack

The film had music directed by Ghulam Mohammed, with the lyrics written by Shakeel Badayuni. The playback were provided by Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Geeta Dutt, S. D. Batish, Mubarak Begum and Sudha Malhotra. [6]

Song list

#TitleSinger
1"Naujavano Bharat Ki Taqdir Bana Do" Mohammed Rafi
2"Shikayat Kya Karun Donon Taraf Gam Kaa Fasana Hai" Lata Mangeshkar
3"Jahan Wale Hamein Duniya Mein"Lata Mangeshkar
4"Meri Aankhon Ke Tare Mere Dil Ke Sahare"Lata Mangeshkar
5"Yeh Baharon Ke Din, Yeh Suhana Sama"Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
6"Matwale O Matwale Naino Ke Teer"Lata Mangeshkar, Shamshad Begum
7"Hosh Mein Aao Murakh Bande" Manna Dey
8"Meri Jaan Gair Ko Tum Paan Khilaya"Mohammed Rafi, Geeta Dutt
9"Aao Hamare Hotal Mein"S. D. Batish, Sudha Malhotra
10"Mera Bhola Balam"Mubarak Begum

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Mere Mehboob</i> 1963 Indian film

Mere Mehboob is a 1963 Indian film directed by Harnam Singh Rawail and starring Ashok Kumar, Rajendra Kumar, Sadhana, Nimmi, Pran, Johnny Walker and Ameeta. The film became a blockbuster and took the number one position at the box office in 1963. A Muslim social film, it drew a background from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and traditional Lucknow. The famous song "Mere Mehboob Tujhe Mere" was shot in the University Hall and in a couple of places, one gets to see the University. The opening scene of the movie shows the famous residential hall and the associated clock tower; "Victoria Gate".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranjeet</span> Indian film and television actor (born 1941)

Ranjeet, is an Indian actor and film director born in Jandiala Guru near Amritsar, best known for his work in Bollywood. He has mostly played villain roles in over 200 Hindi films. Ranjeet has also played a positive character in the TV series Aisa Des Hai Mera. He has also worked in a number of Punjabi films namely Rab Ne Banayian Jodiyan, Maujaan Dubai Diyaan and Man Jeete Jag Jeet.

<i>Sunghursh</i> 1968 Indian film

Sunghursh ("Struggle") is a 1968 Indian Hindi film directed and produced by Harnam Singh Rawail. It is based on Layli Asmaner Ayna, a short story in Bengali language by Jnanpith Award-winning writer Mahasweta Devi, which presents a fictionalised account of a vendetta within a thuggee cult in the holy Indian town of Varanasi. It stars Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Balraj Sahni, Sanjeev Kumar, Jayant, Deven Verma, Durga Khote and Iftekhar. The film was the last one to see Dilip Kumar and Vyjayanthimala working together. Sunghursh was an "Average" grosser at box-office and was the tenth highest grossing film of the year.

<i>Amar</i> (1954 film) 1954 film

Amar (transl. "Immortal") is a 1954 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film produced and directed by Mehboob Khan. Dealing with the controversial subject of rape, the film revolves around the titular upper-class lawyer, his feminist fiancé, the social worker Anju Roy (Madhubala), and Sonia (Nimmi), a poor milkmaid.

<i>Jwala</i> (1971 film) 1971 Indian film

Jwala (transl. Flame) is a 1971 Indian Hindi-language action film directed and produced by M. V. Raman and written by Chandliyan. It stars Madhubala and Sunil Dutt, with Sohrab Modi and Pran in pivotal roles. The film's music was composed by Shankar–Jaikishan.

<i>Aan Baan</i> 1972 film

Aan Baan is a 1972 Bollywood drama film directed by Prakash Mehra. The film stars Rajendra Kumar and Raakhee.

<i>Joshila</i> 1973 Indian film

Joshila is a 1973 Bollywood thriller film directed by Yash Chopra. The film stars Dev Anand, Hema Malini and Raakhee. Most outdoor parts of the movie were shot in Darjeeling, West Bengal. The film is loosely inspired by James Hadley Chase's 1959 novel, Shock Treatment.

<i>Sawan Ki Ghata</i> 1966 Indian film

Sawan Ki Ghata is a 1966 Bollywood musical romance produced and directed by Shakti Samanta. It stars Manoj Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Mumtaz in lead roles, along with Pran, Jeevan, Madan Puri in other important roles. The music was composed by O. P. Nayyar.

