Suhaag Raat

Last updated

Suhaag Raat
Suhaag Raat 1948.jpg
Directed by Kidar Sharma
Written by
  • F. A. Mirza
  • V. Sharma
Screenplay byKidar Sharma
Story byKidar Sharma
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography
  • D. K. Ambre
  • D. C. Mehta
  • Mr. Machave
Edited byS. S. Chawande
Music by Snehal Bhatkar
Production
company
Oriental Pictures
Distributed by Varma Films
Release date
1948
Country India
Language Hindi

Suhaag Raat ((Hindi for "Wedding Night) also called Sohag Raat, is a 1948 Hindi film of Indian cinema directed by Kidar Sharma. [1] A romantic drama, it was the third film produced by Oriental Pictures [2] and the first film to be distributed by the newly-founded company Varma Films. [3] The story was a joint effort by F. A. Mirza and V. Sharma, while the screenplay, dialogue and lyrics were written by Kidar Sharma. The music was composed by Snehal Bhatkar, with cinematography by D. K. Ambre and D. C. Mehta. Geeta Bali made her debut in a lead feature film role with this movie, [4] which co-starred Bharat Bhushan and Begum Para. [5] The rest of the cast included Pesi Patel, Nazir Kashmiri, S. Nazir, Nazira and Shanta Kumar.

Contents

The story was set in a village in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh. Though Kullu was used as a backdrop, most of the shooting actually took place in Bombay. The costumes worn by the film's character were representative of the hilly people of Himachal Pradesh and justified the setting. The outdoor photography by D. K. Ambre and D. C. Mehta was praised for its "picturesque" composition. The story was a romantic triangle, with two girls, one rich and the other poor, falling in love with the same man. Geeta Bali as Kammo, the poor village girl, and Begum Para as Paro, the rich landlord's daughter, portray the two girls. Bharat Bhushan as Beli, who has been saved by Kammo's father, Jaggu (Pesi Patel), plays the love interest. The arrival of the villain Rahu, Beli's step-brother, and its consequences form the rest of the story. [6]

Sohag Raat was released at Excelsior and Lamington Cinemas, in Bombay on 25 June 1948, [6] and was the seventh highest grossing Indian film of 1948. [7] The film's success was attributed to the "refreshing" debutante Geeta Bali, with Baburao Patel titling his review of the film in the August 1948 issue of Filmindia, as "Geeta Bali's Sohag Raat". [6]

Plot

A dying mother asks her step-son, Rahu, to look after his younger stepbrother, Beli (Bharat Bhushan). The stepson decides to have Beli murdered in order to lay claim to the entire property. Rahu appoints Jaggu (Pesi Patel) to carry out the killing. However, Jaggu changes his mind when Beli asks him if he has any children. Jaggu then takes Beli to his village in Kullu where he lives with his cheerful and spirited daughter Kammo (Geeta Bali). Beli soon finds a job at the Zamindar's (Landlord) house. The landlord's daughter, Paro (Begum Para) is good friends with Kammo. Both Kammo and Paro fall in love with Beli, but Beli likes Paro.

Rahu finds out that Beli is not dead and comes to the village, ingratiating himself with the Zamindar. He asks for Paro's hand in marriage and the Zamindar agrees. On the wedding night, Kammo persuades Beli and Paro to elope but they are stopped by Rahu who tries to shoot Beli. Kammo comes in the way and is shot. She dies uniting the two lovers.

Cast

Geeta Bali

Geeta Bali started her cinematic career with R. K. Shorey's short film called The Cobbler (1942) at the age of twelve, following which she made her maiden feature film appearance in actor-director Majnu's Badnami (1946). [4] [8] Author Tilak Rishi writes that Sharma cast Bali after being attracted by her lively dance performances and "offscreen vivacity". [9] According to Sharma, in his autobiography "The One and Lonely Kidar Sharma", he was impressed by Geeta Bali's "nymph like naughtiness", and was convinced to cast her as the main heroine. [10]

Patel's quote on Bali's debut, [6] and about her being introduced as "a New Talent" in the film's booklet were:

"she definitely HAS talent which even overcomes plain features and a pug nose. More than even talent in this picture she reveals a personality in which naivette (sic), charm and a boyish vivacity are all mixed. That all these qualities were latent in her is true; Kidar Sharma could not have invented them. But it is equally true that by giving her a role that fitted her personality and then providing her appropriate situations, the director-writer has brought out that personality. Those who saw her in extra roles in some obscure Lahore-made pictures are truly and agreeably surprised. It may truly be said that Kidar Sharma has not only discovered but made a star".

