Director: Raj Khosla; Writer: Inder Raj Anand; Producer: Guru Dutt; Cinematographer: V.K. Murthy, Anwar; Editor: Y.G. Chawhan; Cast: Dev Anand, Shakila, Waheeda Rehman, Johnny Walker, Kumkum, K.N. Singh, Bir Sakhuja, Jagdish, Prabhuji, Uma Devi, Rajesh Sharma, Paul Sharma
Duration: 02:19:35; Aspect Ratio: 1.290:1; Hue: 135.000; Saturation: 0.025; Lightness: 0.155; Volume: 0.202; Cuts per Minute: 9.435; Words per Minute: 34.223
Summary: Khosla’s first successful film, made in the crime movie tradition of Navketan inflected by Guru Dutt’s influence. Police Inspector Shekhar (Anand) investigates the death of a newspaper editor when he meets Rekha (Shakila), the daughter of the commissioner (K.N. Singh). Shekhar keeps running into a mysterious woman (Rehman) who, in a cloak-and-dagger encounter, tries to bribe him to release a crook. He meets her again at Rekha’s birthday party. The crook she wants released is mysteriously killed in jail and Shekhar is blamed for police torture. He goes into hiding, pursued by the murderer he was investigating as well as by the police. He eventually solves the case in hospital. The film is dominated by Rehman’s luminous presence in her first Hindi role, the camera enhancing her mystery with soft-focus over-the-shoulder shots. Her sensuality is particularly well rendered in the scenes where she tries to seduce the crime boss (with the song Kahin pe nigahen) in order to facilitate the hero’s escape.
bombay songs
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I remember the comedian Johnny Walker crooning in Mohammed Rafi’s voice, “Yeh hai Bambai meri jaan” (It’s Bombay, Darling) to the tune of “Oh My Darling, Clementine,” in CID (1956). Hindi cinema stood for Bombay, even if the city appeared only fleetingly on-screen, and then too as a corrupt and soulless opposite of the simplicity and warmth of the village. I understand now that underlying our fascination with Bombay was the desire for modern life." - Gyan Prakash, Mumbai Fables.
The city poses itself as a major protagonist to reckon with in this song. Johnny Walker moves through the city, outlining the contours of Mumbai. The song powerfully maps the city, voicing the different shades that Mumbai has.
"Zara hatke zara bachke..yeh hai mumbai meri jaan"- this phrase which keeps resonating throughout the song warns against this gigantic city and the vices that have crept into it. With the rising buildings and rapid developments being pitted against this hub of crime, mumbai becomes a site of contradictions.
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Song: Ae dil hai mushkil...
Yeh hai Bombay meri jaan
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