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{{about|1955 Telugu film|other uses|Anarkali (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|1955 film by Vedantam Raghavaiah}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Anarkali
| image = Anarkali (1955 film).jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| writer = [[Samudrala Raghavacharya|Samudrala Sr]] {{small|(dialogues)}}
| screenplay = Vedantam Raghavaiah
| producer = [[P. Adinarayana Rao]] <br /> [[Anjali Devi]] {{small|(presents)}}
| director = [[Vedantam Raghavaiah]]
| starring = Anjali Devi<br />[[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]]
| music = P. Adinarayana Rao
| cinematography = [[Kamal Ghosh]]
| editing = N. S. Prakasam
| studio = [[Anjali Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1955|4|28}}
| runtime = 153 minutes
| country = India
| language = Telugu
}}

'''''Anarkali''''' ({{Translation|[[Pomegranate]] blossom}}) is a 1955 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[historical romance]] film, produced by [[P. Adinarayana Rao]], written and directed by [[Vedantam Raghavaiah]]. It stars [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]], [[Anjali Devi]] and music also composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. It is based on the legendary romance between [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] prince Salim (later known as [[Jahangir]]) and the [[Anarkali|eponymous court dancer]].

''Anarkali'' was released on 28 April 1955. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in many theatres. It was dubbed in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] with the same title, which also achieved success.

== Plot ==
Nadira, a Persian woman, migrates to [[Agra]] with her tribe. Bowled over by her mellifluous voice and beauty, [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] prince [[Jahangir|Salim]] introduces himself to her as a soldier and the two fall in love and meet regularly at the [[pomegranate]] garden. Once, while strolling in his garden, Emperor [[Akbar]], impressed by Nadira's singing, bestows on her the title "[[Anarkali]]", meaning "pomegranate blossom". Thereafter, Salim has entrusted the responsibility as a chief commander for war at Kabul, distressed Anarkali also leaves to know the whereabouts of Salim. To her misfortune, she is caught by burglars and while they are auctioning her prince Salim purchases her. On that night, they are completely under [[Flow (psychology)|flow]] of romance when [[Man Singh I]] caveats the prince regarding his vocation. Immediately, Salim onslaught into the battlefield, grievously injured and goes into a coma. Right now, Man Singh I back-pedals him to Agra when Anarkali also follows. During that plight, her singing brings back to consciousness to Salim when hearten Akbar makes her the court dancer. Spotting her at the court Man Singh I warns to discard but she refuses. Meanwhile, Anarkali acclaims paramount in the court which upsets Gulnar, the former court dancer, who has secret ambitions to marry the prince.

On the occasion of Salim's coronation celebration, an envied Gulnar conspires and mixes alcohol in Anarkali's drink. Under its influence, Anarkali expresses her love for Salim which angers Akbar who orders her to be imprisoned. At that juncture, Salim expresses his love for her to his mother [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Jodha Bai]] and requests to couple up them. But Akbar rejects the proposal, so Salim rebels and amasses an army to confront his father to rescue Anarkali but Jodha Bai bar him. Right now, Akbar orders capital punishment for the lovers to decapitate Salim and Anarkali is taken to a distant place to entombed alive. At that point in time, everyone shows averse to mete out Salim, so, it is mandatory to the Emperor to do so but he collapses due to the affection of his son. Being cognizant of Anarkali entombment, Salim rushes to save her when Gulnar backstabs him, by the time he reaches there, Anarkali is already buried. Finally, grief-stricken, Salim bangs his head on her grave and dies.

== Cast ==
* [[Anjali Devi]] as [[Anarkali]]
* [[P. Kannamba|Kannamba]] as [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Jodha Bai]]
* [[Akkineni Nageswara Rao|Nageswara Rao]] as [[Jahangir|Saleem]]
* [[S. V. Ranga Rao]] as [[Akbar]]
*[[V. Nagaiah]] as [[Man Singh I|Man Singh]]
* S. Balasaraswathi as Gulnar
* Shivaram as Azeez
* Dr. Kamaraj as Abul Fasal
* C. Hemalatha as Anarkali's mother
* Gadiraju Kesavarao as [[Tansen]]

