The Hindi Black and White Classic film, ‘Howrah Bridge’ is a murder mystery directed by Shakti Samanta and written by Vrajendra Gaur. The film starring Ashok Kumar, Madhubala, K.N. Singh and Om Prakash was released in 1958. It became a super duper success. The memorable music was by O.P. Nayyar and the lyricist was the popular Urdu port of his times, Qamar Jalalabadi. The film’s distributors were Shakti Films.
The film is named after the famous Howrah Bridge of Kolkata, connecting Howrah to Kolkata via Hoogly River. Rakesh (Ashok Kumar) lives with his brother, Madan (Chaman Puri) and father, (Brahm Bhardwaj) in Rangoon. Madan gets into bad company and runs away from home stealing his family’s heirloom (shape of a dragon) and some cash. Upset by Madan’s act, Rakesh begins to search his brother. One day news reaches Rakesh that Madan’s dead body has been found under the Howrah Bridge of Kolkata. He leaves for Kolkata to find the reason behind his brother’s death and recover his family’s heirloom.
Rakesh’s search leads him to a shady hotel run by an Uncle Joe (Dhumal) where a beautiful, seductress (Madhubala) Edna dances every night. Rakesh is attracted to her and confides in her his purpose of being here. She also likes him so decides to help him. Together they set out to find the killer. They come to know that a man named Bhiku (Sunder) had witnessed the murder. John Chang (Madan Puri), Shyamu (Om Prakash) and Pyarelal (K.N. Singh) are the main culprits who have committed many crimes including the Madan’s murder for money, who manage the hotel. Rakesh decides to get them to books and devises a plan to make them confess their crime in the disguised presence of the police.
The game of the culprits is over. Rakesh returns with the heirloom to his home married to Edna. The film ends on the note of spreading goodness and destroying evil.
The film songs were a rage of the times, especially ‘Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu’ performed well by Helen, ‘Aaiye Meherbaan’, danced by Madhubala, romantic number ‘Yeh Kya Kar Dala Tune’ and many more. It is a fun to watch the film for all who like mystery, thrill and Madhubala.
