Munimji

1955 ComedyRomance Directed by Subodh Mukherji

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About Munimji

Malti (Nirupa Roy) once swapped her son Ratan for Amar, the legitimate child of Seth Ramlal. After Ramlal dies of a snakebite, Amar (Dev Anand) works as a munim, a clerk, in Captain Suresh's house, while Ratan (Pran) is raised as the heir and engaged to Suresh's daughter Roopa (Nalini Jaywant). Ratan is also the dacoit Kala Ghoda, secretly married to the street dancer Bela (Ameeta). Amar courts Roopa in another disguise, as Raj, until Malti orders him to stand aside for Ratan. Kala Ghoda demands Rs. 50,000. At the wedding Malti names Amar as the real son, Bela identifies Ratan, and when Ratan seizes Roopa, Malti shoots him.

Cast & crew

More about Munimji

Sashadhar Mukherjee produced it at Filmistan for his brother, director Subodh Mukherjee. Ranjan supplied the story idea. Nasir Hussain wrote the screenplay, and Hussain and Qamar Jalalabadi wrote the dialogue. Marshal Braganza was cinematographer and Sachin Shankar the choreographer. The same director, writer, star, and composer made Paying Guest in 1957.

Themes

  • a child switched at birth
  • the clerk in disguise
  • a mother backing the wrong son
  • an engagement already arranged
  • the dacoit inside the house
  • munim
  • Kala Ghoda
  • Roopa
  • Ratan
  • Rs. 50,000 ransom
  • Filmistan
  • double identity

Making

For the clerk disguise The Hindu noted a mole on the cheek, a heavy moustache, long hair, a walking stick, a dhoti, and a long coat. Ratan's dacoit get-up adds a beard and headgear.

Look

Marshal Braganza photographed the Filmistan production.

Music

S. D. Burman composed the score. Sahir Ludhianvi and Shailendra wrote the lyrics. Hemant Kumar, Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar, and Kishore Kumar are among the singers.

Notes

  • Dev Anand plays Amar, who also passes as the young man Raj and as the elderly clerk.
  • Madan Mohan, better known as a music director, plays Roopa's brother Shekhar.
  • Kishore Kumar's "Jeevan Ke Safar Mein Rahi," with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi, was the hit. Lata Mangeshkar sings a sad version.
  • The Telugu film Inti Guttu (1958) is a loose adaptation.
  • The soundtrack album was issued by Saregama.

Scenes

  • Amar arrives as the moustached munim with a walking stick.
  • Kala Ghoda demands Rs. 50,000.
  • Malti stops the wedding and names Amar as the real son.

Influenced

  • Inti Guttu (1958)