Chandni Chowk
Directed byB. R. Chopra
Written byD. P. Berry
Produced byPrince Hira Sinh of Baria
Goverdhandas Aggarwal
StarringMeena Kumari
Shekhar
CinematographyKeki Mistry
Edited byPran Mehra
Music byRoshan
Production
company
Hira Films
Release date
1954
Running time
129 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Chandni Chowk is a 1954 classic Muslim social drama film directed by B. R. Chopra.[1][2]

The music was composed by Roshan with lyrics written by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Saifuddin Saif, Kamil Rashid, Shailendra and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.[3] Story was by D. P. Berry with screenplay by I. S. Johar and dialogue written by Kamil Rashid. Produced by Prince Hira Sinh of Baria and Goverdhandas Aggarwal under the banner of Hira Films. The director of photography was Keki Mistry. The film starred Meena Kumari, Shekhar, Jeevan, Agha, Achala Sachdev and Smriti Biswas.[1]

The main hero Shekhar was one of the less appreciated lead actors of the 1940s and 1950s but has been cited as a "master of realistic portrayals" usually cast in "mid-budget films".[4]

The story involves a Nawab belonging to the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi in the early 1920s, who gets "tricked into marrying his daughter to the gardener's son".

Plot

The film is set in the early 1920s in the Chandni Chowk area of Delhi. Nawab Safdarjung (Kumar) has a young daughter Zarina (Meena Kumari), who he's keen to get married off. One of the applicants for her hand in marriage is the young Nawab Akbar (Shekhar) of Lucknow. After the wedding takes place, Nawab Safdarjung is informed by Ibrahim Beg (Jeevan) that Akbar is in fact the gardener's son. The plot to introduce Akbar as a Nawab was conceived by Ibrahim to teach the arrogant Nawab a lesson when he refused his newly rich neighbour, Yusuf's (Agha) proposal to marry Zarina, by haughtily declining it for him being a mere vegetable vendor. Angry on learning about the subterfuge, the Nawab calls off the marriage. Zarina however, decides to go to her in-laws house as she now considers Akbar her husband. Akbar leaves for Egypt in the hope of earning money. He finds a job there and soon gets entangled with a dancer Noorie (Smriti Biswas), who falls in love with him. Noorie creates grave misunderstandings in Zarina's life when she reads Zarina's letter to Akbar. She sends off a wire informing the in-laws that Akbar is dead. Finally Noorie dies telling Akbar about the misunderstanding created, and Akbar returns home to his bride.

Cast

Box office

B. R. Chopra had shifted to Bombay from Lahore, where he edited the Cine-Herald.[5] In Bombay, Chopra joined Shri Gopal Pictures as a producer. Chopra's first film as a director, Afsana (1951) was a big hit running for over twenty-five weeks (silver-jubilee).[5] Chandni Chowk, Chopra's third directorial venture was also a big success at the box office, which gave him the impetus to start his own film company B. R. Films in 1956.[6]

Soundtrack

The film's music director was Roshan, who went on to compose music for films such as Barsat Ki Rat (1960) and Taj Mahal (1963), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Music Director for the latter film.[7] With lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kamil Rashid, Shailendra, Raja Mehdi Ali Khan and Saifuddin Saif. The film's credits however,[8] name only Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra and Raja Mehdi Ali Khan as the lyricists. The playback singing was provided by Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle, Mukesh, Shamshad Begum and Usha Mangeshkar.[2][3]

Song list

SongSinger
"Hamen Ae Dil Kahin Le Chal" [3][2] Mukesh
"Zameen Bhi Wohi Hai Wohi Aasmaan" [3][2] Mohammed Rafi
"Bahak Chale Mere Nainwa" [3][2] Lata Mangeshkar
"Jadu Bura Bangal Ka" Lata Mangeshkar
"Chhupa Sakoon Na" Lata Mangeshkar
"Aa Jaye Janewale" [3][2] Lata Mangeshkar
"Tera Dil Kahan Hai" Asha Bhosle
"Jitne Bhi Gham Hain" Asha Bhosle
"Har Baat Poochhiye Yeh Haqeeqat Na Poochhiye, Humko Kisise Kyun Hai Mohabbat Na Poochhiye" [2] Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Shamshad Begum
"Qutub Minar Pe Chadhkar" [3] Shamshad Begum
"Ae Khuda Majboor Ki Fariyad" [2] Mubarak Begum

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Chandni Chowk (film)". Complete Index To World Film (CITWF) website. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Chandni Chowk". Muvyz.com website. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Chandni Chowk (1954 film)". HindiGeetmala.net website. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ↑ Ashok Raj (1 November 2009). Hero Vol.1. Hay House. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-93-81398-02-9. Retrieved 27 November 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  5. 1 2 Dubey, Bharati (6 November 2008). "Films transformed Chopra's destiny and vice-versa". Times of India. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ↑ Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. pp. 1994–. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7. Retrieved 27 November 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  7. ↑ Gulazāra; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 639–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  8. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: CHANDNI CHOWK (1954) Full Movie | Classic Hindi Films by MOVIES HERITAGE. YouTube.
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