Miss Mary (1957 film)

Last updated

Miss Mary
Miss mary 1957.jpg
Poster
Directed by L. V. Prasad
Written by Rajendra Krishan
Produced by A. V. Meiyappan
Starring Meena Kumari
Gemini Ganeshan
Kishore Kumar
Jamuna
Om Prakash
CinematographyT. Muthuswamy
Edited by K. Shankar
Music by Hemant Kumar
Production
company
Distributed byAVM Productions
Release date
  • 15 February 1957 (1957-02-15)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Miss Mary is a 1957 Indian comedy film directed by L.V. Prasad. The movie is an AVM production, written by Hargobind Duggal, and directed by L. V. Prasad. [1] The original Missamma was directed in Telugu in 1955 and was remade as Missiamma in Tamil with Savitri playing the title role in both films. It was remade in Hindi as Miss Mary in 1957 with Meena Kumari in the titular role, keeping Jamuna as the constant factor in all these films. L. V. Prasad directed all three versions. The music was by Hemant Kumar with the lyrics and dialogue written by Rajendra Krishan. The songs were sung by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi. The film's script was adapted by Chakrapani from two Indian Bengali-language novels: Rabindranath Maitra's Manmoyee Girls School [2] and Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay 'sDetective.

Contents

Meena Kumari, who was to later become famous for her tragedy roles meriting the sobriquet "Queen of Tragedy", acted in a few light-hearted roles in the 1950s in films such as Azaad (1955), Mem Sahib (1956), Shararat (1959 film), Kohinoor (1960) and Miss Mary. [3] For Gemini Ganesan (who was introduced to the Hindi-speaking film audience with this film), and for Meena Kumari, Miss Mary was one of the biggest hits of that year. [4]

Plot

The film is a light-hearted comedy with Meena Kumari (who regularly played tragedienne roles) performing one of her rare comic acts. The story is about Arun (Gemini Ganeshan), an unemployed teacher who comes across an advertisement offering a job at the Lakshmi School with the proviso that only married couples need apply. He meets Miss Mary (Meena Kumari), a Christian girl who is badly in need of a job to pay off her parents' debt. She agrees to pose as his wife. They hire Nakdau (Om Prakash), a beggar-cum-conman as a servant to keep up the pretense. The school owners (Rai Sahib and his wife), are looking for their long lost daughter Laxmi (hence the Laxmi School), who went missing sixteen years ago and the only thing tying her to them is a locket and an identification mark in the form of a mole on her left foot. They employ a detective Raju (Kishore Kumar) to find her. Raju is an orphan brought up as a nephew by the Rai Sahib. The old couple find a resemblance in Mary to their daughter and show her a photo of Laxmi that looks like her. Mary tells them that she can't be their daughter as she was brought up in a Christian environment by Christian parents.

Mary feels bad for lying about her married status to the Rai Sahib and his wife. She and Arun start liking each other in spite of their constant bickering. The owner's other daughter and Mary's biological sister Sita (Jamuna) has a fondness for Arun which upsets Mary. There are several comic sequences involving Raju and his friend. The truth is revealed about Mary being the Rai Sahib's daughter Laxmi when her foster parents arrive.

Cast

Soundtrack

The music and background score was composed by Hemant Kumar and the lyrics were penned by Rajendra Krishan. [5]

The songs were popular, especially "Gaana Na Aaya, Bajaana Na Aaya" sung by Kishore Kumar, "Yeh Mard Bade Dilsard, Bade Bedard", "O Raat Ke Musafir Chanda Zara Bata De", "Brindavan Ka Krishna Kanhaiya" sung by Lata Mangeshkar & Mohammed Rafi. Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, who first sang together in Ladli (1949), had a duet in the film: "Sakhi Ri Sun Bole Papiha Us Paar". Asha, despite her lack of training from her father Dinanath Mangeshkar and other Ustads, was able to follow Lata ably in her sargam-taan, keeping "perfect timing". [6]

Although Kishore Kumar isn't the hero of this film, he displays his immense musical talent in the song "Gaana Na Aaya". With crazy lyrics like "O My Sita / Paplu Papita", the song is a nutty medley of various music forms and styles, which includes the nursery rhyme Three Blind Mice. [7]

