Alibaba Aur 40 Chor (1954 film)

Alibaba and 40 Thieves (Alibaba Aur Chalis Chor) is a 1954 Hindi/Urdu fantasy action film directed by Homi Wadia. The film was a Basant pictures presentation under the Wadia Brothers Production banner.[1] The story, screenplay and additional dialogue were by JBH Wadia, while the dialogues were written by Chand Pandit and Tahir Lucknavi.[2] The art direction and special effects were by Babubhai Mistry. The music was composed by Chitragupta and S. N. Tripathi. Chitragupta had worked as an assistant to S. N. Tripathi in some of the mythology and fantasy films before branching out on his own. The lyricist was Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.[3] The film starred Mahipal, Shakila, B. M. Vyas, S. N. Tripathi, Sharda, Lalita Kumari and Helen.[4] The song sequence of "Dekho Ji Chand Nikla" was shot in Gevacolor.

Alibaba and 40 Thieves
1954 poster
Directed byHomi Wadia
Produced byWadia Brothers Production
Written byJBH Wadia
Screenplay byJBH Wadia
Story byJBH Wadia
Based onArabian Nights
StarringMahipal
Shakila
S. N. Tripathi
Music byS. N. Tripathi
Chitragupta
CinematographyAnant Wadadeker
Edited byKamlaker
Production
company
Basant Studios
Release date
1954
Running time
145 min
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

The film based on the Arabian Nights fantasy adventure follows the story of Alibaba finding the cave filled with treasure and his escapades thereafter. Homi Wadia rebooted this film as Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, with lead protagonist as Sanjeev Kumar, while continuing B. M. Vyas as the main antagonist from this film.

Plot

Alibaba and his brother are out with their donkeys when one donkey runs away and Alibaba follows looking for him. Hiding behind a stone he sees forty thieves ride up to a hillside and the chief saying "Khul Ja Sim Sim" (Open Sesame) and a cave door opening. He later goes back there and returns a rich man. The jealousy of Alibaba's brother’s wife lands her husband in trouble with his head being cut off. Marjina, Alibaba’s beloved finds a tailor who sews him back. The thieves find out about Alibaba and meet him under false pretenses. He invites them home where Marjina finds out the chief’s strategy of pretending to be a merchant. She gets the 40 vats he’s brought to hide the thieves in thrown down the hill. Finally Alibaba is free of the thieves and lives amicably with his brother and family.

Cast
  • Mahipal as Alibaba
  • Shakila as Marjina
  • B. M. Vyas as Abu Hassan
  • S. N. Tripathi as Qasim Khan
  • Sharda as Sitara
  • Maruti Rao as Abu
  • Lalita Kumari as Fatima Begum
  • Shalini as Salma
  • Sardar Mansoor
  • Dalpat
  • Shri Bhagwan
  • Shapoor Aga
  • Helen as Dancer

Music

The music direction was by S. N. Tripathi and Chitragupta who had started out as a composer by assisting Tripathi. Together they gave 'folk-based' music with some classical input by Tripathi.[5] The songs were sung by Mohammed Rafi, Shamshad Begum and Asha Bhosle.[6] Lyrics written by Raja Mehdi Ali Khan.

Song list
#SongSinger
1 "Zara Nazre Mila Lo" Shamshad Begum
2 "Dekho Ji Chand Nikle" Shamshad Begum
3 "Aankh Mili Hai Pyar Hoga" Shamshad Begum
3 "Chalo Chalo Chale Hum" Mohammed Rafi, Shamshad Begum
4 "Gadhon Par Baithkar Hum" Mohammed Rafi, Shamshad Begum
6 "Kismat Futi Hui Thi" Mohammed Rafi
2 "Ae Saba, Unse Keh Zara" Mohammed Rafi, Asha Bhosle
7 "Sharmake Lajake Main Ek Jhalak Dikhlaun" Asha Bhosle

References
  1. Jerry Pinto (2006). Helen: The Life and Times of an H-bomb. Penguin Books India. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-14-303124-6.
  2. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen; Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen (2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Routledge. p. 235. ISBN 978-1-135-94318-9.
  3. "Alibaba and 40 Thieves". Muvyz, Inc. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  4. "Alibaba and 40 Thieves 1954". Alan Goble. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  5. K. Moti Gokulsing; Adjunct Fellow East-West Center Hawaii Scholar in Residence Wimal Dissanayake; Wimal Dissanayake (2013). Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas. Routledge. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-136-77284-9.
  6. "Alibaba Aur 40 Chor". Hindi Geetmala. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
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