Nastik (1954 film)
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Song synopsis booklet cover
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| Directed by | I. S. Johar |
| Produced by | Shashadhar Mukherjee Productions |
| Written by | I. S. Johar |
| Starring | Ajit Nalini Jaywant Ulhas Raj Mehra |
| Music by | C. Ramchandra |
| Cinematography | Dronacharya |
| Edited by | Babu Lavande D. N. Pai |
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Production
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Filmistan Ltd.
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Release dates
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Running time
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149 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
Nastik (The Atheist) is a 1954 Hindi social crime drama film written and directed by I. S. Johar.[1] It was produced by Filmistan Ltd. under the Shashadhar Mukherjee Productions banner. Its cinematographer was Dronacharya, and the choreography was by the Indian classical dancer Lachhu Maharaj and Narendra Sharma. The dialogues were by Mrs. Ramma Johar. C. Ramchandra composed the music while the lyricist was Kavi Pradeep.[2] Known for his "patriotic" lyrics, Pradeep's "immortal" song "Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Haalat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwan" (See What Your World Has Come To, God) sung by him, remains popular.[3] The film starred Nalini Jaywant, Ajit, Raj Mehra, Ulhas, Mehmood and Roopmala.[4]
The film is set against the back drop of Partition with its ensuing riots and violence, and using actual footage of refugees.[5] The story is about a man who loses his faith in God when his parents are killed in the rioting, and his brother and sister die as refugees when the priest refuses to help them. He sets out to avenge his siblings' death.
Contents
Plot
Anil (Ajit), sees his parents killed in front of him during the violence of partition and flees with his sister Kamla (Kamala), and young brother Munna. Having to leave everything behind them in Pakistan, they enter India as refugees and take shelter in a temple. When Munna falls sick, Anil goes to the Mahant (priest) Tulsiram (Ulhas) for help. The priest has no time for the poor, and refuses to visit the sick child. An infuriated Anil attacks the priest, who calls the police and has him arrested. His brother dies and Kamala is forced to bcome a singing girl (Tawaif) by Vinod Kumar (Raj Mehra) and his henchman (Mehmood). When Anil comes out of prison he is devastated to find his brother dead and his sister a courtesan. The sister kills herself out of shame. Anil vows vengeance on the priest and Vinod. His belief in god is lost and he becomes an atheist, deriding god and priests. His friend from jail, Joker (I. S. Johar) is with him. Tulsiram on finding out that Anil has vowed vengeance on him, is on the run with his daughter. He goes on a pilgrimage with Anil and Joker in pursuit. Joker thanks God that at least this way an atheist will also perform a pilgrimage.
Anil meets Rama (Nalini Jaywant), the priest Tulsiram's daughter when he sees Rani Ma, (Leela Mishra) scolding an untouchable boy for touching her, begging for alms. A priest hits the boy and Anil in turn hits the priest.Rama tends to the boy and Anil finds out she is Tulsiram's daughter. He decides to revenge himself by marrying Rama, an act which would be disagreeable to the priest. With contrived circumstances, he gets Rama who has fallen in love with Anil, to marry him. They spend the night together and are out in the boat with the father after them when they both fall in the water. Rama is saved by her father but finds out later that she's pregnant. She presumes that Anil is dead. A son is born to her and when he falls sick she takes him to a God-man, Babaji, whom everyone believes has healing powers. Babaji is none other than Anil pretending to be a God-man. Once Anil discovers that Rama is alive and his son is ill a change comes over him, and with the recovery of his son his belief is restored.
Cast
- Nalini Jaywant as Rama
- Ajit as Anil Kumar / Babaji
- Ulhas as Mahant Tulsiram / Poojari
- I. S. Johar as Joker
- Raj Mehra as Vinod Kumar
- Roopmala as Kamala/Courtesan
- Leela Mishra as Rani Ma, Vinod’s mother
- Mumtaz Begum as Mataji
- Mehmood as Vinod's henchman
- Rajen Haksar
Review and reception
The film was highly successful at the box-office, running for fifty weeks (Golden jubilee) even though the film was banned initially.[5] Nastik made use of "documentary footage of refugees in overcrowded trains to show the mass exodus of people from both sides of the border". Later Yash Chopra's Dharmputra (1960) was to show similar footage.[6]
Nastik highlighted the anguish of partition, and is stated to be one of the better films on the subject, and is still used as a benchmark in comparison to other films on the same topic.[7] The film shows Hindu shrines "spread all over" India, with Dwarka, Rameshwar, Puri, Varanasi, and Brindavan among others.[8]
Soundtrack
The music direction was by C. Ramchandra. Lyricist Kavi Pradeep, known for his "inspirational verses" wrote the famous "thought-provoking" song "Dekh Tere…Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan".[9] The playback singers were Pradeep, Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar and C. Ramchandra. .[10]
Songlist
| # | Title | Singer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | " Kitna Badal Gaya Insaan (Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Haalat)" | Kavi Pradeep |
| 2 | "Tere Hote Hue Aaj Main Lut Rahi " | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 3 | "Kanha Bajaye Bansari Aur Gwale Bajayen Manjeere" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 4 | "Jai Jai Ram Raghurai" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 5 | "Amrit Aur Zahar Donon Hain, Tere Phulon Se Bhi Pyaar" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 6 | "Hone Laga Hai Mujhpe Jawani Ka Ab Asar Jhuki Jaye Nazar " | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 7 | " Kaise Aaye Hain Din Haye Andher Ke" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 8 | "Tere Phoolon Se Bhi Pyar" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| 9 | "Gagan Jhanjhana Raha Pavan Sansana Raha" | Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar |
| 10 | "Duniya Bhar Ke Nastik, Zor Laga Le Arrey Zamane" | Lata Mangeshkar, C. Ramchandra |
References
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