| File:Kohraa.jpg | |
| Directed by | Biren Nag |
|---|---|
| Written by | Dhruva Chatterjee |
| Produced by | Hemant Kumar |
| Starring | Waheeda Rehman Biswajeet Lalita Pawar |
| Cinematography | Marshall Braganza
|
| Music by | Hemant Kumar
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi
|
Kohraa (Template:Translation) is a 1964 Indian Hindi-language horror thriller film directed by Biren Nag, starring Waheeda Rehman, Biswajeet and Lalita Pawar.[1] The film was adapted from Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel Rebecca, which was previously adapted by Alfred Hitchcock as Rebecca (1940), though some supernatural elements were added to it, including a few from the film Psycho.[2][3]
Plot
Rajeshwari meets rich Amit Kumar Singh and they both fall in love and get married. Amit brings Rajeshwari to his home - A huge imposing mansion in middle of Moors. Rajeshwari learns from servants about Amit's first wife Poonam who died in mysterious circumstances about a year ago. The housekeeper Dai Maa, who was also the nanny of Poonam is visibly disturbed by this and is cold towards Rajeshwari. Amit leaves on a business trip for a few weeks and Rajeshwari is left to herself. This is when she encounters supernatural phenomena in the mansion and is haunted by the memories and spirit of Poonam. Recovering from shock, Rajeshwari decides to do her own investigation of Poonam's mysterious death. One by one she uncovers shocking dark secrets about Poonam, Amit and various other people.
Cast
- Waheeda Rehman as Rajeshwari Singh
- Biswajeet as Raja Amit Kumar Singh[4]
- Basanta Choudhury as Shekhar
- Lalita Pawar as Dai Maa
- Thelma as Poonam Devi
- Tarun Bose as Ramesh
- Madan Puri as Kamal Rai
- Manmohan Krishna as Kamal's Advocate
- Asit Sen as Goverdhan
- Badri Prasad
- Abhi Bhattacharya as Advocate Bhattacharya
- Sujit Kumar as Ranjan
- Keshto Mukherjee as the gardener
- Shaukat Azmi as Rai Sahib's wife
- Thelma
Productions
The film was the second directorial venture of Biren Nag after the film Bees Saal Baad (1962).[5] He had been art director of Guru Dutt productions such as Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) and CID (1956).[6] The role of Poonam was played by Thelma, an Anglo-Indian actress, who did small roles in film.[6]
The scene of the first wife's room, an all white set was built at Rajkamal Kalamandir in Mumbai.[6] The song, "Raah bani khud manzil" was filmed on winding road to Mahabaleshwar, a hill station in Maharashtra.[6]
Music
Music: Hemant Kumar; Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi
- "Yeh Nayan Dare Dare" - Hemant Kumar
- "Rah Bani Khud Manzil" - Hemant Kumar (Pilu (raga))
- "O Beqarar Dil" - Lata Mangeshkar (Raga Bhimpalasi)
- "Jhoom Jhoom Dhalti Raat" (version 1) - Lata Mangeshkar (Raga Kamod Kalyan)
- "Jhoom Jhoom Dhalti Raat" (version 2) - Lata Mangeshkar (Raga Kamod Kalyan)
- "Kahe Bajayi Tune Paani Bansuriya" - Mahendra Kapoor, Asha Bhosle
Awards
- Filmfare Nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Lalita PawarTemplate:Citation needed
- Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction for Black-and-White film category - G. L. Yadhav & T. K. DesaiTemplate:Citation needed
References
- ↑ Blast from the past: Kohraa (1964). The Hindu(7 October 2010). Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ↑ Before Netflix's Rebecca, A Throwback To Biren Nag's 1964 Adaptation With Waheeda Rehman And Biswajit Chatterjee, Sequeira, Gayle. Film Companion(20 October 2020). Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ↑ Bollywood borrowed skilfully from Alfred Hitchcock: Richard Allen. Thaindian News(1 August 2008). Retrieved 2 September 2018.
- ↑ The hero who was made up to look like a girl. Screen Weekly(23 January 2007).
- ↑ Merchants of fear. Frontline(2017-07-19). Retrieved 2023-12-29.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 The mystery of 'Kohraa'(16 September 2014).