Mirza Ghalib

Mirza Galib (1954) : Brief Review -

An early Musical Classic for Indian Cinema with highly ornamental features all over. If I'm not wrong then Mirza Galib was 2nd most successful Musical for Bollywood after immensely popular Baiju Bawra (1952) that time. Bollywood saw top class magnus opus like Mughal-e-Azam (1960) and Pakeezah (1972) set in Urdu ghetto, both (available) in colored cinema, but it's unfortunate that Mirza Galib didn't enjoy the same fame as these two because of Black and White feature. This film in Colored version would have been a sensation for sure because the grandeur, sets, cinematography and allegorical designing everything was just Spectacular. Mirza Galib is based on the life of well-known poet Mirza Ghalib. The film shows every single thing with proper execution and adds the elevated vocabulary which makes it a High-class poetic lecture. Bharat Bhushan is perfect in lead role in every single frame and every single dialect. Suraiya rules this film like never before. She looks beautiful, she sings beautifully and she acts beautifully, in short, she makes everything look beautiful. This has to be one of her best performance ever and most impactful character ever. Supporting cast is excellent and just to name a few, Nigar Sultana, Durga Khote, Ulhas and Iftekhar leads the list. Mirza Galib becomes an Extraordinary film despite an ordinary script because of 3 things and those 3 things are, Dialogues (mostly shayaris), lyrics and Music. Probably, the best for any Bollywood film by that time, no arguments please. Soharab Modi's direction is highly impressive as he skillfully compiles so many things in single narrative with his smartness. Overall, Mirza Galib is a Classic poetic masoic which, in my opinion, the Best thing we had before Masterpiece Mughal-E-Azam.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

Mirza Ghalib has been one of the greatest Shaayars (Urdu poets) of the world and he was always in a league of his own. His Shaayari cannot be compared to that of anyone else because of his down-to-earth personality (with no element of elitism anywhere) and the happy-go-lucky approach towards life which he termed as FAAKAMASTI in his Shaayarana lingo. Though he accepted the royal pension later in his life, he always remained carefree in his life and the economic hardships never took their toll on this legendary Shaayar. He never bothered about his future and enjoyed every moment of his life.

Producer-director Sohrab Modi made a movie on the youth phase of his life. Great Hindi author- Saadat Hasan Manto wrote the story, another great Hindi writer - Rajinder Singh Bedi wrote the screenplay and J.K. Nanda wrote the Urdu-laden dialogues.

The story of Mirza Ghalib (1954) is nothing but the love-affair of Mirza Ghalib (Bhaarat Bhushan) and Mothi Begum (Suraiya). Mirza Ghalib (real name Asadullah Khan) is already married to Umrao Begum (Nigaar Sultaana) but falls into love with a courtesan whose real name is Mothi Begum or the pearl queen but she likes to be called as Chaudahvin Begum or the fourteenth queen. Amidst the hardships and the ups and downs in Ghalib's life, their love story continues until Mothi Begum feels that she is destroying Ghalib's marital life and commits suicide.

The way there is no mention of Anarkali in the history but the Salim-Anarkali saga is immortal for the lovers and the creators of fictional-work, the same way there is no mention of Mothi Begum in the history or the biography of Mirza Asdullah Khan Ghalib but the authors have taken their liberty in creating her to make a touching love story. I don't know whether it is true or not but the thing widely acknowledged is that every great male artist is bound to have relationship with some female who acts as his muse. The major part of the movie has been dedicated to the introduction, meetings and love of Mirza Ghalib and Mothi Begum. The rest has been dedicated to Mirza's family life, his hardships due to poverty, his popularity through Shaayari and the helplessness of the Mughal emperor in doing anything worthwhile due to the increasing might of the British. Sohrab Modi has superbly directed the story drafted for him by the great Hindi litterateurs.

The scene of the visit of the Hindu money-lender (Mukri) to Mirza's home is very impressive in which Lala or the money-lender asks for his due money and Mirza offers to give his Shaayari to him just like paper-waste but Mirza's wife stops him and offers Lala to take her golden bangles against the money due to him but then the kind-hearted and sensitive Lala himself refuses to take her bangles and leaves Mirza's residence saying to Mirza that he is not in a hurry for his money and if Mirza requires further money, he can approach him. Despite being an imaginary incident, It underscores the communal harmony in our country as well as the human-bonds between people in that period .

The arrest of Mirza by the police officer of that area (Ulhas) and the judge's himself giving Mirza's bail money (because he is also Mirza's admirer) is another impressive scene. Murad has played the role of the judge. The helplessness of the Mughal emperor (Iftekhar) has also been shown emphatically when he says to Mothi Begum (who approaches him for Mirza's release) that he cannot do anything to ensure Mirza's release from jail because his order is not applicable on the other side of the Yamuna where the order of the British resident holds good.

Finally, the movie scores because of the immortal Ghazals and Nazms of the legendary Shaayar sung by Suraiya and Talat Mahmood and composed by Ghulam Mohammed. The music of this movie is nothing short of a precious jewel, a great combination of Urdu poetry and touching melodies. Aah Ko Chaahiye Ek Umr Asar Hone Tak, Yeh Na Thi Hamaari Kismat Ki Visaal-e-Yaar Hota, Nuktacheen Hai Gham-e-Dil, Dil-e-Naadan Tujhe Hua Kya Hai, Ishq Mujhko Nahin Vehashat Hi Sahi etc. are the musical gems to be preserved forever. The male voice songs are a part of Talat Mahmood's all time great songs (solos and duets). One song - Hai Bas Ke Har Ek Unke Ishaare Mein has been sung by Mohammed Rafi.

Suraiya was as beautiful as well as a proficient actress as a great singer she was. In all the three forms of art, she was unmatchable. She has infused life into the role of the sacrificing Mothi Begum and in a way, overshadowed the hero. Her performance both as a singer as well as an actress for the Ghazal - Aah Ko Chaahiye Ek Umr Asar Hone Tak is unforgettable. Again in the climax, she has mesmerized the viewers-cum-listeners on the immortal Ghazal - Yeh Na Thi Hamaari Kismat Ki Visaal-e-Yaar Hota. Bhaarat Bhushan was always effective in performing the sensitive and golden-hearted characters of artists and he has done well in the title role. Nigaar Sultaana as Mirza's wife has marvelled like anything. The complete supporting cast has done justice to the respective roles.

Technically, the movie is highly admirable. It's a period movie and hence special care was required in its making. The art director - Rusi K. Banker had won the Filmfare award for the best art direction for this movie. He has virtually brought the Delhi of the nineteenth century on the screen. Cinematography of this black and white movie is equally effective.

Despite containing an imaginary story not supported by the history, Mirza Ghalib is a classic movie and a very big treat for the lovers of golden oldies.