Shirin Farhad (1956 film)

Shirin Farhad is a 1956 Indian Hindustani-language romantic drama film directed and produced by Aspi Irani.[1] Based on Khosrow and Shirin from the Shahnameh,[3] it revolves around Princess Shirin (Madhubala) who is forbidden to meet her childhood sweetheart Farhad (Pradeep Kumar) and forced to marry a king.[4]

Shirin Farhad
Directed byAspi Irani[1]
Written byHakim Riaz Latta[1]
Screenplay byHakim Riaz Latta
Story byHakim Riaz Latta
Based onKhosrow and Shirin from Shahnameh
Produced byAspi Irani
Starring
Edited byDinesh Tanhame
Music byS. Mohinder
Release date
3 February 1956[2]
Running time
150 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindustani

The film featured a popular soundtrack composed by S. Mohinder and was partially shot in Gevacolor. According to writers Rekha Menon and Mohan Deep, the film was one of the biggest box office successes of Madhubala and Pradeep Kumar's careers.[5][6]

Plot

The film is about two star-crossed lovers: Shirin and Farhad. Shirin is a princess who developed a liking for a beautiful deer she saw in a shop in her childhood. As she takes the deer with her at her palace, she promises its owner, Farhad, the poor child of a sculptor to come to her palace everyday and play with her and the deer.

Farhad continues to do so and Shirin and Farhad become very close friends despite social differences; and eventually fall in love. However, a reluctant Shirin's marriage is fixed with the Shahenshah Husro. This first infuriates Farhad and then makes him a wanderer.

The rest of the film deals with how Farhad reaches Shirin's in-law's palace and how her husband Husro promises him to give him "anything" if he is able to create a lake of milk from a rocky mountain for Shirin to bath in. As Farhad succeeds, his enemies tell him that Shirin is dead, and consequently Farhad too kills himself by jumping from a cliff in the milk lake. However, Shirin is alive and upon knowing that Farhad is no more, she jumps into the same lake. The film ends with two lovers climbing the stairs of heaven peacefully, holding each other's hands and finally reuniting.

Cast

Main cast

Supporting cast
  • Bela Bose as Miriam, Husro's first wife
  • Uma Dutt as Farhad's father
  • Ram Avtar as Shakroo
  • Ashabai as Kalima
  • Leela as Young Shirin

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by S. Mohinder, and lyrics were penned by Tanvir Naqbi and Saba Afghani. "Hazaron Rang Badlega Zamana" and "Guzara Hua Zamana, Aata Nahi Dobara" became popular upon the film's release.

No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Guzra Hua Zamana, Aata Nahi Dobara"Lata Mangeshkar 
2."Hazaron Rang Badlega Zamana"Mohammed Rafi 
3."Na Hanso Pyar Pr"Mohammed Rafi 
4."Aankhon Mein Tumhare Jalwe"Mohammad Rafi 
5."Na Tajshahi Na Badshahi"Mohammed Rafi 
6."Mera Aagaz Shirin Hai"Asha Bhonsle, Hemant Kumar 
7."Bichde Hue Milenge Phir"Asha Bhonsle 
8."Do Hi Lafzon Ka"Talat Mahmood 
9."Are Dilruba, Jaan-e-Wafa"Asha Bhonsle, Hemant Kumar 
10."Aaja O Jaan-e-Wafa"Lata Mangeshkar, Hemant Kumar 
11."Aasman Wale Bata De"Lata Mangeshkar 

Reception
Madhubala in a publicity photo for Shirin Farhad, published in Filmindia in 1956. Baburao Patel called Shirin the "greatest role of Madhubala's career".

As per Times of India, Shirin Farhad was theatrically released on 3 February 1956 in Bombay.[2]

Shirin Farhad proved to be very popular among audience.[7] As per Madhubala's biographer Mohan Deep, the film was a financial success; its success captured the pairing of Madhubala and Pradeep Kumar to fame.[6]

Shirin Farhad was also a breakthrough film of Ameeta. Nett4u reported: "Her acting career took a turn with Shirin Farhad in which she acted along Madhubala in 1956. This hit brought her lead roles in Abhimaan and Zamana."[8]

References
  1. "Shirin Farhad (1955) – Review, Star Cast, News, Photos". Cinestaan. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. "Shirin Farhad Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes", The Times of India, retrieved 29 November 2020
  3. Filippo Carlà-Uhink; Anja Wieber (2020). Orientalism and the Reception of Powerful Women from the Ancient World. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 265. ISBN 978-1-350-05011-2.
  4. "Shirin Farhad (1956)". Indiancine.ma.
  5. "Highest Grossing Hindi Movies of 1956". IMDb. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. Deep 1996, p. 90.
  7. Menon, Rekha (1963). Cultural Profiles: Banaras. Allahabad. Lucknow. Bangalore. Mysore. Bombay. Poona. Inter-National Cultural Centre.
  8. "Ameeta life history and film works| Bollywood legend actress". nettv4u. Retrieved 3 January 2021.

Sources
  • Deep, Mohan. Madhubala: The Mystery and Mystique, Magna Publishing Co. Ltd.
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