''Subah Ka Tara'' (The Morning Star) is a 1954
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
social romantic film directed by
V. Shantaram
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was an Indian filmmaker, film producer, and actor known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. He is most known for films such ...
.
The film was produced by Rajkamal Kalamandir and had story and dialogues by Shams Lucknavi. The director of photography was G. Balkrishna. It had music composed by
C. Ramchandra and the lyricists were Noor Lakhnavi and Diwan Sharar.
The title song "Chamka Chamka Subah Ka Tara" was one of the notable songs from this film. Rajshree appeared in her debut role as a child star. The cast included
Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar (born Sital Batabyal; 4 January 1925 – 3 November 2001) was an Indian actor who is recognized for his work in Hindi, Bengali and English-language films.
Career
When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. He sta ...
, Jayshree,
Amirbai Karnataki
Amirbai Karnataki (c. 1906 – 3 March 1965) was a famous actress/singer and playback singer of the early Hindi cinema and was famous as ''Kannada Kokila''. Mahatma Gandhi was an ardent fan of her song ''Vaishnav Jan To''.
Early life
Amirbai ...
,
Rajshree
Rajashree Shantaram (born 8 October 1944), known as Rajshree, is an Indian actress of Bollywood. She is best known for her work in the movies '' Janwar'' and ''Brahmachari''.
Personal life
Rajshree is the daughter of acclaimed Indian filmmake ...
,
Shakuntala Paranjpye
Shakuntalā Parānjpye (17 January 1906 – 3 May 2000) was an Indian writer, actress and a prominent social worker. She was a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council during 1958–64, and served as nominated member of, Rajya Sabha (Up ...
and Naaz.
Jayshree plays the role of a young widow pursued by a young man (Pradeep Kumar) who falls in love with her, but is unable to marry her due to societal norms and subsequently becomes insane.
Plot
The film, told in flash-back, starts with a few people troubling a disheveled, insane man holding a bedding. The mad man is Mohan who finally sits down with a sympathiser and starts narrating the story. Mohan meets a young widow, Padmini taking medicine for her dying mother. Padmini's mother, from her death-bed, warns her about befriending young men as she's a widow and society demands that she live alone with just a white sheet as a companion, for that's her life as a widow. Following her mother's death, Padmini goes to her paternal uncle's house to live. Her uncle has gone to Africa and her Aunt treats her badly. Mohan falls ill thinking about Padmini's situation and her rebuff when he pursues her. He is looked after by his mother and young sister. Padmini is made to work as a maid in her Uncle's house but has a kind cousin sister, Bharti. Mohan arrives there on some work and the Aunt has chosen him as a suitable boy for Bharti's marriage. Mohan sees Padmini and tells her how he feels, which is overheard by the Aunt. The Aunt throws Padmini out of the house to fend for herself. The story continues with the problems Padmini faces, Mohan's search for Padmini and her death when she sets the house left by her mother, on fire. Mohan finds the bedding in the aftermath of the fire and goes insane.
Cast
*
V. Shantaram
Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre (18 November 1901 – 30 October 1990), referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was an Indian filmmaker, film producer, and actor known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. He is most known for films such ...
as the drunken man
* Jayashree as Padmini
*
Pradeep Kumar
Pradeep Kumar (born Sital Batabyal; 4 January 1925 – 3 November 2001) was an Indian actor who is recognized for his work in Hindi, Bengali and English-language films.
Career
When Kumar was 17 years old, he decided to take up acting. He sta ...
as Mohan
* Neelambai as Mohan's mother
* Baby
Rajshree
Rajashree Shantaram (born 8 October 1944), known as Rajshree, is an Indian actress of Bollywood. She is best known for her work in the movies '' Janwar'' and ''Brahmachari''.
Personal life
Rajshree is the daughter of acclaimed Indian filmmake ...
as Sogi, Mohan's sister
* Shakuntala Paranjpye as Chachi
* Naaz as Heera
*
Amirbai Karnataki
Amirbai Karnataki (c. 1906 – 3 March 1965) was a famous actress/singer and playback singer of the early Hindi cinema and was famous as ''Kannada Kokila''. Mahatma Gandhi was an ardent fan of her song ''Vaishnav Jan To''.
Early life
Amirbai ...
as neighbour
* Nimbalkar as Paanwala
* Chandrakanta as Bharti
* Jogendra as Milkman
* Aminabai as Padmini's mother
Crew
* Producer Rajkamal Kalamandir
* Director: V. Shantaram
* Story: Shams Lucknavi
* Dialogue: Shams Lucknavi
* Music:
C. Ramchandra
* Lyrics: Noor Lucknavi, Diwan Sharar
* Cinematographer: G. Balkrishna
* Editor: Chintamani Borkar
* Art Director: Baburao Jadhav
* Sound: A. K. Parmar
* Make-up: Baba Vardam
* Still Photography: Kirtiwan
Review
Shantaram played a small part as a drunk man, whose house Jayshree goes to looking for a job. His role was appreciated as the "engaging drunk" in the film.
Jayshree's role as Padmini, the young widow, was commended but her "speaking in whispers" was censured.
Pradeep Kumar's role as the "socially conscious" youth was termed "memorable".
Soundtrack
Shantaram chose
C. Ramchandra as opposed to
Vasant Desai
Vasant Desai (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram films like '' Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje'' (1955), '' Do Aankhen Barah Haath'' (1957), Vijay Bhatt's '' Goonj Uthi Shehnai'' (1959), ''Samp ...
for some of his films,
Parchhain
''Parchhain'' (Shadow) is a 1952 Hindi romantic melodrama film directed by V. Shantaram. The production company was Rajkamal Kalamandir. The story and dialogue were by Shams Lakhnavi, with cinematography by G. Balakrishna. Music direction was by ...
,
Navrang
Navrang is a 1959 Indian Hindi-language film co-written and directed by V. Shantaram. The film is noted for its dance sequences with lead actress Sandhya and music by C. Ramchandra, while playback singer Mahendra Kapoor made his singing debut wi ...
and ''Subah Ka Tara''. However, Desai scored the background music for both the films.
The film's title song "Gaya Andhera Hua Ujala Chamka Subah Ka Tara" in
Raga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...
Pahadi was sung by
Talat Mahmood
Talat Mahmood (24 February 1924 – 9 May 1998) was an Indian playback singer who is considered one of the popular male Indian film song and ghazal singers. Although he tried his luck as a film actor, he did not succeed a great deal in act ...
and
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 ...
.
The other notable songs from the film were Talat's "Apni Nakami Se Mujhko Kaam Hai", and "Badi Dhoom Dham Se Meri Bhabhi Aayi" sung by Usha Mangeshkar, which was also her debut song.
The music director was C. Ramchandra with lyrics by Noor Lucknawi and the song "Do Haklon Ka Suno Fasana" written by Diwan Sharar. The singers were
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 ...
,
Talat Mahmood
Talat Mahmood (24 February 1924 – 9 May 1998) was an Indian playback singer who is considered one of the popular male Indian film song and ghazal singers. Although he tried his luck as a film actor, he did not succeed a great deal in act ...
,
C. Ramchandra and
Usha Mangeshkar
Usha Mangeshkar (born 15 December 1935) is an Indian singer who has recorded many Marathi, Manipuri, Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati and Assamese songs.
Personal life
Usha Mangeshkar is an Indian singer. She is the fou ...
.
Song list
References
External links
*
{{V. Shantaram
1954 films
1950s Hindi-language films
Films directed by V. Shantaram
Films scored by C. Ramchandra
Indian romance films
1950s romance films
Indian black-and-white films