Welcome to Station Hollywood. The permanent junction for the moving train of images. Its all about Movies, Myths built around them, the stories, the facts and all things unsaid.
Showing posts with label Madhumati. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Madhumati. Show all posts
Thursday, January 20, 2022
Vaijayantimalaji and Dilip Kumarsahab dominated bollywood films of 1958.
1958 is remembered for brilliance of Dilip Kumar and Vaijayantimala.By 1958, the scenario of Indian films changed. From the dominance of few superstars like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, the Bollywood industry also propagated sophisticated actors like Balraj Sahani, Bharat Bhushan, Pradip Kumar and others. Actresses like Vaijayantimala topped the list adding competition to Nargis, Madhubala, Meena Kumari and others. Directors like Bimal Roy, Ramesh Saigal, Satyen Bose did a great job. In respect of music in addition to Naushad Ali, Shankar Jaikishan, the other composers did magic including Dattaram, Salil Choudhury, SD Burman, OP Nayyar and others.
Madhumati was the greatest blockbuster of 1958. It was produced and directed by Bimal Roy, and written by Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi. The music for the film was composed by Salil Choudhury with lyrics written by Shailendra. The film stars Dilip Kumar and Vyjayantimala acted the lead roles along with Pran and Johnny Walker.
On a stormy night, Devendra (Dilip Kumar), an engineer, drives down a hill road with his friend to fetch his wife and child from the railway station. A landslide blocks their path and the friends take shelter in an old mansion off the road. Devendra finds the house uncannily familiar. In the large front room, he finds an old portrait which he recognizes. His friend and the old caretaker join him, and Devendra, amidst flashes of memory from another life, sits down to tell his story while the storm rages outside.
In Madhumati Anand (Dilip Kumar) had come to Shyamnagar Timber Estate as its new manager. An artist in his spare time, he roamed the hills and fell in love with Madhumati (Vyjayantimala), a tribal girl whose songs have haunted him from a distance. Anand's employer, Ugra Narayan (Pran) was a ruthless and arrogant man and as Anand refused to bend down to him like others, he incurred his wrath. Anand also had enemies among his staff including Tiwari. Sent away on an errand, he returned to find that Madhumati had disappeared. He learned that Madhumati had been taken to Ugra Narayan, and confronted him but was beaten unconscious by Ugra Narayan's men. While Ugra Narayan's men were taking Anand's body out of the palace, his men met with Madhumati's dad (Jayant) who had to fight for her own daughter's death. He did it and won but died laying down in the road while Charandas (Johnny Walker) hided the body and took it to the hospital. It was a film relating to re-incarnations.
All the songs in the film became bumper hits like Lata’s “aaja re pardesi”, “zulmi sang aankh lari”, Rafi’s “tute hue khwabone”, “jangal me mor naacha”, to mention a few.
The entire team of Madhumati took away all the filmfare awards. Dilip Kumar was adjudged the best actor, Johny Walker the best supporting actor, Salil Choudhury the best music director, Bimal Roy the best director. The film also received the national award for best film in 1958.
Chalti Ka Naam Gaari was the second biggest hit of the year. Very significantly all the 3 brothers Ashok Kumar, Anup Kumar and Kishore Kumar acted in the film. It was directed by Satyen Bose. In the film the brothers owned a garage. Ashok Kumar fell in love with Veena, but could not marry her. From that time he hated women. His brother Kishore Kumar fell in love with Madhubala. KN Singh played the role of villain in the film. The music of SD Burman became super hit with songs like “haal kaisa hai janabka”, sung by Kishore Kumar and Madhubala.
Yahudi was the third biggest hit film of 1958. Dilip Kumar played the character of a yahudi, or jew in the film. It was a love story made in the backdrop of Roman Empire. At the end of the film Dilip Kumar became blind. Sohrab Modi, Meena Kumari, Nigar Sultana and Dilip Kumar gave landmark performances. The music of Shankar Jaikishan was outstanding with Mukesh’s hit song “yeh mera diwanapan hai”.
