The five highest-grossing films at the Indian Box Office in 1957:
1. Mother India
Mother India is a 1957 Indian epic drama film, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film Aurat (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman named Radha (Nargis), who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive against a cunning money-lender amidst many troubles. Despite her hardships, she sets a goddess-like moral example of an ideal Indian woman.
The title of the film was chosen to counter American author Katherine Mayo's 1927 polemical book Mother India, which vilified Indian culture. Allusions to Hindu mythology are abundant in the film, and its lead character has been seen as a metonymic representation of a Hindu woman who reflects high moral values and the concept of what it means to be a mother to society through self-sacrifice. Mother India metaphorically represents India as a nation in the aftermath of independence, and alludes to a strong sense of nationalism and nation-building. While some authors treat Radha as the symbol of women empowerment, others see her cast in female stereotypes. The film was shot in Mumbai's Mehboob Studios and in the villages of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh states. The music by Naushad introduced Western classical music and Hollywood-style orchestra to Hindi cinema.
The film was the most expensive Hindi cinema (Bollywood) production and earned the highest revenue for any Hindi film at that time. Adjusted for inflation, Mother India still ranks among the all-time Indian box office hits. It was released in India amid fanfare in October or November 1957, and had several high-profile screenings, including one at the capital, New Delhi, attended by the country's president and prime minister. Mother India became a definitive cultural classic and is regarded as one of the best films in Indian and world cinema. It was India's first submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1958, where it got the nomination and lost the award by just one vote. The film won the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film, the Filmfare Best Film Award for 1957, and Nargis and Khan won the Best Actress and Best Director awards respectively.
Plot
The film is set in 1957, the present day at the time of shooting. When construction of an irrigation canal to the village is completed, Radha (Nargis), considered to be the "mother" of the village, is asked to inaugurate the canal. She remembers her past, when she was newly married. The wedding between Radha and Shamu (Raaj Kumar) is paid for by Radha's mother-in-law, who borrows the money from the moneylender Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal). The conditions of the loan are disputed, but the village elders decide in favour of the moneylender, after which Shamu and Radha are forced to pay three quarters of their crop as interest on the loan of ₹500 (valued at about US$105 in 1957). While Shamu works to bring more of their rocky land into use, his arms are crushed by a boulder. Ashamed of his helplessness (being without arms), and humiliated by Sukhilala for living on the earnings of his wife, Shamu decides that he is of no use to his family and permanently leaves Radha and their three sons, walking to his own probable death by starvation. Soon after, Radha's youngest son and her mother-in-law die. A severe storm and the resulting flood destroys houses in the village and ruins the harvest. Sukhilala offers to save Radha and her sons if she trades her body to him for food. Radha vehemently refused his offer, but had to also lose her infant (her fourth son) to the atrocities of the storm. Although the villagers begin initially to evacuate the village, they decide to stay and rebuild it, persuaded by Radha.
Several years later, Radha's two surviving children, Birju (Sunil Dutt) and Ramu (Rajendra Kumar), are young men. Birju, embittered since childhood by the demands of Sukhilala, takes out his frustrations by pestering the village girls, especially Sukhilala's daughter, Rupa. Ramu, by contrast, has a calmer temperament and is married soon after. Birju's anger finally becomes dangerous and, after being provoked, he attacks Sukhilala and his daughter and steals Radha's kangan (marriage bracelets) that were pawned with Sukhilala. He is chased out of the village and becomes a bandit. Radha promises Sukhilala that she will not let Birju cause harm to Sukhilala's family. On Rupa's wedding day, Birju returns with his gang of bandits to exact his revenge. He kills Sukhilala and kidnaps Rupa. When he tries to flee the village on his horse, Radha, his mother, shoots him. He dies in her arms. The film returns to 1957; Radha opens the gate of the canal and its reddish water flows into the fields.