Track listing

SongSinger
"Sakhi Ri Sun Bole Papiha Us Paar" Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle
"Saiyan Lag Jaa Gale, Aaja Mera Dil Jale" Lata Mangeshkar
"So Gaya Saara Jahan" Lata Mangeshkar
"Yeh Mard Bade Dilsard Bade Bedard" (Female) Lata Mangeshkar
"Yeh Mard Bade Dilsard Bade Bedard" (Male) Mohammed Rafi
"Pehle Paisa Phir Bhagwaan Mohammed Rafi
"Brindavan Ka Krishna Kanhaiya" Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
"O Raat Ke Musafir Chanda Zara Bata De" Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
"Aayi Re Ghir Ghir Pehli Pehli Baadariya Geeta Dutt
"Gaana Na Aaya, Bajaana Na Aaya Kishore Kumar

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lata Mangeshkar</span> Indian singer (1929–2022)

Lata Mangeshkar was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers in India. Her contribution to the Indian music industry in a career spanning eight decades gained her honorific titles such as the "Queen of Melody", "Nightingale of India", and "Voice of the Millennium".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asha Bhosle</span> Indian playback singer (born 1933)

Asha Bhosle is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur and occasional actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in the media as one of the most influential and successful singers in Hindi Cinema. In her career spanning over eight decades she has recorded songs for films and albums in various Indian languages and received several accolades including two National Film Awards, four BFJA Awards, eighteen Maharashtra State Film Awards, nine Filmfare Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award and a record seven Filmfare Awards for Best Female Playback Singer, in addition to two Grammy nominations. In 2000, she was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in the field of cinema. In 2008, she was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian honour of the country. Additionally she holds the Guinness World Record for the most studio recordings - singles.

<i>Parineeta</i> (1953 film) 1953 film

Parineeta is a 1953 Indian Hindi-language drama film starring Ashok Kumar and Meena Kumari, based upon the 1914 Bengali novella of the same name by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay. The film was directed by Bimal Roy. This version of the film is considered by many to be the most faithful adaptation of the novella, particularly due to Meena Kumari's interpretation of the role of Lalita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meena Kumari</span> Indian actress and poet (1933–1972)

Meena Kumari was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Popularly known as The Tragedy Queen, she was active between 1939 and 1972. Kumari is widely considered one of the greatest actress of Indian cinema. In a career spanning 33 years, she starred in over 90 films until her premature death in 1972.

<i>Azaad</i> (1955 film) 1955 Indian film

Azaad (transl. Free) is a 1955 Indian Hindi-language action comedy film produced and directed by S. M. Sriramulu Naidu. It was the top grossing Hindi film in the year of its release, and one of the biggest Hindi film hits in the decade. In addition, Dilip Kumar won his second Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his work in this movie.

Jaanwar aur Insaan is a 1972 Hindi movie directed by Tapi Chanakya. The film stars Shashi Kapoor, Raakhee, Sujit Kumar, Jagdeep, Nirupa Roy and Madan Puri. The music is by Kalyanji–Anandji.

<i>Ziddi</i> (1948 film) 1948 Indian film

Ziddi ("Stubborn") is a 1948 Bollywood film directed by Shaheed Latif. It was based on a story written by Ismat Chughtai. The film helped establish its actors Dev Anand, Kamini Kaushal and Pran in Hindi films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amit Kumar</span> Indian singer (born 1952)

Amit Kumar is an Indian playback singer, actor, music composer. Kumar launched his own music production company, named Kumar Brothers Music. He predominantly worked in Bollywood and regional film songs since the 1970s, including 150 Hindi and Bengali compositions by R. D. Burman. After Burman's death in 1994, citing a lack of quality music composition, Kumar withdrew from playback singing and concentrated on live orchestra shows. In addition to singing in Hindi, has also performed in Bengali, Bhojpuri, Odia, Assamese, Marathi and Konkani. He is the eldest son of singer-actor Kishore Kumar.

<i>Tangewala</i> 1972 Indian film

Tangewala is a 1972 Bollywood action film directed by Naresh Kumar. The film stars Rajendra Kumar and Mumtaz

<i>Gomti Ke Kinare</i> 1972 Indian film

Gomti Ke Kinare is a 1972 Bollywood drama film, directed by Saawan Kumar Tak in his directorial debut. The film stars Meena Kumari and Mumtaz. It was the last release of Meena Kumari, and was released posthumously. She shot the film through her failing health at the end of 1971, and was apprehensive whether she would be able to complete the filming. Eventually, she did with the last schedule on 29 December. However, despite the music score by R.D. Burman, the film failed at the box office.

