Pakeezah (1972)

Pakeeza is a classic cult film directed and written by Kamal Amrohi who is known to be one of the directors who for his perfection. The music for the film which became popular and hit is by Ghulam Mohammed and Naushad Ali. The film starring Meena Kumari, Raaj Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Nadira, D. K. Sapru and Veena. Meena Kumari has essayed a role of a Lucknow nautch girl who sings and dances. Her performance is much appreciated. Kamal Amrohi expressed that the concept is to create a film which would show Meena Kumari his wife as an actress worthy of the love he felt for her as his wife and wanted to bring forth her talent. Pakeeza was a tribute to Meena Kumari by her husband Kamal Amrohi. The script begins with story set in Lucknow where there is this nautch girl who is forbidden to fall in love and is told that falling in love is a sin. She is born to delight others and is not able to suppress her restless soul from desires. Sahibjaan ( Meena Kumari) is longing to escape from the brothel where she is brought up by her mother Nargis (Also Meena Kumari) who has lived all her life as the courtesan. A young man Salim Ahmed Khan ( Raaj Kumar) falls in love with her and comes regularly to see her sing and dance.. He wants to marry her but his wealthy parents who come from an aristocratic rich background do not accept his relationship with the prostitute Sahibjaan. Salim abandons his family for his love despite knowing her background and her past. Pakeeza is more of a fantasies of Kamal Amrohi is with his fantasy, nostalgia and his poetry, all rolled into one that he portrayed through Meena Kumari’s role in the film and it is said during the shooting of the film, Meena Kumari was already diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and was battling for life. The grand premier was held at Maratha Mandir and the film was released on 3rd February 1972, soon after the film’s release Meena Kumari breathed her last leaving Pakeeza as her legendary film and her reputation as one of the finest and brilliant actresses of the Indian Cinema.