Barsaat Ki Raat

2021-09-15T06:11:02Z

131.181.112.99:

{{short description|1960 film directed by P. L. Santoshi}}
{{For|the similarly named 1981 Bollywood film|Barsaat Ki Ek Raat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Barsaat Ki Raat
| image = Barsaat Ki Raat.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = P. L. Santoshi
| story = Rafi Ajmeri
| based_on =
| starring = {{Plainlist|
* [[Madhubala]]
* [[Bharat Bhushan]]
* [[Shyama (Hindi actress)|Shyama]]
}}
| producer = R. Chandra
| writer =
| screenplay = P. L. Santoshi
| narrator =
| music = [[Roshan (music director)|Roshan]]<br />[[Sahir Ludhianvi]] (lyrics)
| cinematography = M. Rajaram
| editing = P. S. Kochikar
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1960|12|09}}
| runtime = 142 min.
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Hindi]]
| budget =
| gross = {{estimation}} {{INR|35 million}}<ref name=":0" />
}}
'''''Barsaat Ki Raat''''' ({{Literal translation|A Rainy Night}}) is a 1960 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[Musical film|romantic musical film]] directed by P. L. Santoshi and produced by R. Chandra. Starring [[Madhubala]], [[Bharat Bhushan]] and [[Shyama (Hindi actress)|Shyama]], the film is considered a defining example of romantic musical film genre.

A [[Muslim social|Muslim-social]] set amongst the erudite and cultured urban Muslims of independent [[India]], ''Barsaat Ki Raat'' revolves around two lovers Shabnam (Madhubala) and Amaan Hyderabadi (Bhushan), who strive to be together but the society does not approve of them. Upon its release, the film became a [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster success]], the second highest earner of 1960,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2010-02-12|title=BoxOffice India.com|url=http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA==|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212160330/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=166&catName=MTk2MA==|archive-date=12 February 2010|access-date=2020-10-06}}</ref> the twenty highest earner of the 1960s at the Indian box office,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-24|title=Boxofficeindia.com|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924054749/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=123&catName=MTk2MC0xOTY5|access-date=2020-11-27|website=web.archive.org}}</ref> and one of the top hundred [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossers]] of all time (when adjusted for inflation).<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2011-11-03|title=Worth Their Weight In Gold! {{!}} Box Office India : India’s premier film trade magazine {{!}} Bollywood news, reviews, interviews, box office collection|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103185138/http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/worth-their-weight-in-gold/|access-date=2020-11-27|website=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2006-04-22|title=Top hundred highest-grossing Indian films|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422165153/http://www.boxofficeindia.com/alltime.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-05|website=web.archive.org}}</ref>

''Barsaat Ki Raat'' got a positive feedback from contemporary critics. The [[Roshan (music director)|Roshan]]-composed soundtrack, considered one of the finest in the [[Indian cinema]], was singled out for praise by both critics and audience. One of the tracks, "Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi" topped the music charts that year. A [[cult film]] now, ''Barsaat Ki Raat'' has been lauded by 21st century critics, who have particularly noted Madhubala's performance and the soundtrack. The latter continues to be widely popular and imitated.

== Plot ==
Amaan is a talented and struggling Urdu poet trying to making a mark in the world of music. Shabnam, who has not seen him yet, loves his songs and poetry. When they meet accidentally in a stormy rainy night, Amaan and Shabnam fall in love with each other. Luck comes his way as he is appointed as a tutor for Shabnam's little sister Razia.

Amaan and Shabnam start romancing each other and plan to marry soon. However, Shabnam's father Khan Bahadur is not much impressed of Amaan due to Amaan's poverty. He insults and expels Amaan from their house and fixes a devastated Shabnam's marriage with Aftab Ahmed of Lucknow against her wish. Khan Bahadur sets off for Lucknow with his family. Amaan also arrives at Lucknow in search of his fortune. Coincidentally, Amaan discovers that Aftab, the friend in whose house he is staying is actually the future husband of his lady love Shabnam.

Amaan leaves Aftab's house without noticing him. Meanwhile, Amaan's old friends Shabab and Shama arrive at Lucknow to participate in a qawwali competition, in which they keep losing. Shama is in love with Amaan, but he does not know this. Amaan begins to compose shayaris for the competition and very quickly he carves a niche for himself in the musical world. However, submerged in the painful memory of his lost love Shabnam, Amaan does not realise Shama's unconditional love for him. Anyway, he becomes the heart and soul of Shama's musical troup. With Amaan's beautiful voice and shayaris, Shama's group attains popularity and win in the competition. A shattered and imprisoned Shabnam overhears
Amaan's voice on radio and comes to know that Aman is still in Lucknow. Shabnam somehow reaches one of Aman's poetic duels. Shama faints during the program when she learns that Amaan is in love with someone else. Her sickness gives a platform Shabnam and Amaan to meet each other. Khan Bhadur and Shekhar reach the spot searching for the missing Shabnam. At this point Shabnam's mother revolts against Khan Bahadur, for she wants her daughter to be happy. At the end, Khan Bhadur gives in and the lovers reunite on another rainy night.