Review and reception

The film was to mark a turning point for its heroine, Geeta Bali. The audiences related to Geeta Bali's lively performance and as stated by Rishi, she was "inundated with film offers". [9] Filmindia in its review Title, referred to the film as "Geeta Bali's Sohag Raat", giving the debutant, Geeta Bali, full credit for its box-office success. [6] According to author Ashok Raj, "Kidar Sharma reached the zenith of his intense creative work with Suhaag Raat". [11]

Music

The music director was Snehal Bhatkar, who composed songs like "Rhoom Jhoom Matware Badal Chha Gaye", "Chhod Chale Munh Mod Chale", "Javo Javo Na Satao" and "Mere Dil Ki Dhadkanon Mein" all written by Kidar Sharma. [10] "Lakhi Babul Mere Kaahe Ko Dinhi Bides" (Father, Why Do You Send Me To a Foreign Land), the bidai (bride send-off, bidding farewell to the bride) song "attributed to Amir Khusro" was sung by Mukesh. [12] The song, which is lip-synced by Jaggu (Pesi Patel) appeared twice in the film, the second version being the sad one when Kammo dies. [6]

Songlist: [13]

#TitleSinger
1"Rhoom Jhoom Matwaale Badal Chha Gaye" Geeta Roy, Rajkumari
2"Baaje Mori Paayal Thunak Thunak"Geeta Roy, Rajkumari
3"Kis Paapi Sang Uljhi Ankhiyaan"Geeta Roy, Rajkumari
4"Lakhi Babul More Kaahe Ko Deenhi Bides" Mukesh
5"Mere Dil Ki Dhadkanon Mein Sakhi"Geeta Roy, Shamshad Begum
6"Tere Bin Meri Zindagani Kis Kaam Ki"Shamshad Begum
7"Javo Javo Na Satao"Rajkumari
8"Ye Bura Kiya Jo Saaf Saaf Kah Diya"Rajkumari, Mukesh
9"Chhod Chale Munh Mod Chale"Rajkumari

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhubala</span> Indian actress (1933-1969)

Madhubala was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi-language films. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Madhubala was the highest-paid Indian star in the early 1950s. In a career spanning more than 20 years, Madhubala was predominantly active for only a decade but had appeared in over 60 films by the time of her death in 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bharat Bhushan</span> Indian actor (1920 - 1992)

Bharatbhushan Gupta, better known as Bharat Bhushan was an Indian actor in Hindi language films, scriptwriter and producer, who is best remembered for playing Baiju Bawra in the 1952 film of the same name. He was born in Meerut, and brought up in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geeta Bali</span> Indian actress (1930-1965)

Geeta Bali was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. Bali is regarded among the finest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Bali acted in over 75 films in a career spanning over two decades. She was twice nominated for Filmfare Awards.

<i>Baiju Bawra</i> (film) 1952 film

Baiju Bawra is a 1952 Hindi musical romantic drama film directed by Vijay Bhatt. Produced by Prakash Pictures, with story by Ramchandra Thakur and dialogues by Zia Sarhadi, Baiju Bawra was a musical "megahit" which had a mighty 100-week run in the theatres. Bhatt's decision to make a film based on classical music was met with scepticism by the Indian film industry due to its "lack of mass appeal", but the film and music turned out be an "overwhelming success".

