महल

This is a Hindi language film starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala.

And while I'm a lover of (even) slow and art films, this is none of that. This is slow by forcing the apparent ghost to speak very slowly.

The script is poor and the plot full of holes. The execution is also unjustifiably slow and repetitive in multiple places. Editing looks to have been forced upon to still keep it within 3 hours. And then there's the needless comment on tribal and mountain life, as if life is only civilized in cities!

The protagonist character sketch is poorly developed and unconvincing of his actions.

The saving grace is Madhubala's beauty. I can't think of any other reason why the audience would have sit through this film and made it a blockbuster. The film thus became her launchpad.

Also maybe because "Aayega aanewala" became a hit those days and gave her a break too.

Save your time and avoid it!

Its so beautiful. Think it is probably the best gothic romance ever. From the grand music to the doomed lovers it has everything.

Also its shot beautifully. Almost like a surreal dream.

Full review on my blog max4movies: Mahal is a romantic drama with supernatural elements about a young man who is driven insane by the supposed ghost of his lover from another life. Several elements work great, e.g. the visual presentation and the eerie atmosphere. However, the movie lacks a more focused pacing, as it features several irrelevant songs and scenes that distract from the fate of the main characters. The theme song is very memorable but often the songs are entertaining which sometimes works against the serious notions of the tragic love story. Still, the main performances are captivating, and the atmospheric beginning and the clever ending make up for some of the apparent long-winded moments in between.

This is classic in real sense of the word. A tight suspense from beginning to end. Mahal is one of the greatest films ever made in Bombay filmdom. Adding to the suspense is all time great song 'Aayega aane wala...'. See it for a very young Madhubala and highly expressive Ashok Kumar. Kamal Amrohi has not made any better movie than this one. Though his 'Daira' is another great hidden classic. He is primarily remembered for 'Pakeeza'. Very few films gained the status this film achieved. This is certainly one of the ten best from Bombay. The story has twisting end which will certainly surprise you and you will never be the same again. Most of the movie was shot indoors, one can easily tell that comparing it to modern standards, yet the directorial perfection is amazing. A must see.

Cited as Bollywood's first horror film and also noteworthy for catapulting both its lead actress & playback singer into stardom, Mahal is as gothic as it is enchanting and as elegantly crafted as it is enigmatic in its storytelling. Making expert use of lighting, shadows & setting to establish its eerie atmosphere that brims with mystery & melancholy and further elevated by fine inputs from its committed cast, this haunted house horror juggles love, longing, death, reincarnation & class struggles with flair. Madhubala is an absolute delight but the long runtime, dated elements & plentiful songs do make the ride a bit tedious. However, the artistic rendition & neat camerawork leaves one wondering how Bollywood horror fell so low after starting on such an arresting & impressive note. In short, a fascinating gothic romance chiller.