Film–Anokhi Raat (Released 1968)

Acclaimed  Film – Anokhi Raat (Released 1968)

Producer – L.B. Lachhman

Director – Asit Sen

Screenplay Writer – Hrishikesh Mukherjee

Dialogue Writer – Anand Kumar

Lyricist – Indivar

Music Director – Roshan (Songs)

Music Director – Salil Chaudhary (Background Score)

Cinematographer – Kamal Bose

Art Director – Ajit Bannerjee

Editor- Tarun Dutta

Songs

Mahalon Ka Raja Mila Rani Beti Raaj Karegi

(Singer – Lata Mangeshkar

Mile Na Phool To Kaaton Se Dosti Karli

(Singer – Mohammed Rafi)

Meri Beri Ke Ber Na Todo

(Singer – Asha Bhosle)

O Re Taal Mile Nadi Ke Jalse

(Singer – Mukesh)

Dulhan Se Tumhara Milan Hoga

(Singer – Mukesh)

Actors

Sanjeev Kumar

Zaheeda

Parikshit Sahni

Aruna Irani

Tarun Bose

Nana Palshikar

Mukri-Anwar Hussain

Brahm Bhardwaj

Badri Prasad

Story

Zaheeda (Heroine) of the film stays with her grandfather in a Big Mansion, full of beautiful decorative vintage items.  It is to be auctioned as Zaheeda’s late father has taken a loan from Tarun Bose. Tatun Bose brings his lawyer and a couple Nana Palshikar (old man) married to Aruna Irani (young girl). It is a rainy night and a painter and singer Parikshit Sahni visits the Mansion for shelter.  There is a conflict between all of them on the stormy night.

Suddenly a Dacoit knocks the mansion.  He is none other than Sanjeev Kumar, who was a simple man and turned into a dacoit.  Zaheeda looks the same as his late wife and he is surprised.

Sanjeev Kumar too has his story, which is the reason of him being a dacoit now.  Everything falls into place gradually in the end.

The film is Black and White with a beautiful Mansion and Rich Props. A must-watch.  It has three plots in one story woven together beautifully.

Actress Zaheeda is Nargis’s Niece and Parikshit Sahni is the Son of  Balraj Sahni. It is the debut film of both actors.

Film – Anokhi Raat has two Music Directors. Originally Roshan was the film’s Music Director, but he passed away during the making of the film. Hence Music Director Salil Chaudhary took over the project and did the background music for the film. The film is dedicated to Music Director Roshan Saheb.

Awards –

• Hrishikesh Mukherjee won the Filmfare Best Screenplay Writer Award for the film.
• Anand Kumar won the Filmfare Best Dialogue Writer Award for the film.
• Ajit Banerjee won the Filmfare Best Art Direction Award for the film.
• Kamal Bose won the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for the film.

(Image: Google Images)