Chitralekha (1941 film)

Chitralekha
Directed byKidar Sharma
Based onChitralekha
by Bhagwati Charan Verma
StarringMehtab
Nandrekar
A. S. Gyani
CinematographyG. K. Mehta
Music byUstad Jhande Khan
Release date
  • 1941 (1941)
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Chitralekha is a 1941 Indian Hindi-language film, directed by Kidar Sharma and based on the 1934 Hindi novel of the same name by Bhagwati Charan Verma. Its music is by noted classical musician Ustad Jhande Khan, giving popular songs like "Sun sun Neelkamal Muskaye," "Saiyyan Saware Bhaye Baware," and "Tum Jao Bde Bhagwan Bane, Insaan Bano."[1]

It was the second-highest grossing Indian film of 1941.[2] Khan used classical Ragas like Bhairavi and Asavari to the score, making it influential for classical based Hindi film songs.[3] This was the debut of actor Bharat Bhushan, who later achieved fame with Baiju Bawra (1952).[4] Sharma cast Mehtab as he felt she was "perfect" for the role of Chitralekha. Mehtab achieved both fame and notoriety with the famous bathing scene in the film.[5]

It was remade by Sharma in 1964, also titled Chitralekha, starring Meena Kumari and Pradeep Kumar.

  1. ^ Gulzar, p. 282
  2. ^ "Top Earners 1941". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  3. ^ , p. 270
  4. ^ Gulzar, p. 533
  5. ^ Kidar Sharma (2002). The one and lonely Kidar Sharma, (an anecdotal autobiography). Bluejay Books. p. 178. ISBN 978-81-87075-96-7.