Pakeezahis a 1972 Indian film.
It is well remembered by generations of its admirers for its touching story of a courtesan, and for its lovely songs by Ghulam Mohammed. It was the magnum opus of the director, Kamal Amrohi who was known for his perfectionism.
Production
Pakeezah took nearly 14 years to shoot because of a change in relationship between Meena Kumari and the director from warm to worse and then back to compromise one. Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi were married when Pakeezah was first conceived. Ashok Kumar was to have played the part of Salim, later played by Raaj Kumar. The character was changed from a businessman to a forest ranger to suit Raaj Kumar’s more muscular physique.
Due to a variety of different factors, Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi parted ways and the film remained incomplete. It was only when Nargis and Sunil Dutt saw the rushes of the film that they convinced Meena Kumari to complete it.
Meena Kumari was very ill when filming resumed and can be seen lying down in most of her scenes. For the dance sequences, Padma Khanna was used as a body double and can be seen in the long-shots. Sadly, Meena Kumari passed away just weeks after the film was released.
Pakeezah made news again during the Filmfare Awards in 1971 when Pran refused to accept his award for Be-Imaan because he felt that Ghulam Mohammed deserved a posthumas Filmfare award for his songs in Pakeezah.
Details
- Starring : Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar, Veena Sapru, Nadira
- Screenplay: Kamal Amrohi
- Set Design : Kamal Amrohi
- Costume Design : Meena Kumari
- Director of Photography : Josef Wirsching
- Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Kaif Bhopali, Kamal Amrohi
- Music: Ghulam Mohammed, Naushad – Background Score, Title Music
- Singers: Lata Mangeshkar; Mohd. Rafi; Mehdi Hassan
- Produced and Directed by: Kamal Amrohi
Famous songs
Many times, when the lyrics are considered fully in the visual context of the singing in the film and storyline, a fuller understanding can often be achieved in retrospect.
- Chalte Chalte, Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi. (Translation: While Walking; While going along I met someone. My life has stood still since…)
- Thade Rahiyo O Banke Yaar, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri (????? ?????)(Translations: My young lover, keep standing…)
- Inhi Logon Ne, Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri (Various translations: Lit. These are the men who have snatched away my modesty (dupatta). In olden day, a woman’s dupatta or veil was considered a symbol of a her modesty.
- Mausam Hai Ashiqana, Lyrics: Kamal Amrohi. (Translation: Lit. Weather is lovely; at such a time my heart, find out where my love is.(Deeply Desiring [Because it is the Season for]) True Love.)
- Chalo Dildar chalo, Lyrics: Kaif Bhopali. (Translation: Come on, my love, come, across the moon let us go; I am ready, let us go)
- Teer-e-Nazar Dekhenge, Lyrics: Kaif Bhopali. (Various translations: Lit. Today I will see the effect of my prayers. Today I will see gazes from these eyes; I will see wounds in this heart… You are getting shy from looking at my eyes, you are fearing the beat of your own heart; even then you insist to look at wounds of my heart;)
Apart from these songs, the movie contains classical renderings in background composed by Naushad, when he took over the incomplete job of Ghulam Mohammed. Ghulam Mohammed had passed away by the time the film was nearing release so Naushad was brought in to complete the background score. These renderings are presented in the voice of the veteran singer Rajkumari, Parveen Sultana, Vani Jairam and Naseem Bano Chopra. Also the title track sung by Lata that appears at the beginning of the film is also composed by Naushad.
