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Anarkali is a 1958 Pakistani historical drama film, directed by Anwar Kamal Pasha and starring Noor Jehan and Sudhir in lead roles. Based on the Urdu play of the same name by Imtiaz Ali Taj, the screenplay is written by Qamar Ajnalvi. The film revolves around the love of Jahangir for a slave girl, Anarkali, which creates a serious conflict between Prince Jahangir and his father, Mughal emperor Akbar. The film was released on 4 June 1958, and its performance was 'average' at the box office.
| Anarkali | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Anwar Kamal Pasha |
| Screenplay by | Qamar Ajnalvi |
| Story by | Imtiaz Ali Taj |
| Based on | Anārkalī by Imtiaz Ali Taj |
| Produced by | Mukhtar Ahmed |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | |
Production company | Nigar Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | ~ 2 hours |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Language | Urdu |
Made with a budget of high production, the film is usually compared with the landmark Bollywood film, Mughal-e-Azam ,which was also based on the same play.The film was praised for its music, which was composed by Master Inayat Hussain and Rashid Attre.[1] At the Nigar Awards ceremony in 1958, it won two awards:Best Lyricist for Qateel Shifai and Best Playback Singer for Noor Jehan.
Cast
edit- Noor Jehan as Nadira/ Anarkali[2][1]
- Sudhir as Prince Salim[2][1]
- Himalya Wala[2][1] as Emperor Jalal-u-Din Mohammad Akbar
- Shamim Ara as Suraiya
- Ragni as Dilaram[2][1]
- Zohra Mirza as Jodha Bai
- M. Ajmal as Abu'l Fazl
- Fazal Haq[1] as Daroga
- Bibbo as Begum
- G.N. Butt as Man Singh
- Asha Posley as Maharani
- Zarif as Prince Salim's friend[3][1]
Soundtrack
edit| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer (s)[2][4] | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sadaa Hoon Apney Pyar Ki[1]" | Qateel Shifai | Rashid Attre | Noor Jehan | |
| 2. | "Jaltey Haeen Armaan Mera Dil Rota Hai" | Tanvir Naqvi | Rashid Attre | Noor Jehan | |
| 3. | "Kahan Tak Suno Gey Kahan Tak Sunaoon" | Tanvir Naqvi | Rashid Attre | Noor Jehan | |
| 4. | "O Beewafa Hum Na Bhooley Tujhey" | Saifuddin Saif | Master Inayat Hussain | Noor Jehan | |
| 5. | "Phir Jo Nigah-e-Yar Kahe" | Qateel Shifai | Master Inayat Hussain |
Release
editThe film was released on 4 June 1958. Its performance was rated as average at the box office, and it had a theatrical run for 18 weeks in Karachi cinemas.
Production
editImtiaz Ali Taj's Anārkalī was adapted as a screenplay by director Anwar Kamal Pasha for the film Anarkali.[3] In the 1940s, Mohammad Afzal, better known by his stage name Himalya Wala, was selected to play the character of Salim's Rajput friend, Durjan Singh, in K. Asif adaptation of Taj's play (Mughal-e-Azam), but due to political turmoil and the worst conditions in the country that led to the independence of Pakistan, the project was halted, and he went on to star in Anarkali after he migrated to Pakistan.[5]
The film is compared with the landmark Bollywood film Mughal-e-Azam, which was also based on the same play by Taj and broke all the box office records but Anarkali could not perform remarkably at the box office and had low a production budget in comparison to its rival.[6]
Reception
editFilm analysts criticized the casting of Noor Jehan as Anarkali, as Jehan was in her 30s by then and chubby at that time. She nowhere resembled a young, pretty female servant as is portrayed in the 1920s novel by the same name. The film music was however praised.[2][6]
Awards and nominations
edit- Best Lyricist - Qateel Shifai[7]
- Best Playback Singer - Noor Jehan
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h "Film 'Anarkali' to be screened on Saturday". Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) website. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Aijaz Gul (8 May 2016). "'Anarkali' screened at Mandwa". The News International (newspaper). Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Lok Virsa to screen Pakistani classic 'Anaarkali'". The News International (newspaper). 4 May 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Amjad Parvez (23 September 2019). "Noor Jahan's top 10 most memorable songs". Daily Times (newspaper). Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ Karan Bali (16 April 2017). "The 'Mughal-e-Azam' that was never made, starring Nargis". Scroll.in website. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ a b Karan Bai (19 March 2016). "The fascinating tales of the many Anarkalis". Scroll.in website. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "List of Nigar awards from 1957 to 1971". The Hot Spot Online website. 17 June 2002. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008.