https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Meetha_ZaharMeetha Zahar - Revision history2026-07-30T16:31:27ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Meetha_Zahar&diff=517225&oldid=prevDonteOnslow6 at 07:05, 7 March 20262026-03-07T07:05:41Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}<br />
{{Infobox film<br />
| name = Meetha Zahar<br />
| image = Meetha_Zahar_(1938).jpg<br />
| caption =<br />
| director = [[Sohrab Modi]]<br />
| producer = Minerva Movietone<br />
| writer = Gajanan Jagirdar (screenplay)<br />
| narrator =<br />
| starring = [[Naseem Banu]]<br>[[Sohrab Modi]]<br>[[Gajanan Jagirdar]]<br>Eruch Tarpore<br />
| music = B. S. Hoogan<br>Irshad Ahmed (lyrics)<br />
| cinematography = Y. D. Sarpotdar<br />
| editing =<br />
| distributor = Evergreen Pictures, Bombay<br />
| studio = Minerva Movietone<br />
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1938|03|05}}<br />
| runtime = 127 minutes<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| language = [[Urdu|Hindi]]<br />
| budget =<br />
| gross =<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''''Meetha Zahar''''' (Sweet Poison) is a 1938 [[India]]n [[Hindi]]/[[Urdu]]-language social drama film directed by [[Sohrab Modi]] for his Minerva Movietone productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gomolo.com/meetha-zahar-movie-cast-crew/709|title=Cast and crew Meetha Zahar (1938)|publisher=Gomolo.com|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> The screenplay was by [[Gajanan Jagirdar]] with dialogue by Munshi Abdul Baqi and director of photography by Y. S. Sarpotdar<ref name="Patel">{{cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Baburao|title=Meetha Zahar|journal=Filmindia|date=February 1938|volume=3|issue=11|pages=59|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmindia19373803unse#page/n199/mode/2up/search/Meetha+Zahar|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> The music was by B. S. Hoogan with lyrics by Irshad Ahmed. The cast included [[Naseem Banu]], Sohrab Modi, Jagirdar, Sadiq Ali, Eruch Tarapore, Sadat Ali, Sheela and Fakir Mohammed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cineplot.com/database/meetha-zahar-1938/ |title=Meetha Zahar-1938|publisher=Cineplot.com|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref><br />
<br />
Meetha Zahar was a social film dealing with the "evils of alcoholism". Modi was lauded for taking up the cause of prohibition in the nation's interest.<ref name=Patel /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiaheritage.org/perform/cinema/history/modi.htm|title=Sohrab Merwanji Modi Films|publisher=Indiaheritage.org|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref> The film was a part of the social trilogy Modi made around that time starting with ''[[Jailor (1938 film)|Jailor]]'' (1938), which dealt with an illicit relationship concerning a married woman, ''Meetha Zahar'' (1938) dealing with prohibition, and ''[[Bharosa (1940 film)|Bharosa]]'' a social melodrama verging on the incestuous.<ref name="Gangar">{{cite book|last1=Gangar|first1=Amrit|title=Sohrab Modi The Great Mughal of Historicals|date=2008|publisher=Wisdom Tree|location=New Delhi, India|isbn=9788183281089|pages=25}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Cast==<br />
* [[Naseem Banu]]<br />
* [[Sohrab Modi]]<br />
* [[Gajanan Jagirdar]]<br />
* Fakir Mohammed<br />
* Sadiq Ali<br />
* E. Tarapore<br />
* Shanta Dutt<br />
* Sheela<br />
<br />
==Review==<br />
The review of May 1938 by ''[[Filmindia]]'' editor, [[Baburao Patel]], picked on various aspects of the film. Commending the story, the title itself was cited as "misguiding". The music and recording were praised with criticism for the "jarring" photography. Modi was criticised for his direction, "not at all enterprising and lacks imagination". Jagirdar came in for praise for his acting and holding the film aloft. Modi was considered "stagy" while Naseem Banu came in for the harshest criticism for her acting "Naseem is a rank failure as a screen artiste." Overall box-office value was cited as "good".<ref name=Patel /> The harsh treatment meted out to Modi by Patel was referred to by Gangar as due to "old rivalry" between the two, concerning advertising in the magazine.<ref name="Gangar p. 67">Gangar, p. 67</ref><br />
<br />
==Soundtrack==<br />
The music direction was by B. S. Hoogan with lyrics by Irshad Ahmed. The songs were considered popular with the "rest of the music" quoted as being "good".<ref name=BPatel>{{cite journal|title=Meetha Zahar|date=May 1938|pages=27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://muvyz.com/moviepage/td810865/songs/#tabs|title=Songs Meetha Zahar|publisher=Muvyz, Inc|accessdate=21 December 2014}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Song list===<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"<br />
! # !! Title !! Singer<br />
|-<br />
| 1<br />
| "Ab Toh Banungi Main Star Film Ki"<br />
| Sheela<br />
|-<br />
| 2<br />
| "Apne Piya Pe Bl Ja KeBhar Bhar Doongi"<br />
| Eruch Tarapore, Sheela<br />
|-<br />
| 3<br />
| "Manmohan Kab Ghar Aayenge Kab Geet Khushi Ke Sunayenge"<br />
| Sheela<br />
|-<br />
| 4<br />
| "Phoolon Ki Mala Apne Devta Ko"<br />
| Naseem Banu<br />
|-<br />
| 5<br />
| "Sakhi Man Ki Baat Tohe Kahun"<br />
| Naseem Banu<br />
|-<br />
| 6<br />
| "Nayan Mohan Prem Bhare Jaadu Nazariya"<br />
| <br />
|-<br />
| 7<br />
| "Mori Sajdhaj Hai Nyari"<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
| 8<br />
| "Hey Prabhu Murari Sankathaari Binti Sun"<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
| 9<br />
| "Sheeshapari Rangili Ras Ki Bhari"<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
*{{IMDb title|id =0243411 |title =Meetha Zahar (1938) }}<br />
<br />
{{Sohrab Modi}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:1938 films]]<br />
[[Category:1938 Hindi-language films]]<br />
[[Category:1938 drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Indian drama films]]<br />
[[Category:Films directed by Sohrab Modi]]<br />
[[Category:Indian black-and-white films]]<br />
[[Category:Hindi-language drama films]]</div>DonteOnslow6