Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Aurat

  • 19401940
  • 2h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
42
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
247,340
96,536
Aurat (1940)
Drama
Radha (Sardar Akhtar) is an indomitable woman, toiling away to feed her three sons and to pay off Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal), the village's rapacious moneylender. When she learns that she is pr... Read allRadha (Sardar Akhtar) is an indomitable woman, toiling away to feed her three sons and to pay off Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal), the village's rapacious moneylender. When she learns that she is pregnant again, her husband, Shamu (Arun Kumar Ahuja), runs far away, leaving her to fend fo... Read allRadha (Sardar Akhtar) is an indomitable woman, toiling away to feed her three sons and to pay off Sukhilala (Kanhaiyalal), the village's rapacious moneylender. When she learns that she is pregnant again, her husband, Shamu (Arun Kumar Ahuja), runs far away, leaving her to fend for herself against poverty and the lecherous advances of Sukhilala. Later, the two eldest c... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
42
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
247,340
96,536
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Mehboob Khan
    • Writers
      • Babubhai A. Mehta
      • Wajahat Mirza(dialogue)
    • Stars
      • Surendra
      • Sardar Akhtar
      • Lala Yaqoob
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Mehboob Khan
    • Writers
      • Babubhai A. Mehta
      • Wajahat Mirza(dialogue)
    • Stars
      • Surendra
      • Sardar Akhtar
      • Lala Yaqoob
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos

    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Surendra
    Surendra
    • Ramu
    Sardar Akhtar
    • Radha
    Lala Yaqoob
    • Birju
    • (as Yakub)
    Arun
    • Shamu
    Harish
    • Bansi
    Jyoti
    • Jamuna
    Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
    Kanhaiyalal Chaturvedi
    • Sukhilala
    • (as Kanhaiyalal)
    Vatsala Kumthekar
    • Kamla
    Sunalini
    • Sunder Chachi
    Brij Rani
    • Tulsi
    Akbar Ghulam Ali
    • Laloo
    Kanu Pande
    • Chandu
    Wasker
    • Fulchand
    Amir Banu
    • Kashibai
    • Director
      • Mehboob Khan
    • Writers
      • Babubhai A. Mehta
      • Wajahat Mirza(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Anokhi Ada
    6.7
    Anokhi Ada
    Do Bigha Zamin
    8.2
    Do Bigha Zamin
    Anmol Ghadi
    7.3
    Anmol Ghadi
    Deccan Queen
    Humayun
    7.2
    Humayun
    Elan
    6.6
    Elan

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was remade as Mother India
    • Connections
      Remade as Mother India (1957)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    AURAT actually superior to it's remake MOTHER India
    In spite of the incredible popularity of Mehboob Khan's own 1957 remake MOTHER India, Mehboob's AURAT (1940) is the superior of the two films. This assessment is not one arrived at lightly. A lot has to be taken into account: The advancement in technology of filmmaking in India; that the remake was in brilliant color; etc. Mehboob's MOTHER India is one of two of the all time greatest hits in Hindi cinema...The other being Karim Asif's MUGHAL-E-AZAM (1960)--still the all-time box-office champion of Hindi cinema if adjusted for inflation. AURAT (1940) has a neo-realistic quality to it similar to the later trademark of Satyajit Ray films. It is this very neo-realism which makes AURAT superior to MOTHER India. When comparing the "Mother" portrayal of actress Sardar Akhtar (Mehboob's real life spouse) and Nargis' later rendition, Akhtar's is clearly the superior performance. The soulful, wistful vulnerability which she brings to her character is not matched by Nargis. And neither is the role of the baghi (rebel) son Birju. When seeing Yakub's portrayal of Birju and comparing it to Sunil Dutt's rendition...Dutt's Birju comes across as mentally challenged...Especially the way Dutt portrays Birju before he officially turns into an outlaw. Yakub (born Yakub Khan in Jabalpur to a Pathan family) brought a devilish streak to his Birju which was inimitable. There was also a sense of vulnerability to Yakub's Birju which was almost totally absent in Dutt's portrayal. It was this vulnerability and yet a dangerous incorrigibility of Yakub's Birju which makes his interpretation not only believable, but acceptable. What especially makes Yakub's Birju so much more tragic is the inner conflict of him being tormented by his outrageous actions, and yet he cannot control them. The viewer feels this throughout the film. In comparison, Dutt's Birju almost comes across as an overgrown brat that evolves into an unrepentant juvenile delinquent, a quasi muscle-headed moron. Which then brings us to the very handsome protagonists Surendra and Arun Kumar Ahuja (father of actor Govinda). Surendra's portrayal of the "good" son is equally effective to Yakub's Birju and far superior to Rajendra Kumar's almost mute, downplayed characterization. Surendra's portrayal elicits the anguish of a brother for his rogue brother whom he cannot help but love in spite of his despicable ways. This particular aspect of Surendra's interpretation is not properly covered in Rajendra Kumar's portrayal. As for Arun Kumar Ahuja's tormented husband who eventually abandons his family, Ahuja's superb character degeneration is more strikingly disturbing to watch than Raaj Kumar's reworking of the same role. And finally there was Anil Biswas' classic music which greatly contributed to Mehboob Khan's AURAT. This film is a cultural masterpiece in every sense of the word and ought to be obligatory viewing in all film schools. A must see for all cinema-goers.
    helpful•3
    1
    • slazenger_7
    • Aug 4, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Country of origin
      • India
    • Language
      • Hindi
    • Also known as
      • Woman
    • Production company
      • National Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Aurat (1940)
    Top Gap
    What is the English language plot outline for Aurat (1940)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    New & Upcoming Superhero Movies and Series
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    Fall TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list
    View image
    Photos
    Double Take: Celebrity Twins
    See the full list
    Back to top

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more access
    Sign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.