== Cast ==
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width = 150
| footer = [[Madhubala]] (''above'', pictured in 1957) and [[Bharat Bhushan]] (''below'', pictured in 1955), who portrayed Shabnam and Amaan Hyderabadi, respectively.
| image1 = Madhubala1957.png
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = Actor Bharat Bhushan.jpg
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
}}
*[[Madhubala]] as Shabnam
*[[Bharat Bhushan]] as Amaan Hyderabadi / Mirza Lakhnauwi
*[[Shyama (Hindi actress)|Shyama]] as Shama
*Ratna Bhushan as Shabab, Shama's Sister
*[[K. N. Singh]] as Inspector Khan Bahadur (Shanam's Father)
*[[Mumtaz Begum (actress)|Mumtaz Begum]] as Begum Khan Bahadur (Shabnam's Mother)
*[[Chandrashekhar (actor)|Chandrashekhar]] as Inspector Shekhar (Aman's Friend)
*Baby Shobha as Razia (Shabnam's Sister)
*Peace Kanwal as Barrister Aftab Ahmed

=== Crew ===
*Dialogue: Sarshar Sailani
*Background music: Sonik
*Art Director: Ganesh Basak
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) Cast - Actor, Actress, Director, Producer, Music Director|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/movies/barsaat-ki-raat-2773/cast-crew|access-date=2020-12-01|website=Cinestaan}}</ref>

== Themes ==
The story features a number of innovative themes while maintaining the basic form of a love story. It has particularly strong female characters who are independent-minded and choose their own loves and destiny.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Barsaat Ki Raat {{!}} Indian Cinema - The University of Iowa|url=https://indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu/barsaat-ki-raat|access-date=2021-03-11|website=indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu|language=en}}</ref> Conflicts are not so much between the wishes of the parents and children about whom the children will marry, as is a common theme in Indian movies, but on the more complex level of conflicts among the main characters and the duplicitous signals men and women send each other. The movie glorifies the lives of "singing girls" not often regarded highly in Indian society. Although it is set with Muslim characters, the movie seamlessly shows the universality of sensual love.<ref name=":4" />

==Soundtrack==
The soundtrack of ''Barsaat Ki Raat'' was composed by [[Roshan (music director)|Roshan]], and lyrics were penned by [[Sahir Ludhianvi|Sahir Ludhianavi]]. It was the second best-selling soundtrack of 1960 after ''[[Mughal-e-Azam]].'' The song "Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi" was a chartbuster, and was on the top in the [[Binaca Geetmala|Binaca Geetmala's annual list of 1960]].

[[Rediff.com]], calling the film's music its lifeline, placed "Na To Karavan Ki Talash Hai" at the second place in the "Bollywood's Top 10 qawwalis."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bollywood's Top 10 Qawwalis!|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/bollywoods-top-10-qawwalis/20150714.htm|access-date=2020-10-08|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! #
! Song
! Singer
|-
| 1
| "Maine Shayad Tumhe Pehle Bhi Kahin Dekha Hai"
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|-
| 2
| "Maayus To Hoon Vaade Se Tere"
| Mohammed Rafi
|-
| 3
| "Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat" (Solo)
| Mohammed Rafi
|-
| 4
| "Zindagi Bhar Nahin Bhoolegi Woh Barsaat Ki Raat" (Duet)
| [[Lata Mangeshkar]], Mohammed Rafi
|-
| 5
| "Mujhe Mil Gaya Bahaana Teri Deed Ka"
| Lata Mangeshkar
|-
| 6
| "Na To Karvan Ki Talash Hai" (Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai)
| [[Asha Bhosle]], [[Sudha Malhotra]], Mohammed Rafi, [[Manna Dey]], [[S. D. Batish]]
|-
| 7
| "Nigah-e-Naaz Ke Maaron Ka Haal Kya Hoga"
| Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra, Shankar Shambhu, S. D. Batish
|-
| 8
| "Ji Chahta Hai Chum Loon Teri Nazar Ko Main"
| Asha Bhosle, Sudha Malhotra, S. Balbir, Bande Hassan
|-
| 9
| "Garjat Barsat Saawan Aayo Re"
| [[Suman Kalyanpur]], [[Kamal Barot]]
|-
|}

