Howrah Bridge (1958)
Director: Shakti Samanta; Writer: Ranjan Bose; Producer: Shakti Samanta; Cinematographer: Chandu; Editor: Dharamvir; Cast: Ashok Kumar, Madhubala (Begum Mumtaz Jehan), Dhumal, K.N. Singh, Om Prakash, Helen, Kammo, Madan Puri, Sundar, Krishnakant, Kundan, Bhagwan Sinha, Sailen Bose
Duration: 02:23:34; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 60.000; Saturation: 0.026; Lightness: 0.132; Volume: 0.383; Cuts per Minute: 8.233; Words per Minute: 44.897
Summary: This crime movie was one of the first to assimilate the Hong Kong cinema’s influence, a trend continued by Samanta’s China Town (1962). Rakesh (Kumar), the son of a Rangoon merchant, comes to Calcutta in search of his brother’s killer. With the help of Joe, a restaurant manager, and Edna (Madhubala), a cabaret dancer, he routs the villains Pyarelal (K.N. Singh) and Chiang (Puri). The film ends with a chase sequence over the famous Howrah Bridge in Calcutta and includes Geeta Dutt’s famous cabaret number Mera naam Chin Chin Choo ... Hello mister, how do you do? performed in the film by Helen.
Minimal Bollywood Art for Howrah Bridge
censor certificate
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Song: Dekhke teri nazar
देख के तेरी नज़र बेक़रार हो गये
Chin Chin Choo to Chang
Singer: Geeta Dutt
Song: Mera naam Chin Chin Choo
मेरा नाम चिन-चिन-चू
AAIYE MEHERBAN
The lead actress almost never played the club singer. That was reserved for the moll, the vamp or at best the parallel heroine, more often than not with a Christian name. The lead star was the pure Indian woman, with Indian values and, despite her independent-mindedness, ready for domestication. She may wear western clothes, but soon after the relationship was confirmed, she switched to Indian clothes.
There were some exemptions, such as Howrah Bridge, where the lead actress was a club singer—but then she was an Anglo Indian, and clearly identified as such. Her name is Edna. She speaks broken Hindi.
Shakti Samanta’s story was set in Calcutta, home of Anglo Indians, many of whom were in the entertainment business.
On the other hand, this reflected the cosmopolitanism of the whole scene. Ashok Kumar, for example, is not an Anglo Indian.
Club Song of the 1950s
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Song:
Aiye meherbaan, baithiye
आइये मेहरबाँ, बैठिये जाने-जाँ
Under the Bridge
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Song: Mohabbat ka haath
मुहब्बत का हाथ जवानी का पल्ला
सुभान अल्लाह बाबू सुभान अल्लाह
Singer: Mohammad Rafi
Singer: Shamshad Begum
Song: Eit kii dukki paan kaa ikka
ईट की दुक्की पान का इक्का
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