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{{short description|1952 film by Mehboob Khan}}
{{About|the 1952 musical|the 2004 drama|Aan: Men at Work|other uses|}}

{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Aan
| image = Aan 1952 film poster.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Mehboob Khan]]
| producer = [[Mehboob Khan]]
| writer = [[S. Ali Raza]]
| story = R. S. Choudhury
| narrator =
| starring = [[Dilip Kumar]]<br />[[Nimmi]]<br />[[Premnath]]<br />[[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]
| music = [[Naushad]]
| cinematography = [[Faredoon A. Irani]]
| editing = Shamsudin Kadri
| studio = [[Mehboob Productions]]
| distributor = [[Mehboob Productions]]
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1952|07|4}}
| runtime = 161 min.
| country = [[India]]
| language = [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]
| budget = {{INR|link=yes}}3,500,000<ref name="interview"/>
| gross = {{estimation}} [[#Box office|{{INR}}35,731,000 ($6,042,410)]]
}}
[[File:Aan (1952).webm|thumb|x150px|''Aan'']]
'''''Aan''''' ([[Hindi]]: आन, [[Urdu]]: '''آن''', translation: ''Pride''), released as '''''The Savage Princess''''' in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[United States]], is a [[Bollywood films of 1952|1952]] Indian [[Bollywood]] [[adventure film]], produced and directed by [[Mehboob Khan]]. It was [[India]]'s first [[technicolour]] film, as it was shot in 16mm [[Gevacolour]] and was blown up in Technicolor.<ref name=uiowa>[https://uiowa.edu/indiancinema/aan Aan (1952 film) on University of Iowa - Indian Cinema website]</ref><ref name=upperstall>{{cite web |title=Aan (1952 film)|url=http://www.upperstall.com/films/1952/aan |website=Upperstall.com website |access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> It stars [[Dilip Kumar]], [[Premnath]], and [[Nimmi]], and marked the debut of [[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]. It was the [[List of most expensive Indian films|most expensive Indian film ever]] at the time.

It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, domestically<ref name="boi50s"/> and overseas.<ref name="Rajinder">{{cite book|last1=Rajinder|first1=Dudrah|last2=Jigna|first2=Desai|title=The Bollywood Reader|date=2008|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Education]]|isbn=9780335222124|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Wz4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|language=en}}</ref> ''Aan'' was the first Indian film to have a worldwide release in many countries, subtitled in 17 languages and released in 28 countries,<ref name="Rajinder"/> including the United Kingdom,<ref name="moviemahal"/> United States, [[France]],<ref name="filmfare"/> and [[Japan]].<ref name="Japan"/> The film also received critical acclaim in the British press at the time.<ref name="gaur"/> In [[South India]], it was also dubbed and released in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] with the same title, ''Aan''.<ref name="Dhool">{{cite web|url=http://www.tfmdhool.com/sotd2/691.html |title=Dhool |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305221404/http://www.tfmdhool.com/sotd2/691.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref>

==Plot==
It begins with a royal Indian family, which consists of the Maharaj ([[Murad (actor)|Murad]]), his brother Shamsher Singh ([[Premnath]]) and sister Rajshree ([[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]]). A local village leader named Jai Tilak ([[Dilip Kumar]]) enters a contest to tame Princess Rajshree's horse, and after he is successful, Shamsher challenges Jai to a bout of fencing. Jai is declared the winner of the fight after much dispute and Shamsher is enraged at losing to a poor villager. Jai then falls in love with Rajshree and tries numerous times to woo her, but the princess's arrogance prevents her from revealing her true feelings.

Shamsher becomes even more enraged when Emperor Maharaj reveals that Shamsher is not the heir to his throne after his death and that he plans to free India from monarchy and turn to democracy.

Shamsher then plans to gain control of the kingdom by killing the Maharajah on the night before he is due to travel to England for a medical procedure. However, he is unsuccessful after the Maharajah escapes an attempt on his life by Shamsher's henchmen and disguises himself as a servant in his own palace.

Shamsher then sets his eyes on Mangala ([[Nimmi]]) who was a village girl and childhood friend of Jai, but her love is not reciprocated as he is only in love with princess Rajshree. After Mangala is kidnapped by Shamsher Singh who plans to keep her prisoner in his palace and molest her, Mangala takes a bottle of poison and dies. Jai kills Shamsher in revenge and provokes Princess Rajshree to launch an attack on his village to avenge her brother's death. Jai manages to kidnap Rajshree and sets out to gain her love by taking her into his village and forcing her to live as a peasant girl. Just when Rajshree begins to realize her feelings for Jai, Shamsher Singh who was presumed dead returns to take his revenge against Jai.