== Reception ==
''Barsaat Ki Raat'' was released on December 9, 1960, to a positive response from critics and audience. In India, the film had a box office [[Gross revenue|gross]] of [[Indian rupee|₹]]3.5 [[crore]], with a [[Net income|nett]] of ₹1.75 crore, becoming the [[List of Bollywood films of 1960|second highest-grossing film of 1960]].<ref name=":0" /> The Best of the Year gave its inflation-adjusted nett as ₹516.8 crore.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barsaat Ki Raat - Lifetime Box Office Collection, Budget, Reviews, Cast, etc|url=https://bestoftheyear.in/movie/barsaat-ki-raat/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=BOTY|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Box Office'' magazine calculated its inflation-adjusted gross by comparing the collection with the price of [[gold]] in 1960, which gave it an adjusted gross of ₹785.88 crore in 2011.<ref name=":2" />

The film was listed at number 22 by ''Box Office'' magazine in their list of "Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years" which feature all-time [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Bollywood films]] by using the relative price of [[gold]] in different years to arrive at a hypothetical current value of box-office collections of past films.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-03-17|title=Top 50 Film of Last 50 Years {{!}} Box Office India : India’s premier film trade magazine|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317110155/http://www.boxofficeindia.co.in/top-50-film-of-last-50-years/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=web.archive.org}}</ref>

Contemporary reviews were generally positive. On December 30, ''[[The Indian Express]]'' noted Santoshi's direction and performances, particularly of Madhubala and Shyama.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=1960-12-30|title=Barsaat Ki Raat|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=P9oYG7HA76QC&dat=19601230&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-24|website=news.google.com}}</ref> Most of the praise was directed towards the film's "outstanding feature", the qawwalis.<ref name=":5" />

Recent reviewers have acclaimed the film for its music and performances. Film critic Venkat Parsa of ''[[The Siasat Daily]]'' applauded the innovative themes ''Barsaat Ki Raat'' uses and stated that the film "stands apart [and] breaks away from the past trends". Parsa also noted the lyrics of "Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi", which begins with Amaan narrating his encounter with Shabnam and then singing the "graphic detail", that proves that lyricist [[Sahir Ludhianvi]] was "a progressive and revolutionary poet".<ref name=":3" /> In the conclusion, Parsa described the film as the "greatest-ever musical of all times of the [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]]".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2020-09-29|title=Barsaat ki Raat: Greatest-Ever Musical|url=https://www.siasat.com/barsaat-ki-raat-greatest-ever-musical-1986603/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=The Siasat Daily|language=en-GB}}</ref> Writer Monica Kar, in a typical mixed review, found the story to be "a little predictable and not very exciting by modern standards" but its treatment to be "delightful".<ref name=":6" /> She appreciated the scene in which Amaan and Shabnam meet: "[It] portrays confusion, a little fear, a little mystery, a little attraction. Madhubala is brilliant in this one scene."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|date=2018-02-13|title=Barsat ki Raat Part 1: A Musical Romance {{!}} Film and Music Review {{!}} Silhouette|url=https://learningandcreativity.com/silhouette/barsat-ki-raat-part-1-a-musical-romance/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=Silhouette Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> Madhubala's dramatic performance has been especially noted by critics and is cited to be one of the finest of her career.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-07-03|title=Top 10 Movies Of Madhubala|url=https://topyaps.com/top-10-movies-madhubala/|access-date=2020-12-01|website=TopYaps|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Remembering Madhubala’s best roles|url=https://www.filmfare.com//features/remembering-madhubalas-best-roles-32527.html|access-date=2020-12-01|website=filmfare.com|language=en}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
''Barsaat Ki Raat'' is considered a milestone in the history of [[Indian cinema]] and is known for popularizing the [[Romantic musical|romantic musical genre]] in films.<ref name=":3" />

=== In popular culture ===
[[Buffy Sainte-Marie]], a Canadian singer covered the song "Maayus To Hoon Vade Se Tere" from the movie, which she called the track "Mayoo Sto Hoon". The song was released on her debut album, ''[[It's My Way!]]'', in 1964.

== See also ==
*[[List of Bollywood films of 1960]]
*[[100 Crore Club|100 crore club]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0053637}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barsaat Ki Raat}}
[[Category:1960 films]]
[[Category:Urdu-language films]]
[[Category:1960s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Roshan]]

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Barsaat Ki Raat