Admiring the Indian Golden Era of Films, watching Guru Dutt films has always been a pleasure and learning. One of his romantic classic films is ‘Chaudhvin Ka Chand’ released in 1961. The film was directed by Mohd. Sadiq and produced by Guru Dutt. The film writer was Saghir Usmani and the music was by Ravi. The lead cast included Guru Dutt, Rehman, Waheeda Rehman, Johnny Walker, Mumtaz Begum, Noor Jahan, Pravin Paul, Minoo Mumtaz and Naazi. Farida Jalal had a small role as a debutant. The film was a big commercial success.
The film is set in the City of Nawabs, Lucknow where Islamic religion flourished. Aslam( Guru Dutt) and Nawab( Rehman) are the best of friends spending their entire day together. Their relationship was like ‘Langotiya Yaar’, meaning bonded well and united never to be separated. Jameela( Waheeda Rehman) is a young, beautiful girl who is equally a kind person. Aslam and Rehman happen to fall in love with Jameela. They mention to one another that they love a girl but are unaware that she is the same one. Jameela falls in love with Aslam. The rest of the film tests the friendship of Aslam and Nawab in this love triangle. Nawab is rich and offers to marry Jameela who resists the proposal. In the end Aslam and Jameela are united in love.
The cast and crew all went a long way to make the film a big hit. As in all Guru Dutt’s films, Johnny Walker’s comic role was commendable who played the role of Mirza Masaraddiq Shaiza.
The film won many awards like, ‘Filmfare for Best Male Playback Singer’, which went to Mohd. Rafi, ‘Filmfate Award for Best Lyricist which went to Shakeel Badayuni, for the film’s title track, and ‘Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction’ which went to Biren Nag. The film entered in the 2nd Moscow International Film Festival.
It was the film which saved Guru Dutt’s production studio’s from ruins after the losses he incurred by making ‘Kagaz Ke Phool’.