==Production==
This prestigious production was to be India's first full feature in Technicolor.<ref name=upperstall/> The film was made with an extremely large budget. [[Dilip Kumar]],
[[Nimmi]] and [[Prem Nath]], then at the height of their popularity and success, were quickly signed on for starring roles, but the second female lead proved more troublesome to cast. Initially, [[Nargis (actress)|Nargis]] was cast but left the film to concentrate on her association with R. K. Studios. For a time [[Madhubala]] was considered, with considerable lobbying from Dilip Kumar who was romantically involved with her at the time, but for reasons unknown, she was never cast. Finally [[Mehboob Khan]] decided to launch a newcomer and selected the then unknown Nadira and promoted her as his new star discovery.<ref name="interview"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Aan-1952/article15922186.ece|title=Aan (1952)|date=19 September 2009|publisher=The Hindu (newspaper)|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

When a first edit of the film was shown to the film's financiers and distributors, they objected that Nimmi's character died too early. This was due to Nimmi's vast popularity as an actress. Therefore, a lavish and extended dream sequence was filmed and edited in to give Nimmi more prominence and screen time in the film.<ref name="m.rediff.com">{{cite web|url=http://m.rediff.com/|title=Rediff.com: News - Rediffmail - Stock Quotes - Shopping|website=m.rediff.com}}</ref>

The production cost of the film was {{INRConvert|35|l|year=1953|lk=c}}.<ref name="interview">{{cite web|title=Nadira – Interview|url=http://cineplot.com/nadira-interview/|website=Cineplot.com website|date=25 November 2012|access-date=20 November 2019}}</ref> It was the most [[List of most expensive Indian films|expensive Indian film ever]] at the time.

==Innovative music of Naushad==
A major highlight of Aan is Naushad's music - both music of film songs and the grand background score that was so innovative and played a key role in the box office success of this film. Reportedly Naushad used a 100-piece orchestra while recording the music of this film, something unprecedented in those days. To create the sound effects that had better bass, Naushad had special rugs put on the walls of the sound studio. Finally, the film songs were mixed in London. Naushad worked very long hours for three whole months to complete this film's music. The symphony with the 100 musicians was much praised and even played on the [[BBC Radio]].<ref name=upperstall/>

==Cast==
*[[Dilip Kumar]] as Jai Tilak Hada<ref name=uiowa/>
*[[Nimmi]] as Mangala<ref name=uiowa/>
*[[Premnath]] as Shamsher Singh<ref name=uiowa/>
*[[Nadira (actress)|Nadira]] as Princess Rajeshwari ‘Raj’<ref name=uiowa/>
*Sheela Naik as Maid of the princess
*[[Mukri|Muqri]] as Chandan
*[[Murad (actor)|Murad]] as Maharajah
*Nilambai as
*[[Cuckoo Moray|Cuckoo]] as dancer
*Maya
*Abdul
*Aga Mehraj
*Amir Banoo as Sardar Ma, Jai's mom

==International release==
''Aan'' was the first Indian film to have a worldwide release in many countries with the English title - ''Savage Princess''.<ref name=upperstall/> It was subtitled in 17 languages, and released in 28 countries. Its distribution in the United Kingdom and [[Europe]] was handled by [[Alexander Korda]].<ref name="Rajinder"/> The film had a lavish [[London]] premiere, attended by [[Mehboob Khan]], his wife Sadar Akhter, and Nimmi.<ref name="moviemahal">{{cite web|url=https://moviemahal.net/2017/01/11/mehboobs-aan-1952-indian-cinemas-entry-into-europe/|title=Mehboob's AAN (1952) – Indian Cinema's entry into Europe|date=11 January 2017}}</ref> The English version was entitled ''Savage Princess''. On the London trip, they met many Western film personalities, including [[Errol Flynn]]. When Flynn attempted to kiss Nimmi's hand, she pulled it away, exclaiming, "I am an Indian girl, you cannot do that!" The incident made the headlines, and the press raved about Nimmi as the "...unkissed girl of India".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles|title=Cinema news and updates: latest Bollywood news, Tamil Cinema news, Movie reviews and Movie updates - Cinestaan.com|website=www.cinestaan.com}}</ref> The premiere was also attended by the [[British prime minister]] [[Clement Attlee|Lord Attlee]], among other Indian and British elites at the time.<ref name="gaur">{{cite book|last1=Gaur|first1=Madan|title=Other Side of the Coin: An Intimate Study of Indian Film Industry|date=1973|publisher=Trimurti Prakashan [distributed through Universal Book Service, Delhi]|page=160|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LAAwAAAAMAAJ&q=mehboob+khan+aan+united+kingdom|language=en}}</ref>

