Dillagi (1949 film)

Dillagi (transl. The Jest) is a 1949 Indian Bollywood film. The film was produced and directed by A. R. Kardar for his "Kardar Productions", and had music composed by Naushad.^[1] The film starred Suraiya and Shyam, alongside Chandabai, Sharda, Amar and Amir Banu.^[2] The story was a romantic tragedy and became commercially successful, being the fourth highest grossing film of the year.^[3]

Dillagi
Film poster
Directed by	A. R. Kardar
Written by	Azm Bazidpuri
Story by	Azm Bazidpuri
Produced by	A. R. Kardar
Starring	Suraiya Shyam
Cinematography	Dwarka Divecha (as Dwarkadas Divecha)
Edited by	G. G. Mayekar
Music by	Naushad
Production company	Kardar Productions
Distributed by	Kardar Productions
Release date	1949 (1949)
Country	India
Language	Hindustani

The plot was adapted from Wuthering Heights directed by William Wyler.^[4] Kardar later use a similar theme in Dil Diya Dard Liya (1966). Deepa Gahlot added the film in her book 50 Films that Deserve a New Audience.^[5][6]

Cast

• Suraiya as Mala
• Shyam as Swaroop
• Sharda as Mala's friend
• Sham Kumar as Jyoti
• Amir Bano as Shankari, Swaroop's sister in law
• Agha Mehraj as Biharilal, Mala's father
• Gulam Hasan as Swaroop's brother
• Baby Shyama as Paro, Jyoti's sister
• Gulzar as Swaroop's mother
• M.A. Shah as Swaroop's father
• Chanda Bai as Fake Bride
• Amar as Popatlal, Mala's uncle

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Naushad and it had Shakeel Badayuni as the film songs lyricist.^[7] Suraiya's song "Tu Mera Chand" became a popular number,^[8] while Mohammed Rafi's "Is Duniya Mein Ae Dilwalo" also became "extremely popular".^[9] Two other notable songs termed as "evergreen hits" by Suraiya were, "Char Din Ki Chandni" and "Nirala Mohabbat Ka Dastur Dekha".^[10] The singers were Suraiya, Mohammed Rafi, Shamshad Begum, Uma Devi and Shyam.^[11]

Tracklist

No.	Title	Singer
1	"Tu Mera Chand Mein Teri Chandani " (solo)[12]	Geeta Dutt
2	"Is Duniya Mein Dil Ka Lagana Kheil Nahin"	Mohammed Rafi
3	"Murliwale Murli Baja"[12]	Suraiya
4	"Char Din Ki Chandni Thi Phir Andheri Raat Hai"	Suraiya
5	"Duniya Kya Jaane"	Suraiya
6	"Nirala Mohabbat Kaa Dastur Dekha"	Suraiya
7	"Tera Khayal Dil Se Bhulaya Na Jayega"[12]	Suraiya
8	"Le Ke Dil Chupke Se Kiya Majboor"	Suraiya
9	"Tu Mera Chand, Mein Teri Chandani" (duet)[12]	Shyam, Suraiya
10	"Tere Koche Mein Armaano Ki Duniya"[12]	Mohammed Rafi
11	"De Dhil De Dhil O Ree Sakhi"	Uma Devi, Shamshad Begum
12	"Zalim Jamana Mujh ko"	Shyam, Suraiya

Legacy

Dillagi is cited among the best romantic films of the 1940s. It was one of Suraiya's biggest success and made her a star.^[13] Dharmendra has watched the film 40 times and terms it his favourite Suraiya's film.^[14] In 2021, National Film Archive of India, Pune added the film its collection.^[15] Deepa Gahlot praised the film and added it in her book 50 Films that Deserve a New Audience.^[6]

References

1. Brian Diettrich; Jane Freeman Moulin; Michael Hugh Webb (1 January 2011). Music in Pacific Island Cultures: Experiencing Music, Expressing Culture. Oxford University Press. pp. 211–. ISBN 978-0-19-986254-2.
2. Tilak Rishi (2012). Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years. Trafford Publishing. pp. 106–. ISBN 978-1-4669-3963-9.
3. Box Office India. "Top Earners 1949". boxofficeindia.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
4. Bhagwan Das Garga (1996). So many cinemas: the motion picture in India. Eminence Designs. ISBN 978-81-900602-1-9. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
5. Emily Bronte. Wuthering Heights (Annotated). Bronson Tweed Publishing. pp. 225–. GGKEY:JXQKH8ETFJN.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. Gahlot, Deepa (October 2015). Take-2: 50 Films That Deserve a New Audience. Hay House. ISBN 9789384544850.
7. Raju Bharatan (1 August 2013). Naushadnama: The Life and Music of Naushad. Hay House, Inc. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-93-81398-63-0. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
8. Ashok Damodar Ranade (1 January 2006). Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries. Bibliophile South Asia. pp. 340–. ISBN 978-81-85002-64-4.
9. Derek O'Brien. Derek Introduces: 100 Iconic Indians. Rupa Publications. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-81-291-3413-4.
10. Bhaichand Patel (2012). Bollywood's Top 20: Superstars of Indian Cinema. Penguin Books India. pp. 70–. ISBN 978-0-670-08572-9.
11. "Dillagi". hindigeetmala.net website. Hindi Geetmala. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
12. Dillagi (1949 film) on MySwar.com website Retrieved 6 February 2022
13. Jhingana, Kanana (2010). Cine Jagat Ki Rasmiyam. Atmaram & Sons. ISBN 9788189373177.
14. "Dharmendra was a Suraiya fan". Times of India. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
15. "NFAI enriches its collection by adding 8 rare Hindi films of 1940s and 1950s". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2022.

External links

• Dillagi at IMDb