60 Years of Film ” Aan ”

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA           DECEMBER 07 , 2012           11.40 P.M.

Yesterday after posting my blog about ” Baiju Bawra “ , I started thinking about the other memorable films of 1952 . I suddenly remembered about ” Aan ” , the most successful film of 1952 . In terms of box office returns ” Baiju Bawra “ was second to “Aan “ . Therefore I thought that I should introduce a new category named ” Down The Memory Lane ” under the parent category ” Film ” and start writing about the other films of 1952 .

” Aan “ was produced and directed by legendary Mehboob Khan and it starred Dilip Kumar , Prem Nath , Nimmi and Nadira , who made her debut with this film . This lavishly mounted costume – drama was music director Naushad’s another hit in 1952 apart from ” Baiju Bawra ” .

” Aan ”  is India’s first Technicolor film and was the highest grosser of 1952 . Just like ” Baiju Bawra “ , I watched it in Allahabad during my Government Inter College days . Frankly speaking I didn’t like “Aan “ , when I watched it for the first time . I liked the songs of the film and the swashbuckling hero Dilip Kumar , but not the film . I couldn’t fathom death of Nimmi and the story line , where Dilip Kumar ignored her and went for Nadira , who was playing the princess .

Later on after repeated viewing and after knowing the fact that the story – line of “Aan “ was based on Shakespeare’s ” Taming of The Shrew ” , I came to realize that this swashbuckling hero is bound to go for the princess and not for the village damsel Nimmi , I was able to appreciate the story – line and finally the film .

“Aan “ has several memorable songs . Lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni were set to tune by Naushad . My eternal favourite even today is a Lata Mangeshkar gem ” Tujhe Kho Diya Humne Paane Ke Baad , Teri Yaad Aayi Tere Jaane Ke Baad ………………. ” . It has several other Mohammad Rafi gems like ; ” Maan Mera Ehsaan …………. ” , ” Dil Men Chhupa Ke Pyaar Ka Toofaan Le Chale ……………. ” , ” Mohabbat Choome Jinke Haath ……………. ” and ” Takra Gaya Tumse Dil Hi To Hai ………….. ” . But “Aan “ will always be remembered for its lavishly mounted Holi song picturization . The song ” Khelo Rang Hamare Sang Aaj Din Rang Rangeela Aaya ……….. “ is still popular and was lavishly picturized with hundreds of junior artistes . It has some of the hits of Shamshad Begum also . Most famous is ” Aag Lagi Tan Man Men Dil Ko Pada Thamna …………….. ” .

Incidentally ” Daag ” and ” Sangdil “ were other Dilip Kumar hits of 1952 . But I will write about them later .

As I have stated in my previous blog , as an acting trainer , its my job to make my students aware of these iconic films and I do it regularly in my acting class in Mumbai .

I strive to make it a regular feature in my acting school Vidur’s Kreating Charakters .

VIDUR

MUMBAI – MAHARASHTRA – INDIA

www.vidur.co.in

www.kreatingcharakters.net

www.vidurfilms.com

www.twitter.com/VidurChaturvedi

www.jaibhojpuri.com/profile/VidurChaturvedi