Tarana
About Tarana
After a plane crash, Dr. Motilal (Dilip Kumar) is taken in by the blind villager Surdas and his daughter Tarana (Madhubala). He falls in love with her and operates so that Surdas can see. His father has already promised him to a city woman, Sheela (Shyama), without telling him. The rich villager Totaram (Gope), who wants Tarana himself, spreads a rumor that she is pregnant by the outsider and bribes the nurse Kaneshi to swear to it. Surdas sets the house on fire with Tarana inside, then dies trying to pull her out after Totaram confesses the lie. Motilal, thinking she is dead, becomes a successful doctor in the city and is about to marry Sheela. On the wedding day he goes back to the barn and finds Tarana alive.
Cast & crew
More about Tarana
Ram Daryani directed. K. S. Daryani produced and wrote the screenplay from a story by Dwarka Khosla, with dialogue and other writing by D. N. Madhok. Shooting began in March 1951. M. D. Malekar edited. Krishin Movietone also distributed.
Themes
In film history
The picture is remembered as the start of the Madhubala–Dilip Kumar relationship as much as for the village romance on screen.
Making
Motion Picture Magazine noted in its March 1951 issue that the film was before the cameras. The romance between the leads became the story people attached to the production.
Reviews
In Filmindia in October 1951, editor Baburao Patel wrote: 'Ram Daryani has directed the picture very well and shows plenty of imagination in love sequences. Both [Dilip Kumar and Madhubala] have lived their roles and their romantic sequences seem to take a hues from the real canvas of life.' He called Madhubala's performance her finest.
Audiences
It was the sixth most commercially successful Indian film of 1951, ran to a silver jubilee, and was classed a hit by contemporary trade analysts.
Look
Kumar Jayant was the cinematographer.
Music
Anil Biswas composed. Lata Mangeshkar and Talat Mahmood sing the duet 'Seene Mein Sulagte Hai Armaan.' Other numbers include 'Nain Mile Nain' and 'Bol Papihe Bol,' with lyrics by Prem Dhawan, D. N. Madhok, Kaif Irfani, and Talat Mahmood.
Preservation
A copy is on Wikimedia Commons as Tarana 1951.webm.
Notes
- Dilip Kumar and Madhubala's first film together. A public affair that lasted nearly nine years began during the production; one account says she sent him a pink rose, he accepted it, and later wrote to her.
- Jeevan plays Diwan Sahib.
- Trade writers classed it a hit. It was the sixth most commercially successful Indian film of the year and ran to a silver jubilee.
- In 2017 Film Companion ranked the album 37th on a list of 100 Hindi film albums.
- The issued album runs 28 minutes and was later listed by Saregama.
- A Filmfare commemorative piece called Tarana one of Madhubala's best roles.
Scenes
- Motilal operates on Surdas and the old man sees again.
- Surdas sets fire to the house with Tarana inside, then dies trying to reach her after Totaram admits the lie.
- On his wedding day Motilal finds Tarana alive at the barn.
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (Tarana 1951.webm)