My love for old Hindi films is well-documented on this blog. While I continue to watch movies across languages, countries, and even genres, my heart reserves a special place for films from the 50s and 60s. Especially the former.
Despite my long absences from my blog, I continue to have a few faithful readers who always read my infrequent posts, even if most don't comment. [My deepest gratitude to all my readers, but especially to those who brave the challenges of Disqus to leave a comment.]
One of them recently wrote to me; she had been a silent reader of my blog for years, and she thanked me for the reviews of older films. She had watched quite a few of them, and now she wondered if I could recommend a few films she could use as reference points for her sister and boyfriend. I could have simply directed her to my list of reviewed films. But, I thought, why not make this a post for others who may be interested in viewing older Hindi films but do not know where to start?
I am choosing to eschew 'famous' films like Awaara, Shree 420, Pyaasa, Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam, Mother India, Do Bigha Zamin, etc. These films typically top any 'must-watch' list that Google throws up. So, a list of twelve films from the early decades of Hindi cinema that comprises some 'classic' films and some lighter ones from the 50s and 60s that I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I hope you will find them entertaining, too. [Clicking on the films' names will take you to my reviews of these films.]
Classics
Jagte Raho (1956) A migrant worker in search of water to quench his thirst is hunted by the residents of the apartment building in which he has sought refuge. The film highlights middle-class hypocrisy while simultaneously calling out the inherent prejudice that accuses a poor migrant of theft, simply because he's a stranger.
Why you should watch: Jagte Raho offers a timeless critique of urban hypocrisy. Modern Bengali society (and, by extension, Indian society) had never been skewered so skilfully before. The humour inherent in the narrative makes the bitter pill easier to swallow. Watch it for Raj Kapoor's brilliant performance, the almost wordless physicality he brings to the role, and Salil Choudhury's stellar music.
Madhumati (1958)
An engineer remembers his past life as a forest ranger named Anand in love with a tribal woman named Madhumati. When the local landowner lusts after Madhumati and tricks her into coming to his palace, Madhumati jumps off the terrace. A grief-stricken Anand uses Madhumati’s doppelganger to try and force a confession out of the villain.
Why you should watch: If you're in the mood for a heart-melting romance, if you love 'reincarnation' films, and if you want to soak in the gothic atmosphere with a stylish villain you’d love to hate, Madhumati is for you. Watch it for Vyjayanthimala's innocent grace, Dilip Kumar's passionate romance, Bimal Roy's atmospheric direction that makes the mist-wreathed hills feel like a character in their own right, and Salil Choudhury's excellent score.
Dharmputra (1961)
Set during the pre-independence period and the years immediately following the Partition, the film revolves around the out-of-wedlock son of a Muslim woman brought up in a Hindu household. Current events turn him into a religious extremist who demands the blood of his birth parents.
Pic courtesy: IMDB
Why you should watch: Dharmputra sensitively handles the raw
trauma and the resultant chaos of Partition, and offers a brave critique of
religious extremism. Watch it for its brave repudiation of religious
fundamentalism, honest questioning of identity politics, deep-seated prejudices
and communal hatred. The performances are excellent, and the music by N. Dutta
complements Sahir Ludhianvi's hard-hitting lyrics. Watch it, too, for how
unflinching it remains even decades later — few mainstream films have taken on
this subject with as much nerve.
Amrapali (1966) The tale of a nagar vadhu who chooses her country over her beloved is a classic for a reason. When she's ostracised as a traitor for harbouring the enemy king and stoned by the very citizens who once lusted after her, Amrapali donates all her wealth to Gautama Buddha and joins the sangha.
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| Pic courtesy: IMDB |
Why you should watch: Watch Amrapali for Vyjayanthimala's exquisite grace, her scintillating dances, and the film’s definitive anti-war message. MR Achrekar's grand sets, Bhanu Athaiya's well-researched costumes, and Shankar-Jaikishan's melodious music are bonuses.
Teesri Kasam (1966)
A cart driver is hired to drive a stage dancer to a fair in a distant town. Though initially reluctant to do so, he agrees. He is naïve, she's worldly-wise, but this unlikely duo become friends during the course of the journey. There's an implied attraction as well, even if unexpressed. What the cart driver doesn't yet realise is that her profession leaves her open to lewd advances. And does she even want to escape its coils to settle in domesticity?
Why you should watch: For its lyrical realism, the quiet chemistry between Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman, the rural setting of the story, and the excellent music by Shankar-Jaikishan. Watch it, too, for a rare gentleness — this is a film that lets its central relationship remain unresolved and unspoken, and trusts the audience to feel the loss of it.
C.I.D. (1956)
A gripping noir about the Bombay underworld and a brave C.I.D. officer who sets out to unmask the ringleader, only to find himself on the run for murder.