== Production ==

=== Development ===
After ''[[Paradesi (1953 film)|Paradesi]]'' (1953), the inaugural production of [[Anjali Pictures]] was an average success at the box office, its producers – husband and wife [[P. Adinarayana Rao]] and [[Anjali Devi]] – considered making their sophomore production based on folklore.<ref name="hindu" /> The 1953 [[Hindi]] film ''[[Anarkali (1953 film)|Anarkali]]'', which was based on the legendary romance between [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] prince Salim (later known as [[Jahangir]]) and the [[Anarkali|eponymous court dancer]], was a success and caught their attention, prompting them to adapt the same story in Telugu with the same title, while putting their folklore film plans on hold (this project would later be revived as ''[[Suvarna Sundari]]'', released in 1957).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://telanganatoday.com/epic-anarkali |title=Anarkali: The musical love story |last=Tanmayi |first=Bhawana |date=17 June 2017 |work=[[Telangana Today]] |access-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228054306/https://telanganatoday.com/epic-anarkali |archive-date=28 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vedantam Raghavaiah]] was chosen as director and screenwriter, [[Samudrala Raghavacharya]] as dialogue writer, [[Kamal Ghosh]] for cinematography, N. S. Prakasam for editing, and A. K. Sekhar as art director alongside Vali and Thota.<ref name="hindu" />

=== Casting ===
[[Akkineni Nageswara Rao]] was cast as Salim, co-producer Anjali Devi as the title character, S. V. Ranga Rao as Emperor [[Akbar]], [[P. Kannamba]] as Akbar's wife [[Mariam-uz-Zamani|Jodha Bai]], [[V. Nagaiah]] as [[Man Singh I]] and Surabhi Balasaraswathi as the dancer Gulnaar. Gadiraju Kesavarao, an associate director, also appeared briefly as the musician [[Tansen]].<ref name="hindu" />

=== Filming ===
''Anarkali'' was launched on 11 March 1954 at Neptune Studios. The outdoor scenes were shot at [[Mysore]].<ref name="hindu" />

== Soundtrack ==
The soundtrack was composed by P. Adinarayana Rao, while the lyrics were written by Samudrala Raghavacharya.<ref name="songbook">{{Cite book |url=https://indiancine.ma/documents/CHG/info |title=Anarkali |publisher=[[Anjali Pictures]] |year=1955 |language=te |type=songbook}}</ref> Though the soundtrack consisted predominantly of original compositions, two were borrowed from the 1953 film. "Ravoyi Sakhaa" was adapted from "Aa Jaane Wafaa",<ref name="hindu" /> and "Jeevitame Saphalamu" was adapted from "Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/42-anarkali-top-100-bollywood-albums/ |title=#42 Anarkali: Top 100 Bollywood Albums |last=Nair |first=Vipin |date=28 September 2017 |website=[[Film Companion]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203050806/http://www.filmcompanion.in/42-anarkali-top-100-bollywood-albums/ |archive-date=3 February 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=28 December 2018}}</ref>

{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length =
| all_writing =
| all_lyrics =
| all_music =
| title_width =
| writing_width =
| music_width =
| lyrics_width =
| extra_width =
| title1 = O Anaarkali
| note1 =
| writer1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 =
| extra1 = [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]]
| length1 = 3:10
| title2 = Jeevitame Saphalamu
| note2 =
| writer2 =
| lyrics2 =
| music2 =
| extra2 = [[Jikki]]
| length2 = 6:06
| title3 = Kalise Nelaraaju
| note3 =
| writer3 =
| lyrics3 =
| music3 =
| extra3 = Ghantasala, Jikki
| length3 = 4:28
| title4 = Nanu Kanugonuma
| note4 =
| writer4 =
| lyrics4 =
| music4 =
| extra4 = Jikki
| length4 = 4:38
| title5 = Rajasekhara
| note5 =
| writer5 =
| lyrics5 =
| music5 =
| extra5 = Ghantasala, Jikki
| length5 = 6:24
| title6 = Ninugaana Sambarana
| note6 =
| writer6 =
| lyrics6 =
| music6 =
| extra6 = Jikki
| length6 = 4:15
| title7 = Prema Janga
| note7 =
| writer7 =
| lyrics7 =
| music7 =
| extra7 = Jikki
| length7 = 3:31
| title8 = Anda Chandalugani
| note8 =
| writer8 =
| lyrics8 =
| music8 =
| extra8 = [[P. Susheela]]
| length8 = 3:25
| title9 = Anandame Andalu
| note9 =
| writer9 =
| lyrics9 =
| music9 =
| extra9 = Jikki
| length9 = 4:08
| title10 = Ravoyi Sakhaa
| note10 =
| writer10 =
| lyrics10 =
| music10 =
| extra10 = Jikki
| length10 = 3:09
| title11 = Kulasala Sarasala
| note11 =
| writer11 =
| lyrics11 =
| music11 =
| extra11 = Jikki
| length11 = 3:23
| title12 = O Sipaayi
| note12 =
| writer12 =
| lyrics12 =
| music12 =
| extra12 = [[A. M. Rajah]], Jikki
| length12 = 3:22
}}

