| Saqi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | H. S. Rawail |
| Produced by | R. C. Talwar |
| Written by | Kamal Amrohi (dialogue) Anjana Rawail (story) |
| Screenplay by | Anjana Rawail |
| Story by | Anjana Rawail |
| Based on | Arabian Nights[1] |
| Starring | Madhubala Prem Nath |
| Music by | C. Ramchandra |
| Cinematography | Rajendra Malone[2] |
Release date |
|
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | est. ₹1 million |
Saqi (transl. "Bartender") is a 1952 Indian Hindi-language film directed by H. S. Rawail and starring Madhubala and Prem Nath.[2] The film's music was composed by C. Ramchandra. Based on Arabian Nights, Saqi was one of the most expensive Indian films at the time of its release.[1]
Plot[edit | edit source]
The film told the story a common man named Ajeeb, who tries to woo the princess Rukhsana.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Madhubala as Rukhsana
- Prem Nath as Ajeeb
- Gope as Genie
- Randhir as Sultan
- Iftekhar as Abdul
- Bipin Gupta as Vazir
- Cuckoo Moray as the item number "Door Door Se"
Production[edit | edit source]
Saqi was the Indian version of Arabian Nights.[1][3] The film was announced in February 1951, along with Badal, also starring Madhubala and Prem Nath.[4]
Made on a budget of ₹10 lakhs, Saqi was an expensive venture at the time of its release.[1]
Soundtrack[edit | edit source]
| Song | Singer |
|---|---|
| "Din Pehla" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Paas Na Aaiye" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Gham Ki Vadi Mein" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Khushi Se Door Hoon" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Kise Maloom Tha Ek Din Mohabbat Bezuban Hogi" | Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mahmood |
| "Aa Gayi Hai Ishq Pe Bahar, Khatm Hua Intezar" | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi |
| "Mera Mizaj Ladakpan Se" | Mohammed Rafi |
| "O Haseena Sambhal Sambhalke Chal" | C. Ramchandra, Geeta Dutt |
| "Raat Suhani" | Shamshad Begum |
Reception[edit | edit source]
Writing for Filmindia, Baburao Patel called Saqi "a monumental waste of money" and "a stupid and boring picture".[5]
The film was a financial failure.[6] Alongside other big-budget flops like Amar and Bahut Din Huwe (both 1954), the failure of Saqi reportedly led to Madhubala being labelled a "jinx" by producers in the early 1950s.[7]
Saqi was the last collaboration of Madhubala and Prem Nath. Eight years later, they planned to star in her production house venture, Pathan (released in 1962), but Madhubala fell sick and was replaced by Mumtaz.[8]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Deep 1996, p. 90.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Akbar 1997, p. 139.
- ↑ "'Zindagi bhar nahi bhoolegi': Mesmerising Madhubala and her magical spell". The Meghalayan. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ↑ Thought. Siddhartha Publications. 1951.
- ↑ Patel, Baburao (1952). Filmindia. Filmindia Publications. p. 59.
- ↑ "H. S. Rawail Biography by Divya Kapoor". www.gomolo.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ↑ Patel, Baburao (1955). Filmindia. Filmindia Publications. p. 22.
- ↑ Deep 1996, p. 33.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Deep, Mohan (1996). The Mystery and Mystique of Madhubala. Magna Books.
- Akbar, Khatijia (1997). Madhubala: Her Life, Her Films. Hay House.