Cast
Nargis as Radha, the heroine and an archetypal Indian woman
Sunil Dutt as Birju, Radha's rebellious younger son, who turns into a bandit
Rajendra Kumar as Ramu, Radha's elder son, who follows his mother's path of virtuousness
Raaj Kumar as Shamu, Radha's husband
Kanhaiyalal as Sukhilala "Lala", a cunning money-lender
Jilloo Maa as Sundar-Chachi, the mother-in-law of Radha
Kumkum as Champa, the wife of Ramu
Chanchal as Rupa, Sukhilala's daughter
Sheela Naik as Kamala, a family friend
Mukri as Shambu, a family friend, and Kamala's husband
Azra as Chandra, daughter of a schoolmaster of the village
Sajid Khan as a young Birju
Surendra as a young Ramu
Songs List
"Chundariya Katati Jaye" Manna Dey
"Nagari Nagari Dware Dware" Lata Mangeshkar
"Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain" Lata Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar
"O Gaadiwale" Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi
"Matwala Jiya Dole Piya" Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
"Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re" Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle
"Holi Aayi Re Kanhai" Shamshad Begum
"O Mere Lal Aaja" Lata Mangeshkar
"O Janewalo Jao Na" Lata Mangeshkar
"Na Main Bhagwan Hoon"
2.Naya Daur
Naya Daur (English: New Era) is a 1957 Indian drama film, starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007. The film was later dubbed in Tamil as Pattalyin Sabatham in 1958. For this film, Dilip Kumar won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor for the third time in a row, being his fourth overall.
Plot
The film is set in post-independence India, where industrialization is slowly creeping in. The focus is on tongawallahs who earn their living transporting people on tongas (horse carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord (Jeevan) begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidizes heavily with the sole intention of first driving the tongawallahs out of the town and then making a profit.
Dilip Kumar plays one of the tongawallahs, who petitions the landlord over this injustice. Jeevan's character proposes a competition to decide which service is the best: The bus or the Tonga. It is decided that there will be a race between the vehicles. If the bus wins, the tongawallahs will not complain further. If the Tonga wins, the bus service will stop. This competition was a farce from the start, since nobody could dream that a horse cart could beat a machine. Kumar, however, accepts the challenge to everybody's surprise. His logic is that they would be driven to starvation if the bus service continues. This race at least gives them an opportunity to try to do something.
The rest of the tongawallahs do not share his hope. They blame him for his foolishness. In the end, he is left alone with nobody's support except his sweetheart, played by Vyjayanthimala. As the movie unfolds, a hopeless situation begins to turn around because of the way the people come together. Mishap after mishap occurs, but nothing can deter the determined. The highlight of the film is definitely the heart-stopping final race where the underdog wins.
Cast
Dilip Kumar as Shankar
Vyjayantimala as Rajni
Ajit as Krishna
Jeevan (actor) as Kundan
Chand Usmani as Manju
Johnny Walker as Journalist
Nazir Hussain as Seth Ji
Manmohan Krishna as Jumman Dada
Leela Chitnis as Shankar's Mother
Kumkum as Dancer in song "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jali Ka" (as Kum Kum)
Minoo Mumtaz as Dancer in song "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jali Ka"
Songs List
""Aana Hai To Aa"" Mohammed Rafi
""Maang Ke Saath"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Reshmi Shalwar Kurta"" Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum
""Saathi Haath Badhana"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Uden Jab Jab"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Yeh Desh Hai Veer"" Mohammed Rafi, Balbir
""Main Bombay Ka Babu"" Mohammed Rafi
""Dil Leke Daga Denge"" Mohammed Rafi
""Ek Diwana Aate Jate Humse Chhed Kare""
3. Pyaasa
Pyaasa is a 1957 Indian film, produced and directed by Guru Dutt, written by Abrar Alvi, and starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman and Mala Sinha. Set in Calcutta, West Bengal, the film tells the story of Vijay, a struggling poet trying to make his works known in post-independence India, and Gulabo, a prostitute with a heart of gold, who helps him to try and get his poems published. The music was composed by S.D. Burman.
With the commercial success of thrillers such as Baazi, Jaal, Aar Paar and CID, as well as comedies such as Mr. & Mrs. '55, Guru Dutt and his studio were financially secure and established. From 1957, he could now make movies he really wanted to make, including Pyaasa. In 2002, Pyaasa was ranked at No. 160 on the Sight & Sound critics' and directors' poll of all-time greatest films. In 2005, Pyaasa was rated as one of the 100 best films of all time by Time magazine, which called it "the soulfully romantic of the lot." Indiatimes Movies ranks the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films. On the occasion of Valentine's Day 2011 Time magazine declared it one of the top 10 romantic movies of all time.