<i>Baaghi</i> (1990 film) 1990 film by Deepak Shivdasani

Baaghi: A Rebel for Love is a 1990 Indian Hindi-language romantic action drama film, starring Salman Khan, Nagma, Kiran Kumar and Shakti Kapoor, which was released on 21 December 1990.The movie was a blockbuster and was the seventh highest grossing film of 1990. It was Nagma's first role in Bollywood; as the opening credits note, she was 15 years old when the film was released. The DVD cover has a warning noting that the movie is "suitable only for persons of 15 years and older," presumably because the plot revolves around prostitution. The subtitle "A Rebel for Love" does not appear on the DVD box, nor in the Hindi titles or license at the start of the movie.

<i>Sailaab</i> (1956 film) 1956 film

Sailaab is a 1956 Hindi movie which tells the story of Gautam, a rich young man, who goes to Assam to visit his father's tea plantation. The plane in which he is travelling is forced to make an emergency landing due to bad weather. Gautam gets hurt and suffers from amnesia. He falls in love with a young woman Kanchan, who responds to him even though she is part of a religious community that doesn't allow its members to marry. The film was directed by Guru Dutt and produced by Guru Dutt's wife, Geeta Dutt's brother, Mukul Roy. It stars Geeta Bali, as Kanchan and Abhi Bhattacharya as Gautam. Smriti Biswas, Bipin Gupta and Helen.

<i>Bawre Nain</i> 1950 Indian film

Bawre Nain is a 1950 Indian Hindi-language romance film directed by Kidar Nath Sharma. It was produced under the Ambitious Pictures banner at Shree Sound Studios. For the music, Sharma persisted with music director Roshan, in spite of several demands from film distributors to have him removed following his failure as a composer in an earlier film, Neki Aur Badi (1949). The music became popular and is stated to be the reason for the film's success. One of the noteworthy songs that popularised playback singer Mukesh was "Teri Duniya Mein Dil Lagta Nahin", composed in Raga Darbari Kaanada. Bawre Nain is cited as Roshan's "first big hit" as a music composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidar Sharma</span>

Kidar Nath Sharma, also Kedar Sharma, was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter, and Lyricist of Hindi films. While he had great success as a director of movies including Neel Kamal (1947), Bawre Nain (1950) and Jogan (1950), he is most remembered for starting the acting careers of popular Bollywood actors like Madhubala, Geeta Bali, Raj Kapoor, Mala Sinha, Bharat Bhushan and Tanuja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leela Mishra</span> Indian actress

Leela Mishra was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts. She is best known for her role of "mausi" in the blockbuster Sholay (1975), Dil Se Mile Dil (1978), Baton Baton Mein (1979), Rajesh Khanna films such as Palkon Ki Chhaon Mein, Aanchal, Mehbooba, Amar Prem and Rajshri Productions hits such as Geet Gaata Chal (1975), Nadiya Ke Paar (1982) and Abodh (1984). Her career's best performance was in Naani Maa in 1981, for which she received Best Actress award at the age of 73.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Begum Para</span> Indian actress (1926–2008)

Begum Para was an Indian Hindi film actress who was active mostly in the 1940s and 1950s. After almost 50 years of absence in the industry, she returned to films with her last role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya (2007) as Sonam Kapoor's grandmother. In her times in 1950s, she was considered a glamour girl of Bollywood, so much so, that Life magazine had a special session with her devoted to her fine sensuous photographs.

Armaan (transl. Desire) also called Arman, is a Bollywood film. It was released in 1942. Arman was the first film that Kidar Sharma directed for Ranjit Studios and also his first in Bombay since his shift from Calcutta. The story, dialogue and lyrics were also by Sharma. It had music by Gyan Dutt. The cinematographer was D. K. Ambre. The cast included Motilal, Shamim, Nagendra Majumdar, Bhagwandas, and Rajkumari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snehal Bhatkar</span>

Snehal Bhatkar, was a well known Hindi and Marathi film music composer from Mumbai, India. He is the recipient of Lata Mangeshkar Award instituted by Government of Maharashtra of year 2004.

