Mujhe Jeene Do () is a 1963 Indian Hindi film, directed by Moni Bhattacharjee and written by Aghajani Kashmeri. This dacoit drama stars Sunil Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Nirupa Roy, Rajendranath and Mumtaz.
Shot in the Chambal Valley ravines of Bhind-Morena under police protection in Madhya Pradesh state, the film highlights the acting talents of its star cast: Waheeda Rehman and Sunil Dutt.http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=122595 Film Review The music is by the composer Jaidev. It was the seventh highest grossing Bollywood film of the year, and the official selection at the 1964 Cannes Film Festival.http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/1964/inCompetition.html The film was also the second success in a row of actor Sunil Dutt's production banner, Ajanta Arts, after Yeh Rastey Hain Pyar Ke, which had been released earlier that year. Mujhe Jeene Do was India's third "dacoit" film, a genre loosely inspired by Hollywood westerns, but more so by the menace of dacoity in Central India in the early 1960s.
Synopsis A story about how love can lead to the redemption of even a hardened criminal like Thakhur Jernail Singh, who is a noted dacoit in Chambal Valley.
One night, he happens to meet Chameli a courtesan (tawaif), at a wedding she was performing at. They elope and fall in love, later they have a son. But their romance is short-lived as he is about to be captured by the police, that is when Jernail sends Chameli away to a neighbouring village to raise their son, as he is sure of his end.
Unfortunately, the village she goes to has an old grudge to settle and attacks the hapless mother and son as a mob, but the police save them in time, and even promises them the seized property of Jernail.http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/173241/Mujhe-Jeene-Do/overview
Cast Sunil Dutt as Thakur Jarnail Singh Waheeda Rehman as Chameli Jaan Nirupa Roy as Champa Durga Khote as Dara Khan's Mom Rajendra Nath as Dara Khan Manorama as Chamelijaan's Mom Siddhu as Thakur Kirpal Singh Anwar Hussain as Phool Singh Tarun Bose as Superintendent of Police Kumari Naaz as Chauthi Begum (as Naaz) D.K. Sapru as Zamindar Mumtaz as Farida - Dhara's Sister Wasi Khan Mohan Choti as Kripal Singh's Goon Madhumati as item number Cuckoo as item number Krishan Dhawan as School-teacher Asit Sen as Pandit Ram Avtar Rashid Khan as Maulana Sheikh Rahim Dulari as Phool Singh's Wife
Soundtrack The music of Jaidev, coupled with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi, add to the tragic nature of the film. Also standing out is the cheerful song Nadi Naare sung by Asha Bhosle, noted for perfect rendition of the high-pitched song.
# Title Singer(s) 1 "Nadi Naare Na Jao Shyam Pai Padoon" Asha Bhosle 2 "Ab Koi Gulshan Na Ujde" Mohammed Rafi 3 "Tere Bachpan Ko Jawani Ki Dua" Lata Mangeshkar 4 "Mohe Na Yoon Ghoor Ghoor Ke Dekho" Lata Mangeshkar 5 "Raat Bhi Hai Kuch Bheegi Bheegi" Lata Mangeshkar 6 "Moko Peehar Mein Mat Chhed" Asha Bhosle 7 "Maang Mein Bhar Le Rang Sakhi Re" Asha Bhosle
Reception The film was a major success, like the earlier two other big films in the same genre, Ganga Jamuna (1961) and Raj Kapoor's Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai (1960). Sunil Dutt's performance was highly appreciated and found his performance terrific.
Awards 1964 Filmfare Best Actor Award: Sunil Dutt 1964 Cannes Film Festival: Official selection, in competition for awards
See also
Aag Ka Darya (film), a 1966 Pakistani remake
References
External links
Mujhe Jeene Do at Waheeda Rehman Retrospective, 2001