Plot
Vijay (Guru Dutt) is an unsuccessful poet whose works are not taken seriously by publishers or his brothers (who sell his poems as waste paper). Unable to bear their taunting that he is a good-for-nothing, he stays away from home and is often out on the streets. He encounters a good-hearted prostitute named Gulabo (Waheeda Rehman), who is enamoured with his poetry and falls in love with him. He also encounters his ex-girlfriend Meena (Mala Sinha) from college and finds out that she has married a big publisher, Mr. Ghosh (Rehman) for financial security. Ghosh hires him as a servant to find out more about him and Meena. A dead beggar to whom Vijay gave his coat and whom he tries to save unsuccessfully from the path of a running train is mistaken for Vijay. Gulabo goes to Ghosh and gets his poems published. Ghosh does so feeling he can exploit the poems and make a killing. The poems are very successful. However, Vijay is alive and in the hospital after the train mishap.
Ghosh and Shyam, Vijay's close friend, refuse to recognise him and he is committed to a mental asylum since he insists that he is Vijay and is thought to be mad. Vijay's brothers too are bought off by Ghosh not to recognise him and a memorial is held for the dead poet. Vijay, with the help of his friend Abdul Sattar (Johnny Walker) escapes from the mental asylum and reaches the memorial service, where he denounces this corrupt and materialistic world. Seeing that Vijay is alive, his friend and brothers side with a rival publisher for more money and declare that this is Vijay. At a function to honour him, Vijay becomes sick of all the hypocrisy in the world around him and declares he is not Vijay. He then leaves with Gulabo to start a new life.
Cast
Guru Dutt as Vijay
Mala Sinha as Meena
Waheeda Rehman as Gulab – This was her first major leading role in Hindi cinema.
Rehman as Mr. Ghosh
Johnny Walker as Abdul Sattar
Leela Mishra as Vijay's mother
Kumkum as Juhi
Shyam Kapoor as Shyam
Mehmood as Vijay's brother
Tun Tun as Pushplata
Moni Chatterjee as Chatterjee
Songs List
"Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo" Geeta Dutt
"Ham Aapki Aankhon Me" Geeta Dutt, Mohammad Rafi
"Jaane Kya Tune Kahi" Geeta Dutt
"Jaane Woh Kaise Log" Hemant Kumar
"Sar Jo Tera Chakraye" Mohammad Rafi
"Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye" Mohammad Rafi
"Ye Hanste Huye Phool" Mohammad Rafi
"Jinhen Naaz Hai Hind Par" Mohammad Rafi
"Tang Aa Chuke Hain Kashm-e-Kashe Zindagi Se" Mohammad Rafi
"Yeh Kooche Yeh Neelam Ghar Dilkashi Ke"
4. Do Aankhen Barah Haath
Do Aankhen Barah Haath ({Two Eyes, Twelve Hands}) is a 1957 Hindi film directed by V. Shantaram, who also starred in the film. It is considered to be one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on humanistic psychology. It won a Silver Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the category Samuel Goldwyn Award. The film is also remembered for the song "Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum", sung by Lata Mangeshkar and written by Bharat Vyas.
The film was inspired by the story of an "open prison" experiment: Swatantrapur in the princely state of Aundh near Satara. Now, Swatantrapur is part of Atpadi tehsil in Sangli district of Maharashtra. It was recounted by screenwriter G. D. Madgulkar to V. Shantaram. In 2005, Indiatimes Movies ranked the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films. During filming, V. Shantaram fought with a bull and injured an eye, but his eyesight survived. The film was later remade in 1975 in Tamil as Pallandu Vazhga, starring M.G. Ramachandran and Latha, and in 1976 as the Telugu colour film Maa Daivam, starring N.T. Rama Rao
Plot
The film portrays a young jail warden Adinath, who rehabilitates six dangerous prisoners released on parole into persons of virtue. He takes these notorious, often surly murderers and makes them work hard with him on a dilapidated country farm, rehabilitating them through hard work and kind guidance as they eventually produce a great harvest. The film ends with the death of the warden at the hands of the minions of a corrupt enemy who wants no competition in the profitable market he controls. This film takes the viewers through several scenes that set a strong moral lesson that through hard work, dedication and concentration a person can accomplish anything. Also, this film explains that if people focus their energy on a worthy cause, success is guaranteed.
Cast
V. Shantaram as Adinath, Jail warden
Sandhya as Champa
Baburao Pendharkar as Superintendent
Ulhas as Shanker Passi
Soundtrack
"Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum" Lata Mangeshkar
"Ho Umad Ghumad Kar Aayi Re Ghata" Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
"Main Gaaun Tu Chup Ho Ja" Lata Mangeshkar
"Sainyya Jhoothhon Ka Bada Sartaj Nikala" Lata Mangeshkar
"Tak Tak Dhum Dhum
5. Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (English: Saw nobody like you) is a 1957 Indian bollywood romance drama film, produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee while written and directed by Nasir Hussain, of Filmistan Pvt. Ltd. The film marked Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films such as Munimjee and Paying Guest.