<i>Baghban</i> (1938 film) 1938 film

Baghban (Gardener) is a 1938 Hindi/Urdu family drama film directed by A. R. Kardar. The story was by Begum Ansari with script and screenplay by Kardar. Film's music was composed by Mushtaq Hussain with lyrics by Mirza Shauq. The cast included Nandrekar, Bimla Kumari, Nazir, Sitara Devi, K. N. Singh, Wasti and Ashraf Khan.

Maa (Mother) is a 1952 Indian Hindi-language social family drama directed by Bimal Roy for Bombay Talkies. Bimal Roy was asked to come to Bombay from Calcutta to direct the film for the studio, which was going through bad times. Bombay Talkies' earlier favourite Leela Chitnis was cast in the eponymous role of Mother. This was the first film Roy directed in Bombay. Later, he was to break away and form his own production company: Bimal Roy Productions. The first film he produced and directed under his new banner was Do Bigha Zameen (1953), the next year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munawar Sultana</span> Actress from India

Munawar Sultana was an Indian cinema actress, who acted in Hindi films. She is cited as one of the "popular" actresses of the late 1940s to early 1950s period, along with Noor Jehan, Swarnalata and Ragini. Her specialty was playing a selfless woman, enduring the rough treatment meted by her husband and family, but who eventually "brought her erring husband back home".

<i>Neki Aur Badi</i> 1949 film by Kidar Sharma

Neki Aur Badi is a 1949 Indian Hindi-language patriotic drama film directed by Kidar Sharma. The film stars Sharma with Madhubala and Geeta Bali. It was the only film in which Sharma played the male lead role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Varma Films</span> Film production and distribution

Varma Films was a film production and distribution company founded in Bombay, India. The company was predominantly involved in producing and distributing Hindi-language films and to a lesser extent distributing some Italian-language films with English subtitles in India.

<i>Thes</i> (film) 1949 Indian film

Thes is a 1949 Hindi film directed by Kidar Sharma. The main stars of the film were Shashikala, Purnima and Bharat Bhushan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagwan Das Varma</span> Indian film producer, distributor and director

Bhagwan Das Varma (1907-1962) was a Bollywood film producer and director. He was one of six brothers that were founders/partners of Varma Films, a company predominantly involved with the production and distribution of Hindi language films. After the Varma Films banner was retired in the mid-1950s, Bhagwan Das continued his film production and distribution activities with two affiliated companies: Varma Pictures and V. P. Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Munshiram Varma</span> Indian film producer and distributor

Munshiram Varma (1902-1958) was a Bollywood film producer. He was one of six brothers that were founders/partners of Varma Films, a company predominantly involved with the production and distribution of Hindi-language films.

References

  1. ↑ Asian Film Directory and Who's who. 1952. p. 197. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Albums by Oriental Pictures". myswar.com. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Sohag Raat". Filmindia : 61. July 1948. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (1999). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 52. ISBN   978-1-135-94325-7.
  5. ↑ "Pictures In Making-Varma Films". Filmindia. 14 (5): 71. May 1948. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our Review-"Geeta Bali's Sohag Raat"". Filmindia. 14 (8): 51. August 1948. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Top Earners 1948". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Badnami (1946)". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  9. 1 2 Tilak Rishi (5 June 2012). "Geeta Bali". Bless You Bollywood!: A tribute to Hindi Cinema on completing 100 years. Trafford Publishing. pp. 123–. ISBN   978-1-4669-3962-2 . Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  10. 1 2 Kidar Sharma (2002). "13". The One and Lonely Kidar Sharma, (an Anecdotal Autobiography). Bluejay Books. p. 226. ISBN   978-81-87075-96-7 . Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  11. ↑ Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House, Inc. pp. 101–. ISBN   978-93-81398-02-9 . Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  12. ↑ Rosemary Marangoly George (21 November 2013). "Notes". Indian English and the Fiction of National Literature. Cambridge University Press. pp. 251–. ISBN   978-1-107-72955-1 . Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Suhag Raat 1948". myswar.com. MySwar. Retrieved 8 September 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.