''Sanam'' is a

1951 Events January * January 4 – Korean War: Third Battle of Seoul – Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul for the second time (having lost the Second Battle of Seoul in September 1950). * January 9 – The Government of the United ...

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

romantic film directed by Nandlal Jaswantlal, who also directed the classic

Anarkali Anarkali () was a legendary woman said to be loved by the 16th-century Mughal Prince Salim, who later became Emperor Jahangir. According to some accounts, Anarkali was the nickname of the courtesan Nadira Begum or Sharf-un-Nisa, though scho ...

. It starred

Dev Anand Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand (26 September 1923 – 3 December 2011), better known as Dev Anand, was an Indian actor, writer, director and producer known for his work in Hindi cinema, through a career that spanned over six decades. He was ...

, and his co-star was

Suraiya Suraiya Jamal Sheikh (15 June 1929 – 31 January 2004), popularly known by the mononym Suraiya, was a popular actress and playback singer in India's Hindi-language films. She was active from 1936 to 1963, and was the most celebrated actress ...

, who also recorded the playback singing for the film.

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 ...

acted in the film in a supporting role, where she played the role of

's best friend. The film was unsuccessful at the box office, which attributed to Suraiya's fading stardom in the early 1950s, and

Madhubala Madhubala (born Mumtaz Jehan Begum Dehlavi; 14 February 1933 – 23 February 1969) was an Indian actress and producer who worked in Hindi-language films. She ranked as one of the highest-paid entertainers in India in the post-independence era, ...

's and

Nargis Nargis Dutt (born Fatima Rashid; 1 June 1929 – 3 May 1981) was an Indian actress and politician who worked in Hindi cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, she made her screen debut in a minor role ...

' simultaneous rise as the top female stars.

Story

''Sanam'' is a romantic comedy, where Yogen (

), a poor educated young man, who is unemployed, comes across Sadhana (

) and Rani (

) in a chance encounter in a book shop. He was there to request the shopkeeper for a job, which the latter turns down and shows him the door. While exiting, Yogen finds the handbag of Sadhna, absentmindedly left behind by her and returns to her. Sadhna is impressed by his honesty, when he declines to accept her offer of a large wad of currency notes, which was in the handbag. Consequently, she develops feelings for Yogen. In the meanwhile, when he could not land a job, Yogen snatches fifty rupees from a wealthy merchant for treatment of his ailing mother. Unfortunately, the merchant is accidentally runover by an approaching motor-car while Yogen was being pursued by him. Yogen is convicted for homicide and jailed, largely aided by the strong arguments put-forth by the Prosecution(Govt.) Counsel(K.N. Singh), who is Sadhana's father. While going for hitch-hiking near the jail, where Yogen was incarcerated, Sadhna happens to stop and exit her motor vehicle for a short while. Incidentally, at the very same moment, Yogen escapes from jail and hides in the vehicle to evade the pursuing guards. Sadhna and Rani recognize him and bring him along. Sadhna's dormant feelings for Yogen are rekindled and she becomes besotted with him following the incident of Yogen rescuing her from and accidental fire, where she and her friends were staging a play for the benefit of ex-convicts. Yogen after failing to convince Sadhna to find a partner matching her social stature, finally respects her affection and gives in. Sadhna is an independent-minded girl and does not hesitate to argue with her father about social justice for the poor and underprivileged. The story takes many twists and turns with songs and dance numbers. But, their desire to marry is vehemently opposed by the father of the bride. He even calls the police to arrest Yogen as he is an absconding murder accused. Eventually, he relents as he realizes that Sadhna and Yogen are truly in love with each other. He also realizes that Yogen is not after his wealth. To make amends and to see his daughter happy, he resigns his Govt. Counsel job and takes up Yogen's case in order to save him. It turns out that one member of the jury is the actual culprit, whose vehicle ran over and killed the rich man, who was pursuing a fleeing Yogen with the snatched fifty rupees. The juror confesses to his crime and surrenders. Yogen is absolved and is united with Sadhna. For comic relief, there is a parallel track of Shri Rashiklal Mehta(Gope), Assisting Advocate to the Prosecution Counsel, who is infatuated with Sadhna without any reciprocation from her but, was at loggerheads with Rani. At the end, he is also shown to be marrying Rani, when Yogen and Sadhna are united.

Cast

as Sadhna *

as Yogen (short form of Yogendra) *

as Rani (Sadhna's best friend) * Gope as Rasiklal Mehta * K. N. Singh as Government Counsel & father of Sadhana *Pratimadevi as Sadhna's mother *

Jilloo Jilloo was an Indian Hindi language film actress born in 1905 in Bombay, India as Zuleka Ebrahain. She acted in ''Mother India'' and ''Mughal-e-Azam'', the two biggest commercial and critical successes of the 1950s. She also acted in many movies ...

as Yogen's Mother

Music and songs

The film's music was composed by the duo

Husnlal Bhagatram Husn Lal and Bhagat Ram were the first legendary music directors duo in Bollywood. They are two brothers, Husn Lal (8 April 1920 – 28 December 1968) and Bhagat Ram (1914 – 29 November 1973). Husn Lal was also a renowned violinist, vocalist ...

and all songs were composed by lyricist

Qamar Jalalabadi Om Prakash Bhandari (9 March 1917 – 9 January 2003), better known as Qamar Jalalabadi, was an Indian poet and lyricist of songs for Hindi movies. He composed the title track of the popular television serial Vikram Aur Betaal. Early life He w ...

#"O Sanam, Main Tujhe Pukaarun SanamSanam" –

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...

#"Mai Kah Du Tumko Chor To" – Suraiya, Mohammed Rafi #"Bedard Shikaari Are Bedard Shikaari" –

Lata Mangeshkar Lata Mangeshkar () (born as Hema Mangeshkar; 28 September 1929 – 06 February 2022) was an Indian playback singer and occasional music composer. She is widely considered to have been the greatest and most influential singers in India. Her cont ...

, Suraiya #"Mere Chahne Wale Hazar" – Suraiya, S. D. Batish #"Honthon Pe Kisi Kaa Naam, Isakaa Kyaa Matalab Hai" – Suraiya #"Honolulu, Kyun Hamen Paidaa Kiyaa" –

Shamshad Begum Shamshad Begum (Hindi: शमशाद बेगम, IAST: ''Śamśād Bēgam''; 14 April 1919 – 23 April 2013) was an Indian singer who was one of the first playback singers in the Hindi film industry. Notable for her distinctive voice and ...

#"Bolo Bolo Re Bhagwan Bolo Bolo Re" – Shamshad Begum, Suraiya #"Duniya Wale Meri Duniya Lut Gayi" – Suraiya #"Mera Dil Todkar Jaane Wale" – Suraiya #"Nayaa Nayaa Hai Pyaar Zamaanaa Dekh Na Le" – S. D. Batish, Shamshad Begum, Suraiya #"Ye Kehti Hai Dunia Tujhe Bhul Jau" – Suraiya #"Dil Le Gaya Ji Koi Dil Le Gaya" - Suraiya, Shamshad Begum

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=, title=Sanam 1951 films 1950s Hindi-language films 1950s romance films Films scored by Husnlal Bhagatram Indian romance films Hindi-language romance films