The film was conceived as a star vehicle for its heroine Ameeta, who was the protégée of Filmistan Studios owner Tolaram Jalan. Much care was taken with her make-up, wardrobe and lighting. Much of the film's extensive publicity was also built around the actress.
Ironically, the film's huge success at the box office made the then-struggling Shammi Kapoor an overnight sensation instead. This was the film in which he developed his own individual look and youthful style, and was his first light-hearted musical and its success helped move him to acting in this genre. The film also stars the popular villain and character actor Pran. Its music is by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Plot
Twenty years ago, after killing his brother, Sardar Rajpal flees from his hometown in Shillong and re-locates to the rural area of Assam along with his adopted daughter Meena. He asks his wife Kamla, to send their son Shankar, so that he can employ him and get him married to Meena. Shankar arrives and he is welcomed by Sardar, who employs him and introduces him to Meena. A few days later, another young man shows up at his door claiming to be Kamla's son. A baffled Sardar also welcomes him, and puts both the young men under observation in order to find who the real Shankar is. The question remains: why would anyone want to impersonate Shankar, and what will happen to Sardar himself after the Police catch up with him for killing his brother 20 years ago?
Cast
Shammi Kapoor as Shankar
Ameeta as Meena
Pran as Sohan
Raj Mehra as Vishnu
B. M. Vyas as Gopal
Sheela Vaz as Seema
Soundtrack
"Tumsa Nahin Dekha" Sahir Ludhianvi Mohammed Rafi
"Chhupnewale Samne Aa" Majrooh Sultanpuri Rafi
"Jawanian Yeh Mast Mast" Sultanpuri Rafi
"Sar Par Topi Lal" Sultanpuri Asha Bhosle & Rafi
"Dekho Kasam Se" Sultanpuri Bhosle & Rafi
"Aaye Hai Door Se" Sultanpuri Rafi
1. Mother India
Mother India is a 1957 Indian epic drama film, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film Aurat (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman named Radha (Nargis), who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive against a cunning money-lender amidst many troubles. Despite her hardships, she sets a goddess-like moral example of an ideal Indian woman.
The title of the film was chosen to counter American author Katherine Mayo's 1927 polemical book Mother India, which vilified Indian culture. Allusions to Hindu mythology are abundant in the film, and its lead character has been seen as a metonymic representation of a Hindu woman who reflects high moral values and the concept of what it means to be a mother to society through self-sacrifice. Mother India metaphorically represents India as a nation in the aftermath of independence, and alludes to a strong sense of nationalism and nation-building. While some authors treat Radha as the symbol of women empowerment, others see her cast in female stereotypes. The film was shot in Mumbai's Mehboob Studios and in the villages of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh states. The music by Naushad introduced Western classical music and Hollywood-style orchestra to Hindi cinema.
The film was the most expensive Hindi cinema (Bollywood) production and earned the highest revenue for any Hindi film at that time. Adjusted for inflation, Mother India still ranks among the all-time Indian box office hits. It was released in India amid fanfare in October or November 1957, and had several high-profile screenings, including one at the capital, New Delhi, attended by the country's president and prime minister. Mother India became a definitive cultural classic and is regarded as one of the best films in Indian and world cinema. It was India's first submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1958, where it got the nomination and lost the award by just one vote. The film won the All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film, the Filmfare Best Film Award for 1957, and Nargis and Khan won the Best Actress and Best Director awards respectively.
Plot
The film is set in 1957, the present day at the time of shooting. When construction of an irrigation canal to the village is completed, Radha (Nargis), considered to be the "mother" of the village, is asked to inaugurate the canal. She remembers her past, when she was newly married. The wedding between Radha and Shamu (Raaj Kumar) is paid for by Radha's mother-in-law, who borrows the money from the moneylender Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal). The conditions of the loan are disputed, but the village elders decide in favour of the moneylender, after which Shamu and Radha are forced to pay three quarters of their crop as interest on the loan of ₹500 (valued at about US$105 in 1957). While Shamu works to bring more of their rocky land into use, his arms are crushed by a boulder. Ashamed of his helplessness (being without arms), and humiliated by Sukhilala for living on the earnings of his wife, Shamu decides that he is of no use to his family and permanently leaves Radha and their three sons, walking to his own probable death by starvation. Soon after, Radha's youngest son and her mother-in-law die. A severe storm and the resulting flood destroys houses in the village and ruins the harvest. Sukhilala offers to save Radha and her sons if she trades her body to him for food. Radha vehemently refused his offer, but had to also lose her infant (her fourth son) to the atrocities of the storm. Although the villagers begin initially to evacuate the village, they decide to stay and rebuild it, persuaded by Radha.