<i>Jeevan Jyoti</i> (1976 film) 1976 Indian film

Jeevan Jyoti is a 1976 Bollywood Drama film directed by Murugan Kumaran under AVM Productions. It stars Vijay Arora, Bindiya Goswami in lead roles. It is a remake of Telugu film Muthyala Muggu (1975).

<i>Majhli Didi</i> 1967 Indian film

Majhli Didi is a 1967 Bollywood film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, based on the Bengali language story, Mejdidi by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, which was earlier filmed in Bengali in 1950 as Mejdidi. Majhli Didi stars Meena Kumari and Dharmendra.

<i>Bhai-Bhai</i> (1956 Hindi film) 1956 Indian film

Bhai-Bhai (transl. Brothers) is a 1956 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by M. V. Raman for A. V. M. Productions. It had screenplay by Javar Seetharaman, with Hindi screen adaptation of the Tamil film Ratha Paasam directed by C.V. Sridhar. The music director was Madan Mohan, with dialogues and lyrics written by Rajendra Krishan. One of the popular songs from the film was "Ae Dil Mujhe Bata De", sung by Geeta Dutt, "in an unabrasive fast tempo". The song became one of Madan Mohan's earliest hits, and the music of the film in journalist-author Bharatan's words, went on to "conquer the box office".

<i>Adl-e-Jehangir</i> 1955 film by G. P. Sippy

Adl-E-Jehangir also referred to as Adil-E-Jehangir, is a 1955 black and white Bollywood Hindi language historical drama film directed by G. P. Sippy. According to Sippy in an interview, it was the first film he directed, and it became a commercial success at the box office. The film had music composed by Husnlal Bhagatram, assisted by Shukla, with lyrics by Qamar Jalalabadi. A popular ghazal from the film was "Ae Meri Zindagi Tujhe Dhundhoon Kahan" sung by Talat Mahmood. The film starred Pradeep Kumar, Meena Kumari, Durga Khote, Sapru and Jankidas. Darpan, a leading Pakistani actor, also performed in the movie. He played the role of Prince Khurram.

Insaf is a 1973 Bollywood film directed by Adurthi Subba Rao. It stars Waheeda Rehman, Vijay Arora, Tanuja in lead roles.

The following is a select filmography of films for which Rahul Dev Burman, also known as R. D. Burman, composed the soundtracks. He was one of the most prolific Indian movie score/soundtrack composers of the Indian film industry:

<i>Rukhsana</i> (film) 1955 film by R. C. Talwar

Rukhsana is a 1955 Indian Hindi-language film starring Meena Kumari, Kishore Kumar in lead roles. The film was directed by R.C. Talwar who was also its writer and producer.

<i>Satta Bazaar</i> 1959 film by Ravindra Dave

Satta Bazaar is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film starring Meena Kumari and Balraj Sahni in lead roles. The music of the film was composed by Kalyanji Anandji.

<i>Bandish</i> (1955 film) 1955 film by Satyen Bose

Bandish (transl. Restriction) is a 1955 black and white Indian Hindi-language film The film stars Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari, Daisy Irani in lead roles. The film was directed by Satyen Bose.

References

  1. ↑ Miss Mary 1957 by Deepak Mahaan 16 March 2012 Retrieved 7 April 2014
  2. ↑ "Manmoyee Girls' School (1935)". Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  3. ↑ Patel, Bhaichand (2012). Bollywood's Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema. Penguin Books India. pp. 131–. ISBN   978-0-670-08572-9 . Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  4. ↑ The New Indian Express, Janani Sampath: The South-Bollywood Hero Brigade
  5. ↑ "Miss Mary". hindigeetmala.net. Hindi Geetmala. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  6. ↑ Ranchan, Vijay (2 January 2014). Story of a Bollywood Song. Abhinav Publications. pp. 100–. GGKEY:9E306RZQTQ7. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "An unconventional heroine". cinestaan.com. Cinestaan.com. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
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.