Although Nimmi was not the romantic lead, she made a big impact on audiences, and her character, Mangala, emerged as the most popular in the film.<ref name="m.rediff.com"/> This was to such an extent that, when the film was released dubbed in French in 1954, it was retitled ''Mangala, fille des Indes'' (''Mangala, the girl of India'') and Nimmi was promoted as the main star of the film in the theatrical posters and trailers for the French language release. Nimmi further revealed in a 2013 interview, that at the London premiere of Aan, she received four serious offers from Hollywood, including from Cecil B. DeMille who greatly admired the production design and Mehboob's vision as a director. He was in fact, so impressed by the film, that he personally wrote a letter of commendation to Mehboob Khan praising the film and the performances of Nimmi and Nadira in particular.<ref name="filmfare">{{cite web|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/nimmis-filmfare-interview-11920.html|title=Dilip Kumar ke aashiq hum bhi the|website=filmfare.com}}</ref>

''Aan'' was also released in [[Japan]] in January 1954, as the first Indian film to ever release in Japan. ''Aan'' was accepted by audiences there, and it earned a considerable profit in Japan.<ref name="Japan">{{cite book | url=http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf | title=Asia to Watch, Asia to Present: The Promotion of Asian/Indian Cinema in Japan | publisher=Senri Ethnological Studies, Reitaku University | last=Matsuoka | first=Tamaki | year=2008 | page=246 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722073202/http://ir.minpaku.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10502/1140/1/SES71_011.pdf | archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>

==Music==
{{Infobox album
| name = Aan
| type = soundtrack
| artist = [[Naushad]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 1952
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label =
| producer =
| prev_title = [[Jadoo (1951 film)|Jadoo]]
| prev_year = 1951
| next_title = [[Baiju Bawra (1952 film)|Baiju Bawra]]
| next_year = 1952
}}

The film features an acclaimed soundtrack composed by [[Naushad]].<ref name=uiowa/><ref name=upperstall/>

Hindi/Urdu lyrics were by [[Shakeel Badayuni]]<ref name=uiowa/>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
|-
| 1 || "Maan Mera Ehsan"<ref name=upperstall/> || [[Mohammed Rafi]] || rowspan=10 | [[Shakeel Badayuni]] || 02:48
|-
| 2 || "Dil Mein Chhupake Pyar Ka Toofan Le Chale"<ref name=upperstall/> || Mohammed Rafi || 02:55
|-
| 3 || "Tujhe Kho Diya Hamne" <ref name=upperstall/>|| [[Lata Mangeshkar]] || 03:14
|-
| 4 || "Aaj Mere Man Mein Sakhi" <ref name=upperstall/>|| Lata Mangeshkar || 03:55
|-
| 5 || "Mohabbat Choome Jinke Haath"<ref name=upperstall/> || Mohammed Rafi || 03:36
|-
| 6 || "Gao Tarane Man Ke" || Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar & [[Shamshad Begum]] || 04:41
|-
| 7 || "Takra Gaya Tumse" || Mohammed Rafi || 03:44
|-
| 8 || "Khelo Raang Hamare Sang" || Lata Mangeshkar & [[Shamshad Begum]] || 04:18
|-
| 9 || "Aag Lagi Tan Man Mein" <ref name=upperstall/>|| Shamshad Begum || 03:32
|-
|10 || "Mein Raani Hoon Raja Ki" || Shamshad Begum || 03:10
|}

[[File:Aan Tamil-language film poster.png|thumb|Aan Tamil-language film poster]]
The Tamil lyrics were by [[Kambadasan]]. Lata Mangeshkar and Shamshad Begum rendered the Tamil songs also. However, it appears that the lyricist did not approve of their diction, and so songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar were recorded again with [[M. S. Rajeswari]] and songs sung by Shamshad Begum were recorded with Soolamangalam Rajeswari. While the film had the original recordings, the records (Plates) had both versions. So, there are 14 songs recorded on the gramophone records.<ref name="Dhool"/><ref name=upperstall/>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
! No. !! Song !! Singers !! Lyrics !! Length (m:ss)
|-
| 1 || "Yetriduvaai Arul Thaan" || S. M. Sarkar || rowspan=14 | Kambadasan || 02:48
|-
| 2 || "Manadhil Mei Kaadhal" || S. M. Sarkar || 02:55
|-
| 3 || "Izhandhen Unai Anbe" || [[Lata Mangeshkar]] || 03:14
|-
| 4 || "Izhandhen Unai Anbe" || [[M. S. Rajeswari]] || 03:14
|-
| 5 || "Indru Endhan Nenjil Sakhi" || Lata Mangeshkar || 03:55
|-
| 6 || "Indru Endhan Nenjil Sakhi" || [[M. S. Rajeswari]] || 03:55
|-
| 7 || "Mohamuththam Tharum" || S. M. Sarkar || 03:36
|-
| 8 || "Paadu Singara Paadalai" || S. M. Sarkar, Lata Mangeshkar & [[Shamshad Begum]] || 04:41
|-
| 9 || "Sandai Moondathuve" || S. M. Sarkar || 03:44
|-
| 10|| "Nagaru Nagaru Mel Jal Jal" || Lata Mangeshkar & Shamshad Begum || 04:18
|-
| 11|| "Aah Sududhe En Maname" || Shamshad Begum || 03:32
|-
| 12|| "Aah Sududhe En Maname" || [[Soolamangalam Sisters|Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi]] || 03:32
|-
|13|| Naan Raaniye Rajavin || Shamshad Begum || 03:10
|-
|14|| Naan Raaniye Rajavin || Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi || 03:10
|}

