A golden Hindi film made with stars like Bharat Bhushan & the classic Indian beauty Madhubala.A 1960 romantic movie where an upcoming poet runs into a girl one rainy night & is immediately smitten,but she runs off before they have a proper introduction.Directed by PL Santoshi & music by Roshan,Sahir Ludhianvi.
Barsaat ki Raat means a rainy night.The main event takes place on that night hence the name.He sings the song on radio.’Ek anjaan hasina se mulakat ki raat…zindagi bhar na bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat’ Almost all the songs became hit.It was Roshan’s biggest musical success.Roshan is uncle of Hritik Roshan.One of the last films by Madhubala.Later she fell ill & eventually died.She had a heart ailment,if modern medicine was available she may have survived a little longer.
There were a number of new features in the basic love story.Strong female characters,independent minded & chose their own loves & destiny.( Remember we are talking of an India in 1960.) Conflicts are not between parents & children as to whom they should marry…as is the theme in majority of Indian films.More complex level of conflicts among the main characters & dubious signals men & women give each other.The movie glorifies the lives of singing girls, not often regarded highly in the Indian society.( Not only working, but watching a movie was also not much encouraged. I had this privilege because my grandfather also loved movies & hence in the holidays when all of us were together,watching a movie was a ritual.)
It is set with muslim characters but the movie seamlessly shows the universality of sensual love.It was by far a too modern concept. My father loved all the qawwallies & I have been fortunate enough to hear them from young age.I loved the purdah & the kurnisat,the lehja….language was never the problem,as they say from this heart to the other.It has the roots of my love for Hindi.But I like it in it’s pure form & not Bambaiya.My grandfathers shared the name.Both were named ‘Dinkar”,but that’s where the similarity ends.By nature they were poles apart,by likings too.My maternal father came out of the theatre because he disliked the plot.He thought the pair was too progressive.How can you take such a decision on your own? What about the elders? No permission to be taken?My Paternal father could go for movies like,The Woman in red, & say that the acting was good but clothes could have been better.
The song & dance is the integral part of this movie.It is most enjoyable.Today we know all the songs,so it is a walk along the memory lane.The story includes a poet & a singer,poetry competitions that were very common in the society then.’Na Tau karvaan ki talash hai ‘by Mohd.Rafi,Sudha Malhotra, Asha Bhosle,Manna Dey….Jab jab krishna ki bansi baji nikali radha ghar se….& Madhubala runs towards the jalsa. A Radha rushing to meet her kanha….Was it really ahead of times? Really…..
Nigah e-Naaz ke maron ka haal kya hoga….the iconic …Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat by Mohd. Rafi (who else?)…his voice was the fittest for such soulful melody.Garjat barsat sawan aayo re…by Suman Kalyanpur & Kamal Barot.It shows rain that depicts the mood of Shyama,who also likes Bharat Bhushan & is expecting him.Maine shayad tumhe pehle bhi kahin dekha hai…by Mohd.Rafi.Mujhe mil gaya bahana teri Deed ka,aisi khushi leke aaya chand id ka….by Lata Mangeshkar.Yeh ishq ishq……Mohd,Rafi. Manna Dey,Sudha Malhotra,and chorus.Jee chahta hai choom lu teri nazar ko mein….Asha Bhosle,Sudha Malhotra.The sad one…Mayus to hoon vaade se tere….Mohd.Rafi.Canadian singer Buffy Sainte-Marie covered this song which she called the track”Mayoo Sto Hoon”.The song was released on her debut album,”It’s my way” in 1964.
The sentiment has been so beautifully depicted on screen, that makes you wonder how do they think,conceive & execute so well.These movies never had pull, push or grab & yet we know what they mean.In the movie by Rajesh Khanna & Leena Chandavarkar….Yeh jo chilman hai…has no jerky moves,nothing happens & yet everything is said & understood.Again Muslim characters & same story, no music competitions,no triangle & yrt so endearing,soft.(Mehboob Ki Mehndi)The words like Mehboob…are very filmy… & mehndi …is full of dreams…more that it colors,more is the love between the couple.
There was a forgettable film titled,”Barsaat ki ek Raat” which had Amitabh & Rakhi in the lead & Amjad Khan chooses one night to take revenge on Amitabh.After the memorable “Barsaat Ki Raat” it is impossible to venture further in spite of Amitabh.
Another one was by Rajendra Kumar & Sadhana in Mere Mehboob….Mere mehboob tujhe meri mohabbat ki kasam…ek baar tujhe dekha hai..(from the veil on her face ) …phir wahi nazara….etc.But still it had magic which we are slowly but surely losing to the disco lights,dolby system,special (really!) effects…where the soul of the movies is getting lost.More later,happy viewing!
Asian Entertainment 