Several years later, Radha's two surviving children, Birju (Sunil Dutt) and Ramu (Rajendra Kumar), are young men. Birju, embittered since childhood by the demands of Sukhilala, takes out his frustrations by pestering the village girls, especially Sukhilala's daughter, Rupa. Ramu, by contrast, has a calmer temperament and is married soon after. Birju's anger finally becomes dangerous and, after being provoked, he attacks Sukhilala and his daughter and steals Radha's kangan (marriage bracelets) that were pawned with Sukhilala. He is chased out of the village and becomes a bandit. Radha promises Sukhilala that she will not let Birju cause harm to Sukhilala's family. On Rupa's wedding day, Birju returns with his gang of bandits to exact his revenge. He kills Sukhilala and kidnaps Rupa. When he tries to flee the village on his horse, Radha, his mother, shoots him. He dies in her arms. The film returns to 1957; Radha opens the gate of the canal and its reddish water flows into the fields.
Cast
Nargis as Radha, the heroine and an archetypal Indian woman
Sunil Dutt as Birju, Radha's rebellious younger son, who turns into a bandit
Rajendra Kumar as Ramu, Radha's elder son, who follows his mother's path of virtuousness
Raaj Kumar as Shamu, Radha's husband
Kanhaiyalal as Sukhilala "Lala", a cunning money-lender
Jilloo Maa as Sundar-Chachi, the mother-in-law of Radha
Kumkum as Champa, the wife of Ramu
Chanchal as Rupa, Sukhilala's daughter
Sheela Naik as Kamala, a family friend
Mukri as Shambu, a family friend, and Kamala's husband
Azra as Chandra, daughter of a schoolmaster of the village
Sajid Khan as a young Birju
Surendra as a young Ramu
Songs List
"Chundariya Katati Jaye" Manna Dey
"Nagari Nagari Dware Dware" Lata Mangeshkar
"Duniya Mein Hum Aaye Hain" Lata Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar
"O Gaadiwale" Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi
"Matwala Jiya Dole Piya" Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi
"Dukh Bhare Din Beete Re" Shamshad Begum, Mohammed Rafi, Manna Dey, Asha Bhosle
"Holi Aayi Re Kanhai" Shamshad Begum
"O Mere Lal Aaja" Lata Mangeshkar
"O Janewalo Jao Na" Lata Mangeshkar
"Na Main Bhagwan Hoon"
2.Naya Daur
Plot
The film is set in post-independence India, where industrialization is slowly creeping in. The focus is on tongawallahs who earn their living transporting people on tongas (horse carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord (Jeevan) begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidizes heavily with the sole intention of first driving the tongawallahs out of the town and then making a profit.
Dilip Kumar plays one of the tongawallahs, who petitions the landlord over this injustice. Jeevan's character proposes a competition to decide which service is the best: The bus or the Tonga. It is decided that there will be a race between the vehicles. If the bus wins, the tongawallahs will not complain further. If the Tonga wins, the bus service will stop. This competition was a farce from the start, since nobody could dream that a horse cart could beat a machine. Kumar, however, accepts the challenge to everybody's surprise. His logic is that they would be driven to starvation if the bus service continues. This race at least gives them an opportunity to try to do something.
The rest of the tongawallahs do not share his hope. They blame him for his foolishness. In the end, he is left alone with nobody's support except his sweetheart, played by Vyjayanthimala. As the movie unfolds, a hopeless situation begins to turn around because of the way the people come together. Mishap after mishap occurs, but nothing can deter the determined. The highlight of the film is definitely the heart-stopping final race where the underdog wins.
