''Daaera'' () is a 1953 Indian film written and directed by

Kamal Amrohi Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi (17 January 1918 – 11 February 1993), popularly known as Kamal Amrohi, was an Indian film director and screenwriter. He was also an Urdu and Hindi poet. His Hindi films include '' Mahal'' (1949), '' Pakeezah'' ...

, starring

Meena Kumari Meena Kumari (born Mahjabeen Bano; 1 August 1933 – 31 March 1972) was an Indian actress and poet, who worked in Hindi films. Popularly known as ''The Tragedy Queen'', she was active between 1939 and 1972. Kumari is widely considered one of ...

and Nasir Khan. It was released at Bombay's Naaz cinema. Its story is loosely based on

and

's own love story.

Plot

One night a critically ill man arrives in town looking for a doctor. As the doctor is not there, he is directed to a nearby

haveli A ''haveli'' is a traditional townhouse, mansion, manor house, in the Indian subcontinent, usually one with historical and architectural significance, and located in a town or city. The word ''haveli'' is derived from Arabic ''hawali'', me ...

for shelter. He rents an apartment there with his young wife Sheetal (

). Their age disparity is such that most people assume Sheetal to be his daughter. When the doctor comes to check on him, he also notices symptoms of the same disease in Sheetal and asks her to be careful. Sharan ( Nasir Khan), the proprietor's son, lives in the apartment opposite and is entranced by the sight of Sheetal on the balcony. His inability to fulfil his desire leads him into a deep melancholia. When Sheetal's husband is called away on business, she befriends a young girl Gomti who has been punished for having fallen in love. Gomti is shocked to discover that the old man with her is not her father but her husband. Sheetal is a dutiful wife and keeps on caring for her husband even as her own condition deteriorates. Sharan's mother is unable to see her son's mournful state anymore and attempts to arrange his marriage to Sheetal. When her efforts are unsuccessful, her son-in-law tries to hatch a plan to trick Sharan into marrying someone else. In the midst of this, Sheetal's husband is in a tragic railway accident and is believed to be dead. Sharan's brother-in law tries to convince his mother to accept Sharan's marriage to a widow. After much convincing she finally accepts. But in a final twist it is revealed that her husband has survived and has returned to her. In a remarkable final sequence Sheetal watches from her balcony as Sharan's marriage takes place and passes away in silence. This poetic film takes place in large portions through a beautiful elegiac soundtrack and its mournful silences.

Cast

as Sheetal * Nasir Khan as Sharan Kumar *

Nana Palsikar Nana Palshikar ( mr, नाना पळशीकर) (1907 – 1 June 1984) was an Indian actor who appeared in over 80 Hindi films. He made his film debut in 1935 with ''Dhuwandhar'', and went on to play character roles in both Hindi mainstream ...

as Sharan's brother-in-law * Pratima Devi as Sharan's Mother M.Kumar as Sheetal's husband

Soundtrack

References

{{reflist, group=note 1953 films 1950s Hindi-language films Films directed by Kamal Amrohi Indian drama films 1953 drama films Indian black-and-white films