Pakeezah

This is definitely one of the best movies I've ever seen-- it has everything-- a genuinely touching screenplay, fine actors that make subtlety a beautiful art to watch, an actually elegant romance (it's a shame that that kind of romance just doesn't seem to exist anymore), lovely songs and lyrics (especially the final song), an artistic score, and costumes and sets that make you want to live in them. The ending was only a disappointment in that I was expecting a spectacular film to have a brilliant end-- but it was still more wonderful then the vast majority of movies out there. Definitely check this movie out-- over and over again. There are many details you miss the first time that deserve a second look.

Pakeezah Was Directed By Kamal Amrohi...Who Was Known For His Perfectionism....It Was Produced & Written Again By Him... Screenplay Is Fine With The Script...

Story is About Sahibjaan Who Was Brought Up By Brothel Madame Nawabjaan.... She Grows Up & Becomes Popular Dancer/Singer.... Forest Ranger Salim is Enthralled By Her Beauty & Innocence, Convinces Her To Elope With Him But Trials And Tribulations Await As She is Recognized By Men Wherever She Goes With Salim.... When He Renames Her Pakeezah (Pure) Takes Her To A Priest To Be Legally Married, She Refuses, Returns To The Brothel..The Story Moves Further...

Meena Kumari As Sahibjaan Is Best Part Of The Movie....She Is Brilliant With Acting & Dancing...Raj Kumar As Salim Is Fine ...He Is Good In Few Of The Scenes....Veena As Nawabjaan Does Well..

Music Is Composed By Ghulam Mohammad & Naushad....Ghulam Mohammad Died During The Making Of The Movie So Naushad Was In...It Has Some Classic Dance Numbers Like "Chalte Chalte" By Lata,"Inhi Logon Ne" By Lata,"Thare Rahiyo" By Lata.....

Overall A Great Movie...It Took 14 Years To Complete The Movie...Many Changes Took Place During The Making But Final Output Was Brilliant ...The Film, Which Had Been Declared A Flop When First Released, Became A Success....Today Considered A Classic...Must Watch :)

Well what can you say about a movie like this,well there is only one word amazing, as i speak "urdu" i understand the language very well, the dialogue's in this movie are excellent and of course the poetry(especially when "rajkumar" enters the train).This movie is about the fake pride build in contemporary Indian societies families and the famous "nawabs" of that era.

The movie gets the start not that well however after the 10min the dialogues the songs will keep you entertained This is movie which will sweep you off with its music dance and script.This is all time favourite

This movie is one among the very few Indian movies, that would never fade away with the passage of time, nor would its spell binding appeal ever diminish, even as the Indian cinema transforms into the abyss of artificially styled pop culture while drill oriented extras take to enhancing the P.T. styled film songs.

The cinematography speaks of the excellent skills of Josef Werching that accentuate the monumental and cinema scope effect of the film in its entirety.

Gone are the days of great cinema, when every scene had to be clipped many times and retakes taken before finalizing it, while meticulous attention was paid in crafting and editing the scenes. Some of its poignant scenes are filled with sublime emotional intensity, like the instance, when Meena Kumari refuses to say "YES" as an approval for Nikah (Marriage Bond) and climbs down the hill while running berserk in traumatized frenzy. At the moment, Raj Kumar follows her, and a strong gale of wind blew away the veil of Kumari and onto the legs of Kumar........

Kamal Amrohi shall always be remembered with golden words in the annals of Indian Cinema's history for endeavoring to complete this movie in a record setting 12 years. He had to manage filming of some of the vital songs without Meena's close ups, because Meena Kumari, the lady in the lead role was terminally ill and fighting for her life in early 1971.

Without question, this film has to be one of the greatest ........ in cinematic history. I have it watched too many times to remember, and each time it is like I am seeing the film for the first time.

Where does one begin?

Meena Kumari's central performance is undoubtedly one of the finest of her career, followed closely by Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam and Phool aur Pathar. Each movement and nuance of her performance, makes any other Bollywood heroine pale into significance. Her masterly interpretation of Kathak coupled with her grace, tragic vulnerability and poetic delivery of Urdhu, is like nothing ever seen on the bollywood screen.

Pakeezah is perhaps the most stylised interpretation of the human condition; the photography, sumptuous cinematography and mise en scene, are so charged with symbolism and meaning, that the viewer is left breathless.

Naushads music, is unsurpassed, his knowledge of the music of the courtesan gharanas is incredible, and the way in which he punctuates the narrative with dark atmospheric motifs and overwhelming romantic melodies is indeed remarkable.

My only advice to anyone who seriously enjoys the spectacle of total cinema, should watch this epic mediation on life and art.