Najma
About Najma
In Lucknow, the medical student Yusuf (Ashok Kumar) falls in love with Najma (Veena) after a single meeting, and his friend Bedil (Yakub) pushes him on. At Eid, Najma's salt prank lands on Yusuf's father, Dr. Khan (Murad). When Yusuf is a doctor, Dr. Khan betroths him to his uneducated cousin Raziya (Sitara Devi). Najma tells Yusuf to accept the match for the family's honor, and she marries the wealthy Nawab Mukarram. Raziya learns of the old love and turns jealous. Mukarram, overhearing her attack Najma, sets out to kill Yusuf, is hurt in an accident, and is saved by Yusuf, the only doctor who can treat him. Yusuf says he will not take Najma away, and they part.
Cast & crew
More about Najma
The first film under Mehboob Khan's own banner, Mehboob Productions. He directed and produced it. Agha Jani Kashmiri wrote the screenplay. Faredoon Irani photographed it. Mehboob paid Ashok Kumar Rs. 1 lakh, a record fee at the time. It opened on 30 July 1943.
Themes
Background
Released in 1943, during the war, as a drama about an upper-class Muslim family in Lucknow rather than as a mythological or stunt film.
In film history
The Encyclopaedia of Hindi Cinema, Gönül Dönmez-Colin, and Ira Bhaskar and Richard Allen's work on Islamicate Bombay cinema treat Najma as an early Muslim social: family honor, arranged marriage, education, and Lucknow tehzeeb drive the plot.
Making
Mehboob left his earlier studio arrangements to open Mehboob Productions with this picture and spent a record Rs. 1 lakh on Ashok Kumar.
Audiences
The film made money on release, which is why later writers treat it as a pattern other Muslim socials followed.
Look
Faredoon Irani photographed the Lucknow household and garden scenes for Mehboob Productions.
Music
Rafiq Ghaznavi composed the music. Anjum Pilibhiti wrote the lyrics.
Notes
- Veena plays Najma. Kumar, billed by that single name, plays Nawab Mukarram.
- Sitara Devi, usually a dancer, plays the village cousin Raziya.
- Rafiq Ghaznavi wrote the music and Anjum Pilibhiti the lyrics.
- The salt meant for Yusuf is served to Dr. Khan at the Eid meal.
- Writers on Hindi cinema later treated the Lucknow household as a model for the Muslim social.
Scenes
- Najma's salted dish is served to Dr. Khan by mistake.
- Najma tells Yusuf to marry Raziya for the family's honor.
- Yusuf treats the injured Mukarram and promises to leave Najma with him.
