Ek Hi Raasta (1956 film)

Ek Hi Raasta (lit. 'Only one way') is a 1956 family-drama Indian Hindi film directed and produced by B. R. Chopra. It starred Sunil Dutt, Meena Kumari, Ashok Kumar, Daisy Irani, Jeevan and Shrinath in main roles. The music for the film was scored by Hemanta Mukherjee.[2][3] Having directed a few films earlier, Chopra formed his own production house B.R. Films in 1955 and Ek Hi Raasta was the first film produced under this banner. The film was remade in Telugu as Kumkuma Rekha (1960) and in Tamil as Pudhiya Pathai also released in 1960.

This article is about the 1956 film. For other uses, see Ek Hi Raasta.

Ek Hi Raasta
Poster
Directed byB. R. Chopra
Produced byB. R. Chopra[1]
Written byMukhram Sharma
StarringMeena Kumari
Ashok Kumar
Sunil Dutt
Daisy Irani
Jeevan
Shrinath
Music byHemanta Mukherjee
Distributed byB. R. Films
Release date
  • 13 April 1956 (1956-04-13)
[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Plot

The film starts with the portrayal of happily married couple, Amar (Sunil Dutt) and Malti (Meena Kumari) who have a son named Raja (Daisy Irani). Amar and Malti are both orphans and hence are sympathetic towards orphans generally. Prakash (Ashok Kumar) is a rich bachelor businessman for whom Amar works. While working in Prakash's factory, Amar catches another worker Munshi (Jeevan) stealing money from the factory locker.

To take revenge for his humiliation at the hands of Amar, Munshi murders him. To escape his depression over the loss, Prakash begins helping Malti and her child. Munshi tries to humiliate the family by spreading rumours of an affair between Prakash and Malti in public. To save the honour of Malti, Prakash marries her. Raja meanwhile refuses to accept Prakash as his father. Munshi provokes Raja against Prakash and claims that Prakesh was the real murderer of Amar. Out of anger, Raja tries to shoot Prakash but fails. Raja elopes from home with infant son of Prakash and Malti. They both were rescued from the railway track by Prakash and after understanding Prakash's sincerity Raja accepts Prakash as his father.[4]

Soundtrack
Baldev Raj Chopra (sitting left) and Yash Chopra (at the right)

The music for the songs was composed by Hemanta Mukherjee.[5] He also sang few of the songs himself, of which "Chali Gori Pi Se Milan Ko Chali" was based on Bhairavi raga.[6]

Soundtracks
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Bade Bhaiyya Laaye Hain Landon"Asha Bhosle8:07
2."Bhola Bachhpan Dukhi Jawani"Hemanta Mukherjee and Lata Mangeshkar2:22
3."Bhola Bachhpan Dukhi Jawani (2)"Lata Mangeshkar5:10
4."Chali Gori Pi Se Milan Ko Chali"Hemanta Mukherjee5:44
5."Chamaka Ban Kar Aman Ka Taara[1]"Hemanta Mukherjee and Lata Mangeshkar6:51
6."Kaisi Lagi Kaisi Lagi Jaaye"Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar6:49
7."Saawale Salone Aaye Dil Bahaar"Hemanta Mukherjee and Lata Mangeshkar1:16
8."Udale Hain Mere Gum Ki Hansi"Lata Mangeshkar2:85

Production

The film was directed and produced by the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner B. R. Chopra under the B. R. films banner.[1][7][8][9][10] Founded in 1955, the production house's first creation was this film.[11]

The music was directed by well known singer Hemanta Mukherjee,[9][12] with the lyrics written by one of the dominating musical forces in Indian Cinema, Majrooh Sultanpuri.[1][9][13] The story, along with the screenplay and dialogue were written by Mukhram Sharma.[9] Assistant directors included Balbir Kumar, O. P. Bedi and B. R. Chopras' brother, Yash Chopra.[9][14]

Reception

The film proved to be successful at the box office and was screened for more than 25 weeks; which was called "Jubilee Hit".[15] The banner went on to produce many more successful films such as Naya Daur (1957), Sadhana (1958), Dhool Ka Phool (1959), Waqt (1965) and more.[16] Child actress Daisy Irani's role as Raja was also well appreciated.[17][18] She was also seen in Chopra's next film Naya Daur.[19]

References
  1. Annu Kapoor (2014). The Golden Era with Annu Kapoor (Masti channel) (Television) (in Hindi). India: Masti channel. Event occurs at 10 p.m; 4 June 2014 (IST). Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. Bollywood Hungama (1 January 1956). "Ek Hi Raasta (1956) | Movie Review, Trailers, Music Videos, Songs, Wallpapers". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. "Ek Hi Raasta (1956) – Movie Review, Story, Trailers, Videos, Photos, Wallpapers, Songs, Trivia, Movie Tickets". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  4. "Ek Hi Raasta (1956) Movie Synopsis | Story Outline and Summary of Ek Hi Raasta hindi Movie On". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  5. "Ek Hi Raasta (1956) Music Review & Rating | Movie Songs & Videos of Ek Hi Raasta hindi Movie". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  6. Dr. Krishna N. Sharma. Raaga Bhairavi in Hindi Songs. O. B. Publication. p. 12. ISBN 8191007711.
  7. Gulzar; Nihalani, Govind; Chatterjee, Saibal, eds. (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.
  8. B. K. Verma (1999). History of Indian Cinema. Frank & Co. pp. 114–115.
  9. "Ek Hi Raasta (1956) Cast and Crew | Actor Actress Director of Ek Hi Raasta hindi Movie". Gomolo.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  10. "B.R. CHOPRA – Purposeful Film Maker – 30th Recipient – 1998 Dadasaheb Phalke Award". ultraindia.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  11. Tilak Rishi (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 9781466939639. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  12. "Famous playback singer Hemanta Mukherjee". screenindia.com. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  13. Zaheer, Sajjad; Azfar, Amina (2006). The Light. Oxford University Press. p. 52. ISBN 0-19-547155-5.
  14. "The life and times of Yash Chopra". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  15. Dwyer, Rachel (2002). Yash Chopra: Fifty Years in Indian Cinema. Lotus Collection. p. 42. ISBN 8174362347.
  16. D. P. Mishra (2006). Great masters of Indian cinema: the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winners. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India). pp. 109. ISBN 8123013612.
  17. "Small steps to the big screen". Tribune India. 15 March 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  18. Dubey, Bharti. "Finally, kidspeak". Times of India. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
  19. "Metrolife filmi fundas". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
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