Cast
Dilip Kumar as Shankar
Vyjayantimala as Rajni
Ajit as Krishna
Jeevan (actor) as Kundan
Chand Usmani as Manju
Johnny Walker as Journalist
Nazir Hussain as Seth Ji
Manmohan Krishna as Jumman Dada
Leela Chitnis as Shankar's Mother
Kumkum as Dancer in song "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jali Ka" (as Kum Kum)
Minoo Mumtaz as Dancer in song "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jali Ka"
Songs List
""Aana Hai To Aa"" Mohammed Rafi
""Maang Ke Saath"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Reshmi Shalwar Kurta"" Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum
""Saathi Haath Badhana"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Uden Jab Jab"" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
""Yeh Desh Hai Veer"" Mohammed Rafi, Balbir
""Main Bombay Ka Babu"" Mohammed Rafi
""Dil Leke Daga Denge"" Mohammed Rafi
""Ek Diwana Aate Jate Humse Chhed Kare""
3. Pyaasa
Pyaasa is a 1957 Indian film, produced and directed by Guru Dutt, written by Abrar Alvi, and starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman and Mala Sinha. Set in Calcutta, West Bengal, the film tells the story of Vijay, a struggling poet trying to make his works known in post-independence India, and Gulabo, a prostitute with a heart of gold, who helps him to try and get his poems published. The music was composed by S.D. Burman.
With the commercial success of thrillers such as Baazi, Jaal, Aar Paar and CID, as well as comedies such as Mr. & Mrs. '55, Guru Dutt and his studio were financially secure and established. From 1957, he could now make movies he really wanted to make, including Pyaasa. In 2002, Pyaasa was ranked at No. 160 on the Sight & Sound critics' and directors' poll of all-time greatest films. In 2005, Pyaasa was rated as one of the 100 best films of all time by Time magazine, which called it "the soulfully romantic of the lot." Indiatimes Movies ranks the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films. On the occasion of Valentine's Day 2011 Time magazine declared it one of the top 10 romantic movies of all time.
Plot
Vijay (Guru Dutt) is an unsuccessful poet whose works are not taken seriously by publishers or his brothers (who sell his poems as waste paper). Unable to bear their taunting that he is a good-for-nothing, he stays away from home and is often out on the streets. He encounters a good-hearted prostitute named Gulabo (Waheeda Rehman), who is enamoured with his poetry and falls in love with him. He also encounters his ex-girlfriend Meena (Mala Sinha) from college and finds out that she has married a big publisher, Mr. Ghosh (Rehman) for financial security. Ghosh hires him as a servant to find out more about him and Meena. A dead beggar to whom Vijay gave his coat and whom he tries to save unsuccessfully from the path of a running train is mistaken for Vijay. Gulabo goes to Ghosh and gets his poems published. Ghosh does so feeling he can exploit the poems and make a killing. The poems are very successful. However, Vijay is alive and in the hospital after the train mishap.
Ghosh and Shyam, Vijay's close friend, refuse to recognise him and he is committed to a mental asylum since he insists that he is Vijay and is thought to be mad. Vijay's brothers too are bought off by Ghosh not to recognise him and a memorial is held for the dead poet. Vijay, with the help of his friend Abdul Sattar (Johnny Walker) escapes from the mental asylum and reaches the memorial service, where he denounces this corrupt and materialistic world. Seeing that Vijay is alive, his friend and brothers side with a rival publisher for more money and declare that this is Vijay. At a function to honour him, Vijay becomes sick of all the hypocrisy in the world around him and declares he is not Vijay. He then leaves with Gulabo to start a new life.
Cast
Guru Dutt as Vijay
Mala Sinha as Meena
Waheeda Rehman as Gulab – This was her first major leading role in Hindi cinema.
Rehman as Mr. Ghosh
Johnny Walker as Abdul Sattar
Leela Mishra as Vijay's mother
Kumkum as Juhi
Shyam Kapoor as Shyam
Mehmood as Vijay's brother
Tun Tun as Pushplata
Moni Chatterjee as Chatterjee
Songs List
"Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo" Geeta Dutt
"Ham Aapki Aankhon Me" Geeta Dutt, Mohammad Rafi
"Jaane Kya Tune Kahi" Geeta Dutt
"Jaane Woh Kaise Log" Hemant Kumar
"Sar Jo Tera Chakraye" Mohammad Rafi
"Ye Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaye" Mohammad Rafi
"Ye Hanste Huye Phool" Mohammad Rafi
"Jinhen Naaz Hai Hind Par" Mohammad Rafi
"Tang Aa Chuke Hain Kashm-e-Kashe Zindagi Se" Mohammad Rafi
"Yeh Kooche Yeh Neelam Ghar Dilkashi Ke"
4. Do Aankhen Barah Haath
Do Aankhen Barah Haath ({Two Eyes, Twelve Hands}) is a 1957 Hindi film directed by V. Shantaram, who also starred in the film. It is considered to be one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on humanistic psychology. It won a Silver Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the category Samuel Goldwyn Award. The film is also remembered for the song "Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum", sung by Lata Mangeshkar and written by Bharat Vyas.
