Farewell to Tragedy queen. Review on Pakeezah

There are very few films that are so close to your heart, that when you write about them then Emotions overpowered you and Pakeezah is one of that movies. I have seen this movie many times, mostly on TV channels and every time when I watched this it looks better then before.

There are many Reasons, and first is the music, from the age of Black and white to the Present A.R Rehman music, film Industry has not produced better tunes then the music of this film. Every song penned by Kaifi Ajmi and Shaqueel Badayun came straight from the soul. Gulam Muhammad”s music is mind-blowing, musician has created the era of classical Indian music and reflected the mood of the movie.

Pakeezah took nearly 14 years to shoot because of a change in relationship between Meena Kumari and the director. Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi were married when Pakeezah was first conceived. I have once read the Interview of Kamal Amrohi”s son , who said- that If Abba and choti maan was ever be in love then Pakeezahwas their baby.

In the beginning Ashok Kumar was to play the role of Salim, but Rajkumar later played it.

Meena Kumari was very ill when during the shooting 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. Meena Kumari died weeks after the film was released. All

The members of the crew gave their best performances as they all know that this would be their last film and they would not survive after this.

Story starts from a scene when Nargis (Meenakumari ) eloped with the Sahabuddin (Ashok kumar). After being rejected by Sahabuddin”s family Nargis is driven to a graveyard where she gives birth of a girl child. Nargis died during childbirth and child was taken by her sister Nawabjan (Veena) in a Brothel and named as Sahibjaan. Sahibjaan grew up in the brothel and turns out as a finest dancer and singer. Forest ranger Salim (Rajkumar ) falls upon her beauty and Innocence and ask her to elope with him, that eventually she does. Wherever she goes with salim, she is recognised as a courtesean by men. When Salim re-names her "Pakeezah" (pure of heart) and takes her to a priest to be legally married, she refuses, and returns to the brothel. Salim eventually decides to marry someone else, and invites Sahibjaan to dance at his wedding; Sahibjaan agrees to this. During this event, the story reveals an exciting turn,Nawabjan recognises Shahabuddin, and calls him to witness the situation . His own daughter employed to dance and entertain his own family without his knowing.

Music director Gulam Mohamad could not see the success of his soundtracks and died before the completion of the movie , after his Sudden demise background music was composed by the Nausad Ali. Cinematographer Joseph Wirsching too died before the release.Dialogues are outstanding. (Aapke paon dekhe, bahut haseen hai. / Inhe zameen par mat utariyega, maile ho jayenge.) and songs like, Chalte chalet youn hi koi mil gaya tha,

Inhe logon ne le leena duppata mera and others are still the classics and unmatching.

Meena kumari has not played the role but lived the role of Sahibjaan. The film wasdeclared flop after its release but then two weeks later Meena Kumari died, and people started rushing to watch it , the finest classic the Indian film Industry has ever produced.