Phir Subah Hogi was the fourth biggest hit film of 1958. The film was produced and directed by Ramesh Saigal and starring Raj Kapoor and Mala Sinha in lead roles. The movie was an adaption of Fyodor Dostoevsky's immortal novel, Crime and Punishment. Ram (Raj Kapoor) is a poor law student who supports his education with money orders from his mother and things he pawns. While struggling with his poor finances, he save a boy from accident. Seeing the poor condition of the boy's family he gives all his savings for the boy's treatment. Ram keeps visiting the boy and falls in love with the boy's elder sister Sohni (Mala Sinha). Sohni's father Gopal is addicted to liquor which Harbanslal keeps providing him with. Harbanslal has a mean motive in doing so as he wants marry Sohni. To prevent Sohni's arranged marriage with Harbanslal, Ram decides to rob the pawn broker. But he is caught in the act, and he murders the pawn owner.
Ram's conscience keeps telling him to admit his crime. But he never picks up the courage to do so. The police inspector on the case keeps suspecting Ram for the crime. With no proof he, too, is helpless. Ram learns that police have already arrested another thief and have charged him with this robbery and murder. On the last day when the court is to rule in the case, Raj makes up his mind and admits. He pleads saying how he was acting in self-defense against real villains of the society. The court sentences him for three years of imprisonment. Sohni promises that she will wait for his release and then marry him.
Raj Kapoor, Rehman and Mala Sinha’s performances were outstanding. The music of Khayyam was very impressive with hit songs of Mukesh, “chin-o-arab hamara”, “wo subah kabhi to ayegi”, “phir na kije meri gustakh nigahon ka gila”, to name a few.
Sadhna was the 5th biggest hit film of 1958 with Vaijayantimala and Sunil Dutt in the lead roles. It was produced and directed by BR Chopra. The music was composed by Dutta Naik. Lata’s song “aurat ne janam diya mardon ko”, became super hit. Vaijayantimala received the best actress award for playing a complex role of tawaif in the film.
Phagun was the 6th biggest hit film of 1958 with Bharat Bhushan and Madhubala in the lead roles. The film was directed by Bibhuti Mitra. OP Nayyar’s music stormed Bollywood. Rafi’s song “mai soya ankhiyan miche” became super hit.
Raj Kapoor’s Parvarish was the 7th biggest hit film of 1958. It was directed by S Banerjee. Dattaram composed the music of the film. Raj Kapoor and Mehmood were born together, but due to accident in the hospital, Nazir Hussain could not identify who was his real son. He was a Thakur. Mala Sinha’s father Harnam Singh gave word to him to marry his daughter with his actual son. Radhakrishan, the uncle trained Raj Kapoor and Mehmood. Raj Kapoor sacrificed his solvent family and deliberately consumed alcohol to show Mehmood was the actual son. At the end the reality was revealed. The music of Dattaram was impressive, with Mukesh’s song “aansoo bhari hai” and Manna Dey’s song “masti bhara yeh sama” became super hit.
If the films of 1958 are summarized, it will be seen that while historical films, social films, all created impact on viewers mind. While directors like Bimal Roy, Satyen Bose and others made realistic films, the actors like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan, made significant contribution. Actresses like Vaijayantimala, Madhubala, Mala Sinha, Meena Kumari created sensation. Music directors like Salil Choudhury, OP Nayyar, SD Burman, Khayyam made significant contribution. Singers like Rafi, Mukesh, Talat, Lata, Geeta Dutt and others were very prominent in the films. The films and the songs should be restored.
Friday, June 26, 2020
1958 is remembered for brilliance of Vaijayantimalaji and Dilip Kumarsahab.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
The biggest Bollywood films of 1958.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Happy birthday to Vaijayantimala.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Films like Madhumati are creative works of art.


Films like Madhumati are creative works of art.
Films like Madhumati are creative works which had not become obsolete even with passage of time. Bimal Roy had experimented with the subject of re-incarnation which most sections of the people don’t believe in. But the strong performance of Dilip Kumar, Vaijayantimala, powerful direction of Bimal Roy, brilliant music of Salil Choudhury had made the views spellbound in 1958 and the film still remains as one of the classic creations of all times.
Dilip Kumar in his second birth had come to the same palace where he met Pran, the prince of the palace in his last birth. He told the story of his last birth to Tarun Bose. He was a forest officer, and worked within the estate of Pran, the ruler of the place. He entered into an affair with Vaijayantimala and convinced his father Jayant about the marriage. But when he went out of the city for official work, Pran brought Vaijayantimala in his palace, and she jumped from the roof and committed suicide.