The film was inspired by the story of an "open prison" experiment: Swatantrapur in the princely state of Aundh near Satara. Now, Swatantrapur is part of Atpadi tehsil in Sangli district of Maharashtra. It was recounted by screenwriter G. D. Madgulkar to V. Shantaram. In 2005, Indiatimes Movies ranked the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films. During filming, V. Shantaram fought with a bull and injured an eye, but his eyesight survived. The film was later remade in 1975 in Tamil as Pallandu Vazhga, starring M.G. Ramachandran and Latha, and in 1976 as the Telugu colour film Maa Daivam, starring N.T. Rama Rao
Plot
The film portrays a young jail warden Adinath, who rehabilitates six dangerous prisoners released on parole into persons of virtue. He takes these notorious, often surly murderers and makes them work hard with him on a dilapidated country farm, rehabilitating them through hard work and kind guidance as they eventually produce a great harvest. The film ends with the death of the warden at the hands of the minions of a corrupt enemy who wants no competition in the profitable market he controls. This film takes the viewers through several scenes that set a strong moral lesson that through hard work, dedication and concentration a person can accomplish anything. Also, this film explains that if people focus their energy on a worthy cause, success is guaranteed.
Cast
V. Shantaram as Adinath, Jail warden
Sandhya as Champa
Baburao Pendharkar as Superintendent
Ulhas as Shanker Passi
Soundtrack
"Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum" Lata Mangeshkar
"Ho Umad Ghumad Kar Aayi Re Ghata" Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey
"Main Gaaun Tu Chup Ho Ja" Lata Mangeshkar
"Sainyya Jhoothhon Ka Bada Sartaj Nikala" Lata Mangeshkar
"Tak Tak Dhum Dhum
5. Tumsa Nahin Dekha
Tumsa Nahin Dekha (English: Saw nobody like you) is a 1957 Indian bollywood romance drama film, produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee while written and directed by Nasir Hussain, of Filmistan Pvt. Ltd. The film marked Hussain's evolution into a director. He had written films such as Munimjee and Paying Guest.
The film was conceived as a star vehicle for its heroine Ameeta, who was the protégée of Filmistan Studios owner Tolaram Jalan. Much care was taken with her make-up, wardrobe and lighting. Much of the film's extensive publicity was also built around the actress.
Ironically, the film's huge success at the box office made the then-struggling Shammi Kapoor an overnight sensation instead. This was the film in which he developed his own individual look and youthful style, and was his first light-hearted musical and its success helped move him to acting in this genre. The film also stars the popular villain and character actor Pran. Its music is by O.P. Nayyar and lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Plot
Twenty years ago, after killing his brother, Sardar Rajpal flees from his hometown in Shillong and re-locates to the rural area of Assam along with his adopted daughter Meena. He asks his wife Kamla, to send their son Shankar, so that he can employ him and get him married to Meena. Shankar arrives and he is welcomed by Sardar, who employs him and introduces him to Meena. A few days later, another young man shows up at his door claiming to be Kamla's son. A baffled Sardar also welcomes him, and puts both the young men under observation in order to find who the real Shankar is. The question remains: why would anyone want to impersonate Shankar, and what will happen to Sardar himself after the Police catch up with him for killing his brother 20 years ago?
Cast
Shammi Kapoor as Shankar
Ameeta as Meena
Pran as Sohan
Raj Mehra as Vishnu
B. M. Vyas as Gopal
Sheela Vaz as Seema
Soundtrack
"Tumsa Nahin Dekha" Sahir Ludhianvi Mohammed Rafi
"Chhupnewale Samne Aa" Majrooh Sultanpuri Rafi
"Jawanian Yeh Mast Mast" Sultanpuri Rafi
"Sar Par Topi Lal" Sultanpuri Asha Bhosle & Rafi
"Dekho Kasam Se" Sultanpuri Bhosle & Rafi
"Aaye Hai Door Se" Sultanpuri Rafi
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