Taqdeer
About Taqdeer
At the Kumbh Mela, theatre owner Badriprasad (Charlie), a widower, loses his son Pappu, and Judge Jumna Prasad (Chandra Mohan) loses his daughter Shyama. Badriprasad's manager raises the girl as his own after his wife dies, while the judge's household dresses Pappu as Shyama so the judge's wife, whose mind has given way, will not collapse. Shyama grows up as the lead actress in Badriprasad's revived company. The grown Babu (Motilal) falls in love with her, and the judge refuses the match on grounds of status. Babu learns he is not the judge's son and leaves; the shock returns the wife's memory, and the switched identities are sorted out.
Cast & crew
More about Taqdeer
Mehboob Khan directed for his own company from a story by Ghulam Mohammed. Agha Jani Kashmiri wrote the screenplay and dialogue. Shamsudin Qadri edited. The title is the Hindi word for fate or destiny.
Themes
Background
Made before independence, it includes patriotic songs addressed to Bharat Mata alongside the comedy of switched children.
In film history
The film is the first time Nargis, renamed by Mehboob, carried a picture as the heroine.
Making
Mehboob made it between the larger productions Najma (1943) and Humayun (1945), using a lost-and-found plot set around a theatre company and a judge's house.
Reviews
Filmindia called Nargis's performance 'a brilliant screen debut.' The film was also described as appreciated by critics and audiences.
Audiences
It was a success and the ninth highest-grossing Indian film of 1943.
Look
Faredoon A. Irani photographed the film.
Music
Rafiq Ghaznavi composed. Shamshad Begum sings for Nargis and Motilal sings for himself, with lyrics credited mainly to Meharul Qadri.
Preservation
A copy is on Wikimedia Commons as Taqdeer (1943).webm.
Notes
- Nargis's first lead. She had already appeared as a child, billed as Baby Rani, in films made by her mother Jaddanbai. Her name was Fatima; Mehboob Khan changed it to Nargis for this film.
- She was about 14; Motilal was 33.
- Filmindia called her work 'a brilliant screen debut.'
- Shamshad Begum sang Nargis's songs. Motilal sang his own.
- The credits name Meharul Qadri as lyricist. Anjum Pilibhiti and Agha Mahshar Shirazi each wrote one song as well.
- Two numbers carry a pre-independence patriotic line: 'Badle Jo Zamaane Ki Taqdeer Hamari Hai' and 'Meri Mata Meri Mata, Bharat Mata.'
- It was the ninth highest-grossing Indian film of 1943.
Scenes
- At the Kumbh fair, Badriprasad loses Pappu and the judge loses Shyama.
- The judge's wife calls the grown boy 'beti' until the shock of his leaving brings her memory back.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Taqdeer (1943).webm)
