Bollywood classic Pakeezah was screened here on Tuesday as part of the ongoing UP Mahotsav.Organised at Bharat Bhavan the movie was screened at Abhirang Auditorium under Chhavi series of classical cinema. The movie buffs of the city enjoyed the movie wholeheartedly. The film screening evoked a tremendously wonderful response and a lot of art lovers of the city were noticed at the hall watching the movie.Pakeezah is a 1972 Indian film, written and directed by Kamal Amrohi who was known for his perfectionism.
The film tells the story of a lucknow tawaif played by actress Meena Kumari who died shortly after the film was completed.This movie is about Sahibjaan, (Meena Kumari), who is born to a courtesan, Nargis. After being spurned by her lover Shahabuddin’s (Ashok Kumar) family, Nargis is driven to a graveyard where she gives birth to Sahibjaan secretly. Nargis dies during childbirth and her sister Nawabjaan (Veena) a brothel madam brings her up as her own. Unable to break away from the vicious circle, Sahibjaan grows up to be a beautiful and popular dancer/singer.
Forest ranger Salim Ahmed Khan (Raaj Kumar), enthralled by her beauty and innocence, eventually convinces her to elope with him, which she does. But trials and tribulations await Sahibjaan as she is recognized by men wherever she goes in the company of Salim. When Salim renames her Pakeezah (pure of heart) and takes her to a priest to be legally married, she refuses and returns to the brothel. Salim eventually decides to marry someone else and invites Sahibjaan to dance at his wedding; she agrees. During this event, Nawabjaan recognises Shahabuddin and calls him to witness the irony of the situation: It is his own daughter dancing and entertaining his family.The screening was a mere pleasure for the movie buffs of the city as they rejoiced the magic of Meena Kumari once again on a big screen.