Raat Aur Din (1967) User Reviews

An Underrated Classic of Bollywood

[satanz_righthand · 9/10 · 12 September 2014]

Raat Aur Din clearly belongs to Nargis who handles her character so simultaneously, effortlessly and beautifully. Through this role she proves what versatility is called in terms of acting.

Pradeep Kumar is good, Feroz Khan is alright, while the rest also fit in good. The only other actor who is also worth watching, Leela Mishra, who plays the mother-in-law of Nargis.

Shankar-Jaikashan's music enhances the movie's atmosphere. Whether be a club song, a ghazal, a street song or party song. Shankar-Jaikishan yet again gives a powerful soundtrack, with voices of Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi and Manna Dey.

A must watch for fans of Nargis.

Nargis has never been better

[arjun-6 · 9/10 · 17 January 2012]

Nargis carries the movie on the strength of an astonishingly good performance. Astonishing, because I have always considered her a below average actress, beautiful of course, but with largely the same expression whether she be talking to father, husband, son or brother and whether as Bharatiya naari or western educated aaj ki naari. Her role in Mother India being a standout good performance.

This was a daring performance for the risqué clothes (by 60s standards) and free lifestyle. She pulled off the dance sequences with aplomb that would put her on par with any of todays actresses with all their training. Her acting is effortlessly natural.

Full credit to director Satyen Bose who doesn't take a step out of turn in the entire movie except in one or two scenes. The story is gripping with the suspense not revealed until the final 15 minutes, which is the hallmark of a great suspense movie. His expert hand is evident in bringing out an award deserving performance from Nargis.

Pradeep Kumar in the lead role is convincing except for his reaction to Nargis's strange behaviour and Feroze Khan's presence in the scenes post the party is quite unnecessary and he could easily have been dispensed with.

A brilliant suspense movie where a fairly outré topic is handled with finesse that remains relevant till date. Very good music numbers, eminently hummable. A must watch, and well worth its place in your collection.

A Rare Psychological Suspense Thriller

[ravisinger86 · 7/10 · 21 March 2014]

Raat Aur Din Was Directed As Well As Written By Satyen Bose....The Screenplay Is Fine...The Plot Is Very Interesting ...The Story Revolves Around A Lady Having Multiple Personality Disorder...The Suspense Is Good ...The Reason Is Revealed In Last Few Minutes Of The Movie...Like Any Other Suspense Movies Of The 60's....

Nargis Is Outstanding In The Movie ...One Of Her Best Performance.. ..Anhonee Which Was Made In 1953 Starring Raj Kapoor & Nargis ...Where Nargis Had Dual Roles ... It Was A Similar Kind Effort By Nargis...Pradeep Kumar Is Fine ...K.N Singh, Anwar Hussain, Leela Mishra All Have Performed Well...Feroz khan Is Also Seen.

Music Was Composed By The Very Best Shankar Jaikishan...Songs Were Good ...Numbers Like "Dil Ki Girah Khol Do" "Phool Sa Chehra" "Raat Aur Din " Are Fine Compositions All Together..

Overall A Good Mystery Movie ...With Few Good Songs...Must Watch If You're Nargis Fan Or Thriller Movie Fan...

a psychic masterpiece

[jbz7879 · 10/10 · 8 October 2007]

this is a unique effort from Indian cinema which convincingly portrays a woman suffering from a double identity crisis with one of the best performances ever given by the lead actress ,who plays the split personality with an ease that looks casual but is an artistic triumph of the highest order,she is supported by a cohesive script with great dialogues and a haunting musical score with some great musical numbers as well as great choreography and camera-work ,for once the musical numbers enhance rather then interfere with the psychological milieu of this dramatic thriller and the director succeeds in creating a psychic classic out of a love story with astonishing verisimilitude ,fully deserving of it's national and international awards this puts modern day cinema to shame by it's sheer intelligence and craftsmanship.the monochrome enhances the mood of this unique effort to make it absolutely memorable .

Mental health issues can have its roots in our childhood

[ridi-arahan · 8/10 · 19 February 2021]

What worked: As a mental health professional, I am glad that this movie was made and it gives an immense pleasure that the movie was made very long time ago. The movie depicts the mental health problem of multiple personality disorder which was previously termed as split personality disorder. The movie is very well researched about the disorder and this movie feels like a case study of the patient rather than a movie itself which is a compliment in itself. Nargris portrayed the character very gracefully and it's not an easy character to portray especially splitting between the opposite extremes in a frame. The movie is very well written and the narrative is very interesting, making it a very fine movie if it's time.

What did not work: The length could have been cut down if the songs were taken out. I think it's not the issue but a concern, if the movie was made even today it would have been a great movie considering the absence of color and technical aspects in the movie Final verdict: recommended

Ahead of its times!!

[rtoac1 · 8/10 · 26 September 2021]

This is a Hindi language film starring Nargis and Pradeep Kumar.

The film is truly ahead of its times in dealing boldly with mental issues. Through the gripping story it reveals how one such mental illness can manifest. It also documents how society and even medical science tries to approach it - many a times in incorrect ways as torture and shocks that never work.

It is also very reassuring when it shows how in the end, it is finding the root cause of the trauma and in providing unconditional love and support alone can these issues be resolved.

The film will be remembered as Nargis' last performance which also earned her Bharat's first National Award for Best Actress. She has given an uninhibited performance and one feels the loss in that she could have continued performing such character driven roles in future also.

Pradeep Kumar's performance is terrific and it's sad that despite a wonderful career he isn't acknowledged enough by modern cinema lovers.

Feroz Khan is in a wasted role.

The editing is very very poor which is why the film moves scenes at times in a jarring fashion. Given that it took 6 years to make may also be to blame.

I rated it 8/10 primarily for the concept and the lead performances.