Pakeezah (1972)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Kamal Amrohi

Writer:

Kamal Amrohi (written by)

Genre:

Musical | Romance | Drama

Plot:

The story of a prostitute, with a pure heart (PAKEEZAH), and grand dreams...

Plot Keywords:

Brothel | Dance | Train | Prostitute | Feet

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Ashok Kumar	...	Shahabuddin
Meena Kumari	...	Nargis / Sahibjaan
Raaj Kumar	...	Salim Ahmed Khan
Veena	...	Nawabjaan
D.K. Sapru	...	Hakim Saab (as Sapru)
Kamal Kapoor	...	Nawab Zafar Ali Khan
Vijay Laxmi
Jagdish Kanwal
Nadira	...	Madame Gauhar Jaan
Pratima Devi	...	Salim's Badi Amma
Altaf
Praveen Paul		(as Parveen Paul)
Lotan
Chanda		(as Chanda Bai)
Meenakshi

Also Known As:

Pure Heart
Pure One (India: English title)
The Pure

Runtime:

126 min (DVD)

Country:

India

Language:

Urdu

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

India:U

Filming Locations:

Kamal Amrohi Studios, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Company:

Mahal Pictures Pvt. Ltd.

Trivia:

It took 14 years for this film to be completed. To begin with, the film was launched in 1958, jointly planned by Kamal Amrohi and 'Meena Kumari'. It was launched in black-and-white, but when colour came in vogue, Amrohi scrapped those portions already shot and decided to start again. Later, Cinemascope came into vogue, and Amrohi acquired a Cinemascope lens from MGM and scrapped the plain colour portions too. Then Amrohi and Kumari separated in 1964, bringing filming to an indefinite halt. Finally, the film was resumed in 1968, and though by then Kumari was suffering from alcoholism and was in critical condition, she was still Amrohi's only choice and she agreed to complete the film.

Quotes:

Hakim Saab: After burning your tongue with hot milk, you will drink buttermilk after blowing into it!
Salim Ahmed Khan: Alas, people get burnt from milk too...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981)

Soundtrack:

Thare Rahiyo

Poetry on screen

Pakeezah has a very interesting history (which is well documented in the 'Trivia' section) about how it came to be. It seems as if destiny conspired to test Kamal Amrohi (the director) while at the same time secretly desiring to see him complete his masterpiece.

Pakeezah rides on metaphors, poetry and visual elocution. As a result the intensity with which emotions come out achieve a dimension which may not be very real but are very effective and leave an impact on the viewer.

Meena Kumari lives the tragedy of Nargis and Sahib Jaan like her own. The other stars of the film, besides her, are Ghulam Mohammed (the music director), Lata Mangeshkar, Naushad (background score) and Joseph Wirsching (the d.o.p). Their music and cinematography leaves you spell bound.

Pakeezah is a classic in world cinema. It reveals new layers to you every time you watch it again. Kamal Amrohi is one of the rare poets of cinema and he left us all a gift.