;Tamil songs
Lyrics were by [[Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass]]. All the tunes for all the songs and singers for both languages are the same.
{| class="wikitable"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Length
|-
| 1 || "O Anaarkali Anaarkali Anaarkali" || [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]] || 03:10
|-
| 2 || "Jeevitame Sabalamo" || [[Jikki]] || 03:10
|-
| 3 || "Jeevitame Sabalamo" || [[Jikki]] || 02:56
|-
| 4 || "Kanindha Alliyodu Nilavin Oli Nee" || [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]], [[Jikki]] || 04:28
|-
| 5 || "Naan Kannda Sugamaa Sugamaa Penn Pazhi" || [[Jikki]] || 04:38
|-
| 6 || "Rajasekhara En Mel Modi Seiyyalaagumaa" || [[Ghantasala (singer)|Ghantasala]], [[Jikki]] || 06:24
|-
| 7 || "Unaal Naanee Uyirai Marandhen" || [[Jikki]] || 04:15
|-
| 8 || "Kaadhalin Jodi" || [[Jikki]] || 03:31
|-
| 9 || "Andha Naal Thaanidhada" || [[P. Susheela]] || 03:25
|-
| 10 || "Aanandham…. Naanum Kuditthen Ena Ninaikkudhu" || [[Jikki]] || 04:08
|-
| 11 || "Sippaayi…. Anbe Nee Vaaraayo" || [[Jikki]] || 03:09
|-
| 12 || "Paarthanile Mudivu Kannden En Vidhi" || [[Jikki]] || 03:28
|}

== Release and reception ==
''Anarkali'' was released on 28 April 1955. The film was a commercial success, running for over 100 days in many theatres. Its namesake Tamil-dubbed version was also successful.<ref name="hindu" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/reel/805349/the-fascinating-tale-of-the-many-anarkalis |title=The fascinating tale of the many Anarkalis |last=Bali |first=Karan |date=19 March 2016 |website=[[Scroll.in]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228054122/https://scroll.in/reel/805349/the-fascinating-tale-of-the-many-anarkalis |archive-date=28 December 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=28 December 2018}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="hindu">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/review-of-anarkali-1955-movie/article6356841.ece |title=Anarkali (1955) |last=Narasimhan |first=M. L. |date=28 August 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=29 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329005120/http://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/cinema-reviews/review-of-anarkali-1955-movie/article6356841.ece |archive-date=29 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=0047827}}

{{Vedantam Raghavaiah}}

[[Category:1950s Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:Biographical films about royalty]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Akbar]]
[[Category:Films about royalty]]
[[Category:Films set in the 16th century]]
[[Category:Films set in the Mughal Empire]]
[[Category:Historical epic films]]
[[Category:Indian historical romance films]]
[[Category:Indian biographical films]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:1950s historical romance films]]
[[Category:Indian romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Romantic epic films]]
[[Category:Telugu-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Vedantam Raghavaiah]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Jahangir]]
[[Category:1950s biographical films]]
[[Category:Films about courtesans in India]]

Anarkali 1955 film - Revision history

>Gotitbro at 19:30, 7 February 2021