''Baaji'' is a 1963 Pakistani

musical romance film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...

directed by

S. Suleman Syed Suleman (29 December 1938 14 April 2021), also known as S. Suleman or Sullu Bhai, was a Pakistani film director. He also appeared in Bollywood films with minor roles before Muhajir (Pakistani), migrating to Pakistan and after migration, h ...

. The film features

Nayyar Sultana Nayyar Sultana (born Tayyaba Bano; 1937 – 27 October 1992), sometimes referred to in Pakistan as ''Malka-i-Jazbaat'' (Queen of Sentiments), was a Pakistani film actress. She became one of the foremost screen actresses of Lollywood in the 1 ...

in the titular role with Darpan,

Zeba Shaheen Bano (born 10 September 1945), known professionally as Zeba ( ur, ), is a Pakistani actress. She was one of the top stars of the Pakistani film industry in the 1960s and the early 1970s.Agha Talish Agha Ali Abbas Qizilbash (also known as Agha Talish, ur, ) (13 November 1923 – 19 February 1998) was a Pakistani actor who made his debut in 1947 and was mostly known and recognized in Pakistan for playing character actor or villain role ...

and Lehri in pivotal roles. The music of the film's soundtrack was composed by Saleem Iqbal. ''Baaji'' depicts the frustrations of a young widow due to her increasing age. The film didn't perform well at box office but received appreciable reviews, primarily due to Sultana's performance. In 2018, the film was selected to screen at

Lok Virsa Museum Heritage Museum ( ur, ), also known as Lok Virsa Museum is a museum administered and managed by Lok Virsa - National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage. It is a museum of history and culture in Islamabad, Pakistan, located on the Shakarpa ...

. It received 5 awards at 1963 Nigar Awards, including Best film.

Plot

Farzana a.k.a. 'Fari' commonly known as Baaji in her circle of friends is a young widow, lives with some of her servants in a

bungalow A bungalow is a small house or cottage that is either single-story or has a second story built into a sloping roof (usually with dormer windows), and may be surrounded by wide verandas. The first house in England that was classified as a b ...

. Baaji lives a lonely life and has no family members living with her. One day, her cousin Nasir comes to meet her and she discovers that he lives nearby with a friend for his work assignment. Nasir then meets Seemi, daughter of Baaji's servant. They both fall for each other and decide to marry. Nasir returns home to bring his mother to send his proposal of marriage. When Baaji learns of it, he thinks that her mother is coming for her marriage. But when she arrives, she requests her to take Naisr's proposal to Seemi's parents. Baaji is shocked to hear it but controls herself and decides to arrange their marriage. After their marriage is settled, Baaji's health deteriorates and she is admitted to the hospital. In the hospital, one of Baaji's servants Zeenat tells Nasir that he is responsible for Baaji's condition because his friendly and caring behaviour towards her weighs on her. He then decides to call off the marriage and refuses to marry Seemi but agrees later when Baaji insists upon it. In this way, Nasir and Seemi gets married but Baaji dies sitting on the bench in her house's garden.

Cast

as Farzana “Fari”, Baaji * Darpan as Nasir *

Salma Mumtaz Salma Mumtaz (1926 – 20 January 2012) was a Pakistani film actress, director and producer. Early life and career Salma Mumtaz made her film debut as an actress in the 1960 Urdu language film, ''Neelofar'' (1960).Bibbo as Naisr's mother * Lehri as Shahid * Naina as Zeenat *

Agha Talish Agha Ali Abbas Qizilbash (also known as Agha Talish, ur, ) (13 November 1923 – 19 February 1998) was a Pakistani actor who made his debut in 1947 and was mostly known and recognized in Pakistan for playing character actor or villain role ...

* Zareen Panna * Emmi Minwala * Nazar * Yasmin (cameo appearance) * Ejaz (cameo appearance) *

Noor Jehan Noor Jehan ( Punjabi: ) (born () Allah Rakhi Wasai ; 23 September 1926 – 23 December 2000; sometimes spelled Noorjehan),Ashish Rajadhyaksha and Paul Willemen, ''Encyclopaedia of Indian Cinema,'' British Film Institute, Oxford University Pres ...

(cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori") *

Habib Habib ( ar, حبيب, ''ḥabīb''; ), sometimes written as Habeeb, is an Arabic masculine given name, occasional surname, and honorific, with the meaning "beloved" or "my love", or "darling". It also forms the famous Arabic word ‘''Habibi’'' ...

(cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori") *

Sabiha Khanum Sabiha Khanum ( ur, ; born Mukhtar Begum; 16 October 1935 – 13 June 2020), was a Pakistani film actress. She is also known as the "First Lady of Pakistani Cinema", and is often recognized for her role in Pakistani cinema during the 1950s an ...

(cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori") * Santosh Kumar (cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori") *

Waheed Murad Waheed Murad ( ur, ; 2 October 1938 – 23 November 1983), also known as Chocolate Hero, was a Pakistani film actor, producer and script writer. Famous for his charming expressions, attractive personality, tender voice and unusual talent for a ...

(cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori") *

Sultan Rahi Sultan Rahi ( ur, ﺳﻠﻄﺎﻥ ﺭﺍﮨﯽ ; June 24, 1938 – January 9, 1996) was a Pakistani actor, producer and screenwriter. He established himself as one of the leading and most successful actors of Pakistani and Punjabi cinema, and ...

(cameo; appearance in song "Sajjan Lagi Tori")

Soundtrack

All lyrics of the songs were written by

Ahmad Rahi Ahmad Rahi (12 November 1923 – 2 September 2002) was a Punjabi poet and writer from Pakistan. Early life He was born 12 November 1923 in Amritsar, British India. His real name was Ghulam Ahmad, a name given by his spiritual leader Khorshe ...

while music was composed by Saleem Iqbal. The film features a classical number ''Sajjan Lagi Tori Lagan Mun Maa'' by

and

Farida Khanum Farida Khanum (Urdu language, Urdu: ) is a Pakistani Music of Pakistan#Classical music, classical singer from the city of Kolkata West Bengal, India, West Bengal. She is also known by her honorific title ''Malika-e-Ghazal'' (The Queen of Ghazal) ...

, on which classical dance was performed by Zareen Panna and Emi Menuwala. Indian

tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

player Usataad Allah Rakha provide the rhythmic support to the dance and song. The song also features a number of cameos including, Noor Jehan,

, Santosh Kumar, Ejaz, Yasmin,

, Nazar and

Track listing

* ''Dil Ke Afsanay, Nigahon Ki Zuban Tak Pohanche'' sung by

* ''Chanda Tori Chandani Mein'' sung by

Naseem Begum Naseem Begum ( ur, ), (24 February 1936 – 29 September 1971) was a popular, and well known Pakistani film playback singer. She was known as ''The Tradegy Queen'' for singing sorrowful and downhearted songs in films. She rose to promine ...

* ''Sanwariya, Ne Haye Diya Bara Dukh Denu'' by Naseem Begum * ''Ab Yahan Koi Nahi, Koi Nahi Aaye Ga'' sung by Noor Jehan * ''Saaf Chhuptay Bhi Nahi, Samnay Aate Bhi Nahi'' by Saleem Raza * ''Sajjan Lagi Tori Lagan Mun Maa'' sung by Noor Jehan and

* ''Aa, Aa, Aa, Kon Kut Bhei Laaj Mohay Aye'' by

Salamat Ali Khan Salamat Ali Khan (12 December 1934 11 July 2001) was a Pakistani vocalist and touring artist known for his contribution to the Hindustani classical music. Widely regarded as one of the greatest classical singers of the Indian subcontinent, ...

and Nazakat Ali Khan

Reception

Critical reception

While praising the Sultana's performance, ''

The Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan ''The Herald'' was a monthly magazine of politics and current affairs published by the Dawn Media Group from 1970 to 2019 in Karachi, Pakistan. ''The Herald'' has been responsible for producing many large and breaking stories since it started. I ...

'' wrote, "Nayyar was, however, at her best in Baaji. Playing the role of a love - starved woman, whose exterior conceals her frustrations and unfulfilled desires, Nayyar lent grace and dignity to the character assigned to her." In a review by ''

Herald A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms. Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to ...

'', the reviewer stated her performance as the strongest element of the film. The journal also praised the dialogues, and stated the film as the best of Suleman's career. The ''Outlook'' reviewing the film miscellaneously stating, "Likewise, half of ‘𝘉𝘢𝘢𝘫𝘪’ is devoted to getting it to us that the ‘𝘉𝘢𝘢𝘫𝘪’ in question—Nayyar again—is pathetically inhumane."

Awards and nominations

Legacy

''Baaji'' topped the critics' poll of "Top Ten Pakistani Films" conducted by

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

in 2002. The film was also selected among the "Top ten films" of the Pakistani cinema by the critic Aijaz Gul, as published in "Asian Film Journeys: Selection from Cinemaya". The film's title inspired the director Saqib Malik to name his film ''

Baaji ''Baaji'' () is a 2019 Pakistani romantic drama film, directed by Saqib Malik and produced by his Production company Page 33 Films. The film features Meera as Shameera Osman Khalid Butt as Rohail Khan/ Khalid Osman, Amna Ilyas as Neha, Mohsin Abb ...

''.

References

External links

* {{NigarAwardBestFilm 1963 films Urdu-language Pakistani films 1963 musical films 1960s Urdu-language films 1960s romantic musical films Pakistani romantic musical films Pakistani black-and-white films 1966 musical films Nigar Award winners