The Pure One. Review on Pakeezah

She walked on earth as if it would hurt to walk. She smiled to all though her heart bled from within. Her eyes dark luminous pools brimming with unshed tears. She held mystery behind that beauty worth dying for. For thousands of years she searched for that emotion

Never knew it would take so long.

She is the mother and she is the daughter. Meena Kumari as Nargis and Sahibjaan, born with a similar face and fate. Though they are the most desired maidens of the brothel,  and there seems to be a  unquenched thirst for love in their lives. Nargis an inimitable beauty finds love in form of Shabuddin(Ashok Kumar) .He impregnates her and goes missing with the lack of courage to marry a woman from flesh trade. She dies after giving birth to Sahibjaan and hands her over to Nawabjaan(Veena). As Sahibjaan blossoms into an unparallel beauty, she finds her world restricted to the brothel forever.

Till a train ride, her pretty legs peeping from the eiderdown and a letter from a stranger stating Aap ke paanv dekhe behad khubsurat hain, inhe zameen par mat utariyega maile ho jaayenge, change her life forever. Suddenly thousands of wishes and desires crowd her innocent, untouched heart. Her institution as a woman serving men had done no damages to her heart. Salim(Raaj Kumar) woos her and she falls deeply in love with him. She is given the title of “Pakeejah” i.e. “The Pure One” by him and offered marriage. But she flees, with the reason that she cannot be the stain in the life of the only man who gave her the deserved love and respect.

I have fled from you with the reasons only my heart knows. And as I took every step further. I felt you closer. Though I am away my heart stays with you forever…

Will the sacrifices of Nargis give way to Sahibjaan’s happiness? Will she ever be able to find her  dreams  which could never be hatched? Will love ever power over the prejudices and social practices?

Pakeejah is a masterpiece carefully etched by Kamal Amrohi  after 14 years of toil and sweat, and ironically the reason which drove him to death. The movie being the best performance of Meena Kumari ever. Her ever drunk situation and a deteriorating  health could not mar the charm and magnificence of the actress. The loveliness of being the most desired one, the poignancy of being tutored as a lady with etiquettes required in “Nawabi” culture, and being the soul  stifled by the manacles of the society.Meena Kumari portrayed all with perfection. Even the bowed eyes and sealed lips depict emotions of sad, regret and sometimes happiness too. She brings out the nuances of being the one who could never express with words.

My eyes were the reflection to my soul

All I needed was a vision to recognize them

Songs are the blood and soul of the movie. Each and every one just adding to its splendor. Inhi Logon ne is the mock towards the society, and the harassment gained from them.While Chalte-Chalte depicts the meeting and the uneasiness generated from meeting a stranger . Thade Rahiyo is a request by the pained soul asking her lover to wait while she takes care of her routine tasks.A very symbolic one there. Mausam hai aashiqana  is the love song for a woman waiting for her lover to be back to her. Chalo dildaar chalo is a love-duet by the pair only aware of each other, profounded by love.But the song which strikes me the most is Teer-e- Nazar dekhenge.

aaj ham apani duaaon ka asar dekhenge

tir-e-nazar dekhenge, zakhm-e-jigar dekhenge

aap to aankh milaate hue sharamaate hain,

aap to dil ke dhadakane se bhi dar jaate hain

phir bhi ye ziddh hai ke ham zakhm-e-jigar dekhenge,

tir-e-nazar dekhenge, zakhm-e-jigar dekhenge

(Today I will see the effect of my prayers. Today I will bear the gazes from these eyes; I will bear the wounds in this heart... Today you are embarrassed of gazing at me, you are fearing the beat of your own heart; even then you insist to look at wounds of my heart)

The background  classical score was Ghulam Mohammed’s creation which later on became Naushad’s prerogative, on demise of Ghulam Mohammad. Even an interesting fact about the choreography in Teer-e-nazar is that the dance performance was completed by Padma Khanna in view of Meena Kumari’s ailing health.

On and on Pakeejah is the magnum opus of Cinema, created with care and concern. A work of art which etched the ever quest of love in human beings. It carries the heartrending story of a love lost and found eventually, bringing worth to all sacrifices.

Hazoron saal Nargis apni benoori par roti hai

Badi Mushkil se hota hai chaman main deedawar paida.