Very significantly Dilip Kumar met another girl in the same place having similarity with Vaijayantimala. He asked her to cooperate with him and the police and create the same situation relating to murder before Pran so that he would confess about his guilt. The plan was made but the soul of Vaijayantimala told the story and Pran confessed his guilt even before the girl having similarity with Vaijayantimala could arrive in the palace. The soul of Vaijayantimala took Dilip Kumar to the roof and he slipped from the rooftop and died. Johnny Walker, the servant of Dilip Kumar and a local villager helped him all along the previous life.
In the second birth, again Vaijayantimala was married to Dilip Kumar. He heard about a railway accident and being worried went to search for his wife. He found his wife and child still arrive where the film ended. Although the story could not be believed by big section of the viewers, it entertained everyone. The songs “aja re pardesi”, “ghari ghari mera dil dharke”, “daiya re daiya re”, sung by Lata, “jangal me mor nacha”, “tute hue khwabon ne”, sung by Rafi, “suhana safar”, “dil tarap tarap ke” sung by Mukesh, stormed bollywood films for more than a decade. Salil Choudhury received the filmfare award for the best composer for his immortal composition in the film Madhumati.
One of the amazing factors of Bimal Roy’s classic lied in the romantic presentation of the film in the midst of glamourous locations. Although it was a black and white film, the shooting was mainly done outside the studio and vey romantic landscape with hills and waterfalls were shown in the film. The music was ably picturised and the popularity of Dilip Kumar and Vaijayntimala helped the director in getting the box-office support.
New directors can learn a lot from the classic creation of Bimal Roy which still can haunt the viewers with romantic appeal.
Films like Madhumati are creative works which had not become obsolete even with passage of time. Bimal Roy had experimented with the subject of re-incarnation which most sections of the people don’t believe in. But the strong performance of Dilip Kumar, Vaijayantimala, powerful direction of Bimal Roy, brilliant music of Salil Choudhury had made the views spellbound in 1958 and the film still remains as one of the classic creations of all times.
Dilip Kumar in his second birth had come to the same palace where he met Pran, the prince of the palace in his last birth. He told the story of his last birth to Tarun Bose. He was a forest officer, and worked within the estate of Pran, the ruler of the place. He entered into an affair with Vaijayantimala and convinced his father Jayant about the marriage. But when he went out of the city for official work, Pran brought Vaijayantimala in his palace, and she jumped from the roof and committed suicide.
Very significantly Dilip Kumar met another girl in the same place having similarity with Vaijayantimala. He asked her to cooperate with him and the police and create the same situation relating to murder before Pran so that he would confess about his guilt. The plan was made but the soul of Vaijayantimala told the story and Pran confessed his guilt even before the girl having similarity with Vaijayantimala could arrive in the palace. The soul of Vaijayantimala took Dilip Kumar to the roof and he slipped from the rooftop and died. Johnny Walker, the servant of Dilip Kumar and a local villager helped him all along the previous life.
In the second birth, again Vaijayantimala was married to Dilip Kumar. He heard about a railway accident and being worried went to search for his wife. He found his wife and child still arrive where the film ended. Although the story could not be believed by big section of the viewers, it entertained everyone. The songs “aja re pardesi”, “ghari ghari mera dil dharke”, “daiya re daiya re”, sung by Lata, “jangal me mor nacha”, “tute hue khwabon ne”, sung by Rafi, “suhana safar”, “dil tarap tarap ke” sung by Mukesh, stormed bollywood films for more than a decade. Salil Choudhury received the filmfare award for the best composer for his immortal composition in the film Madhumati.
One of the amazing factors of Bimal Roy’s classic lied in the romantic presentation of the film in the midst of glamourous locations. Although it was a black and white film, the shooting was mainly done outside the studio and vey romantic landscape with hills and waterfalls were shown in the film. The music was ably picturised and the popularity of Dilip Kumar and Vaijayntimala helped the director in getting the box-office support.
New directors can learn a lot from the classic creation of Bimal Roy which still can haunt the viewers with romantic appeal.
Labels:
dilip kumar,
Johnny Walker,
Madhumati,
pran,
Salil Choudhury,
Vaijayantimala
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)