<i>Sagar Sangam</i> 1988 Indian film

Sagar Sangam is a 1988 Hindi-language film. A family drama, it had a very long delayed release. The film was announced in 1985, had its records released in 1986. It stars Raakhee, Asha Parekh, Shatrughan Sinha, Mithun Chakraborty, Padmini Kolhapure, Anita Raj, Nana Patekar, Johnny Walker, Prem Chopra, Utpal Dutt. The music was composed by Bappi Lahiri.

<i>Daata</i> 1989 film

Daata (transl. Giver) is a 1989 Indian Hindi-language action drama film directed by Sultan Ahmed, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Shammi Kapoor, Padmini Kolhapure, Suresh Oberoi, Supriya Pathak, Amrish Puri, Ranjeet, Deepak Parashar, Shafi Inamdar, Saeed Jaffrey and Bharat Bhushan. This movie was an 'average movie' in big cities, but in small cities and in north India, it was a big hit.

<i>Byomkesh Bakshi</i> (TV series) Indian Television Series

Byomkesh Bakshi is a Hindi television series based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The series stars Rajit Kapur and K.K. Raina as Byomkesh Bakshi and Ajit Kumar Banerjee, respectively. It features music and background score from Ananda Shankar. Upon release it became critically acclaimed. It has been re-telecast on DD National from 28 March 2020 during the lockdown of 21 days due to coronavirus.

<i>Sheesh Mahal</i> (1950 film) 1950 film

Sheesh Mahal is a 1950 social Urdu/Hindi film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi for Minerva Movietone.

<i>Jhansi Ki Rani</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by Sohrab Modi

Jhansi Ki Rani is a 1953 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi for his Minerva Movietone production banner. It is credited as the first Technicolor film made in India and starred Modi's wife, Mehtab in the title role, with Modi in the important role of her mentor, Rajguru. The film was dubbed in English as The Tiger and the Flame, which released in 1956 with the same star cast. The cast besides Mehtab and Sohrab Modi included Mubarak, Ulhas, Sapru, Ram Singh, Baby Shikha, Marconi and Shakila.

<i>Phir Milenge</i> (1942 film) 1942 Indian film

Phir Milenge is a 1942 Indian Hindi and Urdu-language social drama film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi. Made under the banner of Minerva Movietone, it had music by Mir Saheb while the lyricist was Pandit Sudarshan. Modi had discovered Meena when she came to watch his film shooting. He cast her in a character role for her debut in Sikandar (1941). This was her second film for Modi where she played a supporting role. She was later to marry producer, director Roop K. Shorey and go on to become popular as Meena Shorey.

Manjhdhar or is a 1947 Hindi/Urdu historical drama film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi for Minerva Movietone. The story was by Pandit Sudarshan, with art direction by Rusi K. Banker and sound recording by M. Eduljee. It had music composed by Ghulam Haider, Gyan Dutt and Anil Biswas, the lyricist was Shams Lucknowi. The film starred Sohrab Modi, Khursheed, Surendra, Eruch Tarapore and Rafiq Ghaznavi.

<i>Grahasti</i> (film) 1963 film by S.S.Vasan

Grahasti also called Grihasti, is a 1963 Indian Hindi-language drama film, directed by Kishore Sahu. Produced by S. S. Vasan for Gemini Studios, its music director was Ravi and the lyrics were written by Shakeel Badayuni. Pandit Mukhram Sharma wrote the dialogues with cinematography by P. Ellappa. The film starred Ashok Kumar, Manoj Kumar, Rajshree, Nirupa Roy, Indrani Mukherjee, Bipin Gupta, Lalita Pawar and Gajanan Jagirdar.

<i>Paras</i> (1949 film) 1949 film by Anant Thakur

Paras is a 1949 romantic drama Indian film directed by Anant Thakur and starring Madhubala, Kamini Kaushal and Rehman in lead roles.

References

  1. ↑ "Kundan". Alan Goble. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Nimmi". The Rest. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Nominations-1955". Times Internet Limited. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Victor Hugo, présenté par Didier Hallépée. Les Misérables – 4 – Gavroche. les écrivains de Fondcombe. pp. 18–. ISBN   978-2-35451-205-7 . Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Gangar, Amrit (2008). Sohrab Modi The Great Mughal of Historicals. New Delhi, India: Wisdom Tree. p. 91. ISBN   9788183281089.
  6. ↑ "Kundan". Hindi Geetmala. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.