Barsaat (1949 film)
| Barsaat | |
|---|---|
| File:Barsaat (1949) film poster.jpg Film poster | |
| Directed by | Raj Kapoor |
| Written by | Ramanand Sagar |
| Produced by | Raj Kapoor |
| Starring | Nargis Raj Kapoor Prem Nath K.N. Singh Cuckoo Nimmi |
| Cinematography | Jal Mistry |
| Edited by | G. G. Mayekar |
| Music by | Shankar Jaikishan |
Release date | 21 April 1949 (India) |
Running time | 171 min. |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Barsaat (Hindi: बरसात, English: Rain) is a 1949 Bollywood film directed by Raj Kapoor. The film stars the famous duo of Kapoor and Nargis as well as Prem Nath. It was also the introduction of actress Nimmi in her first film role. Barsaat was one of the first major hit films directed by Kapoor. This success allowed Kapoor to buy RK Studios in 1950.
Plot
The film revolves around two love stories. Pran (Raj Kapoor) and Reshma (Nargis) and Gopal (Prem Nath) and Neela (Nimmi). Two friends with opposite personalities, the rich but sensitive Pran and the womanizing Gopal both have affairs with two mountain girls while holidaying in the valley of Kashmir. While Pran and Reshma's love is true and reciprocated, Gopal is a womanizing villain, who disregards the faithful Neela (Nimmi) and condemns her to wait faithfully for his return with the barsaat (rainy season). Many plot intrigues follow through with Pran and Reshma facing many trials on the path to true love, including parental opposition, accidents and an attempted forced marriage of Reshma to an uncouth fisherman. The couple are finally reunited.
Gopal on the other hand finally becomes a reformed character and rushes to claim the ever faithful Neela who has been pining away, only to arrive to find his true love dead. The film ends with Gopal lighting Neela's funeral pyre as the rains finally come.
Artwork and Publicity
The much acclaimed poster and publicity[1] for the movie were illustrated by the master artist Dr S. M. Pandit. One of the posters showing the heroine dangling on the arm of the hero would go on to inspire the R K Studios' famous logo.
Music
The music of Barsaat became famous upon the film's release in 1949. The film was the debut for music directors Shankar Jaikishan and established their careers. The famous playback singer Lata Mangeshkar famously sang for both Nargis and Nimmi in Barsaat.
The soundtrack was listed by Planet Bollywood at number 1 on their list of the 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks.[2] Rakesh Budhu of Planet Bollywood gave 10 stars stating, "Barsaat is ideally one of Hindi cinema’s best soundtracks".[3]
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Planet Bollywood |  [3] |
Track list
| # | Title | Singer(s) | Lyricist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Jiya Beqarar Hai" | Lata Mangeshkar | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 2 | "Mujhe Kisi Se Pyaar Ho Gaya" | Lata Mangeshkar | Jalal Malihabadi |
| 3 | "Patli Kamar Hai" | Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar | Shailendra, Akhilesh |
| 4 | "Bichhde Huye Pardesi" | Lata Mangeshkar | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 5 | "Ab Mera Kaun Sahara" | Lata Mangeshkar | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 6 | "Chhod Gaye Balam Mujhe" | Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 7 | "Meri Aankhon Mein Bas Gaya Koi Re" | Lata Mangeshkar | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 8 | "Zindagi Mein Hardam Rota Hi Raha" | Mohammed Rafi | Hasrat Jaipuri |
| 9 | "Barsaat Mein Humse Mile" | Lata Mangeshkar | Shailendra |
| 10 | "Hawa Mein Udta Jaye" | Lata Mangeshkar | Ramesh Shastri |
| 11 | "Jiya Beqrar hai" | Lata Mangeshkar | Shankar Jaikishan |
References
- ^ Cinema India: The Art of Bollywood - V&A exhibition http://collections.vam.ac.uk/exhibition/cinema-india-the-art-of-bollywood/337/
- ^ "100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks Ever – Part 4". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 7 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Barsaat Music Review by Rakesh Budhu". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
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