Pooja (1940 film)

Pooja (Worship) is a 1940 Indian Hindi/Urdu-language psychological drama film directed by A. R. Kardar.[1] The music director was Anil Biswas, with lyrics by Khan Shatir Ghaznavi. Produced by National Studios, the story, screenplay and dialogue writer was M. Sadiq and the cinematographer was P. G. Kukde.[2] The film starred Sardar Akhtar, Zahur Raja, Sitara Devi, Jyoti, Sankatha Prasad, Sunalini Devi, Bhudo Advani and Baby Meena (Meena Kumari).[3]

Pooja
Directed byAbdul Rashid Kardar
Produced byNational Studios
Written byM. Sadiq
StarringSardar Akhtar
Sitara Devi
Zahur Raja
Jyoti
Sunalini Devi
Music byAnil Biswas
CinematographyP. G. Kukde
Production
company
National Studios
Release date
1940
Running time
191 minutes
CountryBritish India
LanguageHindi

The story involves two sisters, Rama and Lachhi. The younger sister Lachhi, is raped by the rejected suitor of the other sister and gets pregnant. The film then follows the child being brought up by Rama while the real mother, Lachhi, works as a maid in the same house.[4]

Plot
Sitara Devi, Sardar Akhtar and Baby Meena in a still from the film

Two sisters Rama (Sardar Akhtar) and Lachhi (Sitara Devi) spend their time teasing each other. Rama's marriage is fixed with Darpan (Zahur Raja). However, the marriage is called off and Rama is married off to someone else. Unable to bear the humiliation, Darpan supposedly rapes Lachhi, as it's not made clear whether she was a willing partner. In the meantime, Rama's husband dies and she is now living a widowed life. When its learnt that Lachhi is pregnant, Rama takes her in and brings up Bina (Baby Meena) as her own daughter. Bina assumes Lachhi is just a maid working in her house. Much later, Bina finds out the truth about Lachhi being her mother.

Cast

Production
Sitara Devi and Zahur Raja

Pooja deals with the "shattering consequences of feudal sexual codes".[5] Kardar was interested in themes involving "sexual abnormality". He had earlier used the idea in his film Pagal, which dealt with a "psychotic doctor" given to sexual obsession.[5]

Sitara's role of the unwed mother in the film was appreciated.[6]

Soundtrack

The music director was Anil Biswas, while the lyricist was Shatir Ghaznavi. The singers were Sitara Devi, Sardar Akhtar, Zahur Raja, Jyoti, Tara Harish and Anil Biswas.[7]

Song List
#TitleSinger
1 "Aaj Piya Ghar Aayenge" Sardar Akhtar, Sitara Devi
2 "Aaja Sajaniya Aaja" Zahur Raja
3 "Chal Prem Ke Pankh Lagaayein" Tara Harish, Jyoti
4 "Ek Baat Kahun Main Sajan" Sardar Akhtar, Zahur Raja
5 "Gori Gori Gwaalan Ki Chhori" Sitara Devi
6 "Jeevan Hai Ek Prem Kahani" Anil Biswas
7 "Jhoolo Jhoolo Meri Asha Nit Nainan Mein Jhoolo" Sitara Devi
8 "Kaun Gumaan Bhari Re Baasuriya" Chorus
9 "Lat Uljhi Suljha Ja Balam" Jyoti
10 "Mori Bagiya Mein Aayenge Mali" Jyoti
11 "Sukh Kya Dukh Kya Jeevan Kya" Zahur Raja

References
  1. Gulazāra; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema. Popular Prakashan. pp. 593–. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. "Pooja (1940)". indiancine.ma. Indiancine.ma. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  3. "Pooja (1940)". citwf.com. Alan Goble. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. Ashish Rajadhyaksha; Paul Willemen (10 July 2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. Taylor & Francis. pp. 1994–. ISBN 978-1-135-94325-7. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  5. Tapan K Ghosh (26 March 2013). Bollywood Baddies: Villains, Vamps and Henchmen in Hindi Cinema. SAGE Publications. pp. 12–. ISBN 978-81-321-1326-3. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  6. Patel, Baburao (September 1940). "Screen shot". Filmindia. 4 (5): 27. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  7. "Pooja (1940)". muvyz.com. Muvyz, Ltd. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
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