Why should you watch: C.I.D. is a gritty, fast-paced, entertaining thriller. Watch it for the slick direction (Raj Khosla), the excellent performances (Dev Anand as the cop, Waheeda Rehman in her Hindi debut as the villain's moll), OP Nayyar's frothy, foot-tapping music, and the effortlessly stylish black-and-white cinematography that captures 1950s Bombay at its most seductive and seedy.
Light-hearted entertainers
Chori Chori (1956)
When a spoilt heiress runs away to marry her lover, an adventurer of whom her father disapproves, she runs into an out-of-luck journalist who promises to help her reach her destination in return for an exclusive. En route, the bickering strangers end up falling in love. But will true love win the day?
Pic courtesy: Upperstall
Why you should watch: A well-made adaptation of It Happened One Night, Chori
Chori had everything a rom-com should have – engaging leads, witty humour,
soulful songs that pull the narrative forward, and a road trip to end all road
trips. Watch it for the legendary Raj Kapoor-Nargis chemistry, still evident
despite their personal tumult, the funny (mis)adventures along the route, and
the great songs.
Chalti ka Naam Gaadi (1958)
A genuinely funny, slapstick comedy about three brothers, a crazy car, a beautiful damsel, and storybook villains, Chalti ka Naam Gaadi is not plot-driven as much as a collection of humorous vignettes that turn logic on its head.
Why you should watch: For the sheer absurdity of the 'plot', the real-life chemistry of the Ganguli brothers, Madhubala's scintillating beauty, impish charm and impeccable comic timing, and SD Burman's breezy music, which keeps the whole madcap enterprise afloat.
Kala Bazar (1960)
An engaging morality tale that offers a progressive, grounded look at poverty and ambition, guilt and redemption, rehabilitation and second chances, Kala Bazar traces the narrative arc of a young man who loses his job, and steals money to launch a massive black-market ring selling cinema tickets. His redemption only begins when he meets a young woman with a strong moral core.
Why you should watch: For the excellent acting (and chemistry) between Dev Anand and Waheeda, and SD Burman's soulful music and Shailendra's evocative lyrics. Watch it also for an unusually progressive portrayal of love, and for a female character who has agency and is not judged by either the film or the other characters for her choices. Watch it, too, for a sympathetic, morally complicated look at black marketing that never lets the hero off the hook too easily. And finally, play 'spot the celebrity' during the real-life premiere of Mother India.
Parakh (1960)
Written by Salil Choudhury, Parakh revolves around a village postmaster who is tasked with giving an anonymous donation of Rs 5 lakh to the most honest man in the village. Farcical repercussions follow the announcement as the most corrupt men in the village compete with each other to prove their worth.
Parakh quietly implies that what is happening in the village is just a small-scale version of what's happening in the country. The counterpoint to the avarice and opportunism is the quiet romance between the postmaster's daughter and the village schoolmaster.
Why you should watch: If you like sharp but light-hearted social satires, people you can identify with, problems that you can understand. The story is still relevant to the times, as it mirrors electoral politics at both local and national levels and skewers local leaders who buy electoral votes. Watch it for a lovely Sadhana who showed she could act as well as play a glamorous heroine (in her debut, Love in Simla, the same year). Watch it also for Salil Choudhury's excellent music, and for a satire that manages to be pointed without ever losing its warmth.
Junglee (1961)
A man is reared on the strictest principles by a martinet of a mother. She, in turn, has imbibed her lessons from her late husband. On a trip to Kashmir, he runs into a lovely, free-spirited lass who turns his whole life upside down.
Why you should watch: For Shammi Kapoor's exuberant turn as the peevish, sullen young man whose life is transformed by love; for Saira Banu's exquisite loveliness and her spirited turn as an independent young woman with a mind of her own; for Shankar-Jaikishan's scintillating music; and for the beautiful vistas of Kashmir, filmed with a colour and scale that were still a novelty for Hindi cinema at the time.
Tere Ghar ke Samne (1963)
Two fiercely competitive wealthy men buy plots of land opposite each other and hire the same architect to build their homes. The architect, the son of one man, falls in love with the daughter of his father's rival, setting the scene for a romantic comedy to play out against the backdrop of their fathers' rivalry.
Why you should watch: For a progressive take on the clash between generations, between old and new, between traditional conservatism and modern liberalism. Vijay Anand's deft direction, SD Burman's soulful music, the humour in the dialogues, and Dev Anand's and Nutan's youthful charm and excellent comic timing make this the perfect romcom.
I am not suggesting that these are the only films of the era worth watching. I'm hoping that this list will not only lead readers to watch these films but also inspire them to delve into the filmographies of the directors and actors involved. That will lead you to discover several other gems along the way (Madhulika Liddle at Dustedoff has some excellent recommendations here) such as Sujata, (Bimal Roy), Anuradha, Anupama, Anari (all by Hrishikesh Mukherjee), Mr & Mrs 55 (Guru Dutt), Jewel Thief, Teesri Manzil (both by Vijay Anand), Sadhna (BR Chopra) and China Town (Shakti Samanta), etc. But these are my choices (at present).
Which films would you like to watch?
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