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
Domestically in India, it was the [[List of Bollywood films of 1952|highest grosser of 1952]], grossing {{INR|link=yes}}2.8{{nbsp}}[[crore]]<ref name="boi52">{{cite web|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=158&catName=MTk1Mg==|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922022116/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=158&catName=MTk1Mg==|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 September 2012|title=Box Office India 1952|website=[[Box Office India]]|date=22 September 2012|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> ([[United States dollar|$]]5.88{{nbsp}}million).{{efn|name=Exchange|4.76 Indian rupees per US dollar from 1951 to 1965<ref name="sauder">{{cite web|title=Pacific Exchange Rate Service|url=http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/etc/USDpages.pdf#page=3|website=[[UBC Sauder School of Business]]|publisher=[[University of British Columbia]]|page=3|access-date=21 November 2017}}</ref>}} Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{US$|{{Inflation|US|5.88|1952}} million|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:{{Inflation|US|5.88|1952}}*68.3978/10 round 0}} crore}}).<ref name="sauder"/> It was the [[List of highest-grossing films in India|highest-grossing film in India]] at the time, and the first to [[Net income|net]] {{INR}}1.5{{nbsp}}crore. It held the record for several years, until it was surpassed by ''[[Shree 420]]'' (1955).<ref name="boi50s">{{cite web|title=Top Earners 1950-1959 (Figures in Ind Rs)|url=http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919200259/http://boxofficeindia.com/showProd.php?itemCat=122&catName=MTk1MC0xOTU5|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 September 2012|website=[[Box Office India]]|date=19 September 2012|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

It was also an overseas success, earning considerable profit from overseas.<ref name="Japan"/> In overseas markets, the film was released in 28 countries and earned {{INR}}773,060<ref name="Rajinder"/> ($162,410).{{efn|name=Exchange}} Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{US$|{{#expr:0.16241*(9.11/0.53) round 2}} million|long=no}} ({{INR|{{#expr:2.79*68.3978/10 round 0}} crore}}).<ref name="sauder"/> ''Aan'' was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films in overseas markets|highest-gross Indian film overseas]] at the time, until it was surpassed by ''[[Awaara]]'' (1951) after its [[List of Soviet films of the year by ticket sales|Soviet release]] in 1954.

Worldwide, the film grossed {{INR|{{#expr:28+7.731}} million}} ({{US$|{{#expr:5880000+162410}}|long=no}}). Adjusted for inflation, this is equivalent to {{INR}}{{#expr:376+19}}{{nbsp}}crore ({{US$|{{#expr:55+2.79 round 0}} million|long=no}}). It was the [[List of highest-grossing Indian films|highest-grossing Indian film]] ever at the time, up until it was surpassed by ''Awaara'' after its [[Soviet]] release in 1954.

=== Critical reception ===
''Aan'' received critical acclaim in the British press at the time. ''[[The Times]]'', for example, wrote a positive review of the film, comparing it favourably with [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] productions at the time. They stated that "Hollywood has nothing to reach up to handsome Dilip Kumar and seductive Nadira."<ref name="gaur"/>

Hollywood producer [[Cecil B. DeMille]] himself wrote a letter to [[Mehboob Khan]] saying, "I believe it is quite possible to make pictures in your great country which will be understood and enjoyed by all nations without sacrificing the culture and customs of India. We look forward to the day when you will be regular contributors to our screen fare with many fine stories bringing the romance and magic of India."<ref name=upperstall/>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0044318}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070106222836/http://www.uiowa.edu/~incinema/Aan.html Movie Review of Aan (1952) (Archived) - University of Iowa - Indian Cinema website]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvuP_yzygEg Aan (1952)] on YouTube

{{Mehboob Khan}}

[[Category:1952 films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1950s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Urdu-language films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Mehboob Khan]]
[[Category:Films scored by Naushad]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:War epic films]]
[[Category:Indian swashbuckler films]]
[[Category:Indian action war films]]
[[Category:Films about royalty]]
[[Category:Indian historical adventure films]]
[[Category:1950s historical adventure films]]
[[Category:Films featuring an item number]]
[[Category:1950s action drama films]]
[[Category:1950s action war films]]

Aan - Revision history

Miquel41G60448: enhanced page to improve readability

89.110.21.55: robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.

>Fad Ariff at 14:25, 31 March 2021